Tis the “season of giving”—which either thrills you, or sends you into a panicked dash to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. While we don’t have a ton of recommendations for Grandma (comfy slippers are always a…
Whenever we facilitate a team building or leadership development workshop, the first item on the to-do list is always establishing trust. Why? Because if participants don’t trust each other and their facilitators, they won’t get anything out of the experience.…
The common phrase “practice makes perfect” holds true when considering public speaking, but here's the question: How do you practice public speaking…when you’re lacking the “public" part? Well, for anyone trying to hone their talents without having to round-up a…
Have you ever found yourself trapped in an avalanche of commitments? Too many board meetings, too many social engagements, too many projects? For many of us, the urge to say “YES” to new time commitments is overwhelming, and the word…
Yes. You read that correctly. I helped a client increase their salary by $10,000 in one day. I was thrilled to share this news with a close friend, and asked for feedback on how I should present this success in…
Those who know me well would tell you that I am a man of many things—Among them: amateur chef, lover of books, frosting aficionado, and purveyor of endless (and mostly useless) trivia. Yet, for all the things that I am,…
The trouble started when I stood up. It had been a short sleep. The previous evening had included attending a charity ball with close friends, eating too much food, enjoying too many cocktails, staying up late, and even hitting the…
A few years ago I facilitated an executive offsite for the leaders of a successful software company. Conversation throughout the morning had been polite and somewhat productive, but there was an overly formal stiffness about the group that indicated the…
This past Sunday I had the pleasure of working with a local chapter of Phi Mu Sorority at Grand Valley State University. They’d invited me to facilitate a short session on how to have tough conversations. It wasn’t going to…
As summer takes its final bow, the weather has grown more tolerable for those of us who aren’t huge fans of body-melting heat. While mild temperatures signal the arrival of tailgate season, bonfires, and so many other joyful activities, they…
