Arguably the most important parts of a soccer match, or really any game for that matter, are the beginning and the end. And psychologically, those are often the hardest moments to avoid a letdown. This weekend I was watching my…
We often measure things. Measurement is a beneficial thing. When you measure, you can see if there has been growth. We have a spot in our house where we’ve been measuring my daughter’s height each year. It’s a simple visual,…
A common experience I talk through with clients is what you could call the Unmet Needs/Expectations Loop. We all have expectations or needs that go unmet by someone else. A partner, co-worker, teammate, or family member. They don’t show up…
That is one of the most critical roles leaders play. If you are leading something, you’re given access and the floor more often than others. That means you have the opportunity—and responsibility—to speak, set the tone, and influence the direction.…
Have you ever watched construction workers put up scaffolding? If you haven’t, it’s a slow, meticulous process. They begin at the base and gradually construct the structure until they get to the height they need. Scaffolding comes in many different…
I believe in analogy and visuals in a lot of the work that I do. I think they build stronger connections with people, whether that be colleagues, supervisees, or players you are coaching. When coaching teams, I often emphasize one…
This week when I sat down to write, it just came over me. Exhaustion. It was late afternoon. I had already done a fair amount during the day. So I gave in, curled up, and slept for an hour… until…
I find that to be a helpful reminder. We all had dreams as kids and even as adults that sometimes don’t pan out the way we thought they would. When I was a kid, I really wanted to be a…
Recently, the question of what the difference is between a coaching conversation and a management conversation has come up—and it’s a really good question. How do we tell the difference? What actually changes? For leaders who are newer to coaching…
Leadership is often equated with title. And a title then means you have authority, are the expert, and are the one people should look to. It means that when something significant is happening, we look to the person whose role…