The Death Spiral or The Connection Spiral: What will you choose?
Every leader client I have ever coached has at least one relationship in which they feel challenged or stuck. When we explore what they’ve shared with the other person, invariably, I hear some version of how they are not able to say what they really think, feel or want. I hear some version of how they have withheld. I wish…
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Leaders Willing to “Dip In” Truly Grow
I believe that the process of learning to lead well can help us become better humans. By growing to meet the demands of the call to leadership, we’re presented with a chance to finally, fully, grow up. Jerry Colonna, Author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up. When we ask the leaders in our Conscious Leader Forums what…
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Lead Like Hoss with Small Deeds Done Daily
Dear leaders: Early in the pandemic, many of us were operating on our surge capacity (Great article here). We had the kind of energy and focus we’ve seen first responders bring to a natural disaster. Surge capacity works great in the beginning but after a while we get worn out. By late spring, after a few months of business, mothering,…
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Taking Our 100% Responsibility for Racist Systems
These feel like volatile, uncertain, and confusing times for leaders despite that systemic racism has existed for centuries. Now, more so than ever, we hear conflicting messages. Speak up. Go quiet. Use your voice. Use your voice only to lift up black/indigenous voices. Give space to their voices. Why have you been silent so long? It’s time for leaders to find…
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How to Be A Caring Leader During a Pandemic
528 words just landed on the cutting room floor. Those words were the draft of this post. I wrote them this morning while I was feeling agitated and lacking creative inspiration. My context (how I was coming at the post) was very below the line. I was behaving like things were happening “to me”. Not surprisingly, what landed on the page was a confusing and uninspired read. Now I am back for Take Two. At the moment, I am above…
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Me: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
“If we’re willing to give up hope that insecurity and pain can be exterminated, then we can have the courage to relax with the groundlessness of our situation. This is the first step on the path.” Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart Me: Yesterday If this pandemic had happened five years ago, my response would have been far different. I…
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Feeling “It” During COVID-19
“If we can name it, perhaps we can manage it.” Scott Berinato, Harvard Business Review (HBR) Earlier this week, HBR published an article on it. It is not a normal topic for a business journal. These are not normal times. It is grief. Grief is not a normal topic for me to write about either. Certainly, I have come to…
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Hard lessons already learned from COVID-19
Dear Leaders (Friends) “Below the line” has been my almost permanent existence these past few weeks. How about you? The “line” is a clear divide. In any moment we are either “above the line”—in curiosity, possibility, openness and abundance or “below the line”—closed, defensive, needing to be right/superior, feeling scarcity. In conscious leadership we use five core emotions to describe…
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Leading in the Time of COVID-19
“Leading is about guiding people into the future despite its risks and uncertainties.” Linda Ginzel, Booth School of Business. There’s a lot we don’t control about COVID-19. What we can control is how we lead. We can face the challenge of COVID-19 (and climate change etc.) or ramp up our delusions that we don’t need to deal with these issues. We…
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Dancing With What Is
As the tango unfolds, my inner voice is sometimes loud: What if not enough leaders commit? What does that say about the Forum? What does this say about me? This “should be” easier etc.
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