Over the holidays, I was introduced to an Asian comedian, Ken Jeong Tran, being interviewed on a talk show about her recent and highly successful comedy tour. During the interview, the host showed several clips of her hilarious performances at live events in Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles, but he also showed a clip of her failing in …
The Q-1 Reset
January 1st is just another ordinary day, like any other of the 365 days of the year. There is absolutely nothing concrete that gives it any more meaning than any other day. And yet, somehow, it is different. It wields a powerful energy across the western world of rebirth, renewal, and re-commitment. I know it’s essentially arbitrary, something that our …
Do Their Opinions Matter?
“I really don’t care if they disagree with this new policy. This is my company, and I’m in charge of making sure we are profitable, secure, and growing. It’s my responsibility to make these decisions, and this is what I need them to do.” This is true. The owner and C-Suite execs are in charge of making sure the company …
Help Them Connect the Dots
They say there are two ways to motivate people: away from fear or toward desire. Fear could include losing a job, being embarrassed at the team meeting, or being passed over for a promotion. Desire could include getting a bonus or some other desirable incentive, receiving recognition, or earning a promotion. Many of us hope to lead by creating desire …
Supervision vs. Coaching
Supervision is an old, industrial-age, baby boomer model of leadership that is DOA in the workplace today. I can say that because I AM a boomer. I can also say it because I work with Gen X, Y, and Z professionals every day who confirm what the research overwhelmingly supports—they hate being supervised, corrected, and micromanaged. Supervision was important and …
On Election Day, Choose Wisely
This just might be the most important Monday Morning Stretch I have ever written. As you read this, within 24 hours, we will elect a new American president. Whatever the results, half of the country will be disappointed, if not downright angry, frightened, and despondent, except for (I hope!) our readers. I’m banking on the notion that if you’ve been …
Conflict Done Right
If we’re honest, most of us hate conflict. We either gear up for an uncomfortable fight, or we avoid it altogether. I think conflict gets a bad rap. I believe conflict feels uncomfortable to us because we’ve blindly adopted an old definition of it from parents, co-workers, friends, and society in general. We look at it through the frame we’ve …
Focus
I have decided that I am a big fan of focus, not because I’m always good at it but because I’m not. I have a lot of interests, a busy life, and, like all of us, I live in a fast-paced world. It’s easy to decide that constant distractions and operating in a consistently fragmented way and juggling multiple demands …
The Stretch Zone
LionSpeak is a communication coaching company specializing in coaching individuals, leaders, and teams, who wish to communicate with more clarity and inspiration to achieve remarkable results. In other words, we help people communicate better in a variety of circumstances. For example: An administrator wanting to convert more callers to appointments. A leader wishing to inspire their team to massive action. …
Partnering for Change
As a coach, one of my favorite questions in leadership, conflict, or offering help and guidance is, “Do you want to feel better (or have a different result)?” If the answer is no, then we’re likely done with our work together for the moment, and at least we don’t have to waste time struggling or pretending. I’ve learned not to …
