Leadership Blog

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From Incite to Leadership founder and CEO Jo Ilfeld, read the latest on strategic vision, leading change amid complexity, and honing the way you communicate and collaborate with others. Get resources, practical strategies, research, and more.

Do You Share Your Insights With Others?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | December 7, 2022 |

Do you share your insights with other team members or peers? If you have ever thought, “I bet this is so crazy; I can’t believe this happens to anyone else,” then it’s time to share these thoughts with your peers because it’s likely others are feeling the same. When you discuss these insights with your…

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What Can You Learn From Success? 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 30, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on success, the image shows a business woman smiling.

Do you take the time to celebrate the accomplishments of your team and learn from success, or do you find they get lost in the frustrations of the present moment and the work they haven’t done yet? I see this all too often in my team development work. Team members give a nod to their…

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Five Ways To Tell If You’re Getting Wiser

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 16, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on leadership lessons, the image the Indigo Girls live in concert.

This article was first published by Forbes I recently had the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite bands live in concert. It was an anniversary gift from my husband and my first live show in years! To my complete surprise, as the Indigo Girls came onstage and started singing “Least Complicated,” I felt my…

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Tough Conversations – Another Perspective 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | October 12, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on tough conversations, the image shows two diverse men talking with serious faces.

Tough conversations at work can leave you feeling upset, hurt, and downright angry. Often, these emotions continue to build and build as you reflect on what was said. I know I have experienced this, and I’m sure you have, too. Yet, what I want to explore here is how can you turn this negative experience…

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Do You Feel Silenced at Work? 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | October 5, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on being silenced at work, the image shows a woman with her eyes over her face in front of a laptop.

Do you feel silenced at work? Silenced by your boss, peers, or even direct reports? Even when you’re an accomplished professional, at the top of your field, you can still end up feeling silenced by the people around you. Perhaps you don’t feel this way, but it’s my hunch that someone who is working with…

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Are You In the ‘In Group’ at Work?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 28, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on the In Group in the workplace, the image shows a woman standing by herself away from a group.

Are you in the ‘In Group’ at work or do you feel left out? My client was feeling left out and and I needed to help her. My recent discussion with a client inspired this week’s learning snack video. After her recent hire, my client was given an office stuck on the outskirts, in a…

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Team Development Vs Team Building

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 21, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach n team development, the image shows a group of colleagues around a table.

I am often asked what’s the difference between team development and team building. Another question often asked is, “Is team building really worth it?” Yes and no. Oftentimes, team-building exercises are limited to rah-rah types of events such as escape rooms, trust falls, and the like. And they often fall short. Team development, on the…

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Are You Getting An Outside Perspective?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 15, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on outside perspective, the image shows a woman looking through a camera lens.

Getting an outside perspective can make all the difference. If you ever experienced some kind of breakdown, whether at work or in your personal life, what was the turning point for you? In one of my monthly meetings with other colleagues, a brilliant friend stated that the turning point for all the stories of breakdowns…

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The Difference Between Shame and Guilt 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 6, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on shame, the image shows a red-headed woman holding her head in her hands.

Have you ever read something that made you rethink what you knew before? When I read about shame and guilt in Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, she made me do just that. Have you read her book?  I have heard Brené talk about the difference between shame and guilt before but what was so powerful…

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Are You Paying Attention to Awe and Wonder?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | August 29, 2022 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on paying attention, the image shows a sky over the sea with birds.

Are you paying attention to the things of awe and wonder around you? A few weeks ago, I was in beautiful Carmel and its beauty inspired me to make this quick video while I was walking on the beach. I encourage you to spend a few moments this week looking at the wonderful, awesome beauty…

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