
Between Two Fears
On a Friday night, still unwinding from the busyness of a work week, we arrived at a beautiful, wooded area outside an old house on the city's outskirts. The crisp wooded air fought through the distinct smell of smoke. The quiet of the woods disappeared as more people...

Seize the fleeting beauty
My inner poet emerges again... The transient nature of spring wakes us to notice. Snow bells, crocus, and daffodils all have their limited ‘show’. A reminder that all living things are temporary in nature. Some ‘shows’ last longer, feel more relevant. Then when they...

Is sharpening enough? How do you know?
Stories are such a great way of making a point. Here is an embarrassing, painful, and bloody story about myself! While this story is about my chef's knife, I intend to relate it to leadership and communication skills. Sharpening skills is a play-on-words, you'll see....

Silent Nuanced Energy Stoppers
My engineer self is inspiring me this month! Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it only changes form.* Preparing for Lead with Power & Heart Masterclass for Executives, I review my experience with leadership blind spots that stop the energy of their team...

My mom’s secret to winning
“I won Friday’s bridge game!” my mom exclaimed with competitive excitement. Then, she let me in on her secret. “I re-read my book the night before.” My mom, a bridge expert, has taught hundreds of people this complex card game. She authored a booklet several years ago...

Ahhh…Yes! When it doesn’t make sense
If you prefer to listen click my photo or read below! I let myself get tricked – and it’s not yet Halloween! The following Mailbox Metaphor is something that I witness happening in organizations frequently. Different...

Ahhh Yes! When loud creates unwanted silence
When loud creates silence - click on red photo right below for video or read below. Recently I was having a conversation with my mom. She clearly didn't hear what I was saying, so I repeated myself but...

Blueprint for Separation
My inner poet was feeling a need to express...I hope you enjoy and find the message helpful! Just talk to them— I suggest. No! They will never change— Staking your claim. Separation wins. It’s easy. But is it reality, a projection, or an excuse? Impossible to know...

Attracting and Keeping Good Employees: Cut Through the Clouds of Emotion
Tears erupted and anger brewed. Two departments were at a collective standstill. Emotions filled the room like a thick cloud blinding any attempt to understand, empathize or solve problems. A virtual workspace adds density to the cloud. Breaking up the cloud holds the...

Ahh…Yes! Parting Ways
I used to do whatever it took to preserve relationships. Then, when I first saw the martial art, aikido, my eyes slammed open. It hit me that ‘doing whatever it takes’ is a great disservice to myself and others. (Aikido provides a model of conflict mastery in which...

When the Chimes Stop Ringing – Conflict Mastery Lessons for Leaders
The lovely melody of chimes ringing outside my window is one of those small yet valued pleasures I really enjoy. Last year due to some construction, I relocated my chimes from their anchor at the corner of my home to a branch in the yard. Seasons changed, time crept...

It’s Not the Great Resignation – It’s the Great Reveal
How can a healthy woods or forest help us understand high-functioning teams and the great resignation? A healthy forest has a diverse species of trees, bushes, and ground cover growing with some friendly competition to keep all healthy. It is sustainable and...
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