Some are able to say “no” to a request or opportunity and feel good about it. “This just isn’t the right fit for me” or “I don’t have the bandwidth right now – I hope you understand” are ways they opt out confidently. Others avoid saying “no” altogether because they don’t want to jeopardize a […]
Empathy alone is not enough. As someone who has studied empathy for many years, first in graduate school and now as an executive coach and facilitator, it is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for communication and change. Empathy is the ability to experience what it must be like to be in another’s emotional […]
by Laura S. Scott, Key Women’s Leadership Facilitator As a reformed perfectionist, I understand the appeal of perfection. Whether it’s the aesthetic appeal of a perfectly cut diamond or the yummy perfection of a beautifully decorated wedding cake, we all appreciate perfection on the occasions it shows up in our lives. We marvel because perfection […]
After the devastation of Hurricane Harvey that hit Texas and Louisiana, I was struck by how many of those interviewed were grateful – a young mother who lost everything – an elderly couple displaced – a homeless man staying at a shelter. The common theme was thankfulness. Safety for oneself and one’s loved ones far […]
All of us have felt the sting of rejection. Perhaps you didn’t get into the college of your choice, get a date with someone you had a crush on or got passed by for a promotion. It’s hard to shore up “positive thinking” with not fulfilling a treasured goal. We are told in our culture […]
Last night I was reading the Pressure Principle and specifically the chapter on anxiety by Dave Alred, performance coach to star athletes. Later I read an article on Focusing by David Rome in Tricycle Magazine, a Buddhist publication. I love when information from diverse sources converges and the knowledge shared overlaps. Let me explain. What […]
Guest Blog by Laura Scott When I hear something described as a guilty pleasure it sounds to me like an oxymoron. I understand the feeling. It’s the feeling I get when I’ve just polished off a big bowl of ice cream or a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips or I’ve spent two hours […]
We are told by people in our workplace, the media, our culture and other sources of external information that if we imitate what’s “in,” work hard to earn “enough” (position and money) and save for retirement, we will be happy – eventually. Going from the “outside in” doesn’t work. I’ve interviewed many hard working leaders […]
As a trusted advisor and executive coach, I often hear from clients complaining that they have some negative employees who don’t take responsibility for their actions. “Our CFO has a victim mentality and feels entitled to the benefits of his job,” asserts one. “She is skilled at what she does but her attitude sucks,” states […]
Saturday Night Live’s most recent sketch where the Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton characters do a dance to avoid shaking hands makes an important point. If things get vindictive enough, neither party will respond and total communication is lost. In the real debate, neither candidate acknowledged each other by shacking hands initially. Why did they […]
