Monday Morning Coffee

Far too many companies believe that a cutthroat pressure-cooker culture gets results. They think the harder they crack that whip, the better people will perform. High-pressure cutthroat organizations spend 50% more on healthcare for their employees than organizations with a more positive, supportive environment because 80% of workplace accidents are attributed to stress, as are 80% of doctor visits. Cutthroat organizations are actually less productive because they experience significantly lower…

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  We all know that living under stressful conditions has serious emotional, even physical, consequences. So why do we have so much trouble taking action to reduce our stress levels and improve our lives? Researchers at Yale University finally have the answer. They found that stress reduces the volume of grey matter in the areas of the brain responsible for self-control. So experiencing stress actually makes it more difficult to…

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My husband and I recently came back from a trip with our dear friends, Jim and Robin. Jim came up with a great idea for dinner conversation so everyone would be included.  Each night, someone picked a topic they were familiar with or had read about and it became the conversation at dinner.  As there were several of us, it gave everyone at the table an opportunity to join the…

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When you feel confident, the whole world seems to belong to you. You suddenly surround yourself with other successful and confident people, and both opportunities and success come your way with ease. Everyone, at one time or another (including me!) struggles with lack of confidence.  Below I share some quick and easy ways to keep your confidence strong. Define your purpose. It’s hard to be confident in what you’re doing…

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This past weekend, I attended the funeral of a very dear friend. My heart was heavy as I visited with her family and friends and talked about a life taken too soon. I cried and smiled as I remembered our time together and the laughter and experiences that we shared.  In death, we always seem to stop and reflect. Here are a few thoughts I wanted to share that we too…

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Everyone fails in life, and failure can be a crushing experience. The only thing that separates successful people from the rest is how they respond after they fail. When facing obstacles, you have to decide if you’re going to let them be the excuse for your failure or if you’re going to make them the story behind your success. “There is no failure. Only feedback.” -Robert AllenWhen you adopt the…

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How many times have you walked into a room and started comparing yourself to everyone else? Your inner dialogue may be something like, “She’s more successful than me. I’m not as confident as him. I’m not attractive enough.” Chances are that most people in that room are questioning themselves, too. The good news? There are ways to change that. You’re not the only one who has an inner critic. Everyone…

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Good morning , In a successful organization, no detail is too small to escape close attention………………………Lou Holtz In our world of always multitasking, I learned in my many years of running companies that people want your time. And even though your time is precious, don’t forget their time is too. But more importantly, when people want to speak to you, put everything else away and give them your undivided attention….

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Words hold power. Some of the most powerful words are the words you use every day. These words can easily and unknowingly diminish your message and intent. Powerful people know what words to stay away from and maintain their influence and impact. When it comes to language, less is more. Here is your opportunity to increase your power by decreasing your usage of these seven types of words: 1. “Just” (protector…

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I’ve obtained a bird’s eye view of the practices that are essential to a manager’s job performance and the satisfaction of his or her staff. We’ve found that superior managers—those who lead their teams to the greatest levels of performance and job satisfaction—often share three critical habits. Clear expectations. Managers who set clear expectations ensure that employee efforts are spent doing the right things the right way. This means thoroughly…

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The truth is that it takes absolutely no talent to be on time, it’s a matter of habit and once you understand the rewards for being on time you’ll never stop doing it.

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Unfortunately, we’ve all been there. The boss finds his staff stumped by a problem and decides it’s time to step in. But, instead of taking the time to get the facts straight and work alongside his team to realize a viable solution, he swoops in squawking, dumps orders riddled with formulaic advice, and then abruptly takes off, leaving them behind to clean up the mess. This is a seagull manager….

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