Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
and Trusted Advisor
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Companies need to have rules—that’s a given—but they don’t have to be shortsighted and lazy attempts at creating order. I understand the temptation. As my company has grown, so has our difficulty maintaining standards. There have been many instances where someone crossed a line, and we were tempted to respond with a new rule that applied to everyone. But that’s where most companies blow it. In just about every instance,…
Labor Day for many is all about a last blast at the beach with family and friends, backyard barbecues, school retail bonanzas and the grudging realization that sun-soaked play days are no more. But the day has a deeper meaning and marks a pivotal moment in U.S. labor history — and it had a pretty violent start. In the late 1800s, the state of labor was grim as U.S. workers…
Each year I spend a week in August with kids that have Crohn’s or Colitis Disease, as a Counselor at a Camp in Texas. As a survivor, and still fighter of Crohn’s, it’s a great way for me to give back and truly understand what the kids are going through and do what I can to help them learn they can lead a full life with the disease. To be…
Good morning, For this year’s Olympics and years past, I wondered what we might gain from a leadership perspective. Here’s my take. Teamwork takes the pressure off. Research suggests athletes performing in Olympic team sports have a less difficult time than individual athletes. Swimming or track and field relay events, for instance, help take the pressure off an individual and place the burden to win on the entire team. Giving…
Good morning, Stress can be a powerful and healthy resource. Yes, you heard me correctly – a resource. But wait, stress is bad, stress causes health problems, we all should try to diminish the stress in our daily lives… right? Not exactly. Sure, chronic stress can absolutely be harmful to health and well-being. But not always. When stress is viewed as a resource that is helpful to our lives,…
Good morning, The B players. In most companies, B players typically make up the majority of an organization (not the top producers nor the bottom 10 percent), but are oftentimes overlooked, which is one of the biggest mistakes a company can make. Focusing on this group can increase staff retention, improve culture and ultimately grow revenue. Everyone knows who the A players are… What ends up happening is that leaders…
I came across this article in Twitter and was so impressed with the young woman who stood her ground. In business and in your personal life, you have one thing that always follows you, your reputation. Never, ever compromise that. Enjoy the read! It’s a small world after all. At least on Twitter. That’s what the Walt Disney Co. realized recently after Shannon Sullivan, an intern working in Magic Kingdom restaurants,…
Good morning, Have you ever tried to break a bad habit, only to give up in frustration? The problem isn’t that you’re weak or that the bad habit is too ingrained; in all likelihood, you just gave up too soon. Researchers at University College, London, found that it takes 66 days for a new habit to form. Likewise, as long as there is no physical addiction involved, it takes…
You can now listen here on YouTube! Good morning, Ever since I heard the news of Pat Summitt’s passing, I have been enthralled in the celebration of her life and legacy. What she accomplished as a coach—the most successful collegiate basketball in history; as a pioneer in the advancement of her industry and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the kind of achievements that all leaders desire. As…
Monday, July 4, 2016 Happy Fourth of July! Happy birthday to the United States of America! It’s been 238 years since the founding fathers declared independence from Great Britain and formed a country of 13 colonies. You know that, of course. But it’s been a while since history class. So here’s a quick-hit history lesson on the holiday. We should be celebrating on July 2. Representatives of the 13 colonies,…
Monday, June 27, 2016 Good morning, I recently ran across this on LinkedIn and felt it was worthy of sharing. Make it a great day!
Monday, June 20, 2016 Good morning, In the world of business, we often talk about the importance of motivating others–our employees, our team, our vendors, our customers. Everyone, that is, except for ourselves. It’s just as important–maybe even more important–to motivate yourself as it is to motivate others. Here are some ways leaders keep themselves motivated. Have a goal. According to research conducted by Edwin Locke and his team, giving people specific…