I had just finished facilitating a workshop for a Fortune 500 company in New York City and was saying goodbye to the participants. Two women from the group stayed after to chat with me, until one of them looked at her watch and said, “We need to go right now, or we will miss our
In December, I co-authored an article in Harvard Business Review aimed directly at coaches that answered some of the questions that my coaching colleagues and I are asked every single week about how to start and build a successful coaching business. We were thrilled with the attention this article received. What It Really Takes to
Giving performance feedback is a part of every people leader’s job. And yet, in my work with these leaders and teams, I’ve found that they often have negative mental models of what a feedback conversation is supposed to look like. Those pre-conceived notions can act as a barrier to giving timely, helpful, and honest performance feedback. Part
You already know that giving positive feedback is crucial to keeping your employees engaged and motivated. It helps them get clear about what's working so that they can do more of it. It contributes to their confidence so that they can engage in more self-directed, self-motivated work. Research shows that focusing on employees' strengths helps them learn faster, as well as produce
My twins, Jacob and Sophie, graduated from college last May and made a big shift from the world of full-time school to the world of work. This wasn't just a shift in how they spent time, it was a shift in behavioral expectations. Like so many early career professionals, they didn't know what the expectations
As a public speaking coach, I’ve spent decades helping people plan for what to do if something unexpected happens to them in the middle of a presentation. I had to take my own advice. I had COVID, and I ran out of air during a webinar I was leading. The more I spoke, the more
Mental health challenges in the workplace are getting worse, not better. Employees' mental well-being took a dramatic dip during the Covid pandemic and is still at risk due to ongoing stressors such as global political unrest, diversity and inclusion challenges, return to office initiatives, and economic uncertainty. Half of the global population will develop a mental
Three years ago, the way we shared presentations at work (and school) drastically changed. Anyone used to presenting in person had to adapt, revise, and change their public speaking strategies. Whether you were a student sharing work with your class, a sales associate pitching to prospects, a consultant advising clients, or in any other field,
Positivity isn't just a mindset, it's a skillset. Everyone can cultivate positivity through the choices you make, the perspectives you choose, the behaviors you engage in, and the conversations you have, as well as those you avoid. While it's not always easy or practical to look for the silver lining in every situation, helping to create and maintain a positive workplace can increase engagement, motivation,
Over the weekend, I was speaking to the CEO of a small company who, like me, has friends and colleagues in Israel who are impacted by the war. I asked her if she was planning to talk about the events in Israel with her leadership team and staff. "I don't think so," she said. "Because
When I sat down on the couch a few nights ago with a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats for dinner and a plan to watch the documentary WHAM!, I never expected that I would still be thinking about it days later. While most of the documentaries I watch are about things I will never do (like free climbing,
As a professional speaker for three decades, I’ve had to deal with my fair share of surprises that could have completely derailed my presentation. Like what? Like speaking during two separate blackouts without lights, AV, or functional toilets. Like facilitating a two-day training session where, in the middle of the first day, all participants got
"Today's going to be a great day!" You brush your teeth, start the coffee maker or tea kettle, and check your emails. Then you shower, get dressed, have breakfast, and get yourself to work -- all before 9 a.m. If you're having that great day, all of this can feel like, well, nothing. It's a habit
Tens of thousands of workers have been laid off so far this year. Layoffs can cause feelings of fear and grief. You may be wondering, Who’s next? and Why not me? and What now? While you might not be ready or able to answer these questions, you can’t expect that these feelings of anxiety and
It is increasingly common for leaders to show vulnerability. These days, rather than feeling compelled to put up an impenetrable, flawless façade, many leaders are actively encouraged to share their worries, hopes, fears, setbacks, and challenges with their teams. The benefits of vulnerability include creating psychological safety within the team, increasing the team’s potential, building
