Posted on October 21, 2014
By Nan Russell
Under a shade tree on the elementary school playground where my granddaughters who are 7 and 5 attend class, is a small rock garden, a bench, and this plaque. I think the words are as helpful for us at work as they are for children at school.
In that same spirit, here are a few items that crossed my desk this month that I thought you might enjoy:
Also, I recently started a Pinterest Board called WorkStuff where I regularly pin things I find interesting related to leadership, trust, careers, and work issues. You can find it here.
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Posted in: Things You May Have Missed |
Tagged: considerate people, Leadership, Nan Russell, relationships, respect, WorkStuff |
Posted on September 2, 2014
By Nan Russell
![MB900442396[1]](http://www.nanrussell.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MB9004423961-150x150.jpg)
Summer is over and Fall is around the corner. Even that thought gives me a bit of stress. So in the interests of a less is more approach to begin this new month, I put together a small collage of information for those who lead, from hundreds of articles that crossed my desk the past few weeks, including my latest psychologytoday.com piece, in the hopes you might find them helpful:
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Posted in: Leadership, Tips |
Tagged: Leadership, Nan Russell, success, trust, work tips |
Posted on July 16, 2014
By Nan Russell
I live near Glacier National Park in Montana, and last weekend when I was there with my husband, I was fortunate to see a range of wildlife including bear, moose, mountain goats, big horned sheep, and marmots, plus amazing wildflowers. That day without wireless or cell service offered a quiet and reflective pause to the busyness that surrounds most of us, most of the time.
So, in the interest of offering a little of that calming feeling to you, I put together three helpful workplace articles for those who lead, from hundreds that crossed my desk the past few weeks, along with my latest psychologytoday.com article, in the hopes that you might find a less, not more, approach helpful in your very busy day:
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Posted in: Things You May Have Missed |
Tagged: introverts, Leadership, millenials, Nan Russell, recruiting, trust |
Posted on July 1, 2014
By Beth Pelkofsky
As a colleague of Nan’s, I often post here when things grab my attention about today’s workplace and sometimes, life. I haven’t posted in several weeks. My non-work life has been filling my days with doctors appointments, surgery and follow-ups. All is good!
We are almost mid-year and one of my goals is to become a frequent bike rider. Now, many of you are probably thinking what’s the big deal? The big deal is, I don’t know how, didn’t learn as a kid and have tried a couple times in my adult life (56 now) with no success. I’ve been seriously talking about it for two years! And, finally decided it was time to “just do it”, as the Nike slogan says. So, after buying a used bike and questioning seasoned riders I’ve started my version of riding, in beach alleys and during off-peak hours. I have had some pretty nasty falls and have the scrapes and the bruises to prove it. But, I am determined to ride a bike. Not just once in awhile but often. I get on that bike when I am not in the mood, not motivated, dejected and bruised. I will do this. I will succeed. These words have become my mantra.
Maybe this sounds familiar, are there things at work and non-work you’ve been talking about for awhile and you want to start doing them? It will take a good dose of determination to succeed. And, in my experience a little inspiration helps too.
Here are two of my current favorites:
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Posted in: Leadership |
Tagged: Beth Pelkofsky, determination, Doing, inspiration, Leadership, succeed |
Posted on June 15, 2014
By Nan Russell
![MB900435235[1]](http://www.nanrussell.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MB9004352351.jpg)
I’m currently working on a new book proposal and my time to keep up with interesting things that cross my desk has been waning. So, here are two articles I enjoyed and thought you might find interesting as well, along with my latest psychologytoday.com piece on workplace leadership and trust.
- Coming back from setbacks and criticism can be difficult. I’ve been fired, reorganized, and passed over for promotion, and I’ll admit it’s hard to come back as if nothing happened. Just like it’s hard to have something you’ve worked on ”torn to shreds” by someone else. How do top leaders handle it? Here’s a good piece by Mark Thompson on the topic.
- Mindfulness is the hot topic these days at work. Is it a fad, or an important element to help us escape from drowning in busyness? Does it represent the future of work? Check out the article by Samantha Cole on the topic.
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Posted in: Things You May Have Missed |
Tagged: current trends, effectiveness, Leadership, Nan Russell, tips, trust |
Posted on April 30, 2014
By Beth Pelkofsky
Risk Taking – 3 Thought-Provoking Questions
As a colleague of Nan’s, I frequently post here when things grab my attention about today’s workplace and sometimes, life. A few weeks ago, I escaped the last of this cold winter and visited some family in Florida. While there, I found myself in the pool and happened to overhear a conversation between two older gentlemen about one of their sons. The son recently resigned from a very good job. His father said, “I don’t what being ‘happy’ has to do with his job. You and I worked our entire lives for our family; put a roof over our families’ heads and food on the table. We never thought of being ‘happy’ at work mattered.”
I had mixed emotions: sadness for the two men that being happy at work was something they didn’t even consider (I know times were different, this isn’t a criticism); concern for the son, who is unemployed and admiration too; he took a thoughtful risk to bring more happiness into his work life.
John Burroughs, American naturalist and essayist says, “Leap, and the net will appear. “ This is one of those messages, easy to say, challenging to do. How do you know when to take a risk and LEAP and when is the best decision to stay right where you are?
There are many considerations. I’m going to focus on a single aspect – Does it matter?
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Posted in: Hitting Your Stride |
Tagged: Beth Pelkofsky, decision making, Leadership, risk, thought-provoking, what matters |
Posted on April 1, 2014
By Nan Russell
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel there’s too much work related information to sort through. This week, I’d like to narrow the field a bit for you with four items I thought might be helpful:
Posted in: Things You May Have Missed, Tips |
Tagged: Leadership, missed info, Nan Russell, places to visit, social media, tips, trust, work |
Posted on September 30, 2013
By Nan Russell
This week: I’ve been working for several months on a new book, Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture That Will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation. This week is my final “author read.” It’s a chance to catch anything before the publisher, Career Press, sends it off for printing. The book releases in November, but is available for pre-order if you want to check it out.
Things You May Have Missed: There’s so much out there, so I thought I’d narrow the field a bit. One approach I use, especially when I have a lot going on, is to read just one article a day that enhances my leadership perspective or skill building. Here are three pieces I thought might be helpful to titleless leaders:
FYI: Thought you might enjoy a picture I took this weekend capturing the beginning of fall here in the Northwest.
Posted in: Tips |
Tagged: Leadership, Nan Russell, titleless leader |
Posted on May 17, 2013
By Beth Pelkofsky
I’m a colleague of Nan’s. She is now writing Part 3 of her new book, Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture that Will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation; so I offered to write a blog post.
I subscribe to a few online daily quotation services. I read them most mornings before beginning my day. These words often provide inspiration or a new way of thinking. Here is one that arrived in my inbox yesterday by American businessman and author Max De Pree, “Leadership is more tribal than scientific, more a weaving of relationships than an amassing of information.”
Unfortunately, in many workplaces today it is the opposite, leaders believe hoarding information is power and with that power brings authority and followership. Really? Have they looked recently at successful workplaces today?
So, what does it mean to be tribal? According to speaker and author of Tribes, Seth Godin, “A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader and connected to an idea.” OK, makes sense.
Now, what about the “weaving of relationships?” How do titleless leaders build good working relationships? Here are a few ways to spark your thinking?
- Operate with Trust – Trust begins with self-trust, pay attention to yourself and to your intentions, and give trust first. What does your trust barometer say?
Posted in: Tips |
Tagged: Beth Pelkofsky, communication, Leadership, relationships, titleless leader, trust |
Under a shade tree on the elementary school playground where my granddaughters who are 7 and 5 attend class, is a small rock garden, a bench, and this plaque. I think the words are as helpful for us at work as they are for children at school.![MB900442396[1]](http://www.nanrussell.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MB9004423961.jpg)
