I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving and that you were able to spend quality time with people you love as well as some time in reflection on your year. It is hard to believe that we only have one month left of 2018. One of the most popular concepts I introduce to my clients is something I call Positive Reflection Process. I give the audience three to five minutes and ask them to look back on their year, then write down anything positive that stands out to them. Those stand outs can be professional or personal items. Some people list their accomplishments and others write down the things they are grateful for. After they have their list, I put them in groups of three and ask them to share what they have written. It is exciting to see what takes place in the room. At first, most people struggle to reflect on their year and see the value of the exercise. But once they complete the exercise and share with the group, their boost in confidence is almost visible. The Positive Reflection Process: Gives us perspective on the progress we have made Provides us with a boost of ener ...

“Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss is a book often given to kindergartners and college graduates because those are the milestones we consider to be the bookends of education. But speaking to a group of emerging leaders in California recently made me think: Education never really stops. These were a group of individuals hungry to progress and ready to succeed. What they wanted from me were tools and strategies to help achieve their goals. I left my time with them inspired by how far it is possible to go when you want to learn. I’ve spoken before on the need for humility to achieve growth, but you also need courage. An ever-changing work environment necessitates learning new skills or developing our existing skills. Not only does it require humility to see the gaps in our competencies, but courage to do something to fill them. Courage to take the first steps; courage to find the time in an already packed schedule; courage to conquer the fear of failure. And here it is easy to become overwhelmed. Our fixation on the desired outcome can leave us feeling inadequate, discourage ...

[caption id="attachment_1725" align="alignright" width="248"] Priorities, priorities[/caption] Have you ever heard this statement at work? "We need to do a better job of prioritizing." Maybe you have been talking to a friend outside of work. They discuss how life is coming at them so fast they are unsure of what to do and mention something about prioritization. Change is happening at an accelerated pace. Workload and competition are increasing. We can easily get lost in competing priorities. It feels as though everything is fighting for our attention from advertisers to work to relationships. Much of workplace burn out and mental exhaustion is due to lack of prioritization. Holding onto the belief that "I can get it all done" and squeezing in "just one more thing" keeps us in a cycle where we are running too fast to spot the vital few activities. We end up putting too much on our plate and lose sight of our priorities. Determining which projects are a priority can be a constant struggle in a world where everything is a priority, and everyone is feeling the pressure of time. Al ...

I recently had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker at a conference for a group of financial counselors in the healthcare industry. The counselors are tasked daily with talking to patients about their treatment for cancer and how they plan on paying for it. Talk about a double dose of tough conversation. A life-threatening illness and money. Most people have a hard time talking about finances with their spouses. What impressed me about this group was the success rate they had with their patients. A 92% approval rating from those they serve. I'm not even sure brands known for customer service, like the Ritz Carlton, have that. They are an inspiring group with a high level of forbearance. They discussed how people often react negatively to the cost of their treatments, yet they respond in love and exercise a great deal of patience. “Love is patient; love is kind.” Corinthians 13:4 When we lose our patience and respond in anger, that interaction typically weighs on our hearts and minds. And this impacts our productivity because we hold onto the interaction or, as it is often ...

Am I there yet? When will I get there? Two daily questions that can dominate our inner thoughts if we are not careful. It's easy to spend the majority of our day, week, and life constantly comparing where we are with where we want to be. We have become an outcome-driven society addicted to fast fixes. Want to lose 15lbs? Take this pill. Want to make more money? Invest in this rising stock. Want to feel good about yourself? Buy something. We put too much trust in our half-baked solutions, and when they fail to deliver we get upset and quit. This fixation on the desired outcome often leaves us with feelings of inadequacy, discouragement, and in many cases, never obtaining our goals. Angela Duckworth, academic, psychologist, and firm believer in grit and self-control observes, Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare. I have been guilty of "outcome thinking" and have paid the price of many discouraging days and years. I believed there was a magic solution or shortcut to sustainable success. When I become the #1 Time Management Trainer on the topic "Managing Multiple Prioriti ...

How do I influence my boss? It is a question that comes up every time I do a one-day training course on managing multiple priorities. In my experience, there is no single correct answer. I have seen many complex and diverse work situations and finding out what works for you is the only thing that matters. Here are two general guidelines: Personality and Strengths 1 - Separate personality from taking it personally. It is a daily process, and for some people, it doesn't come easily. I have seen many bright, young professionals waste too much time and energy worrying, "Does my boss like me?" or worse, become mentally hijacked because they took their boss’s comment personally and allowed their emotions to best them. In any relationship there will be ups and downs. But don't let this shake the foundation you’ve built with your manager. For example — your boss says your idea won't work and maybe even calls it a dumb idea. You get angry, and next time, you go around them. Your boss finds out, and this turns into a more significant issue. Something you both hold onto for a long ...