A Mindful New Year

People are transitioning into 2026 with the usual array of resolutions, goals, and fresh perspectives. I hope you’ve taken time to reflect on your wishes for the year and have captured them in a way that will stay on your radar in the months ahead.

More than this, though, I’d like you to pay mindful attention to your aspirations as we enter this new year. Being mindful means that you’re aware and accepting of what is happening in the moment: your thoughts and feelings, the environment, the people around you….complete with no judgment.

Planning the Unplannable

Another year has flown by and we find ourselves leaving 2025 and entering 2026. I hope that last year met your expectations and you look back with satisfaction on your accomplishments.

But now is the season to think of the year ahead….your resolutions….your aspirations….your goals. If you’re a planner, you’ve probably already mapped out 2026 to guide your way. Even if planning isn’t your style, you’ve probably thought about what you want to accomplish in some fashion.

Move Forward with Your Promotion

Over the years, I’ve worked with people who have been promoted into senior leadership positions and need some help adjusting to their new roles. Many of them have advanced from managerial jobs, but something just isn’t quite right in their new capacity.

The essence of these challenges is that these people haven’t moved forward with their promotions. For example, recently promoted senior level managers still operate from a mindset of middle management.

The Value of Consistent Action

Do you add so many tasks to your to-do list that it becomes harder to keep up as the days creep on? Many people have this challenge, especially with so much pressure to do more in less time.

Most leaders keep up (or try to keep up) with urgent activities, such as client-related deadlines, internal deliverables, or follow-up meetings. If you have a deadline, you’re more likely to get it done.

Back to School Energy Boost

Traditionally, the week after Labor Day in the U.S. signifies the return to school. This is an exciting time for students. It’s time to buy new books and fresh school supplies, get excited about seeing old friends, and return to the business of learning.

It’s a little different in the workplace. Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, and after the holiday people tend to return to work with a little more focus. Goodbye to the more relaxed office environment, casual dress, and early Friday departures.

The Denouement of Summer

I know that summer is not over officially until the September 22, but Labor Day weekend has always been the unofficial end, otherwise known as the “cultural end” of the summer for people in the US. This year we had 14 weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Did you miss it?

A Hidden Cost of Procrastination

Most leaders understand that procrastination can delay progress, frustrate teams, and stall decision-making. But there’s a less obvious—and often more damaging—consequence: you can actually lose something important.

Opportunities don’t sit on the shelf waiting for us to get around to them. When you delay action, the landscape can shift without warning.

Expand Your Thinking; Enhance Your Brain

Do you know people who have rigid views about just about everything? Conversations with people like this either turn into spirited debates or one-sided monosyllabic dead ends.

Even if you have a firm perspective on a given topic, when you open your mind and hear a different perspective, it can enhance and expand your thinking.

You Can’t Do Everything

I’m dazzled when I run across people who produce enormous amounts of work with seemingly little effort. This requires focus and attention, a challenge in our distraction-laden environments.

It also requires prioritization, because simply put, you can’t do it all.

How to Talk About Emotional Intelligence Without Sounding Like a Corporate Training Manual

The phrase “emotional intelligence” makes most people’s eyes glaze over. It sounds like something from a leadership seminar that everyone will forget by Friday. But the concept behind it—understanding yourself and working well with others—is crucial for any successful team.

The trick is discussing these skills without resorting to buzzwords that make people tune out.

Leadership is a Mindset

Tag: Self-Awareness