Snippets

Some snippets and musings from my journeys around the globe and from my everyday life as an executive leadership coach. You’ll find notable things to think about that could help launch something extraordinary in your own life. 

 

All of these snippets were originally published on Linkedin.

wrong day go back

Wrong Day Go Back

What to do when you get it wrong. Client is looking for something, you thought you delivered it and they say, “That is not what I was looking for or expected from you.” What is your default reaction? You had

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Look before you leap

Look Before You Leap

We were all about to jump into the water and I wanted to take a photo first… How quick are you to leap into action? It can be dangerous. When it comes to change, some of us are too fast,

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Think for yourself

Think for Yourself

Are you pulled to think like everybody else? Pulled to fit in? Watch out. Bob Kegan talks about levels of adult development. Socialized self is when our identity is based on the group around us. Self Authored is when we

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Listening Stone

Listening Stone

The Listening Stone at the DeCordova Museum can feel slightly disturbing. Like those who are truly listening, he doesn’t care what he looks like. Is not thinking of what to say next. What about you? What will it take for

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risk appetite

Risk Appetite

I think I went too far! Forget about the cobra. Do you see the white knuckles on my right hand?? I didn’t factor in that pythons are strong and predisposed to strangle you. I’m pulling it away from my neck

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small acts of kindness

Small Acts of Kindness

Small acts of kindness mean far more than we know. My parents were going through a vitriolic divorce and I was the pawn. This went on and on. With the usual huge weight on my shoulders, I walked into the

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how to train your llama

How to Train Your Llama

Why am I laughing? I tried it and it worked! A llama isn’t a puppy. If you go up and say “Good Llama!” as a reward, you might get spit in the face. However, a llama farmer once told me,

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destiny or probability

Destiny or Probability?

Grab onto this truth when the stakes are high, reaching your goal is uncertain and you haven’t (yet) gotten what you wanted. How does that make you feel? If it takes the wind out of your sails – challenge your

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mindful

Mindful

Ask Yourself One Simple Question I have been a philosophical Buddhist for almost 50 years. In my journey through life, I have read about 400 books on Buddhism. A key component of Buddhist philosophy is mindfulness. The concept of mindfulness is quite in

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grounded

Grounded

How do you feel grounded when there is no ground? If achievements make you feel grounded, you may be in trouble – old metrics aren’t quite working. Yesterday I heard:  Here I am 700 million ahead, engagement at 92 and

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different parts

Different Parts

30 Seconds To Learn An Exercise That Will Help We all have different parts of ourselves. How can you use this to navigate through these times? Ask yourself/client On a scale of 1–10 how drained do you feel? (Or upset,

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The Wisdom Line

The Wisdom Line, Part 1 How far must you tilt? Where do we cross over the wisdom line and accidentally construct a life we cannot lead? A business that cannot succeed? We can change many things. But we cannot change

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Upside down sign of man walking

Upside Down

How far is your world tilting? Are you walking on the ceiling? A friend asked, “what was it like when your youngest left home?” It’s a bit like now actually. Everything may look exactly the same, but it’s like your

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Wall of Clocks

Curating Time

The Many Faces of Time. Each day is a labyrinth of choices, micro-ones are key. Time is weird. It s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s and shrinks. How well do you use our most precious resource? Do you carve or slide through your day? Those

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Police Car

Racism is a Reflex

Racism is a reflex. Do you think you are a racist? Probably not. Am I one? I thought not. Then I had a shocking experience with my own unconscious racial bias. A few years ago we informally adopted a teen

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Footprints in sand

Ghosting

Are you disappearing? Finding yourself retreating from relationships that matter to you? Many of us, overwhelmed by professional Zoom calls during the day, are drained and less able to reach out to those we care about. I thought I was

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Leaders on Zoom Call

Leading in Crisis

Top coaches, Fellows at the Institute of Coaching, share wisdom on Leadership Now.Leaders need our help to accelerate leadership skills for the 21st century. The pandemic is showing us – we might need different leadership skills now. Brings out strengths

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We're All In This Together Banner

We’re All in This Together

We ARE in this together AND we are also having very different experiences.There are many variations on COVID’s impact. One group is just having a quieter lifestyle with some reality-based fears when they go out. Another is frozen, waiting to

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Lion Statue

Fortitude

This is the time to grow strengths we did not know we had. Find your backbone of steel. Take “advantage” of the small opportunities you are having to build this into your character. Those who survive hardships, trauma and lean

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