Video: Learning Snacks

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When Change Isn’t an Option

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | March 19, 2025 |

We’ve all encountered situations at work that feel stuck—difficult dynamics, organizational red tape, or systems that refuse to budge. Often, our first instinct is to figure out how to fix things: change the people, the processes, or the circumstances. While this can be powerful, sometimes change simply isn’t possible—at least not in the short term.…

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Balancing Speed and Process

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | March 12, 2025 |

In every organization, there’s an ongoing tension between speed and process. In a recent discussion with an executive coaching client, she shared the problems she was facing managing this tension on her team. With speed, you move fast, maybe you break things, but then you fix them, learn and move. But without solid processes in…

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System Failure or One-Time Error? 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | March 5, 2025 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership system failure vs one-time error the images shows a hand holding an icon with a exclamation mark

Sometimes things at work don’t go as planned, but the important question to ask is whether it’s a “system failure” or a one-off error. Recently, a client of mine rushed to prep a deck for a meeting, only to realize they hadn’t done enough preparation because they didn’t know who was attending. This prompted my…

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Time to Reset Boundaries

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | February 12, 2025 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on reset boundaries the images shows a line that appears on a football pitch or court to delineate the boundary.

At work, we often train people to treat us a certain way—by always being available, or by letting small requests slide. It’s easy to create these patterns without even realizing it. But here’s the truth: you have the power to reset boundaries whenever needed. Let’s say you expect an agenda before a meeting, but you’ve…

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Draw a Map to Clarity in Your Next Task

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 14, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on drawing a map to clarity the image shows a dark background with arrows and milestone symbols creating a map.

This year my family is hosting an exchange student from Spain and it was her back-to-school night at our local high school, Berkeley High, which happens to have thousands of students. Even a passing period of students alone is crazy and now there would be a passing period with parents and sometimes two parents for…

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Leading with Values: Reenergize Your Work

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 7, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on leading with values the image shows Jo Ilfeld with a green background and the title of the article.

Have you ever had a situation at work that totally exhausted or completely frustrated you? Feeling demoralized at work may stem from a deeper issue — your core values might not be aligned with the situation at hand. Recently, I worked with a client who was exhausted by a work challenge. After some reflection, we…

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Mastering Executive Presence: Start with Clarity

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | October 29, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on executive presence the image shows a crystal ball bringing the horizon into clear view.

Have you ever wondered how you master executive presence? One of the most important aspects is the ability to communicate effectively. Recently, I was in a meeting where someone shared a story filled with interesting details. However, as I listened, I realized that the point of the story wasn’t clear from the beginning. People love…

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Listening to Your Inner Voice

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | October 9, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on listening to your inner voice the image shows a post-it note with the words listen to your inner voice.

What do you do when the Greek course around you doesn’t agree with your gut feeling? In our fast-paced world, finding time to hear your inner voice can be a challenge, yet it’s essential for making decisions that feel true to who you are. Recently, I spoke with a client who had been offered an…

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Pay It Forward: The Hidden Value of Accepting Help

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 18, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on accepting help the image shows a drawing of paying it forward.

Do you hesitate when accepting help at work because you fear being indebted to someone? Don’t worry, most of us feel that way. Recently, I was attending one of my colleague groups where we discussed the issue of accepting help, and how reluctant we are to accept it because we’re not sure what the giver…

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