Posts by Jennifer McEwen
Extraordinary Beyond a Crisis
These past months have me thinking a lot about how we handle crises and what it takes to operate successfully during turbulent times. What makes the difference between being an ordinary versus an extraordinary leader during a crisis? Extraordinary leaders do not keep their distance from events and people that need their leadership. Leaders I…
Read MoreWhen to Scrub Your Leadership
Remember those times when you didn’t show up the way you wanted? You may be aware of why you were not able to be fully present or effective in the situation. Maybe you were distracted by real life matters. Or you simply didn’t get enough sleep and your body was sending you an important message…
Read MoreLove and Leadership
“Oh, how I love you,” he said. One of my graduate school professors, the late Dr. Herbert Baker, professed his love for his students one evening at the end of a class on leadership. At the tender age of 25, it was the oddest thing I’d ever heard. He explained to the class: To practice…
Read MoreAct As If You’re Visible
Integrity is important to me. I constantly check myself to ensure congruence between my thoughts and actions … in other words, my being and doing. I ask myself questions like: “Is what I practice what I preach?” “Do I evaluate others in a similar way to how I assess myself?” “Does what I say depict…
Read MoreLeaving Bah Humbug Behind
I recently sat through A Christmas Carol musical. I have witnessed this Charles Dickens story, in one form or another, nearly every Christmas holiday. In case you don’t know the tale: The main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is focused on money, money, and money…and not in a generous way. He is paid a visit from three…
Read More“Doing” Commitment
Committing to something or someone often starts with being engaged. The level of engagement can vary from low to high; often, it’s based on a person’s desire and then the nature of actions that person takes towards that end. In his popular book, The Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge asserts that lower engagement involves forms of…
Read MoreBeyond Limits
Two weeks ago, a group of 36 Indian Muslim women graduated from a prestigious fellowship program hosted by the LedBy Foundation, India’s first incubator focused on helping more Muslim women prepare for business leadership roles. I had the honor and pleasure of serving as an Executive Coach to three of these women. Throughout the time…
Read MoreImposter or Authority?
I’ve coached several executives on “imposter syndrome” or the sense of feeling unworthy. It’s not something with which I thought I identified, and attribute this to both my parents and grandparents. Through their unconditional love, they taught me that I am enough…perfect in the eyes of God. I do, however, understand about having doubts. As…
Read MoreWoman in Motion
The movie St. Elmo’s Fire has intrigued me since I was a teenager. Part of the draw was Georgetown University. I never went to school there; however, I did live in the Washington, DC area and got to drive past it often…such a majestic view from the Potomac River! And then there was that catchy…
Read MoreSensing into Influence
Influence doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I’ve coached numerous executives who want to be great at influencing. As we explore what it takes, it quickly becomes apparent that influence starts with paying attention to signals … signals that come from within you and around you. Influence starts with noticing signals or sensations within you. As…
Read More