“We all make mistakes” is a phrase we all have likely heard. It is often used to reduce someone’s guilt over making a mistake and/or the fear of the consequences of that mistake. Because it is human to make mistakes, forgiveness is crucial inside organizations. We...

Most of us have heard of the game called “telephone.” Here is how it works: People line up in a single-file line. The first person in the line has a message whispered in their ear. This person then whispers the message they heard to the next person. This continues...

I am fortunate to hear from a variety of people each week sharing questions as well as their thoughts on different topics. Having my own companies, I am in the field each week experiencing the same situations they do. I received a call from a CEO of a company. He said...

I recently did a podcast with Mindy G. Spigel, RN, MSN, CPXP. She has a new book. It’s called There’s a Snake on My Head! Strategies for Alleviating Fear and Anxiety in Healthcare for Patients, Families AND Healthcare Teams. In the podcast, she talks about...

Part Two of a Two-Part Column           Are you harder on yourself than perhaps you should be? Many leaders are. We want to do our best work, and it’s easy to feel like we let others down when we are not perfect. I...

Part One of a Two-Part Column A question I get asked often, particularly by less-experienced managers, is, “What’s the number-one piece of advice you have for people new to leadership?” My answer is, “Always be kind to yourself.” I’m not sure I would have said...

For years, the topic of work/life balance or work/life blend has interested me. Achieving it seems rather elusive. It reminds me of the saying, “My serenity is directly tied to my expectations.” I am not saying we shouldn’t strive for balance. It is very important,...

What is a culture of optionality? How do you know if you have one? The answer lies in the definition of optional. When something is optional, one can choose to do it…or not. When a company finds itself not getting the outcomes we want over time, it may be that a...

If you are in management, you have probably experienced this scenario: One of your best employees asks to meet with you and informs you that they have accepted an offer from another employer and are resigning. How do you respond? Most likely your response is based on...

Every organization invests in capital. Capital most often means things like building items, equipment, technology, etc. At budget time, a request goes out asking people what they see as their capital needs. Usually, more dollars are requested than are available. Then...