Every business leader I know is looking for the same thing: An edge. They all want that elusive something that will get their team and their organization ahead of — or keep them ahead of — their competition. And one place many look for it is by investing in the wisdom of an outsider — the professional business speaker. Yeah, that’s me. But I’m one of many, some good and some, well … c...

We’re all guilty of occasionally acting in passive-aggressive ways at work. We may use humor to deflect criticism, half-heartedly say yes when we mean no or signal disinterest by waiting days before replying to an email. Identifying passive aggressive people usually isn’t hard. They’re the colleagues whose snide comments make your blood boil. Their penchant to shift blame or avoid picking up their share...

'The people when rightfully and fully trusted will return the trust.' -Abraham Lincoln Trust is an essential element of a work relationship. Trust may take time to develop but easy to lose. Examples of trust include having faith that a colleague will complete his or her part of an assigned project or relying on a supervisor's promise of a promotion by a specific date. Betrayal is a loss of trust that can...

News reports indicate a big decline in unemployment and a steady increase in jobs. This news could be interpreted by many people to mean that getting the job of their dreams will be easy. There are also many “help wanted” signs displayed in windows and on job boards. These clues could imply to some that employers are becoming more desperate and that keeping a job is easy. Don’t let the numbers give you fal...

Many factors that sap workplace productivity are beyond the control of individual employees. For example, you can’t control whether or not you work in an open office environment, or whether your manager schedules excessive meetings. But there are plenty of productivity eliminating moves that you CAN control. Some of these are obvious, but some are rather stealthy. Do you recognize any of these? Reply all. When you...

It was a dimly lit restaurant. Still she was dressed in pink, and while I admit it’s hard to tell the gender of babies, clothing color is a reliable clue. So, it surprised me when the waitress began playing with my granddaughter, asking “How old is he?” Twenty minutes later, that same waitress served our dinners into my daughter-in-law’s lap, spilling the contents of her tray as she approached the...

Spring is finally here. The days are longer, warmer, and the trees are starting to bloom. We're open to inviting change into our lives! Spring is a time to get rid off all that junk we’ve accumulated over the winter. Yes, physical junk such as heavy coats and boots, but also the emotional baggage we’ve picked up over the winter. Spring is also a time to forgive. Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to...

Many companies today are worried they don’t have the right leadership to succeed in the digital and disruptive age. Maybe they’ve got it all wrong. What if they actually have the right leaders—but they’re being held hostage by the same old expectations, metrics, and rewards? Here’s the problem. The very nature of business is continually evolving. Consumer needs fluctuate. Technology keeps...

Everything in life is about communication and messaging. How are you going to present your new idea? How are you going to position your background so that it is relatable to the role for which you’re interviewing? How will you articulate your differing perspective to a potential client? We all want the communication “magic bullet.” That’s why there are so many different classes and books out there on...

Alex would like to establish his own business, but he's afraid he won't succeed. Marcia would like to return to school, but she's afraid she might fail. Abraham Lincoln failed in business, and was defeated for Congress, the Senate and Vice President. Thomas Edison had 10,000 trials before inventing the light bulb. Did you learn to walk or ride a bike without falling? What's your attitude toward career...