Most people have little interest in learning new ways of doing things without some external motivation. Perhaps you’re the exception and are eager to know what it takes to be a self-directed learner. Stage 1: You don’t know what you don’t know.Even though you’re missing the mark, you’re unaware of that possibility. The potential for mistakes […]

Strained relationships are a normal, natural occurrence in today’s tension-filled workplace. An effective way to keep the underlying issues from driving people apart is to sponsor clarification forums on a regular basis. A clarification forum is a structured process where those within your sphere of influence demonstrate their support for conflict resolution and joint problem […]

Dysfunction is contagious. It spreads from person to person and from project to project. Unchecked, it is possible for an entire culture to become diseased and still not know it is “sick.” The introduction of inclusionary thinking can halt the spread of dysfunction by exposing the possibility that none of us knows the “truth” and […]

When your expectations are high and you’re looking forward to a positive response, you want the time line to be short. Remember as a child excitedly counting the days before your birthday? What if your expectations are low and the response is potentially negative or difficult to accomplish? You’re more likely to postpone the undesirable […]

You have more contact with peers than with bosses, so there is room in those relationships for more misinterpretation when you embark on the path to professional development. Your colleagues have invested time and effort in getting to know you, so don’t be surprised if they are resistive to your good intentions. They want things […]

When a conflict flairs, defending your position should not be your first priority. Instead, listen first to the other person to better understand what’s keeping you apart. Then, armed with two perspectives, you can search for additional sources from which to glean clarifying information.  Disagreements provide a natural opportunity for the involved parties to dig […]

Economic uncertainty and political upheaval can send some people into a doom loop where the days are cloudy and the future is dark. What those folks need is someone to center on the here and now long enough for the sun to peak through and light up the horizon. You could be that person. All […]

Being tactful and nonjudgmental when broaching a touchy topic is not easy. Like most people at the giving end of critical feedback, your goal is to cultivate an ally not make an enemy. Ultimately, you want people to be open about their concerns especially when something is amiss. Withholding the truth sets up boundaries and […]