Empowering Your Employees to Become Better Problem-Solvers
For many things, there is no one answer. There is no clear guidance about what steps to take. We have to think through what we're experiencing and then lay out a path to resolution. Determining a path forward makes some people uncomfortable. They want to treat it like...
Work Environments That Can Destroy Teams
Have you ever been on a team of self-driven, motivated, tenacious people? A team where it seems like everyone comes to work prepared to take on whatever the charge is? A team where people are confident in themselves and trust the motives of their co-workers? A team...
How I Landed My First Job on An Airplane
It was February 1996, and I was serving on the National Board of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). I was a senior civil engineering student at Georgia Tech. Several NSBE regional conferences were taking place, and I thought I should show my support at...
Is It Really Imposter Syndrome or Something Else?
I don't propose to know much about imposter syndrome, and I've seen several takes on what it is and what it is not. So, rather than trying to insert my thoughts into something that I am not an expert on, I’m going to name my own syndrome. It's called ‘People aren't...
Does Your Life Need a Hard Reset?
When I'm stuck with a computer problem, I'm the person that's excited about doing a hard reset to resolve the problem. As soon as I start the process though, I get nervous. What didn't I consider? What will I lose? This is similar to doing a hard reset in life. We get...
Starting the Year Off Strong
When something comes to an end, it’s natural to want to assess and determine how we can do better the next time. That's how I feel at the end of a year. A new year can represent a fresh start. A do-over. How can I make sure that I'm primed for success and ready to...
Ditch Those New Year’s Resolutions
I'm a resolutionist. I love to make pronouncements and announcements about the new things that I plan to do. And for me, there is no better time than the first day of a newly minted year to start fresh. But, I did not start this year with my resolution rituals. Why?...
Do It… And No, It Won’t Be Perfect
The first time you do something, it won't be perfect. I remember the first time I had a sales call with a potential client. I got there early. I was dressed well. I was prepared – the best I could. But, I didn't know what to expect. I remember wishing I could bring...
Read This if You’ve Ever Gotten a Bad Performance Review
I got a bad performance review once. It hurt me just to write that sentence. I'm still embarrassed because of it, and I’ve probably only told a couple of people about it. I remember sitting in the seat and holding the paper in my hand while he looked me in my eyes and...