Jim, the principal at my first teaching job, often said, “Most days, we have fun around here.” He said this to me at my job interview and followed it with “…and you can’t say that about most jobs.” I accepted the job and realized he was right. But that was 30 years ago, and Jim … Read more
We all know the value of modeling for team members. We also know it’s appropriate to delegate tasks in order to develop others. Here are some thoughts on the relationship between modeling and delegation: Delegated work makes people feel valued, included, and appreciated. When people are empowered at work, you can expect more productivity and … Read more
We are at our best when we feel in control of our fate. In other words, when we have a sense of autonomy, we are more likely to make better choices and take ownership of those choices. Additionally, we inspire confidence and trust when we take responsibility for our choices. Words matter. Generally, we use … Read more
I got really annoyed at a hotel front desk clerk once. It was my first time at the hotel, too. One of the hotel staff originally said we (my extended family and I) would have adjoining rooms, but when we arrived, we found we weren’t in adjoining rooms. So, I explained the situation to the … Read more
Regardless of your life roles, it is easy to get overwhelmed, overworked, and exhausted. We think thoughts like: We probably wouldn’t say it out loud, but beneath all of our unspoken thoughts is a need to be needed. When we feel needed and important, we internalize those feelings and interpret them as value–“Someone needs me; … Read more
Like the many businesses right now, Group Dynamic is also changing. Yesterday, the current Group Dynamic staff met to talk about what the business will look like in 2022. Specifically, we discussed what we need to keep and what we need to change. For many years, the old model of Group Dynamic staffing included: In … Read more
There is no shortage of information about how work is changing. Many sources support these two points: “Insight #2” on Principal’s 2021 Quarter 3 Retirement Security Survey provides the following information: Retention strategies need to be a priority for leaders. From the leadership standpoint, according Principal’s survey: So what seems to be working to keep … Read more
Around the time I changed careers, 2008-2010, I discovered the book The Four-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. This recent article in the New Yorker reminded me of that book. Consider reading the article to learn more. However, I found some of the suggestions and concepts interesting enough to share here. One area of interest I … Read more
There are three steps to understanding and addressing Unconscious Bias: Two weeks ago, we started an exercise on the first step, identifying bias. Last week, we focused on cultivating additional connection. Today we will dive into the final step. Step Three: Choose Courage Stick with me, because the language may be a touch out of … Read more
While it may be cliché to write a blog post about gratitude the week of Thanksgiving, it’s also a good reminder as we move into the holiday season. For many, November and December bring additional stress, frustration, and hardship. The last two years have been difficult. It’s human to dwell on our struggles. In fact, … Read more