In my last post, I expressed the importance of listening to your intuition and going with your gut. You might agree that the flipside of gut-based decision making is analysis paralysis. So, if you are continually dipping your big toe to test the waters and avoiding taking the plunge, take a step back from what appears to be wildly uncertain waters and ask why? Do you ever … [Read more...]
Are you a good boss?
Are you a good boss? Really? I know when I ask myself that question, I come to the conclusion that I could be better. So what makes a good boss, and how can we get better? In the January/February issue of Harvard Business Review an article on becoming a great boss offers research and some key tips for improving as a boss. A good boss is typically influential. But where … [Read more...]
A Woman’s Place is in the Classroom
I was recently invited to speak at Purdue University and had the absolute pleasure of spending time with Dr. Beverly Davenport Sypher. Dr. Sypher had some important statistics for us to consider before we moved into the fascinating reasons she chose higher education as her vocation. We all go to school, most of us graduate. School is a good place to be. There used to be a … [Read more...]
Gut Check — Score One for Intuition
We really are smarter than we allow ourselves to believe. We know what we know. We just need to have the confidence to believe in our own thoughts and feelings. Intuition is a powerful thing. Call it a 6th sense, a vibe, a hunch or even ESP. Whatever term you prefer, we feel it in our bones. Unfortunately, we don't always pay attention to the critical information our bodies … [Read more...]
People Do Business With You…But Why?
Why do people do business with you? Is it because of WHAT you do or is it because of WHY you do it? According to author and thought leader Simon Sinek, people buy the “why.” Over the past few weeks I’ve been asking clients and other professionals their “why.” Many times it doesn’t seem clearly defined. I do believe the “why” is critically important in business, and if … [Read more...]
w Can You Make Your Resolution a Reality? It’s all in the Timing
Post by Frances Cole Jones, contributing Women On Business writer “Timing: the alpha and omega of aerialists, jugglers, actors, diplomats, publicists, generals, prize fighters, revolutionists, financiers, dictators, lovers.” Marlene Dietrich didn’t speak often, but in this instance it was worth waiting for. I bring this up today as it is currently the time of year when … [Read more...]
Appreciating the UConn Streak
Post by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer As some of you may know, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team made history a couple of weeks ago by setting an NCAA record with their 89 game win streak. This topped the previous record, set between 1971 & '74, in which UCLA had 88 wins in a row. The UCLA team, however, was a men's … [Read more...]
10 Ways to be a Better Team Player
You have described yourself with this skill, time and time again; you are a “team player.” Now what to do? You find yourself in a situation where you are the strongest player assigned to the team. How can you maintain the integrity of the team and affect the outcome for the positive? Here are 10 ways to increase your team's productivity and overall chance … [Read more...]
Resolution Solution: Shop Your Soul
If you ever watch the staging or interior re-design shows on HGTV, the designers always suggest “shopping your home” for accessories or furniture to move from one room to create a whole new look or feeling in another room of your home. What they seem to be suggesting is that you don’t have to go shopping beyond the confines of your house for what you need—it was always … [Read more...]
Building Your Brand “Buddy The Elf” Style – Part 2
Last week I talked about the first two steps of brand building: awareness and understanding, and developing brand associations and meaning. Just to refresh, if you have seen the delightful holiday movie Elf, you are familiar with the endearing qualities of child-like hope and wonder “Buddy the Elf” exudes. How endearing is your brand to your customers? What do you your … [Read more...]