Advice for transforming leadership, culture, Curiosity, and communication from Beth Wonson
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Am I being perfectly clear?The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. ~George Bernard Shaw My daughter was about four years old and playing outside with a friend. They were into a little mischief in an area of the yard that was off limits. In my stern mother voice I clarified the rules again and then asked, “Am I perfectly clear?” I am not even sure where I picked up that expression but I seem to have used it a great deal in my mothering. Neither girl spoke. Both looked up at me, frozen, with eyes…
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Joy at Work – Creating Your Own Culture
I had coffee with an acquaintance who also is a therapist. She was sharing how she sees more and more clients who are stuck in their work and how their inability to leave causes them to go into survival mode, resentfully counting the days until retirement. This stress of feeling stuck professionally wreaks havoc in many other areas of their lives, including physical and emotional well being and the ability to foster and maintain fulfilling relationships. Living in survival mode causes them to come up with strategies to cope, many of which may be considered passive aggressive or manipulative. She…
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A deep dive so you can swim easier and faster!
When is the last time you took a deep dive into your work habit and patterns? When did you consider what you do each day to see how it really aligns with what you most need to get done to achieve your goals? Most of us get so busy that we forget to stop and take a look at what, how, and why those tasks are taking up our time. We just march on, sometimes complaining, that there just isn’t enough time in the day. So here’s some help! At the end of this email is a simple tool to walk…
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The Give Away – and others forms of letting go
I’ve had the “letting go” theme pop up quite a bit lately, professionally and personally. Letting go has shown up not in big ways but in small ways, mostly through experiences created by me and for me. I guess the Universe is indicating it is time for a little more practice! How are you doing with letting go? Maybe there is some learning and practice for you here as well! I was walking along the shore in Fort Bragg, CA and noticed an object that looked out of place. It was tucked into a giant driftwood tree limb. I got…
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Learning from Our Mirrors
As a coach, I am aware that there is a belief that self-discovery and growth is “women’s work.” But I’m seeing a shift. The last six clients who’ve come to me are men seeking to learn more about how they show up under stress and how it impacts their team and ultimately the achievement of their business goals. I’m so honored that these men decided to trust me to walk with them through this journey. I love how open they are to the idea that the quickest way to move the dial toward better business success is to take a…
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Bad Hires
Have you ever made a new hire or been a part of the team that made a new hire and after a few weeks, you begin to get that sinking, Oh no—we’ve made a mistake feeling? If so, you are not alone. Bringing on new talent is one of the most challenging tasks that anyone has to deal with. There are so many variables. We wonder: Will they fit with the team? Are they representing their skills accurately? Are their excellent references being honest? Are we really taking the time to understand what is needed right now versus just filling a vacancy?…
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Want to increase morale? Increase conflict!
Really? But we spend all our time avoiding conflict! As the youngest child in a family of five, I’ve come to realize I’m conflict adverse. I didn’t really understand what lengths I would go to in order to maintain harmony. It was no one’s fault but my own. Finally, in my late 50’s, I began to really see all the ways that avoiding conflict for the sake of temporary harmony has not served me or those I love. Just like in family life, choosing to maintain temporary harmony instead of really dealing with problems and hammering out the best solutions…
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Want to hit your goals? Don’t look at the coffee.
When I was a waitress (way back before there were “servers”), I struggled to get a full cup of coffee from one side of the dining room to the other without spilling into the saucer (yes, way back when every cup of coffee came with a saucer under it). And customers strongly disliked getting a saucer full of coffee and a cup only half full. I wasn’t sure why I struggled so much with this simple task. I would stare at the full cup and try to keep my hand steady with each careful step. And no matter how hard…
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Communication Missteps and How to Avoid Them
You are highly motivated and willing to go the extra mile at work. If this is the type of employee you are, good for you! But all of your efforts could go out the window with just one communication misstep. Knowledge is the fastest road to empowerment, so become familiar with the most common communication missteps and the ways you can avoid them! 1. Becoming Resentful You’re a hard worker by nature. You know what it means to do a job a right, and you aren’t going to do it any other way but thoroughly. You come in early, and you…
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The Beauty of Excellence in Teamwork
I go to a great nail salon. I really love it not only because they do a great job, but also because it is an amazing place for me to observe teamwork. The shop is busy, full of hustle and bustle, and the core staff of about ten women of Vietnamese descent have worked together for a long time. Most patrons busy themselves with cell phones or magazines while the talented technicians file, trim, massage, and apply lacquers and gels, but I observe. I observe because I love watching how humans, when they understand the goal and expectations, organize themselves…
Leveling up Leadership and Culture Through Healthy and Candid Communication
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