Can you recall a mood you just couldn't shake?  Of course you can! Even the most experienced and positive business professionals can have those moments (or days) when motivation is low and stress is high. Or, when attitudes are negative and even toxic.  Since we know...

Celebrities and other well-known figures have been chatting on social media lately about how, “No is a complete sentence.” While I agree with the intended spirit of this message, a message intended to empower and to reinforce that we don’t need to explain our choices,...

Difficult people are everywhere. And while we can’t make difficult people disappear (drat!) or whip out the duct tape to silence them, it can be very helpful to have a basic understanding of why they are difficult. Regardless of your position or title, no matter how...

 Asking for resources such as money, time or equipment can be daunting.  High caliber communicators know how to gain cooperation and ask for the resources they need to move a project forward. If you haven't mastered these skills, the “ask” can be made easier and is...

Words matter. High caliber communicators choose their words wisely. They seek to use the words that most accurately express what they are trying to convey. High caliber communicators know choosing the wrong word, misusing words, or even using "non-words" like...

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, understand, manage, and use emotions in positive and constructive ways. It's no secret.  Emotional intelligence, EQ, is a necessary superpower for a leader who wants to be effective.  Leaders who are able to...

Do you know the early warning signs of employee disengagement? It’s easy to spot the signs once an employee is “actively disengaged.” What about the earlier signs? High-caliber leaders want to “spot it and stop it” early. Here are some significant things a high...

Great leaders don’t look to create great followers. Great leaders look to create other great leaders. One of the things high-caliber leaders know will help to create other great leaders, is sharing the spotlight and the glory. Last week, I saw this in action in a very...

As leaders, confidence is important. Having the ability to make decisions and believe in them is critical to success.  Too much confidence, however, can turn a good leader into a "know-it-all." High-caliber leaders know they will get the best results when they admit...

The quality of your life is, to a degree, directly related to the quality of the questions you ask. This is a fairly common concept expressed in various ways. As a leadership and communication expert, I believe that:  The quality of your leadership is related to the...