Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
and Trusted Advisor
Get “Monday Morning Coffee with Liz”
direct to your in-box every Monday Morning with tips on what it takes to be a great leader
People cry at work. Maybe it’s because of tough feedback or a particularly stressful day, or maybe it has nothing at all to do with work. Regardless of the reason, as a manager, you shouldn’t ignore or diminish the tears, even if they make you feel uncomfortable. Don’t try to interpret your employee’s emotions, tell them what to do, or judge them. Instead, show gentle curiosity and compassion. Try saying…
When you’re managing a remote team in a crisis, it’s understandable if you’re largely focused on tasks and goals. But it’s just as critical for managers to focus on sustaining a healthy team culture. Right now, team members need to feel connected — not only to the company’s mission, but also to each other. To foster the right culture, regularly set aside time for team members to highlight and share…
Mentorship helps the careers of both mentors and mentees — research shows they get promoted, attain higher salaries, and fend off burnout. Mentoring relationships that develop organically are the most fruitful, but how can you find a mentor during this era of social distancing? To start, embrace remote networking. Put yourself in a position to meet interesting people, both inside and outside of your organization or industry. Don’t be afraid…
There are 168 hours in a week; this is immutable truth. That sounds like a lot, but is it really enough time to cover the demands of a successful career, family involvement, and everything else that makes up a fulfilling life? Let’s do the back-of-the-envelope calculation. Starting with those 168 hours, first take away 49 just for sleep. Don’t try to cheat on this. If you are getting less than…
With not everyone is in the office at one time these days, it can be hard to connect and inspire your co-workers. If you aren’t working well together, there are a few ways to change the team dynamic. Everyone — including you — should consider how they can improve three things: internal self-awareness, external self-awareness, and personal accountability. Internal self-awareness is about understanding how your values affect your decisions. To…
We all overcommit ourselves from time to time. And then, because we feel overwhelmed, we cancel or back out at the last minute. It feels like no big deal — everybody does it, right? But not following through on your commitments, whether by constantly rescheduling meetings or by failing to get back to people when you say you will, erodes your trustworthiness. Honoring your commitments begins with saying yes only…
Like most people, you probably lean on filler words while speaking, such as “um,” “ah,” or “you know.” But these verbal crutches diminish your credibility and distract from your message. To drop them from your speech, replace them with pauses. Start by identifying the filler words you use too often, and then pair them with an action. For example, every time you catch yourself saying “like,” tap your leg. This…
Managing egos, the over and under-inflated, the forceful and the fragile – is one of the great challenges facing any leader. It is a crucial task, however, if a group is going to have a fighting chance to succeed, to become a true team rather than a collection of individuals – lone wolves – each looking out for him or herself rather than the “pack”. Leadership must get those individuals…
Even in dire circumstances, you can still lead with optimism, helping your team and your customers stay resilient amidst uncertainty. The first step is to be a role model. Lip service alone won’t work. Also, keep in mind that a positive outlook is easier to adopt as a group, so help employees foster a sense of connection with each other. This can be as simple as celebrating when a team…
Balancing work and family has never been easy, but the global pandemic has led to a whole new set of challenges. If you’re struggling to be productive, consider setting boundaries for yourself and your kids. For example, you can make it clear to your family when you’re on and off the clock, trying to stay out of your office area during your “home” time. If something urgent comes up (and…
When your team is working remotely — and possibly on different schedules — people can feel like they’re expected to be online all the time. But this lack of distinct downtime isn’t good for you or your team. As a manager, it’s your responsibility to establish communication norms while encouraging people to continue to work flexibly as needed. Define clear “communication hours,” for example, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,…