Posts by Jennifer McEwen
Conversations with Integrity
In recent weeks, my husband Perry and I have had more conversations than normal. When all was “right” with the world—or so we mistakenly thought—things were fairly quiet in Jenuwin Perrydise, the name we affectionately call our humble abode. However, lately we have been engrossed in dialogue about injustice and our future. We wonder what…
Read MoreThe Buzz of Leadership
Do as I say, not as I do…that is the sound of integrity missing, not showing up where it is needed. Right now, there are numerous examples of this (masks, murders, and mayhem). In contrast, Spring in the Northern Hemisphere has me seeing buzzing bees and floral blooms everywhere. This time of ‘awakening’ offers many…
Read MoreGo Ahead: Be Bored and Do Chaos
Lately, some people I speak with say they are bored due to the Coronavirus pandemic keeping many of us at home. On the flip side, I know other people’s lives are quite chaotic right now. Whichever you are experiencing, you may be asking yourself, “When it will change?” Despite what is in front of us,…
Read MoreDeclaring Your Future
What does the future hold? I hear a lot of people asking one another that question during this COVID-19 pandemic. We certainly did not want this to happen; but, instead of wishing it away, how can we lean into it and get what we want out of it? We could ask ourselves: What does my…
Read MoreAuthenticity Behind the Mask
“Tell me what you want…what you really, really want.” The words of that 90’s Spice Girls song, Wannbe, ring through my ears as I listen to people skirt around what they really wish to say. Come on, spit it out! Okay, it’s not always easy…I know—and am sensitive to this—because I have a history of…
Read MoreThe Epicenter of Constant Change
When change is thrust upon us, not being the one to initiate it can make us feel helpless or even panic-stricken. When we take responsibility during a change, our relationship with it can shift for the better. What’s happening on our globe right now has jolted my memory right back to 1983 and the then-ensuing…
Read MoreMaking My Way…Towards You
Am I on the right track? What are they doing? It’s natural we compare ourselves to others. We do this for a variety of reasons: sometimes out of curiosity, perhaps for validation, or maybe to find similarities. When done in excess, comparisons don’t serve. Why? Because one mark of a brilliant leader is having the…
Read MoreAvoiding Group Blink
You may have personally experienced this: Your team leader shares a vision and you are secretly uncomfortable with it or have different ideas. Yet despite your internal gut churning, you say nothing. And, your colleague says nothing. And, when no one speaks up, the silence is mistaken for alignment. Keeping your mouth shut might seem easier…
Read MoreHalf Hip and Totally Present
I’ve never been “hip”. I’ve tried to be cool, but the truth is I was a bit of a “square” growing up…more conscientious than easy-going, always fretting about something versus letting it be. Sometimes, I can be so serious that I miss hidden meanings in sarcasm, a tactic employed frequently by my husband. As an…
Read MoreThe Value of New Stories
Rest assured, this won’t be a lesson in values-based leadership…I like to leave preaching to my Dad (an ordained Lutheran Minister). The fact is, however, values play a role in the many types of leadership that have been touted by experts. This is not a new concept. It flows hand-in-hand with one of the of…
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