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Insightful Thought Leadership

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Putting People First

Last week, I had the honor of hearing (and meeting) Howard Behar, the retired president of Starbucks who led the company through its incredible growth from 28 stores to more than 15,000 stores worldwide. He spoke at the University of Louisville College of Business as part of the Menard Family Lecture Series, co-sponsored by the … Read more
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Authentic Influence – Lessons from the Life of Queen Elizabeth II

I want you to think of a person with Authentic Influence. Who comes to mind? Why?  It probably has a lot to do with their character. My mantra for influence: Influence is more about how you live than what you do. Becoming influential is more about how you show up, engage and interact with people … Read more
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10 Ways to Increase Your Allies & Influence

Imagine being in a forest of redwood trees, among a canopy of branches and leaves that can extend as high as a 35-story building (nearly 400 feet tall). Yet while the roots of a vast redwood tree are only 10 – 13 feet deep, they extend outward up to 100 feet, intertwining with the roots … Read more
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Create more human experiences at work

I just wanted to take a quick minute to tell you about a virtual conference I’ll be speaking at in September. The Fusion 2.0 Conference runs from September 13th to 15th, 2022 (you choose your days) and brings together leaders and change-makers from multiple disciplines to break down silos and create more human experiences at … Read more
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3 steps to Increase your Courage and Influence in HR

Since the pandemic, HR’s chair at the table is being pushed back, as many of those issues aren’t as pressing as they were before. Now, commanding leaders’ attention are the continued supply chain shortages, inflation, and day-to-day operational issues that arise.  Perceptions of HR’s effectiveness in dealing with the pandemic did improve in the HR … Read more
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Feeling Like an Impostor? 5 Actions to Grow Your Confidence

“This is a new role for me.”  “I don’t have as much experience in this area of the company as the leaders I’m working with in this HR leadership role.”  “I’m nervous about the meeting. What if I don’t know the answers to all their questions?” “My role is shifting from an HR generalist to … Read more
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3 Keys to Building Authentic Influence

While I don’t care for reptiles, chameleons are beautiful and interesting ones. They can change their skin color to regulate body temperature or protection. They also possess a long, projectile tongue used to catch their prey.  Can you think of someone who reminds you of a chameleon? They change opinions with the wind (based on … Read more
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3 Ways to Boost Your Influence Without Authority

“This is a relationship culture, but it’s hard to break in.” “As a Talent Development professional, people in other parts of the business don’t really think of me as a partner. Our relationships are merely transactional.” “If you don’t have the title, influence is hard to come by in this environment.” These are some of … Read more
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7 ways to create a winning leadership pipeline

Be prepared. It’s a saying that most of us associate with Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.  It’s good advice when you are kid. But it is critical advice if you are managing a team as an adult.  In today’s increasingly mobile labor environment, staff turnover at every level is a challenge. 7 ways to create … Read more
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5 tips to make every day more like a vacation day

Don’t you just love those long holiday weekends? Especially when you can turn those three days into a week-long vacation. What could be better… you get a few days off work to spend on your own time, doing what you like to do with family and friends.  These times are good for the soul… taking … Read more

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