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
Get exclusive insights from my interactive blog, share your thoughts and questions, and be part of the discussion.
If you sit down to complete a task and think “Not this again,” you’re not alone. Most U.S. workers don’t feel fully satisfied with their jobs. Maybe your passions and priorities have changed, or you feel stuck doing the same things over and over. Whatever the reason, you can rediscover a sense of purpose at work through job crafting, or tweaking parts of your job to provide more satisfaction. For…
It can be awkward to give constructive feedback to someone who’s not in the same room as you, but if you manage remote employees, you’ll have to do it. Set up a video conference, and be sure to position your camera at eye level; any lower will make it seem as though you’re looming above them. Maintain natural eye contact, and keep your body language open and relaxed. Start your…
We all have a few subjects that we find boring or dull. Fortunately, it’s possible to learn to like — maybe even love — topics that make your eyes glaze over. First, you have to overcome the pain. When we think about something we don’t like or want, it can activate a portion of the brain that’s connected to our experience of pain. This means, for example, that thinking about…
Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly given small opportunities to build up or put down our coworkers. If we’re introducing two colleagues, telling a story about how a meeting went, or sharing a colleague’s project, how we talk about others can make a big difference in how they feel about themselves and their work. So take advantage of these opportunities to speak positively about your coworkers. When…
When you take on your first manager role, people will be watching. What you think, what you say, and how you show up can have a direct impact on those you’re leading. It’s important to project calmness, confidence, and competence, even if you feel stressed out. Recognize that a fleeting moment of anger or impatience may end up hurting your team’s morale. Think about the kind of manager you want…
The next time you feel that you’ve royally messed something up at work, avoid self-flagellation and think about what you can learn from it. Don’t interpret setbacks as “I’m not cut out for this challenge.” Instead, tell yourself, “I haven’t yet developed the required capabilities for it.” Framing the setback this way will not only help your self-esteem but also allow you to candidly reflect on what went well and…
If you need to come up with a new idea, stop trying to think of the best one. Instead, imagine the worst idea possible: What would be the wrong way to solve this problem? What do our customers absolutely not want? How could we make all of our stakeholders angry? Try to come up with ideas that would get you laughed at (or maybe even fired), and then work backward…
It’s infuriating when a colleague goes over your head to the boss. Not only has he left you out of the conversation but he’s also potentially made you look bad. What can you say and do when someone tries to bypass you? Take a step back and assess what you know. Look at the facts, and avoid snap judgments. Could you be misreading the situation? If you don’t know exactly…
Here’s some good news: You don’t need to get rid of stress to live a happy, fulfilling life. But you do need to separate yourself from your stress. This doesn’t mean you pretend is the stress isn’t there. It means you identify less strongly with the emotion, realizing it’s a bodily response to a feeling about your view of the world. Instead of thinking “I am stressed,” try “I feel…
How you leave a job is just as important as how you start one. It can be tempting to say exactly what you think about the organization or people you’re leaving, but there are only downsides to burning bridges or destroying relationships. You need to make a graceful exit. So once you’ve given notice to your boss, do the following: Create a plan with your boss. Lay out who you’ll…
Whether you’re interviewing for a job or making a sales call with a new client, first impressions matter. Your relationships and interactions will be a lot easier if you start off strong. Here’s how to do it: Do your homework. Know who you’re talking to, what she cares about, and the problem she’s trying to solve. Prepare relevant talking points before the meeting. Exude confidence. It’s normal to be nervous, but…
With new initiatives, we often assume we need a smaller team to get the job done. But there are advantages to bringing in a broader group of people: you capture more ideas and build a sense of community. Next time you’re tasked with an initiative, consider using an ecosystem-focused approach. Start by deliberately seeking out different perspectives. Recruit the people who will be affected by your new product or service,…