Recently, during a dialogue with a client I listened as they shared how weary they were as a result of an unforgiving schedule and workload and they really benefited from resting over the weekend.  

The descriptions of their weary state and how revived they felt heightened my awareness of what they experienced a I know what it is like to experience extreme fatigue and borderline burnout from work and its demands. As the Client shared I drew a mental reference of a computer and got a new perspective on "rest" and how essential it is for productivity and sustenance.  

So ... what would it be like if we periodically treated our bodies like we do our...

In recent months based on the nationally and internationally publicized closed door conversations and E-Mails it may good for us to evaluate what meaning we personal we hold for Confidentiality.  Allow me to share my evaluation with you, and ask that you do the same and seek an opportunities to discuss this topic with your associates, professional networks and by extension with your family and friends.  

To me above all else, to me this word speaks of honour. My first experience with these words can be traced to the playground.  Knowing information and being asked to keep it as a secret made me feel like a Queen; filled with glee and pride to be counted amongst the chosen few...

At some point in our professional we have all in some minor way tolerated an action / behavior, an individual, an environment or object in our workspace that may have caused these effects and more: 

violated who we are and what we stood for; drained happiness; diluted momentum; distracted; threatened priorities; shifted organizational culture; polluted service delivery; derailed the pursuit of organizational and departmental goals; weakened communication; reduced team cohesiveness; paralyzed actions through fear and intimidation...

Often times someone’s first thought, idea and decision for their life may be a good fit but it may not always be the best fit. How will that individual know or identify which option or direction is best?   

This article speaks about the steps and benefit of taking a minute to think and compare what may lie ahead, before making a decision.  

An old proverb in the Bahamian culture says "haste makes waste", which in this case implies that rushing to immediate or the first judgment, may lead to one’s detriment or disadvantage...

This month as I re-read John C. Maxwell’s book How Successful People Think, chapter 9 the heading of this article really cause me to focus on proving the New Your Times Best Selling Author theory that it is beneficial to invite, listen to, review, understand, respect and even act on the wisdom and perspective of others. 

To test John C. Maxwell’s belief, I reflected on the many conversations centered on the same topic with professionals from diverse industries. Indeed, it was quite interesting to hear and be enlightened by their belief, experience, and wisdom on said topic.

Shall we test this belief together?  Let us for the sake of discussion choose “a car” as our topic...

I wish to share with you a charge given to me by the Former Rector of St. Agnes Anglican Parish, New Providence (Nassau), The Bahamas, Archdeacon William Edward Thompson at age twelve (12) during my confirmation to the Anglican faith.  

I will admit, though I’ve forgotten much of what I learned during confirmation classes, this charge has remained at the fore especially when I served as a Human Resources Administrator and Trainer, as a Lecturer, Mathematics and Reading Tutor, Departmental Coordinator and now as a Vision Coach helping. 

I know how difficult it can be to serve as an Associate in any type workplace, in any industry and sector...

Immediately, I could see that their “lights turned on” evident in their broad grin and squeals of “oooh, oooh, oooh”, and in a great display of enthusiasm , they belted out a profound experience and shared the contributions by which they would want to be recognized for...

Have you ever watched or/and listened to children count down for something? Wouldn't you say that they just seem to really enjoy counting down, especially when it's time to shout BLASTOFF?

Today, I invite you to count down with me the number of weeks left in the year 2010, shall we try it? 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 , BLASTOFF! To children and adults there is a shared expectation that something should happen at blastoff.

What would it be like if on December 31, at 11:59 and 59 seconds you shouted "Blastoff" to mark the completion of 2010 goals?

Today, as I browsed a magazine, I paused at a picture that captured my attention.  What caught my attention its’ familiarity to me, one that that I believe may be or seems to disappearing from the workplace, partly due to technology, changing industries and markets and diverse professions. 

This image that I write about is an image that is similar to this …

Two things these conference rooms had in common.  First, the windows were very large, utilizing more wall space than those designed of yester year. Second, there were no books cases or shelves with books. 

Where are the books shelves and books in the workplace disappearing to?

You are wonderfully made, formed and fashioned to accomplish something that only you were created to do.  You are empowered with the skills to match your job description.  In you are characteristics and traits that equip you to be the best associate and add the greatest measure of efficiency and value to the workplace performance.  

Your employment at your workplace is meant to be blessing to your team, customers and its surrounding community. Being the best you allows you to give your very best and affect change within and around others.  

No worries if you’re not at your best each and every day, just as dark clouds periodically cover the skies...

At times an associate’s physical existence in and an emotion connection to the workplace, their job description, functional job assignment and job tasks can become challenging and uninspiring.  So difficult that an associate may become disconnected, discouraged, disgruntle, angry or despondent.  Of course such depleting emotions can cause or tempt an associate to give up on the organizational goals, strategic plan, mission and vision, or their long term employment.  

As like any sort of disconnect in any size or type of organization, such a state is usually followed by one or a combination of but not limited to the following: decreased profits, low associate morale, lack of productivity, inefficient customer service, loss of team spirit and cooperation, inequality of products or a less than approving reputation. ..

Presently, I am slowing digesting a riveting book; Leadership by Rudolph W. Giuliani.  Chapter Four subtitled “Everyone’s Accountable All of the Time” begins with the author disclosing how a two-word sign on his desk genuinely summarized his whole philosophy: I’m Responsible.  This former Mayor is most noted for being organized, his take charge approach to resolving issues, implementing systems base on statistical data and holding New York City police, fire and city chiefs accountable for the crimes, thefts and homicides.    

In coaching, the first step in accepting responsibility is acknowledging “what is.” Unfortunate for some, individuals as early as the toddler years learn to shun or fear acknowledging responsibility especially when things go wrong. Who did this? Who is responsible for this? Did you do this?  Whether it is said by a parent, teacher, or any figure of authority, imagine a child’s eyes swelling with tears as an act of admitting instead of saying aloud, “yes it was me, I did it, I am responsible...”

Statistics show that within the workplace a team leader or executive works an average of forty-five (45) plus hours per week. Team leaders and executives have said that their most productive times  occur either before the daily operation has begun, after the daily operation has ended or when there are no or minimal interruptions.  

Without warning the eight (8) hours scheduled for performing primary job tasks can be spent attending to derailing, important tasks such as: unpredictable work flows; accepting important telephone calls; responding to urgent E-Mails; attending unscheduled meetings; sitting through an extended meeting; resolving human resource issues ; listening to customer and other third party concerns...

"There are many things that will catch my eye, but there are only a few that catch my heart. It is those I choose to pursue."  Tim Redmond, you are a wise journalist. There is truth in your quote highlighted by John C. Maxwell in his book Talent is Never Enough.   

Personally, I know what is like to be involved with a project, functional assignment, job task, industry or workplace that you have little or no desire for, interest in nor passion about. Have you ever experienced such a situation?  If no, such a situation is uncomfortable, stressful, and manifest combined feelings of frustration, sadness, regret and anger.   

John C. Maxwell gives the best recommendation to alleviate the level of minimal or no desire, interest or passion. He says that we are to prioritize our life according to our passion, warning that such a  strategy could be risky, and would...