While walking along the shores of Lake Erie last weekend, my friend Jim shared an unusual conversation he overheard that morning. It involved a guy talking to his dog: reassuring him about getting water, informing him about the day’s agenda, and venting some personal frustrations. I laughed. It sounded funny. But then I remembered how I use to talk to … Read More
No Need for Walls. Build Better Boundaries.
We’ve all been there. We’re having a conversation, waiting in line, or mingling with a group, when suddenly, the stranger, acquaintance, or friend we’ve been standing next to gets too close. It feels awkward, uncomfortable, even intrusive. And while we don’t say anything, we take a few steps back, avert our gaze, or move to another side of the room. … Read More
Sometimes Soft Skills Can Be Hard
There is something even more valuable to civilization than wisdom. And that is character. H.L. Mencken Between early spring and late fall, you will often find me riding my bike along the trails and roads around northeast Ohio. And regardless of when, where, or with whom I’m riding, it’s not uncommon to encounter an angry motorist. Sometimes they blast their … Read More
Empathy: It’s More Than A Feeling.
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
When You Don’t Like Who’s Leading, Become The Leader You’re Looking For
Be the change you want to see in the world Gandhi Sometimes what happens to us is less important than how we respond. Good leadership matters. So when we can’t change our leaders or their behaviors, become the leader you’re looking for. HOW DO WE BEGIN? Start with feelings. Any breakthrough or change begins with better self -understanding and awareness. … 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
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