I’m Exhausted…and I Didn’t Even Do Anything

On May 21, 2018

I’m standing on the side of a winding country road near a vineyard with tiny green grape clusters reaching for the warm sun, yards from the entrance to a winery known for its excellent Zinfandels. But there will be no wine tasting for me today. This day is all about supporting my husband through Ironman

Is Our Stress Altering The Brain Cells Of Others?

On February 22, 2018

I was standing in line at my favorite coffee shop. The guy in front of me seemed to be having a bad start to his day. It’s not what he said, it’s how he said it. He ordered a coffee and croissant. “Ordered” being the operative word. Louder than necessary. Leaning with wide arms on

What The Brain Is Doing When We Get Feedback

On January 30, 2018

In the “6 Most Dreaded Words” we met David and Shauna, two consultants in a feedback discussion after a presentation. A discussion that is shaping up to be largely one-way (although Shauna is having a robust conversation in her head) and more defensive than effective. How can they have a more productive feedback conversation? Understanding what happens in the

The Charlie Brown Approach To New Year’s Resolutions

On January 11, 2018

Peppermint Patty: Have you made a New Year’s resolution, Chuck? Charlie Brown: Remember how I used to dread the whole year? Now I’m only going to dread one day at a time. —from A Charlie Brown Christmas Chuck is onto something. Hint: It’s not the dread. There is value in having big goals, long term goals. While the

The Art And Science Of Listening

On October 31, 2017

Great leaders listen. They don’t just hear, they actively listen. When you are talking with them, they make you feel like you are the only person in the world. Many of our interactions are transactional information exchanges, yet there are those times when it is time to go deeper than the casual exchange. That is

Courage In Everyday Life

On August 30, 2017

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. — Nelson Mandela I used to think that courage was some magical thing reserved for the Medal of Honor winner who runs into

Band-Aids And The Brain

On July 12, 2017

Rock. Paper. Scissors. Skin. Skin loses every time. As I was abruptly reminded when I suddenly found myself sprawled out, face down on a rocky trail in the Catoctin Mountains. Slowing rolling over, relieved that nothing seemed broken except my pride. I figure there will be some swollen knees from taking the brunt of the

How ‘Bout A Little Night (And Day) Music?

On June 27, 2017

Music can have a powerful impact on our ability to get things done, including focus and creativity. I attended the Kennedy Center’s Music and the Mind production last week, a fascinating collaboration between the National Symphony Orchestra and prominent neuroscientists. It enticed me to take a deeper dive into some of the research around music and the

Message “Stickiness” – Lessons For Change

On October 18, 2016

In this highly charged political season here in the U.S., with the 3rd Presidential debate this week, I found this Psychology Today article, Clinton Vs. Trump: Talking to the Reptilian Brain an interesting assessment with broad-range implications for those of us who work in leading organizations. As neuroscience advances and more research findings are validated, what we know