Speaking Up to Those in Authority
Thoughts from the book When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up by Dr. Michael D. Sedler In our last article I shared Dr. Sedler’s ideas about why some people might find it difficult to speak up, and some questions to ask yourself before speaking up. Today I want to share his ideas about […] Read More
When Silence Isn’t Golden
Thoughts from the book When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up by Dr. Michael D. Sedler A time to keep silence, and a time to speak… – Ecclesiastes 3:7 It takes wisdom to know when to speak up and when to keep silent. When I saw this title, I knew I could learn […] Read More
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood Habit #5
Launch Leadership Development is continuing the study of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey So far, we have covered the first four habits. Habits 1-3 build a strong foundation for independence. Habit #1 Be Proactive Habit #2 Begin with the End in Mind Habit #3 Put First Things First Habits 4-6 […] Read More
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
A study of leadership skills would feel incomplete if I did not include John Maxwell’s writings on the subject. He is an established authority on the topic, has written dozens of respected books and is a sought-after speaker around the world. This particular book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, is one of my favorites […] Read More
The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey Book Review
The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey dives deep into the subject of trust like no other book I have seen or read on the topic. Trust is explained to be the driving force of all relationships, personal and professional. Covey details many personal experiences building and restoring trust in his corporate career that give […] Read More
The Art of an Apology
Do you know someone who is unable to admit they are wrong or made a mistake? What about a person who cannot forgive and holds grudges? They are very difficult to be around, are they not? The ability to make and accept an apology is a sign of strength, compassion, and humility. It is a […] Read More
Leading with a Shepherd’s Heart
If you have not had a position of leadership yet, no worries…you will! Are you an older sibling? Babysitter? Coach? Parent? Group leader? How would you describe your leadership style? There are many styles of leadership, and I have to say I have read a lot of leadership books and tried quite a few leadership […] Read More
The Art of Saying NO: A lesson in Polite Refusal
“Do you mind staying late and helping me finish this project?” “Can I borrow $20 until Friday?” Questions like these would often throw me in a whirl of emotions from frustration to anger to guilt to resignation, all because I tend to be a people-pleaser and did not know how to say NO. If you […] Read More
You May Hear, But Are You Listening?
We’ve all done it, we’ve all had it happen to us: we think we are listening to someone but five minutes later we have no clue what they said. How does that happen? Why do we LET it happen? I want to challenge you today to become a skilled listener by: Listening well is a […] Read More
When Giving Criticism, Be Constructive
Most people do not enjoy hearing criticism, but there is a positive role that criticism can fill, especially if it is crafted well. Today I will show you how to craft feedback that will be constructive rather than destructive and will more likely be received better and result in growth and improvement. The first […] Read More