Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
and Trusted Advisor
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If you’re in an influential position, you’ve probably told employees something to the effect of “My door is always open.” It’s likely that you genuinely meant the declaration. You might feel that you are a pretty approachable leader, and that others feel comfortable coming to you with their issues and ideas. That may be true — but it may not be. Leaders often have an inflated idea of how easy…
We’ve all had one of those communication meltdowns where you and your coworker raise your voices or shut down instead of listening to each other. But you won’t be able to find common ground unless you hear the other person out. The next time you and a coworker get into an argument, try listening more than you talk. As you listen, notice: Are you already thinking about your rebuttal? Are…
As a leader, it’s a rare luxury to have all of the relevant data before making a decision. More often you make a call with incomplete information, which leaves you open to confirmation bias — meaning you pay attention to data that supports the decision you’ve made and dismiss data that does not. To avoid this trap, take some time before executing your decision and ask yourself what would’ve happened…
There’s a common misconception that individual development needs to happen…individually. Nothing could be further from the truth. Despite our common cultural notion of “self” improvement, the most successful efforts to self-improve have other people at their core. If you’re looking to gain a new skill or break a bad habit, seek out people (both inside and outside your organization) who are looking to do the same, and meet regularly. You can…
When you get into an argument, it’s natural to focus on your own feelings and perspective. But that makes it much harder to reach a resolution. In fact, psychologists have found that people use better reasoning strategies when they distance themselves from how they currently feel and consider what a situation means in the long run. So the next time you disagree with a colleague, try to see the conflict…
If you’re a senior executive, there’s a good chance you’re out of touch. Having a layer of handlers who decide what you should or shouldn’t see may save you time, but it also keeps you isolated and disconnected. This is a serious problem. If you don’t have firsthand information about your employees and customers, you’re unlikely to make the best decisions. So get out of your bubble. Do a stint…
If you work for a hands-off manager who doesn’t give you a ton of guidance, it falls on you to set priorities for your work. You can focus on the right things by asking yourself two questions: “What is my highest contribution?” Consider the organization’s needs and your unique strengths, experience, and capabilities. But don’t only focus on what you’re good at. Also ask yourself: “What am I passionate about?”…
When it comes to conflict, there are two types of people: those who avoid it and those who seek it out. Avoiders tend to shy away or even hide from disagreements. They prize harmony and relationships with their coworkers. Seekers are eager to engage in conflict when it arises (or even find ways to create it). They tend to care most about directness and honesty. Neither style is better, and…
Improving meetings isn’t just about inviting the right people and being prepared. You also need to employ empathy, an emotional intelligence competency that can help you better manage discussions. Empathy allows you to read people: Who is supporting whom? Who is coasting? Where is the resistance? Carefully reading people will also help you understand the conflicts in the group so that you can manage the power dynamics. You may think…
Burnout is real, just ask any professional. It’s easy for work to consume your every waking moment, causing other parts of your life to take a hit. Dealing with stress, developing new skills, (outside of work) and your personal relationships can all fall by the wayside when work-life balance (or work/life blending, as I like to call it) isn’t a priority. The first thing you need to do before you can work…
It’s normal to feel weak or powerless when you’re in a new situation. But most people are far more flexible and adaptable than they give themselves credit for. To prepare yourself to do something that scares you, think back to things you’ve already done that took guts — maybe it was switching jobs, or moving to a new city. For example, if you’re nervous about going to a networking event,…