I feel a power in me that I must develop, a fire that I may not put out but must fan, although I don’t know to what outcome it will lead me.  

~ Vincent Van Gogh

Do you, like Van Gogh, feel a power, a fire, a spark that you can not put out but must fan and ignite?

A close friend of mine held several prominent positions at large corporations. When he left his last role unexpectedly, he found himself seeking similar roles where he could continue to add the same value.

It’s natural. Most humans prefer known outcomes, which leads us to tie our identity to one role or title.

• I’m the VP of product.
• I’m the CEO.
• I’m the head of marketing.

But when we connect our identities to one role, we may find ourselves stuck in binary thinking, pursuing lateral moves or upward mobility when the role ends, whether due to layoff, firing, or even personal desire.

Continue reading → Is Binary Thinking Spoiling Your Beautiful Freedom?

Learning is a state of being and not a to-do list.

👩🏻‍🏫 Do you love learning, and are you excited about all the new knowledge or experiences you can gain? Or you don’t love learning but are open to it as you understand the need to adapt to an ever-evolving (business) world around us.

In both cases, please relax!

Continue reading → Learning is a state of being

Have you ever felt uncomfortable while your colleague shared something deeply personal? Have you ever felt as if somebody pushed you to share personal information without an apparent reason?

You may have encountered oversharing.

Vulnerability is a vital strength for leaders and anyone who wants to build strong connections, trust, and, with that, a sense of psychological safety. Psychological safety catalyzes engagement, performance, and many other desirable outcomes. So sharing with others and showing up as a vulnerable human being is key.

However, I’ve witnessed many people mistake vulnerability for oversharing. Oversharing can have a counter effect on people feeling uncomfortable, losing trust and alienating relationships.

So how do you make sure to hit the right balance?

Continue reading → How to open up to vulnerability without oversharing

It’s been a typical year-end in the corporate world. 

The last quarter is in full swing, and it’s as fast as ever.

Do you feel the need to speed up and match the increased demands?  Do you hope to cross all your to-dos and close off projects before the holiday break comes to your rescue? Do you frequently check in on your team members’ progress and speak mainly about operations to stay on top of everything that’s going on?

If so, don’t. It’s a trap!

Continue reading → 5 steps to stop being overwhelmed

Have you ever experienced a professional conversation that didn’t feel right? Did you receive a direction that made you squirm in your chair?  Have you ever witnessed a situation where a colleague’s or leader’s behavior made you uncomfortable?

If so, you may have considered your options and the risks that speaking up may represent.

Throughout my time in the world’s largest logistics company, I stood many times in front of the decision: To speak up or not to speak up.

I believe that if you become aware of something risky or limiting to an organization, team, or individual, you have the responsibility to engage. Otherwise, you are becoming a part of the problem.

Continue reading → To Speak Up or Not to Speak Up: that is the question.

Continue reading → The end of one conversation is a beginning of another.

Are you intellectually suffocating?

Do you feel as if the box you’re in is way too tiny?

There’s no air?

Maybe you’ve been active within a particular industry and feel it’s time for a change, but it seems impossible to find the right opportunity.

Perhaps you relocated, and find that the experience you gained in your last local market doesn’t count here.

Or maybe you’ve had a particular image as a leader, and even though you’ve successfully transitioned through different experiences, you don’t seem to be able to shake off that old reputation.

 

You’re stuck.

Continue reading → Crack the box you’re in. An exercise for ending your intellectual suffocation and inviting change into your life

Recently, while emailing with the representative of a large corporation, something felt off. She was okay on video, but the only time she responded to emails was when I copied her bosses.

My alarm system went on. I’ve been there before, in situations with individuals in unhealthy cultures and unproductive environments.

How about you?

Maybe you, too, have had to deal with a peer who acted as if they were under continual scrutiny—or maybe you’ve been the one feeling scrutinized! Perhaps you’ve felt inferior in a relationship with a customer, or when leading a team for which cooperation always seemed to freeze.

Each of these situations is somewhat intangible and hard to address. When they arise, do you ever find yourself ignoring the issue, focusing instead on work activities that give you tangible results?

Continue reading → How to face Ego and Fear and Walk Your Authentic Leadership Path