Video: Learning Snacks

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The Power of Transparency

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | July 3, 2024 |

I recently had two contrasting conversations that underscored the importance of transparency in leadership. Now, let me ask you: when faced with the choice of sharing what’s going on or withholding information, which way do you usually lean? In both instances, the discussions centered around the profound impact of transparency on team dynamics.  While your…

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The Power of Second-Order Thinking

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | June 26, 2024 |

Have you ever thought you had the perfect solution only to realize it wasn’t as easy as you initially thought? In my executive coaching practice, I often see my clients jump straight to implementing new solutions, especially during reorgs or when moving people around. They focus on the desired outcome and the immediate fix, which…

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Accountability: Leveraging Your Team

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | June 19, 2024 |

Have you ever thought about all the things you need to get done and felt a sense of dread, overwhelm, or resistance? Recently, I discussed with a friend this universal experience of holding ourselves accountable for tasks. We often feel we “should” do this or “should” have completed that by now. If you’re in the…

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Bring Back Small Talk

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | June 5, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on small talk the image shows a midlife woman with glasses chatting to a male colleague while holding a cup of coffee

Have you ever wondered if we should bring small talk back? Pre-COVID, I often discussed how the most important parts of meetings were the small talk moments—those informal chats while waiting for others to join or as everyone left the room. This small talk bonded people through shared experiences, like seeing the same movie or…

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Are Your Motivations Clear in Crucial Conversations?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | May 29, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on overcomplicating things clear motivations the images shows a woman with crossed hands thinking.

Have you ever worried about having a crucial conversation and whether it might upset the other person or tarnish your relationship? Recently I discussed with my husband a difficult conversation he needed to have. One key aspect we talked about was his motivation for having this conversation. It’s important to be clear about your motivations…

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Leading In Complexity: Landing a Max 9

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | May 15, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on leading in complexity the image shows a plane landing

Leading in complexity is paramount. In turbulent times, it’s crucial to remain steady. Nothing illustrates that better than the recent incident with the Max 9s, where part of the airplane malfunctioned mid-flight. I used this scenario recently with a client, who was struggling with a major reorg they were overseeing. They expressed how hard it…

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Treat Strategic Time Like a Doctor’s Appointment 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | May 8, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on strategic time the image shows someone holding an ipad with a schedule.

Do you want a tip on how to safeguard your strategic time? During a recent conversation with one of my clients about blocking off strategic time in the calendar, a lightbulb moment occurred for me. This particular client was sharing her struggle of preserving her blocked-off time and how it quickly vanishes like pixie dust…

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How to Get out of To-Do List Hell

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | April 24, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on to-do list hell the image shows a yellow background with a empty list and a pen next to it.

In the midst of “to-do list hell,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and trapped in a never-ending cycle of tasks. Do you feel like you’re not making the impact you want as a strategic leader because your to-do list keeps giving birth to other lists? Well, I have a few suggestions to get you out…

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Strengths Analysis: A Key Question You Are Missing

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | April 17, 2024 |

When analyzing your strengths, what’s one question you probably don’t ask yourself? It’s common to assess our strengths and weaknesses through tools like a SWOT analysis. I often do my own for myself and my business at the end of the year. However, amidst this process, there’s one crucial question often overlooked: How do we…

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Why Is Change So Emotional?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | April 10, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on on why change is emotional the image a yellow painted wall being painted over with an orange roller.

In the midst of organizational change, ever wondered why rationality often takes a back seat? Recently, I was talking with a client about a big change effort that she and her team are immersed in.  We were exploring why individuals weren’t embracing the transition logically. The conclusion we came to is that change invariably carries an emotional component, whether it promises improvement or upheaval. Even if the change is for…

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