Most of us have thought, “Should I quit my job, leave the company, say ‘adios’ to the boss.” Like many impulses, they are fleeting and probably a healthy release.
However, what happens when those thoughts become frequent, and you find yourself spending more and more time either planning your escape or daydreaming about your next move? [Read more…]
I am a bit worried. In so many ways we have come to accept the presence of the pandemic and all that came with it. The drama has settled down and the rhetoric has reduced.
The requirement we stay away from one another for quite some time was a necessary safety decision. Everyone went home to their kitchen table, or if you were lucky, their home office. We got the work done the best we could. It was a remarkable feat. [Read more…]
These have been extraordinary times. Not everyone is experiencing life in the same way or on a similar timetable. To get or remain on the path forward we need to appreciate and act upon some essential human needs both at home and in the workplace. They are trust, compassion, stability, and hope. [Read more…]
In our constant drive to achieve goals, execute and complete tasks, and develop strategies, we lose sight of our underlying passions and true interests. We’re distracted by the day-to-day hustle. We rarely stop to ask, “What do I really want?” and “Am I on a path that will allow me to be my authentic self?”. [Read more…]
The amount of information available to all of us, in every aspect of our lives, increases at ever faster rates. It is astonishing, valuable, and often increases the workload we carry.
My executive coaching clients regularly, and consistently, complain about the ever-increasing workload placed upon them and their staff. This never-ending demand contributes to burnout and for many people is the reason they chose to change employers. The problem is that in their next place of employment the workload is often even greater. [Read more…]
Arthur C. Brooks is a behavioral social scientist at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School, a best-selling author, speaker, and a contributor to The Atlantic and host of The Atlantic’s “How to Build a Happy Life” podcast series.
It was pure coincidence I came upon some podcast interviews. His discussions, all with scholars taking a variety of perspectives, focuses on happiness, what it is, and how to reach it. [Read more…]
“I’m crazy busy!” “Things are bonkers here!” “I’m in complete and utter overwhelm!” I hear these, and many similar cries, all the time from my executive coaching clients. Some people want to show off their prowess, others their dedication, but for many it’s a cry for help. I’ve caught myself doing it for all the above reasons. [Read more…]
‘Tis the season when we measure and are measured for our successes (gold stars), lost opportunities, and missteps. Often the grading comes from others — bosses, teachers, partners, family, complete strangers, and society. What if we were to measure ourselves, looking for accomplishments and revelations rather than disappointments, failures, and errors, using our own scale rather than that of others? What if you earned gold stars? [Read more…]
Reinventing yourself can be radical, narrow, and specific, or a small shift with significant impact. It calls for change in ourselves as employees, members of a family, citizen of the world, or as an individual. It requires the awareness something is not working, there is more to life, or our current behavior isn’t authentic. Part of reinvention has to do with how you see yourself and the rest with how others see and react to you. Here are areas you might consider exploring. [Read more…]
You probably know exactly what I am referring to when I ask about email overwhelm. You’re waiting for the boss to email you with the okay to move forward. Six members of your team are emailing asking, “Have heard from the boss?” They want to know when and how to meet. CNN is posting “breaking news.” A colleague just sent you a link for a podcast. Accounting wants to know if you submitted expenses. The Tech Help Desk’s email is announcing a system update. Your partner needs to know if Friday night is still okay, and everyone seems to be hitting “reply all.” [Read more…]