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
When the data runs out—or becomes overwhelming—your next move often depends on something harder to quantify: intuition. It’s not guesswork. It’s a skill built from experience, reflection, and pattern recognition. If you want to trust your gut more confidently as a leader, you need to train it. Start with the “calm test.” Before acting on a strong impulse, ask yourself: Would I make the same decision if I were completely…
If you treat emotions like distractions, you’re missing out on one of your most powerful leadership tools. Emotional intelligence isn’t about being touchy-feely—it’s about using emotional data to lead with clarity, resilience, and trust. Here’s how to make that shift. Notice what emotions are telling you. Start by paying attention to physical cues, energy shifts, and behavioral changes in yourself and others. Tight shoulders? A teammate’s silence? These aren’t random—they’re…
Do you ever wonder when the first Labor Day was celebrated or who decided that we should even celebrate Labor Day, or do you just know that you get a long weekend the first Monday of every September and that’s really all that matters to you? Well, stop for just a minute this morning for a quick history lesson. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5,…
It’s frustrating when a teammate doesn’t pull their weight—but it doesn’t have to derail you. You can manage the situation without letting it harm your career. Here’s how. Document your contributions. Keep a clear record of your work. It’s not about blaming anyone; it’s about showing your role in the project. Whether through emails, updates in project management tools, or private notes, this habit ensures transparency and provides a safety…
When you hit a career milestone—whether it’s landing a promotion, winning a major client, or exceeding sales targets—you expect congratulations. But what if colleagues respond with jealousy or resentment instead? Here’s how to approach the awkward situation with grace. Check your assumptions. Before jumping to conclusions, assess whether their behavior has truly changed. Are they making passive-aggressive comments? Avoiding you? Engaging in one-upmanship? If the pattern is consistent, their resentment…
As you move up the leadership ladder, getting work done through peers—not just direct reports—becomes an essential skill. But delegating laterally requires nuance, not just authority. Here’s how to do it effectively. Choose the right tasks to delegate. Only delegate work that fits your peer’s domain, advances their goals, or uses their existing tools. Misaligned asks feel like favors and are likely to get a quick “no.” Frame it as…
Stepping into a senior leadership role is about more than simply managing a bigger team. It requires a new mindset, focus, and definition of success. If you’re finding this transition to be harder than you expected, you’re not alone. Here’s how to recalibrate your approach. Coach, don’t solve. You’re no longer the go-to problem solver. Your value now lies in helping your managers become confident decision-makers. Instead of offering answers,…
Your workday is a blur of meetings, emails, and endless to-do lists. You’re constantly moving, constantly responding—but are you actually present? Without taking time to reflect, you risk missing big opportunities, making poor decisions, and ultimately burning out. Here’s how to step back without falling behind. Give yourself permission. Being busy isn’t the same as being effective. Productivity culture rewards constant time commitments—but the most important insights often come from…
Flexibility is a blessing—until it isn’t. When you try to do everything for both your work and your family, burnout can sneak in fast. The key is to approach flexibility strategically, so you’re fully present when it matters most. Here’s how. Define what’s enough. Without clear boundaries, you’ll always feel behind. Set standard work hours and define the personal commitments that matter most to you. Equally important: Give yourself permission…
When life is packed with work and family demands, joy often falls to the bottom of the priority list. In fact, many professionals spend most of their time on achievement and meaning, leaving little space for happiness. But no matter how busy you are, you can still create more joy in the time you have. Here’s how. Spend time with others. Joy is amplified by connection. Shared activities with family…
A failed negotiation stings, but it presents an opportunity to improve. The best negotiators don’t avoid failure but instead analyze and learn from it. Follow these five steps to turn a setback into a growth opportunity. Acknowledge—and accept—the failure. It’s easy to blame others or ignore what went wrong, but denial prevents growth. Accept the outcome without excuses. Recognizing your role in the failure allows you to move forward with…
If you’re searching for deeper fulfillment beyond your career, volunteering is a powerful way to find it. The impact you make doesn’t have to be grand—starting small can create meaningful change. Here’s how to get started. Don’t let doubt hold you back. It’s easy to feel like one person’s efforts won’t matter, but focusing on what you can influence—whether in your neighborhood, community, or a cause close to your heart—makes…