Authentic Leadership Academy
The past month I had the privilege of leading two Authentic Leadership Academies: one in-person and one virtual. This work is deeply fulfilling and meaningful – an expression of my own personal reason for being. After an extremely rewarding in-person event, I wondered if it was possible to bring the same level of depth and […]
Dealing With Gossip – The Authentic Way
We’ve all been there. Criticizing someone who isn’t in the room. Badmouthing a colleague. Condemning our boss. It’s called gossiping and means we disrespect a person in their absence. What I’ve learned about gossip: It’s a defense against having the courage to be direct. It’s easier to deal with our anger towards someone by talking […]
Is it ever okay to lie at work?
What upsets me is not that you lied to me, but that I can no longer believe in you. – Friedrich Nietzsche No. It is never okay to lie at work. But you have to understand that, while telling the truth is vital to establishing trust, truth-telling has to be tempered with skill, tact, and […]
What Are You Doing For Humanity?
At the end of WWII, the United Polish Relief Fund appealed to the Canadian government to deliver penicillin to Poland. In October and November of 1945, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) managed to deliver five tons of penicillin to Poland, the only humanitarian flights the RCAF would be able to make into the Soviet […]
Recognizing A Sacred Space
It’s easy to go through the motions of life, attending to daily responsibilities, checking off our to-do lists, distracted by a wondering mind. And then something simple, yet profound, knocks us off our feet and brings us into the present moment – what Richard Rohr calls a sacred space. It might be when we have […]
Dealing with Disruption and Disorder – The Authentic Way
Disruption and disorder have always been a part of the human condition. This reality is often seen at a global level, as in the brutality of terrorism and war, and sometimes more personally, as in the sudden arrival of an illness, an injury, or a personal betrayal. Our work is to embrace times of great […]
ACCOUNTABILITY: It’s Not About Criticism. It’s About Clarity
In my role of board chair in a non-profit organization I’ve felt some strain the past few weeks. I’ve imagined that the executive director is unhappy with the board and am wondering whether we’re best serving this organization. An incredible board member who has been the glue holding the organization together since it’s inception is […]
Five Ways Leaders Accidentally Create Dishonesty In Employees
Honesty is a key value for any organization. It sets the tone for the kind of culture you are committed to create. It provides consistency in behavior. And it builds loyalty and trust. Honesty is one of the most effective ways to establish the environment that will propel your organization to long-term success. As a […]
An Authentic Hiring Conversation
We’re in the middle of a hiring process to replace a team member. It’s always been my philosophy to hire s-l-o-w-l-y. We are taking our time. The position is too important to not get it right. One candidate, during the series of interviews and conversations, said, “I don’t want to let you down. I’m nervous.” […]
You can change people.
We’ve all heard the adage: “You can’t change other people. You can only change yourself.” While I get that it’s wasted energy to try to change others by pushing them or cajoling them, or attempting to control them, it doesn’t mean that you can’t change people. If you sincerely care about a person and you […]
