One Bold Move A Day

We are at another pivot point in this global pandemic and to be most effective, we are going to need to bring our best selves. This means we need to rest. We are doing A LOT right now to manage our careers, our families, and ourselves. Doing this without a break is not sustainable. Vacation may not look the same as it used to, but it gives you an opportunity to recharge and do what you value with...

When you want to achieve something, you write it down. Whether it’s a SWOT analysis, a formal action plan, or even a memo (or email) outlining goals—you’ve seen the power of listing out your intentions. A research study done at Dominican University in California shows that writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them. Why not apply this approach to your own career and personal...

There are some days when it can feel really heavy to be a leader. When you commit to serving others, it also comes with a sense that you’re right there with them in what they face. It can be natural to feel so empathetic to your team members’ concerns or problems that you take them on as your own, which can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Compassionate leadership is a proactive approach to leaders...

Curiosity leads to deeper connections with others, more innovation, helps you handle rejection, and builds your confidence. Think about things you could have appreciated for a moment and forgotten about or ignored completely. Choose to give these things your attention. Intentionally put yourself out there and follow through. This episode provides tips on how to build your curiosity and why this is...

I believe anything is possible. The way I show up at work and for others is to lead with optimism and a belief that people can do things they didn’t know were possible. We’re living through hard times right now. You might have some days where you feel lost or unsure. I still feel rejection, frustration, lack of motivation, and disappointment. Here’s the thing: I get back up after that—most often,...

Dual career couples, two working parents juggling careers and family, is more common than ever. It’s also harder than ever right now living through the coronavirus crisis and juggling all of this. I’ve seen stories over the last few months about working parents, particularly women, considering taking leaves from work, or quitting work altogether, because doing it all right now is unsustainable. Wo...

Your work alone will not always speak for itself. To advance at work, you’ll need someone to advocate for you—a career sponsor. The difference between mentorship and sponsorship: A mentor speaks to you and a sponsor speaks about you. What makes someone a potential sponsor for you? They are in the room where decisions happen, they have power to make decisions, they know about your work, and they ar...

Inclusion is an essential component of leadership. In addition to the positive feelings it creates for individuals on a team to feel that they belong, research shows it also contributes to productivity, collaboration, and decision-making. This episode provides tips to create an inclusive culture within your organization. Your One Bold Move: Develop these practices to become a more inclusive leader...

As more states start to re-open, you may face a re-entry to work (and the commute that comes with it). If you work in an office, like I do, this can come with a lot of different feelings. This episode provides tips to help you and your team prepare for a potential transition or return to work in an office. Know that things will never be like what they were before. If you’re feeling uncomfortable,...

Where you focus your attention affects your happiness and success. You can meaningfully influence any interaction by how it starts. As a leader, I’ve found it powerful to share this idea with others. This episode provides strategies to broadcast happiness to others, whether at work or in a personal conversation. Remember: Everyone has the power to positively affect others. It does not matter where...

I started practicing gratitude with intention many years ago when I was having a challenging time at work. It changed my outlook; and, in turn, how I experienced each day. This had positive effects on my career, my family, and my mental health. I believe you can benefit from adopting this practice, too. Research shows that gratitude increases resilience, happiness, and self-awareness. It also has...

If you don’t know where you are going, it can be hard to get there. Setting goals for personal milestones gives you something to work toward—and something to celebrate! This episode provides tips for how to set goals for yourself and how to pivot when things don’t go as planned. Here are some things to think through when setting goals for yourself: What do you want to achieve? How long will it tak...

Earlier in my career, I developed a mantra: Assume good intentions. This was one of the most game-changing mindsets for me and enabled me to strengthen my confidence and decision-making at work. Since this shift allowed me to stop second-guessing what others thought of me and reallocate that time more productively, I’ve coached on it ever since. However, as I’ve embarked on anti-racism learning, I...

One of my favorite strategies I share with people who want to communicate clearly and consistently with their boss is the NNTR Update. NNTR as in No Need to Respond. It’s a twice weekly email update to your boss to share your value at work. Many different bosses can benefit from this update, whether they are actively engaged with you or not frequently interacting with you. It’s a chance for you to...

It's moving day for our family. I'm reflecting on the moves we've made to this point and how this one feels a bit different. You can love one thing and still want to venture to do something new to support who you’re becoming. This episode will remind you to embrace the moves on the way to who you’re becoming that scare you a bit, and also make you feel excited. Still not feeling it? Here’s the man...

As I progressed in my career, impostor syndrome crept in at unexpected moments. You may have experienced this, too. Research shows more than 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at some point, and it particularly affects women and people of color. Even when you advance to the top ranks in your career, it can occasionally still happen. (I can personally vouch for this!) This episode will prov...

There’s a lot going on right now. You may be feeling like you’re not sure how to move forward at work. Or you may be experiencing mixed feelings about your work or your workplace. When you’re stuck in survival mode, it can be hard to feel like the best version of yourself. Finding meaning at work is important for your motivation, and also your mental health. This episode will provide three tips to...

Are you navigating a job search right now or thinking about finding a new job? During college, I spent four years working as an intern in fundraising. During my senior year, I sent 100 applications around the country to be a major gifts officer at a university. After many lengthy interviews at different organizations, I received rejection after rejection. (I often heard I didn’t have the experienc...

Apologizing is generally something people do too much or too little of. You don’t need to walk around apologizing all the time. As a matter of fact, I don’t want you to do this. (I could do a whole episode around why women, in particular, should not say sorry all the time!) In today's episode, I offer guidelines on how to thoughtfully apologize when it’s appropriate. When you prepare to apologize,...

It’s far more fulfilling when you can bring your whole self to work, and your emotions are part of that. Showing emotion at work, though, can feel complicated. Earlier in my career, I tried to avoid showing any negative emotion at work. By suppressing any negative feelings, I ended up hiding my happiness, too. This episode will provide tips on how to thoughtfully approach emotions at work. Your On...

I am fortunate to have had many mentors in my life. I’ve had some mentors that have stayed with me throughout my career, some when I was at a particular job, and some for one project. Some mentors have chosen me and some mentors I chose for myself. If you're ready to grow your career, it's time to get others involved in your journey. Mentors can offer insights from their own experiences, help you...

I’ve heard a lot of friends and co-workers talking about they can’t be productive right now. It would be one thing if they were just saying it as part of conversation, but I can tell they deeply feel it. They’re beating themselves up for what they aren’t able to do. I have to say, it breaks my heart a little. This isn’t just working from home. We are, after all, still in a global pandemic, trying...

I had been struggling with a work project and the deadline was looming. I wasn’t sure how to do part of what I had been asked, but I was afraid that by saying that I would look incompetent or unprepared for the task. I didn’t want to let my boss down. Instead I dug deeper into the work, but I didn’t get farther. I got more frustrated, started to doubt myself. When I finally went to my boss, she as...

Our world right now is in pain. Our country is in a lot of pain. I’ve been reading and listening, as I’m sure you have, too. What is happening to the African-American community affects all of us. I am often known to say: Let’s walk into the discomfort and get comfortable together. This may feel uncomfortable. You might not know what to say. That is privilege. This is all sadly not new. There have...

Have you ever noticed yourself waiting to move on something that was important to you, because others hadn’t fully supported your idea? I know I’ve done this before, intentionally and unintentionally. You might hesitate to make decisions or share your ideas because they may upset others or because you’ll be criticized—or because you worry this will happen. You may even be unaware that by doing thi...