Dog-Inspired Leadership Posts
Setting boundaries builds strong relationships
Things move fast in today’s workplace. And for good reason. Being nimble to adjust to changing landscapes is crucial. But there are some things that can’t be rushed, like the quality of strong work relationships. They are built with each interaction, either moving positively or negatively as we work on setting boundaries. Getting to know…
Read MoreTeam dynamics take time and patience
Not everyone works like you do. While that might seem obvious, it’s easy to forget, which can derail progress and your team dynamics! It’s challenging when you’re trying to accomplish something with someone who has a completely foreign approach. Instead of recognizing and appreciating the difference, we start to get tense and frustrated that things aren’t…
Read MoreCompassionate Leadership: Beyond the Obvious
Have you, as a leader, ever overlooked some key element because you were so focused on the problem at hand? Sometimes, talking about compassionate leadership means really listening to an underperforming employee, getting to the root of a “bad” hire, or trying something new with a team that’s totally out of sync. An unconventional approach…
Read MoreTeam Dynamics: Is your new employee a fit?
When things don’t work out the way you planned, it’s easy to think you failed. Our tendency is to stick with a plan, even when serious flags are evident, because we think we can make the team dynamics work or even worse—that we can get someone to change their ways (instead of honoring that person’s…
Read MoreOnboarding Tips from a Dog Named Mickey!
Yes, you read that right. Let’s talk about onboarding (new dogs and new staff!). Employee onboarding is a key factor in the satisfaction and success of a new employee. Treating this stage of the employee’s lifecycle as unimportant would be a huge mistake. When you invest your time and effort to familiarize a new employee…
Read MoreManaging Change (& even embracing it)
Learning to embrace difficult times and let the unexpected delight me 2019 is nearly over. It’s been a year of big transitions that brought major changes for me. At times, it felt overwhelming, sad, difficult. Yet, in whole, this was one of the best years for me. And once I brought this new awareness to…
Read MoreSaying Good-Bye: My eternal walk with Grace
This is a post that I always knew I’d need to write, but I have long dreaded the time when I would have to announce the loss of my treasured companion and friend. Grace and I started our journey together in June of 2005 when she was about eight months old. On August 28, 2019,…
Read MoreLet’s Put Away the Judgment and Lead by Example
Helping others feels good. If I’ve learned anything from my years of volunteer work, it’s that giving back gives us the opportunity to lead by example and surprisingly learn a lot about ourselves in the process. For many years, my dog Grace and I have banded together to tackle the myriad types of trash that…
Read MoreEmployee Motivation is Key: Here’s how to make it happen
Managers must learn to work differently with each individual in order to maximize employee motivation.
Read MoreGive Change a Chance
Even people you know well, people you may have worked with for years, can throw you a curveball. Maybe you’re both faced with an unfamiliar situation or the general circumstances change. You might be surprised by how the other person reacts (and by your own response). This happened recently with my dog, Grace, and it…
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