When the Best Leadership Skill Is Just Being Present
Unlike traditional leadership responses to employees—offering advice, jumping to solutions, or minimizing feelings—attunement is about being with another person instead of trying to fix them or the situation. It’s when a leader deeply notices, actively listens, and signals to an employee: I see you. I understand you. You are safe here. Unfortunately, this powerful skill is rare among leaders, who are often taught that action is more important than listening.
Resilience and Grit: The Foundations of Thriving Through Challenges
We hear about resilience and grit often—but do we really understand how to apply these concepts in meaningful ways?
Confidence is the New Killer App: The Key to Winning in the Age of AI
There are many ways to build collective confidence. Here are two effective approaches leaders can take to cultivate team confidence, build a culture of self-reliance, and empower your team to handle challenges with resilience.
How to Bust Procrastination: Part One — Push Past Probably
Part One in this blog series looks at the beliefs and emotions that may be underlying your procrastination. Instead of “probably” getting around to things, manage the emotional cues that deceive you into procrastinating.
How to Talk with Your Team About the Elephant in the Room
If your team feels “stuck,” the problem might involve issues that are difficult to discuss — conflict between two team members, for example, or an underperforming employee. To address these issues head-on, leaders must learn the art of framing a conversation so people can organize their thoughts, feelings, and experiences to come to a solution. This article offers a five-step process around framing, and two examples of how it can help bring “undiscussables” into the light.
Living with A Twinkle In Your Eye: Creating A life of Meaning and Intention
If you are ready to live with a twinkle in your eye (or make the twinkle shine brighter), it might be time to clean out your closets and your life! Warning: Be prepared for people to stop you to ask what’s behind your twinkle!
Light People Up with Better Questions
Better, more interesting questions light people up. They spark thoughtful, deeper responses. More engaging conversations. More authentic connection.
Forget Feedback…Do This Instead!
Knowing you are about to hear feedback can create a sense of avoidance and/or fear. Even if you approach it with a growth mindset, it can still be tough to hear and process feedback. Simply replacing the term ‘feedback’ with ‘conversation’ may reduce the unintended stress response of getting ‘feedback’ from your boss.
Learning to Listen Deeply
Today’s fast-paced work environments require speed and agility in every conversation—from face-to-face conversations, to emails and texts, and to the virtual meetings we attend. Yet, most companies are sending their employees to meet this twenty-first century challenge armed with dated communication skills and standards. Listening is more than hearing the words correctly. It is also paying attention to what is happening physically and emotionally during the conversation. I call this kind of listening Deep Listening.
Lessons from Summer Camp: 5 At-home DIY’s To Foster The Good Life
As my studies and work continue to take me deeper into the science of wellbeing, I realize the ingredients that make up the Lair are the same ingredients that make a life worth living. For an at-home mood boost, pick a Lair experience from the chart and mimic it with the DIY suggestions.
A Courageous Foe of Burnout
Around the world, people are worrying about burnout, a state of chronic stress characterized by physical exhaustion and emotional disengagement. Burnout is expensive. It can rob people of health and well-being while it robs companies of productivity.
Replenishing The Wellbeing Bank: 25 Tips For Managing Stress
Work-life boundaries continue to blur with remote work, the impact of work-force reductions (or resignations) take a toll on those who remain, and lingering effects of Covid and its aftermath are depleting us. These are just a few possible contributors to a workforce that feels less than flourishing. Of course we are drained and tapped out! Below you will find the SVC top 25 list of stress reducers and positive energy boosters.
How Leaders Can Create Fearless Teams
In psychologically safe teams, members can bring their full selves to work because they are encouraged to speak up with any concerns, questions, ideas and mistakes. And when they do this, they are given the benefit of the doubt, which leaves them feeling accepted and respected. In my experience as a leadership coach, I’ve seen three leadership mindsets help pave the way for valuing ideas, inviting questions and honoring vulnerability at work: openness, curiosity and courage.
A Tool for Building Your Professional Network
For some people networking comes easily. They gravitate towards meeting new people at conferences and work events. They collect cards and then actually do something with them, such as send them LinkedIn connection invitations. They are curious, so they ask questions. Afterwards, they remember what matters to the people they meet. But for the rest of us, building a strong network is a daunting prospect.
Beyond The Money: Tips For Retention
Are you spinning your wheels trying to come up with creative, non-monetary, ways to retain your valued talent? If you are, you are not alone! Every month SVC hosts a gathering for our HR partners to connect with one another and learn about a current topic.
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