Steven's Own Words

On (The Absence Of) Conversations

On (The Absence Of) Conversations

Does this story sound familiar? The other day I was working with a client, and they confided that they were extremely frustrated with their partner at work. Things weren't going their way, they were experiencing a lot of frustration, but they didn't feel like they...

You’ve Got Your Head in the Past

You’ve Got Your Head in the Past

Does this ever happen to you? A new season arrives, say, summer, and while we love it and long for the warmth and clear skies — we keep the mentality of the past. Especially if that last season was particularly full! It can be difficult to move forward. Did you have a...

The Friend vs. Manager Conundrum

The Friend vs. Manager Conundrum

"I strive very hard to build relationships with staff," a client told me recently. "I take lunch breaks with them, we talk, we play cards, we joke around. Then I come to find out that because of that, they say they can no longer trust me as a leader and manager! So...

Nervous vs. Confident

Nervous vs. Confident

The idea that if you’re nervous you don’t have confidence is patently false. Remember: courage is not the absence of fear (or nervousness); courage is action in spite of the fear.  In fact, I would go so far as to say: If you’re not nervous, that can actually...

On Parenting & Leadership: Keep ‘Em Talking

On Parenting & Leadership: Keep ‘Em Talking

We know that our staff, our team, are not the same as our kids. They are fully capable adults. But when you're a parent who's also in a position of leadership, you can't help but notice some similarities — not with them and their role, but with your own role in each...

The One Thing You Need To Change Directions

The One Thing You Need To Change Directions

If you're driving a car, and you want to change direction, what is the most essential thing you need to make that happen? If you had to pick one element, one crucial thing to make changing direction possible -- what would that thing be? Your first thought might very...

Learning Confidence From Builders

Learning Confidence From Builders

We talk about the CVI fairly regularly around here, but there's one quadrant we don't discuss very: the Builder. Builders, fiercely independent and often with less social diplomacy than some of the other quadrants, are often misunderstood -- but we can all learn a lot...

The Entrepreneur’s Problem

The Entrepreneur’s Problem

Here’s a thought to ponder: the quality, skills, & talents that it takes to start and build a company or project are not the same qualities, skills, & talents that it takes to then solidify and grow that into something bigger.  To start and to grow are two...

It’s Not About The Slap

It’s Not About The Slap

If Will was defending his wife, that would make Jada the “victim," yes? So the million-dollar question (and the leadership lesson we can find) is this: At what point was she consoled? I'm not going to get into the right and wrong of Will Smith and Chris Rock, because...

On Clarity For A Promotion

On Clarity For A Promotion

Remember that Far Side cartoon (at least, I think it was Far Side!) where the dog finally catches the car? He sits next to it, a little forlorn, and the caption reads, “Now what?” Have you ever gotten a promotion and felt the same way?   When someone gets promoted,...

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