Personal Leadership

Whiskey Lessons for Personal Growth

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I’ve been to two whiskey tastings this week. One in a backyard by a fire-pit and one online in “virtual” mode. (The meeting was virtual, the whiskey was not.) But I’m not a whiskey drinker. Nor do I aspire to be. However, I do like to learn, which I find best done by trying new things. I could read about whiskey all day long without understanding it or why some people are really into it. Truth be told, these two tastings didn’t get me much closer to understanding. But they did bring home the meta-lesson that learning is a process … Read more

The Easiest Way to Overcome the Most Common Obstacles at Work

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Your chances for greater career success increase dramatically as you build skills, knowledge, and experience. That is why you feel the urge to advance in your current job. Because that sort of progress will inevitably lead to a better future for you. As you become a super star at work, you become more valuable to the company you work for now. But you also become more valuable to the marketplace in the future. Your success gives you a better story to tell. As a bonus, continually working toward greater success is a happier way to work for most people. It … Read more

How to Save Yourself from Burnout

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Working hard or working long hours isn’t the main or only factor that leads to burnout. A better question to ask is, are you exhausted? Are you emotionally drained? Are you growing increasingly cynical? Are you feeling a bit depressed? These are signs of burnout. If your physical tiredness, mental depletion, and emotional fatigue are impacting your work, it’s time to look at your situation more closely. Maybe you just need a break. Or maybe you need a break-up–a new job, a new team assignment, or some other more significant change. It can be tricky to decipher sometimes. But if … Read more

How to Leverage Your Time to Become a Better Leader

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Wouldn’t it be great to do more work in less time, all the while feeling less stressed out? Well, you can. All it takes is a little leverage. Let me explain. Leverage is that thing that lets you do more than you should be able to do. You can’t move that big rock in your backyard. It’s too heavy. Then, miraculously, you rig up a lever and it moves easily. With a relatively small force, you can move a very large rock. Amazing! You can’t afford to purchase your dream house right now, even though you finally find the right … Read more

5 Simple Ways Deal With Negativity in the Workplace

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It can be a challenge to manage your stress level when the workplace seems to be able to bring out many different kinds of negative emotions these days. Anger. Envy. Fear. Guilt. Helplessness. Our day-to-day can contain lots of strife. And that can add tons of stress on you if you don’t have some ways to counter the negativity. Even if you start your day all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, negative people, negative comments, bleak outlooks, and pessimistic attitudes can bring you down. This can be even more difficult to confront when you’re feeling down yourself. Misery loves company, after all. … Read more

Master Time Management With a Focus on Results

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We admire people who accomplish things. But our culture often confuses busy with results. The trouble is that being busy and accomplishing things can both feel the same sometimes. Because a full calendar, a long to-do list, and an active email box all seem like they will lead to results. But simply filling up your time with important-seeming to-dos can actually lead you in the wrong direction if you’re not careful. Here is a better way to think about your time and effort. Think forward in time and imagine how you will look back on what you are working on … Read more

How To Motivate Yourself When Work Is Tough

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If you knew more about how to stay motivated at work, would it help you to do a better job? You might want to do a good work on an assignment. You might have the skills to do the work. But if you’re feeling “blah” about it, it probably isn’t going to go as well as it could. That’s where motivation can help. But motivation doesn’t grow on trees. Somebody has to give it to you. Maybe your boss gives you some. It could be the promise of a future raise, promotion, or even just a small bonus or an … Read more

What To Do When You’re Stuck In a Job With No Progression

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If you feel like you are stuck in a job with no progression, it might be time to consider a new approach. Earlier in your career, you may have benefited from development programs, promotions, or job changes. Opportunities like these have probably helped you to learn more, earn more, and take on new responsibilities. But as you get deeper into your career, these types of opportunities don’t come as easily or as often. Maybe this leaves you feeling frustrated, because you know that you are capable of doing more. You are ready to take on new challenges, embrace new responsibilities, … Read more

The Best Prioritization Advice: Priority Channels

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prioritize using priority channels instead of lists

Setting and keeping priorities is hard these days. You might have things set one day and the next day things change. Everything seems a little more chaotic than it used to be. Maybe that’s because the world is changing at a faster pace. Businesses are facing new dynamics. People are more easily distracted. When everyone seems to be overwhelmed, it’s can be hard to find your footing. And it can be difficult to work a consistent path forward. Not to mention, of course, the fundamental issue that you have too many priorities and not enough resources. All of this makes … Read more

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