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Managing Managers
Every professional transition, whether a promotion, a diagonal move, or switching to a new organization, requires a shift in perspective. Techniques that served you well in your prior role may be less relevant in the new one, and you undoubtedly need to acquire new knowledge and develop new skills. One of the most pivotal shifts…
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What AI Can Teach Us About NI
With the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms like ChatGPT and Google Bard, the promises and risks of AI have moved from the realm of philosophers and futurist thinkers to our mainstream conversations. We can learn important lessons from this discussion by drawing parallels between our experience with artificial intelligence and our natural intelligence (NI) – our brains.…
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Clearing the Fog
I was deeply concerned. I was in my early 40s, leading a global engineering organization. I was proud of the combination of talent, skill, and effort that had propelled me to this leadership level. Confident in my abilities, I faced an emerging challenge I had never encountered before. My brain wasn’t working. For the first…
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Flashlights and Floodlights
So much of our learning and growth begins with self-awareness. Whether it’s part of my personal evolution or my work with clients, I love pulling back the curtain on some undiscovered aspect of existence and generating a shift in perspective by examining it under the illuminating light of flashlights and floodlights. Today I want to…
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Productivity Anthology
If you follow my blog regularly, you know I am passionate about productivity. I taught my first productivity-related class over fifteen years ago, helping my Datatel colleagues embrace Microsoft OneNote for digital note-taking. My daily planning and email management course remains one of my most popular classes. I’ve recently had the privilege of doing productivity…
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Embodying Your Values
Before I began working with my first formal mentee, my HR leader gave me two decks of values cards to use as an icebreaker. It worked so well that it became a ritual. Almost everyone mentee or coachee that has worked with me has spent time in the first session exploring their values. I connected…
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Magical Meetings
When you think about meetings, what emotions arise? As a senior leader, I often played Tetris with my calendar, trying to squeeze someone into an already-packed schedule. According to Zippia, 24 billion hours are wasted yearly due to unproductive meetings. What if meetings could be a magical experience for you? What if you found yourself routinely…
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Meditation Has Gone Mainstream
Several years ago, I gave my doctor a list of things I could do to improve my overall health and asked him if I only added one thing, which would he prioritize? The answer surprised me: Meditate more. He said, “Little brain holidays are one of the healthiest things we can do, short and long-term.”…
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You’re Not The Leader You Think You Are
In 1993 I was a software developer fresh out of school. I was determined to be a “Renaissance Programmer.” Someone who could do every aspect of development, not unlike the “Full-Stack Developer” of the current era. I was sure I would have nothing to do with management and “climbing the corporate ladder.” I remember sitting…
