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
Last week we explored areas in which we’ve experienced or witnessed bias. For a refresher, click here. I asked you to do some homework over the course of the week, considering moments where bias impacted your confidence, decision-making, opportunity, health, relationships, or willingness to take risks. It is important to reiterate here that everyone has … Read more
Whenever the phrases “unconscious bias,” “implicit bias,” or “diversity and equity” come up, it seems people make immediate assumptions. They think the topic is about to be related to stuff in the news or marginalized populations. Then, they shut down. Smart leaders know bias exists in everyone. No one is truly objective. Additionally, not all … Read more
“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” If you are alive, someone has probably said this to you, and if you have kids or have worked with kids, it is probable that you have said this to one or more of them. As a parent of four kids, I … Read more
When I was a teacher, I learned certain responses annoyed students when they asked clarifying questions: “If you were paying attention, you’d know.” “As I said twelve minutes ago…” “I just told you that.” “It’s in the syllabus. Did you read it?” No one likes to be talked down to. The best teachers answer the … Read more
About a year ago, I shared some best practices based on research and experience for long online, sessions. Now, a year later, we’ve discovered a few more best practices that don’t seem to be common practice yet. The video best practices. Keeping your video on is still a good idea. We need to see each … Read more
We talk a lot about communication on this blog, because communicating well is integral to the human experience. We cannot build or maintain relationships without good communication skills. The fallout of bad communication is all around us. Part of the problem, of course, is because we are all very different human beings, with different backgrounds … Read more
Picture this: A man nervously fumbles through his wallet. He’s about to buy a large coffee, which costs $3.19. “Oh, oh, oh,” he started nervously, looking around and shoving his hand into a deep pocket. “Looks like I don’t have enough money.” He laughs in an unusual way. What’s going on? We can all look … Read more
“He would give someone the shirt off his back before they knew they needed it.“ These words came to mind as we celebrated the life of my wife’s grandfather a couple weeks ago. Do you know the feeling you get when you need help but you’re not sure what it could be? Then, suddenly, someone is … Read more
He was in his mid-50s. Unkempt hair. Tank top. Flip flops. Ripped jean shorts. No helmet. Riding a bike with a cigar in his mouth. I confess to making a quick judgment about how his cigar—before 8 a.m.—belied any effort on his part to be healthy by biking. And, I confess, I judged him quicker … Read more