Posts by Jennifer McEwen
Initiating Requests for Help
When you’re really, really busy—I mean head-spinning busy—it might not seem the time to reach out for help. In fact, it is the perfect time to request help. Why? Doing too much at once overstimulates the brain, resulting in distorted thinking. When our brains are on overload, we are less resourceful. So, “grinning and bearing…
Read MoreYou and 2021
Let’s face it: 2020 was a trying year. And throughout it all, people stepped up and continue to do so. They provide health services, ensure grocery stores have items to buy, and so much more. We each have stepped up and continue to do so. We carry on when things seem out of control or…
Read MoreEmployees as Customers
I love helping companies link organizational culture and business results. I get to help people do more by building their leadership. And I get really jazzed about also helping organizations create positive customer experiences. When I say the word customer, you may be thinking of the people who buy things from a company. Yes, and…
Read MoreChoosing Community
With the Thanksgiving holiday this week, I have turkey on my brain…and stuffing, mashed potatoes, and a little pumpkin pie to go with my whipped cream! And…community, as I am spending the week with my family this year. There’s a reason many people don’t dine alone at Thanksgiving: they want to share gratitude with others.…
Read MoreCoaching Over Feedback
“May I offer you some feedback?” Those words are harmony to some ears and discord to others. Even when you are open to it, their words can trigger—in a nanosecond—a reaction of (imagine a computer voice): DOES NOT COMPUTE!! DOES NOT COMPUTE!! Our brain instantly recognizes the difference with our own self-view, be it subtle…
Read MoreIt’s Clear When We’re Not Transparent
When I am not transparent and open with others—whether at home or work—it doesn’t feel right. When others are not seemingly open with me, I tend to feel a little anxious. My father’s ill health has me thinking recently about families and how they communicate. There are families that share just about everything, those that…
Read MoreIron Mask Not Required
An executive leadership team I supported was entrenched in a conversation about vulnerability. One member said, “I’m not big on being vulnerable, but I do my best to be authentic.” It hit me then: We should always be authentic, and vulnerability should neither be a goal nor something for which we aim. But sometimes, it…
Read MoreYou’ve Got More Than You Know
Why do some executives operate in an abundance mindset while others seem to have a scarcity mindset? Like tree leaves gasping for air and grappling for sun, perhaps the level of competition in business has us striving to secure–or even grow–our position in that dense forest of rivalry. When we perceive competition for power, resources,…
Read MoreBut I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Have you ever stayed in a situation you wish you would have left sooner? Perhaps it was a large commitment like a job, or a short interaction like a customer service phone call to obtain information. You might not necessarily regard your stick-to-itiveness as loyalty on your part…rather, you were holding out hope for something…
Read MoreRecognizing All Parts Played
Who is the star of the show at work or in life, the person taking on a heroic role? You may know someone playing this role, or maybe it is you. This person feels the world is their oyster. Being a hero can feel glorious at times and, at other times, it can feel lonely.…
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