Several years ago my friend and colleague Emily Sirkel wrote the following article about the importance of asking for help—not just for your own sake, but also for the benefit of those you ask. _________________________________________________________________________ I love moving. I also hate moving. Part of me is always eager for an adventure, for something new and …
Many virtues mark the life of a great leader. Integrity, ambition, vision, and empathy are just a few. But perhaps most important of all virtues is courage—because without the courage to hold fast, the demonstration of these other virtues is sporadic at best. Author, poet and performer Maya Angelou expressed this conviction when she said, …
I recently saw a deeply thought-provoking quote (author unknown) that I feel is particularly relevant in today’s world of hyper-communication where so many people write, record, post, send, comment, or in some other way share so many opinions and perspectives on a daily basis. The quote is this: “Silence is the best answer to someone …
Have you ever run a marathon? I personally have not, but I know people who have. But of those I know who have run a marathon, not one of them has ever won a marathon. However, if you know anything about marathons and race culture, then you probably know that you don’t have to win a marathon …
As a leader, how easily do you admit weakness or inadequacy? How often do you ask for help? Are you tempted to shelter your ego and muscle through difficulty on your own? In a blog post a few years ago, speaker, author and leader Michele Cushatt wrote about an experience she had that forced her …
“If you see things the right way, losses are opportunities to change and improve.” —John Maxwell No one likes to lose. But I think leaders especially don’t like to lose. Try as we might to keep our egos out of our leadership, it hurts our pride when we experience failure. As leaders, we’re “supposed to” …
Years ago, when I was working for VHA, there was a small family-owned and operated deli on the first floor of the building where our national offices were located. The deli was a convenient place to have coffee or a soda with a colleague, or to have lunch. I ate there frequently, as did many …
Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel grumpy all day for no good reason? Every little thing frustrates you and makes you grumpier. The glass is persistently half empty, and the look affixed to your face does not reflect sunshine and butterflies. I think we all have those days on …
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Excuses are like armpits… everyone has them, and they all stink!” I’m not sure who first coined this amusing analogy, but it does have some truth in it. Of course some excuses really are valid, but many just plain ‘stink.’ Whether it’s to explain why someone is late or a …
Whether you’re working from home these days or adjusting to social distancing and mask-wearing in your organization’s workspace, building connections and cultivating authentic relationships is as important as ever. This week I want to share something I wrote several years ago, which I feel is still very relevant today. Below are 5 ways in which …
Imagine that you are facing a field full of targets. In your hand is a bow and arrow. You put your arrow in place, raise your bow, steady your arm, draw back, and release. Oh wait, I forgot to tell you to aim! Without aiming, it’s definitely possible that you’ll hit one of the many …
It has been many years since I’ve had young children living in my home, and many more since I was a child myself. Even my grandchildren are mostly grown up now. But one of my colleagues has three young children, and I’ve had the privilege of interacting with her little ones a few times over …
Some people are habitual procrastinators. It doesn’t matter what it is—doing the dinner dishes, paying a bill, or writing a term paper—they put it off until the last minute. But even if you’re not a notorious deadline pusher, it’s likely there are at least a few things you tend to procrastinate about. Maybe it’s starting …
My friend Dr. Keith Lepak, a board certified emergency room physician, explained how in the medical field the most urgent and stressful events doctors and nurses must respond to are the hospital emergency codes, such as “Code Blue,” which generally indicates respiratory or cardiac arrest. Keith said, “There’s an old saying: ‘during a code check …
We each have many conversations every day ranging from personal to professional. The topics of these conversations vary just as much as the individuals with whom you have them. There are two ways to listen, described as passive and active. The passive listener hears and translates but often has other things taking focus in his or her head. …
I originally wrote and published this article 8 years ago, but given current events, I feel compelled to share it again. ———————————————————— Famous theologian, philosopher and physician Albert Schweitzer once said,“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” What a poetic way to express such …
Awhile back I posted the following quote to LinkedIn: “Every next level of your life will demand a different you.” – Leonardo DiCaprio A number of people commented on the post, including my good friend and colleague Marc Gelinas, who said this: “Every level of our lives creates a (hopefully) better us. As we get …
While perusing LinkedIn one day, I came across an article titled “The Very Best Way to Manage Female Employees.” Intrigued, I checked it out. The author of the article, Jeff Haden, began by describing his experience attending a conference breakout session, an executive seminar, and a Master’s level leadership class all in the same week. …
About 17 years ago, after a long and very fulfilling career in healthcare leadership, I chose to retire. I was set up well for retirement and was looking forward to some hard-earned leisure time, so I stocked up my Inspirational Vehicle (a small motorhome), grabbed my digital camera, and took off across America the Beautiful, …
You are getting older. Like it or not, you and I are getting older every single day! Whether you’re still in your youth, middle aged, or enjoying your golden years, there’s no escaping the subtle but steady reality of aging. When we’re young, we tend not to worry about aging. In fact, we often are …