Category Archives: awareness

(#335) Politics, Anxiety And A Few Coping Strategies

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

How and with whom can you share love and goodness this week? In a recent survey by the American Psychological Association 52% of respondents identified the 2016 presidential election as “a very or somewhat significant source of stress” in their lives.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Appropriate Behavior, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, Balance, Critical Thinking, focus, fortitude, health, hope, Life lessons, Mindfulness, mindset, Personal growth, Personal Wellbeing, resilience, responsibility | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#333) Questioning Risk

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

It’s OK to go into uncharted and murky waters. Diving in headfirst is optional. When you think of the concept of “risk,” what comes to mind?  For some it may be bold and reckless venturing into the future. It could … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, Critical Thinking, decision making, Life lessons, risk-taking | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

(#329) Textured, Colored And A Bit Off-Center

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

By going a little off-center, we start to see things that can enhance our view. We open ourselves up to larger possibilities and opportunities. Over the past few months, I’ve been dabbling with photography. Having fun, getting creative, learning, and … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, focus, Goals | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

(#324) What Motivates Your Reasoning?

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

It can be very easy to point out the window… The challenge is to look into the mirror. A quote attributed to Alan Alda reminds us that our “assumptions are the windows on the world. Scrub them off every once … Continue reading →

Posted in assumptions, awareness, confirmation bias, Critical Thinking, decision making, leadership, Life lessons | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#323) Who Sets Your Agenda?

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

Why let someone else interrupt my thought process and mindset with what they see as something I “need” to know “right now” from the “world out there”? Every cardio machine in our local gym has the ubiquitous television monitor attached … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, Life lessons, Mindfulness, mindset | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

(#320) No Need To Be An Island

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

Regardless of your calling or situation, collaboration and communication are powerful forces. There is no need to be an island.* One aspect of teaching that I enjoyed was that each time I entered the room with my students, I could … Continue reading →

Posted in assumptions, authenticity, awareness, collaboration, collegiality, Communication, Connection-Disconnection, intentionality, Life lessons, Mindfulness, Personal growth, problem solving, Reflective practice, Relationship, resilience, teamwork | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#318) Bigger, Shinier, Newer Not Necessarily Better

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

Maybe I can help start a small movement for change in the big box. Until March of this year, I belonged to a small, unobtrusive, not fancy, neighborhood beach gym. For eighteen years. Like Cheers, everyone knew your name. A … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, awareness, branding, bureaucracy, Civility, collaboration, engagement, fitness, Friendship, growth, institutional climate, institutional culture, Life lessons, Mindfulness, mindset, resilience, teamwork | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#316) Process, Trust, And Organizational Growth: An Optimistic Approach

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

Trust is what teams, students, teachers, employees and leaders need in order to challenge the process on the way to a better answer.   Earlier this week I stumbled upon some notes from a meeting I attended more than two … Continue reading →

Posted in amplifying, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, collaboration, courage, Creativity, Critical Thinking, effective meetings, growth, leadership, Life lessons, Passion, plussing, transformational leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#311) Grade Inflation: Have We Arrived In Lake Wobegon?

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

Grade inflation/distortion has consequences for self-efficacy, self-awareness, and self-competence. For most colleges and universities around the nation, graduation time has arrived. Professors have evaluated the final exams, grades have been submitted, and students anxiously await their grades. Or, more to … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, adjunct faculty, Appropriate Behavior, assumptions, awareness, college retention, confidence, courage, Dreams, Education, education reform, emotional intelligence, Grit, Integrity, Life lessons, Personal growth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#310) Plussing + Amplification = Authentic Quality

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Steve Piscitelli

What can you do this week to plus a situation and amplify someone’s position? Seasoned Improv players understand and regularly use the “Yes, And” strategy. “Yes, And” moves a scene and its players along. “Yes, But” is a scene killer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriate Behavior, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, collaboration, leadership, Life lessons, transformational leadership | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments