Overexuberance can lead to lost opportunities
It’s no secret that we all have different styles when it comes to communicating. Some people are articulate communicators and others aren’t. Some people get right to the point while others tell a story first. Mix communication styles and add emotion and it’s likely that important elements will be missed entirely. Take this example: Justin…
Strategies you can use to avoid the swamp of unproductive meetings
Do your days feel like one unproductive meeting after another … and another? Have you noticed how often people get bogged down in the same issues you talked about the last time you got together? You ask yourself: “Why are we going over the same ground again and again?” Somewhere between the positive intentions that people start with and a…
These simple daily exercises can help you face up to the inevitable tension in your life
The spate of mass shootings in the United States has caused most of us to pause. Bad stuff can happen to good people. We wonder what we would do if we found ourselves caught up in such violence. Sometimes just hearing about such tragedies can lead us to feel tense and uncertain. And that can…
The biggest challenge we have to overcome is fear
I didn’t get much work done during the Olympics. Once I decided to catch just a glimpse of what was happening, I got caught up watching the rowing, diving, volleyball … you get the idea. With so many fabulous demonstrations of grit and determination, I felt inspired to get out and work out (of course…
Advice on retaining your sanity when confronted with a complete idiot
Do you: 1: Never miss an opportunity to educate those around you? Call attention to mistakes they have made and make sure everyone else knows about those mistakes?. Don't hesitate to point out when someone (a colleague, an employee, the clerk at the local hardware store, an airline pilot, the prime minister) is wrong and…
Believing you can't do something won't get problems solved. Find a way if you truly want a happy life
“I can’t manage everything by myself anymore ... I’m completely stressed out! From being responsible for all the meal planning to childcare responsibilities to cleaning the house, there’s no romance, no time for friends, no time to read. Something has to give.” These were the first words spoken when I sat down with one of…
Here are a few tips for performing better under pressure
“A gentleman does not lose control of his temper. … Exhibitions of anger, fear, hatred, embarrassment, ardour or hilarity, are all bad form in public,” wrote Emily Post. The Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo are underway. Sometimes I’m grateful that this only happens every four years. It’s one of those rare times when my husband…
If the price requires sacrificing civility and honour, we've lost ourselves
Status is a constant in human life, although much of the time we don't think about it because it's everywhere and takes so many forms. It’s been said that “if it doesn’t happen on YouTube, it didn’t happen.” But are those messages helping or hindering? Are we unintentionally inviting individuals to seek their moments of fame…
Mental pressures of the world starting to weigh you down?
Robert, as a hyperactive child, was constantly told to stop fidgeting. When he felt the urge to fidget, he remembered his mother’s disapproval and clenched his fists and held his arms rigidly at his sides. He spent so much of his life clenching his fists and holding himself rigidly that he appeared stiff and lifeless.…
The more the critics bark, the more you’ll accomplish
Faith Wood knows how to resolve conflict. Her years in front-line law enforcement taught her how to effectively de-escalate any situation to a successful conclusion. Faith will use her knowledge of conflict management to guide you through the often stressful experiences you may encounter in your personal or professional life. Her Conflict Coach column appears…