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Read more about the article On The Brighter Side

On The Brighter Side

You have probably heard the saying “look on the brighter side”.  It’s something we often say to someone when things aren’t going their way or when life seems to be working against them in some way.  It serves as a reminder of the bigger picture.  It speaks to the art of reframing your reality, of looking at things from a different perspective, and of not allowing certain circumstances to dictate how you feel or act.  It is a powerful technique that is full of important lessons for all of us.

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Read more about the article Lesson in Humanity, Part Two

Lesson in Humanity, Part Two

There are a ton of things we can do in an effort to stop all the chatter in our minds that tells us to be afraid or that we are not good enough. This article by no means covers them all, but it does give a sampling of some of the more impactful things you can do to help yourself overcome the harmful cycle of negative messages that often play in our minds.

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Read more about the article Lessons in Humanity, Part One

Lessons in Humanity, Part One

Who among us has not at some point thought: I am not good enough. I am not smart enough.  I don’t have anything to offer.  I am not good looking enough.  I’m not skinny enough.  I’m not tall enough.  I’m not in shape enough.  I am not deserving.  I am not worthy.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. Whether personally and/or professionally, occasionally or on a regular basis, we all wrestle with these kinds of thoughts about ourselves. It happens to me almost on a daily basis.  Whether it’s because something didn’t work out the way I had hoped or I find myself comparing my life to that of others, thoughts like that always manage to find their way inside my head.

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Read more about the article 5 Signs Your Team Needs to Retreat

5 Signs Your Team Needs to Retreat

When I think of retreat two images come to mind. The first is of a campfire in the middle of nowhere roasting marshmallows and singing in unison. The second is a group of individuals participating in a series of trust exercises. Which in certain circumstances are appropriate but most of the time they are just uncomfortable. As an employee, I can tell you that both images would have been less than desirable to me. Yet routinely, this is where organizations gravitate towards when they are seeking a solution to boost morale and assist with culture change. 

Retreats certainly are a phenomenal tool and a worthwhile investment. If your reasons for deciding to facilitate a retreat are aligned with a goal that a retreat could actually accomplish. Here are the five reasons, I decided to facilitate the first-ever Leadership Arts Team Retreat. 

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Read more about the article Paper vs. Online Evaluations

Paper vs. Online Evaluations

In the training world, this has the potential for a loaded debate. Now before I state my personal opinion, let’s clarify. The level evaluation I am referring to is “Level One” on the Kirkpatrick scale or also known as the infamous Smiley Sheet.

In my personal opinion, right now at this very moment, I am in favor of paper. Despite the undeniable benefits of being able to have electronic data for the purpose of analysis and also the environmental benefits of paper elimination. I have found that our adult learners as a majority are not ready to let go of paper yet.

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Read more about the article Hope is NOT a Strategy

Hope is NOT a Strategy

Today I was facilitating one of my favorite programs. One of the activities includes having the participants work in small groups to create timelines demonstrating the impact leadership and staff mistakes can have if they are permitted to continue. The activity created two great “ah-ha” moments for myself and the leaders involved.

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Read more about the article Three “Qualities” of a Manager that Make Me Nervous

Three “Qualities” of a Manager that Make Me Nervous

1. Striving For Perfection

Okay let’s drop the fancy terms, this typically is the manager that believes they don’t need professional advice from someone in the HR or OD industry. According to them, they have already seen and heard it all.

Here’s the thing about people who view themselves as what I am loosely referring to as “perfect”…

They tend to be:

  • all or nothing
  • all about the goal
  • about outward appearances
  • about what we “technically” do

This would be great if business was stagnant and people were predictable (it’s not and they’re not).

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