One Bold Move A Day

What would you do if you had a magic wand? I often joke about having a magic wand. I’m not sure where this came from. Whatever it is, I like the idea of carrying around magic. Here’s the thing: There is no magic wand, but there is magic within you. Your One Bold Move: Be the magic. Use your voice, share your ideas, and make the impossible happen.

Performance reviews have a difficult reputation. With the right framework and preparation, though, it’s an ideal time to reflect on an employee’s progress and develop plans for their future growth. This episode provides tips on how to create a positive and meaningful review discussion, even while working remotely. Your One Bold Move: Prepare for the review conversation and create a dialogue about...

In Episode 26 we talk about the importance of setting goals for yourself. Hopefully by now you’ve set some goals. Today we’re going to talk about how to get better at achieving them. Here’s a question for you: Are you willing to make tradeoffs to achieve your goals? Are you willing to sacrifice something in your life right now to make this goal happen? As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says...

When was the last time someone shared genuine appreciation with you at work? A manager’s role is to create a positive, productive environment that serves and supports team members. It doesn’t require extraordinary effort or expense to achieve this goal and the results are worth it, especially right now when we’re all working with limited connection to the office or each other. This episode shares...

What are you afraid of? People fear generally the same things in their careers: failure, not been good enough, being wrong, and upsetting people. I’ve feared all of these at different points in my career. I got caught up in other people’s expectations, my own worries, and what I thought I should do. You can’t advance yourself and your career unless you’re willing to face your fears. Note I’m not s...

On Friday night as we cleared our family’s Rosh Hashanah dinner, we learned of the news about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. I have so many feelings about Justice Ginsburg’s many contributions to the world and her role as the first Jewish woman Supreme Court justice. Through her bold moves, she paved the way for all of us to make our bold moves, too. Grateful for her legacy. As we think about her le...

Rituals help people transition from one activity to another, mark a point in time, or transform a moment. They create a sense of unity, meaning, and connectedness. Right now when time feels so fluid and days blend together, rituals help us keep track of what we value. We’re all grieving the rituals we’ve missed this year: vacations, birthdays, weddings, holidays. Tonight begins Rosh Hashanah, the...

What’s your management style? I’m a believer in the player/coach model, where you are both a coaching leader and an individual contributor. To clarify, I’m not an athlete, but I identify with this approach because I can best serve the organization by serving the people and to best serve the people, I find it helps to understand their experiences. Let me be clear, though, that my coach role always...

Have you been thinking about switching careers or finding a new job? During this time it’s become even more evident how important it is who you work with and for. If you’re not as happy in your career as you once were, the first thing to do is determine whether you need to re-energize your current role, find a new job, or leave your field altogether. (I’ve got resources for all of these on my blog...

How do you feel when someone says they’re proud of you? It’s something I’ve always had in my vocabulary. I love genuinely telling people I’m proud of them when they get a new job, start a business, achieve a goal, or make progress. A while back I read all these articles online that perhaps you shouldn’t tell people you’re proud of other people. It can be considered a power thing, like someone who...

Are you feeling guilty about something right now? Guilt limits you from taking on what is best for you and being your best self. Guilt steals your focus on being in the moment, because you’re always thinking you should be somewhere else, doing some other thing, or worrying about the past. This episode provides tips for you to stop feeling guilty. (I have a feeling you’re going to want to press pla...

Who was your favorite boss? The best bosses inspire us to be our best selves. I’m fortunate to have had many great bosses throughout my career and I share the story of one boss, in particular. Sydney Finkelstein, author of Superbosses, says that managers should focus on developing high potential employees by helping them be the best versions of themselves and leveraging their skills in their role—...

Earlier in my career, I frequently worried about failure. I spent too much time making decisions and then ruminating if I made the right call or said the right thing. I know I'm not alone in this. I knew to become the leader I aspired to be, I would have to learn to believe in my own decision-making abilities—and I wanted to coach other women to do the same. This episode provides six strategies to...

For many students and parents, today is the first day of school. It’s a significant adjustment for all of us and there are some things we can do to ease the transition. In today’s episode, I interview my son who is starting middle school about what it’s been like during coronavirus times, tips for starting something new, and advice for kids and parents entering a new school year in these challengi...

How are you committed to retaining your team members? A “stay” conversation—much like its sounds—is a chance for someone to share what would motivate them to stay at the company. It’s a dialogue about what an employee wants and needs from an organization and manager. This episode provides tips on this important employee engagement and retention tool, including what to ask and how timing of the con...

The most important investment you can make is in yourself. Invest means to give your time, attention, or energy to something with the expectation of a worthwhile result. You’re a savvy woman who gives time, attention, and energy to people, projects and programs, which add value every day to the world around you. This is your chance to add that value to yourself. Your work responsibilities take up...

What comes to your mind when I say networking? Maybe you’re relieved not to have to experience any conference cocktail hours or maybe you loved them and are feeling unsure how to connect with others in the times we’re in. Even though we’re all working remotely now, you can still network from home. And you should, because this one of the best ways to advance your career. This episode shares the min...

Have you found yourself waiting for the perfect moment before you trying something? If you wait until you’re all polished and organized, you miss some of the best opportunities to lead and inspire others. Leadership is messy, beautiful, and complex, and needs you to be yourself whenever and wherever you are. This episode provides tips on how to get started on the thing you’ve been dreaming about a...

Because Mondays could use just a bit extra motivation. I'm still taking some time off, but wanted to drop in to remind you I'm cheering you on. Keep making your #oneboldmove. See you in September!

Leadership doesn't come from title or authority. It’s the energy and purpose by which you lead yourself each day and how you serve others. Approaching leadership this way means everyone can lead regardless of their role in the organization. It’s more than an opportunity—it’s your responsibility. In addition to the joy that comes from serving your purpose, this is one of the best ways that you can...

Three years ago today, I started a new job in an area I had never previously considered, because I was ready for new learning. Even though I wanted to use my strengths in a new way, I hesitated to leave everything I knew. This episode provides tips to disrupt yourself and lead to innovation. You don’t have to take a new job to accomplish this, but you do have to be open to trying new things. My qu...

Have you ever been in a meeting before when you had a different opinion and didn’t quite know how to speak up? Perhaps the person you were disagreeing with was your boss—or your boss’ boss. It can be tricky to know how to speak truth to power. This episode provides tips on how to use your voice to influence others, even those far more senior than you. Your One Bold Move: Use your voice to serve ot...

When someone gives you a compliment, how do you respond? Your feelings about compliments can be affected by how you feel about yourself. And how you feel about yourself will influence everything you do. This episode provides tips on how to change the narrative in your head and get more comfortable with praise—as well as how to give praise to yourself. Your One Bold Move: Accept the compliment. You...

Have you been to meetings where someone talked over you or shared your idea as their own? This episode provides tips on how to identify an amplification partner to have your back in meetings and help ensure your voice gets heard. It also offers tips for how you can amplify your own voice. Your One Bold Move: Speak up in meetings and amplify other’s voices, too. Your ideas are important to share. T...

I have experienced rejection throughout my whole career. In my daily life as a fundraiser, I frequently deal with hearing no. Now in my speaking and writing, I’ve experienced rejection, too. I like to think of rejection as a muscle you build up over time. If you want to do things you’ve never done before, you’re going to have to put yourself out there and follow through. This episode provides tips...