The importance of mentorship is nothing new. Many companies have formal mentorship programs in place, and it’s standard career advice that having good mentors is crucial to professional growth. While this is all true, there is a counterpart to mentorship that is just as important but rarely talked about: sponsorship. Mentorship and sponsorship might seem …
Career Sponsorship: What Is It And How Can You Get It? Read More »
Earlier this month I read a biography about Marie Curie that was written by her daughter. It was a great book about one of the most impactful women that ever lived. Marie is known as a world-famous scientist, but she was also an amazing leader. As I read the book I jotted down seven leadership …
When I started my career just 20 years ago, we still used beepers and only the highest executives had email accounts. Today’s leaders can’t even fathom the agonizingly slow methods of communication that were the best available just a few decades ago. Smartphones give instant access to email, internal social media networks keep employees across …
I was recently rewatching the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (I’m a 90’s kid) when part of the story got me thinking. In the film, Robin continually butts heads with one of the members of his band of outlaws. Despite the affection and loyalty given to him by all the rest, one outlaw …
How To Convert Your Competition Into Collaborators Read More »
The urge to play is often seen as a frivolous pursuit, something that adults should put aside in favor of more “serious” activities. But play is essential to our productivity and creativity at work. Through play, we learn how to solve problems, think outside the box, and cooperate with others. Play is also a great …
Every 90’s girl can easily quote the line from Legally Blonde where Elle Woods responds to her ex-boyfriend’s dismissal of her by declaring “I’ll show you how valuable Elle Woods can be!” before going on to do exactly what he claimed she wasn’t capable of. Or when Han Solo memorably said, “Never tell me the …
Serena Williams stunned and saddened the sports world when she recently announced that she will be retiring from tennis to focus on expanding her family. Her interview with Vogue, during which she made the announcement, explained the difficulty of the choice and her frustrations with the conflicts women have to face with their careers. While …
The idea of servant leadership has been a popular concept in many organizations over the years. However, research suggests that it may not be the best option for all situations. Authentic leadership is usually more effective than servant leadership. Authentic leaders focus on recognizing and meeting the needs of others in a way that is …
We all want to do great things with our lives. We want to have successful careers, fulfilling relationships, and raise great kids. Technology and the 24-hour news cycle constantly remind us that greatness is possible and that people are changing the world on a daily basis. In many ways, the bombardment of success stories is …
Limiting Beliefs: The 3 Things Keeping You from Greatness Read More »
Most people reading my articles are in some way involved in leadership roles. Whether you are trying to move up the ranks in your company or running an organization of one, there is always something new to learn. I’m a voracious reader by nature, and I incorporate lots of business books into my reading queue. …
