“Learned optimism” is a concept created by psychologist Martin Seligman. It is the opposite of “learned helplessness.” In his book, ​Learned Optimism​, Seligman describes a straightforward  process of responding to life’s challenges with this alphabetical acrostic

The real trick to managing difficult people and situations is to manage yourself while (better yet, BEFORE) you manage them. Here’s a skill that helps me manage myself - learning how to “just breathe.” Watch the video to find out more!

I’ve found that these three elements help me stay energized and focused. So, they’ve become part of my morning routine.

I encourage “nice-guy” leaders to develop a “dial” that replaces the “switch” they flip during conflict. We replace a communication strategy that goes instantly from DEFCON 5 to DEFCON 1. When we do this, conflict becomes less painful both for them and for those they lead.

Great for you!  There are a lot of benefits to being your own boss, and there is also a lot of work to become sustainable as a business. This post is a summary of my advice for anyone who wants to take the “leap” from employment to entrepreneurship.

You may pride yourself on your drive and ability to get things done fast. Those two superpowers have served you well in the past.

But just because it worked for you in the past doesn't mean it will meet the challenges of today. If you find yourself fighting more and more “fires” in your organization, that could be a sign that your "superpowers" are turning into "kryptonite."

Let me explain.

I recently had a conversation with a friend who was lamenting the need to invest more and more time in tasks at work that weren’t relevant to his sense of purpose. I replied by saying, “Ah - you mean high maintenance, low impact activities.” Intrigued by this description, he requested, “Please, tell me more.”

Let’s mash up SMART goals with small experiments to make your goals even SMARTER! This process will help you make those daily small improvements that add up to big successes

No matter what your title in an organization, you are accountable to someone - the board, the boss, or the customer.

When working with those individuals, would you rather be an “implementer” or a “partner”? Whatever your formal role in your organization, you can become a partner. Instead of being a tool for getting things done, you can become a strategic voice for what gets done. That’s one of the fundamental assumptions of Influence Coaching.

Many of us know about the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) for leadership. Here's a tool that will help you with that: learn how to recognize and correct your triggers.

Here is one concept that I come back to time and time again for leadership development. Let's talk about the "designed alliance." To create collaborative relationships, you have to clarify, “Here’s what I need from you. What do you need from me?” The designed alliance is a tool that helps you do that.

This weekly conversation is equal to routine maintenance on your car engine. The marriage meeting is a way of “checking the oil” to make sure that your engine doesn’t burnout!