Loneliness is detrimental, destructive, and sometimes deadly. Loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, more than even obesity. Different than depression or feelings of solitude, loneliness is more about the quality of a person’s social relationships. The workplace is not immune, and everyone pays the price when loneliness strikes.…
Chloe, a teeny fifth grade student worked the concession stand for basketball games to honor her student council volunteer requirement. One evening, a group of eighth grade boys approached the concession stand and proceeded to mock her petite frame. Rather than shrink in the moment, Chloe looked them square in the eye and said, “I…
“Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Without respect, relationships falter. Everyone wants and needs to feel respected, and yet, research from a worldwide poll of over 20,000 employees shows that 54% of people report they don’t…
As a professional speaker, I’m always stressing the value of mindful, genuine communication in building effective business relationships. So, it’s no wonder I get excited when I hear of companies ready to step outside their comfort zone to put this into practice. That’s especially true when corporate leaders show they’re willing to break out of…
Can you remember the last time you spent an hour with someone between the ages of 12 and 64, when neither of you checked your phone? Let’s face it—these days, media-free time is a rarity. In fact, according to research reported on Axios, we check our phones 50 times each day on average, with some…
It’s that time of year again! Caught between candy bars and cranberries, we might overlook the true theme of this month: gratitude. Gratitude not only transforms how we see ourselves, but the way we view and interact with people around us. For those of us in business who are constantly relating to others-fellow employees and…
Leaders unknowingly destroy trust, undermine productivity, increase employee stress, and decrease engagement through inconsistent behaviors and practices. Substitute the word “leader” for salesperson, administrator, teacher, coach or parent, and the statement still rings true. Recent research even suggests employees prefer a supervisor who consistently acts like a jerk rather than an unpredictable one who wavers…
No, this article is not about setting aside your judgement and becoming more compassionate towards those you lead to create better connections. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I’m proposing that to maximize your relationships with others, you must first boldly accept yourself…flaws and all. Let me explain. Acceptance requires reflection and ownership of your…
“Did you do your homework?” my militant mother, a teacher by trade, would respond to my request to hang out with friends. Without a “yes” you did not pass go, nor collect $200. Rather you went directly to homework jail as work preceded reward. At the time, I despised her ridiculous rituals that restricted my…
I missed my evening connection at the airport, but that doesn’t compare to the amount of “missed connections” I witnessed during my layover. 1. Recognizing the missed flight was out of my control, I chose to let it go and instead enjoy a hot beverage from Starbucks before digging through email. The long line didn’t take…