Welcome to my blog! As a leadership consultant, coach, and facilitator, with more than 15 years of experience and a PhD in organizational psychology, I have a thing or two to say about what makes an inspirational leader, a strong culture, an effective people manager, or simply a fulfilled, engaged individual at work. And here is my way to share my point of view: directly, honestly, and authentically. I will keep it casual and friendly, so that you can read it with your morning coffee or during your commute. But I will always include actionable tips and ideas, rooted in my experience and in research. While the tone may be casual, this is serious. After all, we spend the majority of our waking hours at work. Let’s make it count.
Coincidentally, I also believe that leaders (or leaders-in-training) should have a clear point of view. My husband, who is a lawyer, always says that, quite simply, lawyers are ultimately paid to have a point of view. Full stop. Well, I would argue all leaders are ultimately paid to have a point of view: one that is informed, empathetic, a work-in-progress, and yes, sometimes wrong (we’ll get to that), but a point of view nonetheless.
Like in a novel or movie, a point of view filters how we perceive reality; its audacity can be dangerous. It also makes things interesting. And for a leader, or any human being, a point of view functions at multiple levels:
- What is your point of view in your area of expertise? The last time someone asked for your advice or professional opinion, did you provide it clearly and succinctly or did you burden it with caveats, exceptions, and doubt? Caveats have their time and place, but so does non-caveated decisiveness.
- What is your point of view about your career? I recently facilitated a leadership development program for leaders at a Fortune 100 company, and one of their biggest take-aways was how much *they* have the power to take charge of their careers. It is easy to yield this power to others (typically your boss or your organizational processes) and feel powerless.
- What is your point of view in life? What kind of person do you want to be? This fundamentally informs your leadership. Someone whose core values are achievement, innovation, and impact will find different things fulfilling than someone whose core values are balance, communication, and independence. Not better or worse, just different. Being aware of your own values makes it easier to align your interests to your job and to your leadership style. But more on this later…
I am also constantly evolving my point of view. I make mistakes. I do not have all the answers. With this blog, my plan is to share some of my experiences, and, in the process, clarify a thing or two for myself as well. After all, the teacher is the best student.
Let’s begin!
