Do You Know Who’s Cleaning Your Office?

On October 16, 2018

Do you know who processes your travel reimbursements, cleans your floors, empties your trash, guards the building? If these people are not directly interacting with you in your job, chances are you don’t. As we used to say in the Army, there’s the pointy tip of the spear…but it doesn’t fly alone. The pointy tip

Fix the Drip!

On August 23, 2018

I had become immune to the drip. For a while, the sprayer function on my kitchen faucet hasn’t worked. Then an annoying tiny spurt of water from the corner of the downspout. And then…water dripping down the neck and pooling at the base. I started keeping a rag near the counter, so I could wipe

Chocolate Truffles, Onion Soup, And Leadership Lessons

On April 26, 2018

What I learned about leadership from a celebrated French restaurant. How does a traditional French restaurant weather the notoriously competitive and fickle restaurant industry to stay highly successful for over 50 years? And what can those lessons learned teach us about becoming successful leaders? L’Auberge Chez Francoise in Great Falls, VA has received scads of top

Can You Be A DOER And SELF-AWARE At The Same Time?

On February 15, 2018

Another report from the coffee shop…Here I am, listening in again. It’s a popular spot, close quarters. You can’t help but overhear people’s conversations. Sometimes I pick up a nugget or two for leadership reflection. Like from the table next to me today. Two women, I gather from their conversation, co-owners of a small business,

Bringing Soul To Your Bottom Line

On January 25, 2018

The picture above is the (Save Our) Soul box from Penzey’s Spice company. After the President’s derogatory comments on immigrants from African nations a few weeks ago, Bill Penzey, Jr., the company’s CEO, sent out a newsletter denouncing the people who continue to support racism in our country. To put ‘skin in the game’ so

The 6 Most Dreaded Words—”Can I Offer You Some Feedback?”

On November 14, 2017

Shauna and David, both consultants, just made a presentation to a client. David gave the strategic overview and Shauna provided the implementation plan. Afterwards, on the way back to the office, David says, “Shauna, can I offer you some feedback?” Shauna’s thought…if I say yes, this can’t be good otherwise you would have just said

Give Your Thoughts The Old Switcheroo

On July 19, 2016

“The unexamined life is not worth living…” –Socrates I’ve signed up for a new business service. This person is supposed to be a back-end partner and help me be more organized and consistent. I know I could use the help. The hopeful elation of signing up for the service immediately gives way to a flurry

You Know What You Want To Do…How Do You Want To BE?

On May 10, 2016

I want to share an incredibly powerful concept with you, something I was first exposed to when I readIntegration: the Power of Being Co-Active in Work and Life by Ann Betz and Karen Kimsey-House. It’s called ‘designing the alliance’ and it is the joining of the ‘doing’ and the ‘being,’ the ‘what’ and the ‘how.’ We

What’s Your Mr. Potato Head Look Like?

On March 15, 2016

I’m at my favorite coffee shop. It’s crowded today and the only table open is in the ‘Mom’s & Kids’ section. Distracted from the work I brought with me, I am fascinated by the kids playing with the bins of toys at the Thomas the Train table. One 3-year old puts the rhino on top

The Conversation IS The Relationship

On February 16, 2016

How many times do we repress the urge to say something? Or don’t know how to start? Or blurt something out which muddies the situation even more? Or fear disrupting whatever tenuous balance exists? How can we have rich, impactful conversations that actually create positive change? There are few books that I would label as

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