Professional Development

Flu season is upon us, but do you know what’s just as contagious as the flu? Motivation. A recent Johns Hopkins University study found that when we see other people challenging themselves and achieving “exceptional success,” we’re more likely to do the same. This is tied to motivation – when you see others do something, […]

In my son’s jiujitsu practice, coaches help competitors remain calm under pressure. In fact, emotional outbursts in a match result in disqualification. Once your emotions take over, you’ve lost the ability for rational problem-solving and decision-making. This is advice I’m leaning heavily into these days (takes deep breath). It seems like any conversation is just […]

I fancy myself a pretty funny person. In my house we don’t tell dad jokes; the punny zingers are usually delivered by mom and are met with exaggerated eye rolls (and for an especially good one, exasperated sighs) by my 12 and 14-year-old sons. I often use humor to lighten a tense mood, ensure others […]

Ever been on a bad first date? One where the person you were meeting didn’t look like their dating app picture, the conversation was awkward and you didn’t have anything in common? After two hours of fumbling your way through an uncomfortable dinner, would you want to go back to the dating app and repeat […]

Imagine building your small business over a period of 20 or 30 years of hard work, then, a few years ahead of your planned retirement, a health scare takes you away from work for several months. During your time away, your team doesn’t know how to handle all aspects of the business, customer service suffers […]

Did you know that 25% of the working-age population in the U.S. has some sort of disability? Or that 28% of adults in the U.S. have been impacted by the justice system with an arrest or criminal record? Did you know that almost 10% of Americans are connected to the military as active duty, veterans […]

Just the mention of the words –public speaking – can send shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned professionals. Whether it’s a presentation in front of colleagues, a pitch to potential clients or a keynote address at a conference, the ability to communicate effectively in front of an audience is a skill that […]

The phrase “networking event” sounds like a cringey waste of time, doesn’t it? Even as a verified extravert, the thought of talking to strangers and making meaningless conversation gives me a visceral reaction – pounding heart and sweaty palms as I imagine all of the awkward silences. At first, networking can seem intimidating, or at […]

I think a lot about how women make workplaces better, as well as the opportunities and challenges women face. When consulting with individuals and organizations about management challenges, I try to balance organizational, systemic solutions with empowering individuals to take ownership of their situations. Focusing only on organizational solutions robs individuals of their power and […]

When you meet someone new and they ask, “So, what do you do?” how do you typically respond? If you’re like many of us, you share your job title and likely a few details about how you spend 40 or more hours per week at work – that’s over 2,000 hours per year, by the […]

In today’s hot job market, getting great talent in the door can be a challenge. According to a recent article on LinkedIn, 53% of employees are thinking of leaving their current position in 2024, and 77% of employers are worried about attracting and retaining top talent. For some organizations, creating a great culture where employees want to […]