There are two dominant forces in nature~ Chaos and Order and their balance is what creates growth, tension and stability. Too much of one can tip the scales to anarchy and disintegration, too much of the other and there is no room for change, growth or newness. A forest fire or a stagnant pond are…
DetailsEveryone knows history repeats itself. 724 pages of The Timetables of History reveal that. And as Dave Mason sang in the 70s, “There ain’t no good guy, there ain’t no bad guy, there’s only you and me and we just disagree.” But are we interpreting present history this way? We are participating in a fascinating…
DetailsFor all a leader’s good intentions, when the rubber hits the pavement, it often becomes a different story. Many leaders believe they empower their people, but when you ask their people it may not be the case. Part of the reason a person becomes a leader is because they have ideas and opinions about things…
DetailsSeveral weeks ago I had the honor of leading a group of mature and self-aware women in a week long retreat in the French Pyrenees. Most of these women didn’t know each other but had committed a sizable sum of money, effort and time to be there. My job as facilitator was something I took…
DetailsThoughts vs Words: How different are they really? As a person of authority, your word usually carries more weight than others, correct? It also goes to say that your thoughts carry more weight too. There is no denying that we are in a very divisive time and that there are people you will be working…
DetailsGracious Humility~ is it possible? Trying to stay in a place of integrity and strong leadership isn’t always easy, especially when we aren’t seeing it modeled for us on a larger scale. No matter, it is our job, yours, if you are reading this, to find ways (self-motivation and self-regulation) to stay in your personal…
DetailsLeaders, we are facing a huge challenge. The world we find ourselves in is one rapidly growing to include more and more ways that others think for us (reviews, podcasts, AI, auto-correct, talking heads, Siri, social media buzz, ad infinitum). The results? People are less and less thinking for themselves. In fact, in several research…
DetailsAt this stage in your journey, no doubt you have happened upon or chosen what it is about you that makes you unique, what it is that makes you feel the best about yourself and/or how you want to show up in the world. Could you give that a name or a title? It helps…
DetailsAfter the last Shine Report, I received quite a few responses pointing to defensiveness as a pretty common and mighty reaction to any intended or unintended challenge to our person (or integrity). I watched it as well in unfolding drama with my clients and family (AND self) the past few weeks. It happens so quickly,…
DetailsOne of the fastest ways to get out of your highest version is to fall into the Triangle of Disempowerment. That is a term used by psychologists to describe how individuals (and countries) tend to play one of these three roles in response to life. There is the Victim (why me, who is to blame?),…
DetailsHere’s a good one for you. What happens when you are unexpectedly attacked, either verbally or emotionally? As adults, we aren’t prepared for someone to insult, shame, humiliate or scorn us. At least, I hope it isn’t something common in your personal or professional world. It seems we immediately go to our own auto response.…
DetailsI feel inspired and enthused knowing that there are other people who are wanting to choose a higher set of behavioral responses alongside me. Thank you for all the great responses from last post, all were excellent reminders and ideas. The one that keeps surfacing is this~ Never take things personally. Why DO we take…
DetailsBased on our family history, biology, viewpoints and DNA, we seem to come packaged with pre-set judgments about right and wrong, black and white. However, maturity involves stepping out of that pre-set thinking and into someone else’s shoes. When I practice this, my heart softens towards someone I may not have been able to understand…
DetailsPart of the current on-going conflict that plagues our nation is because BOTH sides feel quite righteous in their position, and sadly this dug-in righteousness has created the stalemate of us vs them. In the bigger picture, the ones that leaders ought to be able to see, is that there is a unity that is…
DetailsListening (actively, attentively and radically~ thanks, Cara!) Unearthing the qualities that are required to live my best and highest self, bringing them to the forefront and sharing them, listening would not have been number two, but after Cara suggested it, I knew she was right. It needs to come sooner than later. Honest and active…
DetailsOpen-Minded~ necessary on the journey to our own best version As part of my commitment to be a part of the solution (vs the problem) prompted by this year of potential crisis in our country, I pledge to practice open-mindedness as often as I can, making it my vigilant companion. More eloquent voices than mine…
DetailsDoesn’t matter which side you are on or whether you choose not to take sides at all, this year promises to be one of great conflict for this country. Boil down the energetics of it and it seems to come down to separation, competition, exclusiveness and fear which then breed its own forms of ugliness…
DetailsThe article I shared last month about being in charge of your own emotions as opposed to reacting to someone else’s emotions was one of the most well-read LinkedIn articles so I thought if people were that interested I ought to share a follow up. In many of the responses I received, most people said…
DetailsAs mature leaders, equipped with innate talents and schooled to improve our skills, at some point we come upon the question as to whether we can or cannot choose our responses. Does someone else’s behavior constitute a given response? Or isn’t Emotional Intelligence the ability to manage our own emotions and hold sway over others…
DetailsWhat makes a person or a company go from good to great? Jim Collins and his research team spent 5 years trying to answer that question and ended up writing a book on their results back in 2001 called “Good to Great”. After finishing it, I came away with a lot of information and insights,…
DetailsA friend of mine gifted me with the book Your Brain on Art and reading it has prompted me to share, not only its findings, but to add my two cents as well. The book is scientific in that it quotes research on the brain and art to prove that aesthetics make you healthy, and…
DetailsClients have told me they would rather quit their jobs, leave an intimate relationship or ghost someone than have a difficult conversation. I get it. We have not been taught how to view difficult conversations as opportunities for growth, only as unwanted conflicts. Hey, Hollywood has two optional answers: suicide or killing the opponent. Nice.…
DetailsOne of the things I often hear after facilitating a leadership workshop or retreat is, will you come back in six months to refresh all this that is so vital and positive? Of course, I would love to, but that sends the message that they need someone or something outside themselves to keep at their…
DetailsWe’re always in a state of change, but we find ourselves now witnessing some catastrophic changes in the history of man. First of all, technology has become a major part of our everyday lives and through it, we have witnessed the introduction of mass media bringing group consciousness into our homes. We are now connected…
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