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 …
Who’s Your Ronaldo?
You’ve heard it before. One rotten apple spoils the whole bushel. Intellectually ,we get the wisdom in that idiom. Then, why is it so hard to effectively manage disruptive, disgruntled, or underproducing team members? I believe it boils down to fear or, better said, the lack of courage. I recently coached a leader who was struggling with a tough decision …
Sour Milk and Leadership
I know. It’s completely unladylike to drink milk straight from the container. However, occasionally when I’ve needed an ibuprofen for a headache to get to sleep and to put a little something in my stomach, I’ve reached straight for the container so I don’t need to turn lights on or make much noise. The last time I succumbed to this …
100 Years, One Year at a Time
When I was single and on a girl’s trip to Cape Cod, after a delicious crab boil and a fair amount of white wine, my friends encouraged me to write out a list of the qualities I was looking for in a new relationship. Number one on my list was man with a mountain cabin. Seriously, I tell my husband …
Four Reasons Team Retreats Should Be a Priority for Your Business
There are so many important (even pressing) decisions for a business owner or manager to consider in order to build their business, accomplish their goals, and manage their growth responsibly. One of the most important considerations is the state of their team. Is the team aligned with what we’re building? Are they clear on their priorities? Are they as skilled …
Traditions
Since the beginning, humans have created reoccurring ceremonies and traditions that help us recall important moments in our history, signify significant rites of passage, and celebrate things which unite and bond us. Since I was a child, I have always loved traditions. Growing up in the Episcopal faith, I loved the seasons of the church calendar marked by different alter …
The Drama Triangle vs. the Empowerment Triangle
You may have heard of the “Drama Triangle.” It was initially introduced by a psychiatrist named Stephen Karpman in the 1960’s as a “social model of human interaction” to demonstrate unproductive patterns of relating when conflicts arise. Each point of the inverted triangle represents one of three “faces of drama”: The persecutor (constantly finding fault and placing blame), the victim …
From the Top
“My job is to report it, not to fix it. That’s my manager’s job. That’s why she gets paid the big bucks!” This was the reply I received when I asked a client’s team member if she would be open to some coaching about how to solve a conflict with one of her co-workers. Simultaneously, her manager had complained to …
Celebrating Partnerships
Eleven years ago, I interviewed a young, bright virtual assistant in Ohio who possessed all the technical skills I needed to support my growing speaking and coaching business. She was professional and timely. She had experience in helping to make busy professionals’ lives easier by handling all the little details behind the scenes like travel arrangements, client scheduling, shipping, bookkeeping, …
Retention Vulnerability
When a country’s defense systems are weak, unprepared, or ill-informed, it becomes vulnerable to attack from its enemies. When a person is unaware of their surroundings, they are vulnerable to pickpockets. When immune systems are comprised, people are vulnerable to sickness. The same is true for our businesses. When we don’t pay attention to why employees leave or stay, we …
