The countdown has begun. Three days to lift off! For many of us, it could be the lift off of big emotions, big drama, and big triggers that holiday events with family and friends can bring. I mean, we all know that person—the one we know will likely bring the match to the fire. But this year, what if we …
The Presentation of Time
Sorry to sound the alarm, but Christmas is only 10 days away! How is it even possible that we are already at Christmas? It seriously feels like we were just celebrating July 4th… like last week. When I think about how fast time is passing in my life, I can easily fall into a mild sense of panic that I …
Setting the Course for 2026
I recently listened to an interview that Oprah did with Nate Berkus, the renowned interior designer, author, and television personality who has just published his latest book, Foundations. In it, he includes four principles of timeless home design. He suggests that when you’re thinking of designing a space, you should consider how you can: Make it personal. Embrace history. Build …
Minding the Gap
Mind the gap. The first time I saw this famous phrase painted on a sidewalk in London, the metaphor for life was not lost on me. Of course, in London, it was a warning to pay close attention to the gap between you and the oncoming train or traffic (which comes from the opposite direction we expect for Americans since …
Demeaning, Demanding, and Inviting
Because I teach non-judgement, empathy, and emotional regulation in our leadership coaching, sometimes people assume I’ll be “soft” on boundaries, expectations, or standards. I’m not. Far from it. I have no problem holding a firm line on any of these. But I also hold firm to the principle of speaking to others with kindness and respect, assuming the best of …
The BIG Choice Ahead
If we want our businesses to thrive in 2026, we have a BIG choice to make now—invest in leadership and management training or risk the consequences of inaction. Employee engagement in companies and practices is on the brink. Why? Because managers’ engagement is on the decline. And when managers struggle, their team struggles. When managers thrive, so do their teams. …
Is Your Workplace Toxic or Cooperative?
The American workplace is deteriorating, and it doesn’t have to be like this. According to a recent poll done by Monster (2025 Mental Health in the Workplace survey) of over 1,100 U.S. workers, employees are increasingly reporting toxic work environments, poor well-being, and little faith that their employers are taking action to help improve the situation. In fact, 80% of …
The Happiest Employees
Last week, I shared an article about the number one trait of great leaders. This week, I’d like to focus on another article. This one, from CNBC’s “Make It” blog on October 13, is about what makes employees happy. The CEO of an executive search firm who has interviewed more than 30,000 candidates found 6 keys that create happiness at …
What Makes a Great Manager?
What is the one trait that makes for a great manager—vision, empathy, intelligence, communication skills? According to an article in the Wall Street Journal last week, the answer may surprise you. The journal, citing a 10-year study of a large global firm with 200,000 employees and 30,000 managers in 100 countries, found the number one predictor of an effective manager …
That’s My Job!
This month marks the 23rd anniversary of our Monday Morning Stretch, and to celebrate we are recycling some our most popular editions over the next few weeks. This Stretch was first published in May of 2014, just one year before Tom and I were married. It’s a great lesson in remembering that our job is often to help our customers …
