Seek first to understand then to be understood Stephen Covey Last month I participated in a virtual program sponsored by a national organization called Braver Angels. Their mission is to build bridges between people with different political views. They believe that most of us want the same things: affordable health care, quality education, a good paying job, etc.…. We just have different ideas … Read More
Sometimes, It’s Not What You Think
The happiness of our lives depends upon the quality of our thoughts. Marcus Aurelius I’ve tried meditating many times over the years but never stuck with it. However, since March 2020, I’ve committed to a daily practice. It wasn’t because of Covid, but it was a result of hiking with a friend during Covid. It was during one of our … Read More
Why Don’t We Ask More Questions? Should We Ask More Questions? Maybe We Should Ask More Questions. What Do You Think?
We’re all hungry for better answers. But first we need to know how to ask the right questions. Warren Berger, A More Beautiful Question Anyone who knows me knows I ask a lot of questions. But when I was younger, it wasn’t something my family always appreciated. Maybe it was because they didn’t know some of the answers, or they felt overwhelmed by the … Read More
We’re All in This Together: Why We Need EQ
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. President Theodore Roosevelt Who was the best boss or manager you ever had? And who was the worst? What made them so great or awful? When I asked those questions at a recent virtual workshop, participants mentioned things like competence and knowledge. But the vast majority of responses were … Read More
Listening: It’s Essential
Most people do not listen with the intent of understanding. They listen with the intent of replying. Stephen Covey What is good communication? When I pose that question to workshop participants, they respond with ideas like empathy, knowing your audience, good eye contact, confidence, being engaging. But their most frequent response? “Knowing how to listen.“ While being confident, knowing your … Read More
Hope Is Not A Strategy
During the 2008 recession, I read an interview about a local businessman; the CEO of a company that was the fourth largest developer of shopping centers in the United States. At the time, his company was facing major financial challenges. When asked if he was hopeful about the outcome, he replied: “ Hope is not a strategy.” His plan was … Read More
Feedback: What Is It Good For?
What do Elvis, Oprah, Walt Disney, and Steven Spielberg all have in common? Besides fame, fortune, and mega successful careers, each received critical feedback and were either fired, rejected, or discouraged from pursuing their professional dreams and goals early in their careers. And while their early feedback experiences might not have been encouraging, there are times and situations when feedback … Read More