Being curious helps us stay out of defense mode, embrace complexity, and find possibilities we might otherwise miss. It's also how we develop our teams, build trust, and create space for innovation—even during routine check-ins or status meetings.

I describe myself as a life long “learner”.  So this study really caught my attention —> people who spend time learning at work are 21% more likely to be happy at work, 47% less likely to be stressed at work, 39% more likely to feel productive and successful!

Take control and unlock your team’s full potential

Did you know one of the top reasons people share for why they are disengaged at work is lack of "opportunities to do what employees do best" (from Gallup Global Workforce Survey 2023)

One of the most important ways to show up in service is to suspend what we think we know and to listen. Empathy begins with listening – truly being present in the moment with someone and listening with your whole self. This skill becomes especially important in times of stress and extreme changes. In theory it sounds simple - and of course we all agree that we need to listen to others. But in real life, this takes practice and intention.

We spend far too much time working to dread going to work everyday.  Toxic teams impact everyone (you, your team, your customers).  When you lead with kindness, you create an environment where employees thrive, customer loyalty goes up, and overall business performance increases.

Let’s explore why it’s vital to intentionally lead with kindness and how it can make your company perform better.

My last article on delegation stirred up quite a few conversations especially around how to know when and what to delegate. It's easy to get caught up in daily tasks and when you are in it - quite difficult to see exactly where to let go and start delegating more.   

We often have an internal belief that the more we do, the better results we’ll get.

But as your company grows and your team gets bigger, its not actually true.

You’re already doing all the things → and not getting the results you want and it’s not working as fast as you had hoped. You can see you’re the bottleneck yet you can’t seem to stop doing it.

Managing teams is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.  When you break it down, there are basically 3 different types of teams.  Knowing what type of team you lead is important information to choose the right actionable strategies (from goals to communications structure to compensation) to boost performance, morale and best manage your team.

Reality is many employers are needing to embrace the hybrid model in order to attract and keep their best employees.  Workers are demanding increased flexibility to support better life-work balance and to navigate life's complexities (child care, elder care, personal health, etc).  For a lot of us, the hybrid or remote workplace is a big win. 

As leaders though, we need to pay attention.

Today’s article focuses on 3 scenarios that frequently pop up and get in the way of business owners continuing to grow their business (and still have a life outside of work!).  These are clear signals that you are in the next stage of growth.

I know first hand the impact effective onboarding can have on a company’s culture and introducing and uplifting new team members.  A recent Gallup study has shown that companies whose employees feel engaged at work experience higher profitability, lower turnover rates, reduced absenteeism and increased customer satisfaction. That’s pretty powerful! As leaders this is what we want for our teams.

I believe that onboarding is an important first step to promoting engagement, as it introduces new employees to both their practical responsibilities and the company’s culture and values.

Hiring is a big task in the best of circumstances and right now the stakes are even higher. With continued economic uncertainty, inflation and an employee driven market, you want to get it right -- both because hiring is expensive and because you have competition for the best talent.

Read on for my best practices for hiring with confidence and getting the right person in the right role.

Are you ready for your next sales breakthrough?  Do you know the pressure points and gaps in skills on your team? Do you have a clear idea of the best next role to hire for?

Employee engagement is down. Overhead costs are at an all time high. The economy is shaking in its boots. So how can entrepreneurs and small business owners maintain… and dare I say grow!? Over the course of my 25+ year career, I’ve seen one element remain true no matter what is happening with the workforce or the economy…

I got to meet with Dave Isay, the founder of StoryCorp! I’ve been a fan and listened to StoryCorp stories on PBS for years, so this was a real delight. The reason I got to meet Dave Isay and Sandra Clark, Story Corp’s new CEO, is because they

Do you know you need to grow but are worried about if it’s the right time? Are you struggling to hire the right person? Or worse, you have a key position has become a revolving door!?

As you navigate 2023 and face the many unknowns in your business this coming year, remember the more you utilize your team and rely on them, the better chances you have to be successful. The Center for Creative Leadership defines leadership as a social process that enables individuals to work together to achieve results that they could never achieve working as individuals. Instead of putting the entire weight of leadership on yourself or on individual managers, it’s important to include the whole system (team) involved.  Read more for the steps you need to take.

I know, I know - planning. It may be hard to get excited about planning. But trust me, don’t skip your annual planning! Even if it feels like a year where you are going to “rinse and repeat” last year or you feel like you have it all “in your head,” there is value in looking at things newly, having discussions, and writing it all down. If you’re more of a go with the flow kind of person and the word ‘planning’ makes you want to run the other direction, this is even more important for you

Without trust our investments into team often don’t work, even when made with the best of intentions. This gets magnified 10x in times of change.  Here are 5 ways to foster trust in the midst of change and uncertainty.