How do we help reluctant staff learn new technology? What if it’s we who resist embracing new ways? How can we “get with the program”? The first thing to consider is that emotions affect the brain’s ability to learn, think, and remember. Self-doubt, fear, and resistance prevent the brain from doing these things, whereas confidence […]
Tag: coaching
Critical Thinking Skills Are Essential Today
Today, more than ever, students, employees, and organizational leaders need well-developed critical thinking skills. There are several reasons for this. The rate of change and degree of complexity increase every year thanks to rapid technological developments and the information explosion. The world’s information is doubling every two years, according to the 2011 Digital Universe Study. […]
Consider the Opposing Choice
As an academic and career coach, I help people develop the skills to succeed. Successful students usually become effective employees; most of the skills are transferrable. In keeping with this week’s theme, let’s look at some of the things a student or employee (or manager) might do if they did not want to be successful. […]
Is It Time to Intervene?
There are similarities between academic and career issues, as I’ve found being a parent, an educator, and a manager. One common issue is knowing when to intervene with a student or a subordinate. It’s important to recognize the possible early warning signs that we can observe: Difficulty focusing or concentrating or showing signs of sleepiness […]
Look for the Good
It seems to be human nature to look for what’s wrong, what’s not working, or what needs improvement. I understand striving for excellence; after all, I’ve authored a self-help book. The problem is that when too much emphasis is placed on finding what’s broken and fixing it leaders miss opportunities to praise and encourage employees. […]
Word Tippers
Whether you’re a business professional or a student, it’s essential that you learn to convey your message accurately. Many of us feel underprepared for the challenge of writing effectively. Fear not! An expert I love to refer my clients to is Barbara McNichol, editor, speaker, and author of Word Tippers. Her practical guidance on the […]
Personal Branding . . . A Marketing Strategy
Armani, Chanel, Prada, well-known and well-recognized. They represent the best . . . quality, stylish and chic. No one asks Who??? Why, because of branding. Excellent strategists on personal branding are Madonna, Jordan, Ali, and Oprah. No one asks WHO because their names are recognizable. They have created their own personal brand. Because impression in […]
Learning Made Easy (or at least Easier)
Whether you’re a college student or working professional, it’s likely that you’ll be faced with learning new material. More mature learners often comment that it’s been such a long time since they were in college that they forgotten how to learn. (This is not true, of course, but it can feel that way.) College students […]
Acting Out at Work
When children misbehave at school, teachers sometimes kindly tell the parents that they’ve been “acting out” in the classroom. This phrase may refer to a child’s ignoring or arguing with the teacher, not sharing with another student, being uncooperative with classmates, or having a temper tantrum during class. While unpleasant, these are not unexpected behaviors […]
“I Don’t Have the Exercise Gene”
People phrase it a number of ways, but the idea is the same. They find exercise a chore, so they decide they’re not meant to move. The flaw with this argument is that we all have the same basic equipment, which includes 600 major muscle groups and a body that responds positively to exercise, even […]