April 16, 2026
“Some lucky people seem to have a magic touch when it comes to getting people to buy into their plans, goals and desires. But, in reality, reaching people isn’t magic. It’s an art…and a science. And it’s easier than you think.” Mark Goulston, author, Just Listen Yes, we all know that listening is important. It is considered, by broad […]
February 5, 2025
For years we have read about the ways organizations can enhance employee engagement. Great talent is supposedly in short supply. Many organizations are looking to attract and retain the best people, especially in anticipation of economic challenges that are the new normal. We scrutinize what constitutes great leadership. Phrases like “Culture eats strategy for lunch” (or is it breakfast?) are […]
June 27, 2024
Continuing the conversation started in Part 1 of this article – several key questions keep surfacing. One is the often unspoken tension between EI (Emotional Intelligence) and what is typically thought of as “therapy.” For anyone who has been involved in a therapeutic process, it’s immediately clear that learning and applying EI principles is very different from being “in therapy.” […]
September 19, 2023
“Anger can be a wonderful wake up call to help you to understand what you need and what you value.” Thich Nhat Hahn For seven years I regularly facilitated seminars on conflict resolution throughout the US. Most of the group participants wanted answers to problems they saw as the source of their conflict. Usually this had to do with fixing […]
April 11, 2023
In truth, we all start, somewhere, within a family system. The experience is universal and lifelong. We all bring it – we all have it. It is a matter of degree – and awareness. In every interaction we have at work, we bring our internal and interpersonal dynamics to the table. Family, culture, generation and other demographic imprints with us. […]
April 3, 2023
According to futurist and world sustainability expert, Alex Steffen, “Optimism is a political act.” The inner conflict between world views brings me back to exploring some basic questions about the nature of optimism, pessimism and the actions they propel. I’ve written before about cynicism and positive thinking but unrelentingly grim news compels me to revisit this territory. Steffens’ bold statement raises […]
February 6, 2023
In 1995, Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman was published. The introduction of Emotional Intelligence (EI) generated excitement and hope. It’s time to look at the progress and future of this work. As a student of psychology and social systems, EI (Emotional Intelligence) had immediate resonance with my experience and offered some of what I believed […]
October 20, 2022
More and more people are talking about living in “uncertain” times. It’s now called, “the new normal.” The anxiety over our predicament of uncertainty appears to be a new discovery. Our long-held assumptions about the future are being quickly rearranged. Collectively, our cultures are shifting so fast that we expect to live in an era of uncertainty. Along with the […]
September 26, 2022
When I consider my past, I’m amazed at what I just did not see. I wonder – what was I thinking at the time? Experience is not only a great teacher in the moment, but it gives us a context that changes our perception going forward. Once you know what you know – about your own behavior, a job, a […]