Category Archives: generativity

(Issue #494) Communication: So Easy, Yet So Hard 


You have a story. It belongs to you. It is powerful. How are you helping people understand it? Listening is a difficult skill to master.  A lot of people shouting, “look at me” and “listen to my story!” Unfortunately, they … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, branding, change management, Choice, collaboration, emotional intelligence, empathy, generativity, Integrity, Life lessons | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(Issue #475) Purposeful Relationships Require Deliberative Efforts


Consider how you can incorporate deliberative efforts for deeper organizational relationships—one person at a time. I often stressed to my students that strategies for student success would prepare them for life success. My words came back to me as I … Continue reading

Posted in assumptions, authenticity, awareness, collaboration, collegiality, Communication, Community, community development, emotional intelligence, generativity, growth, Life lessons, resilience | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

(Issue #461) Projects or Purpose?


If something, however, seems to be missing it might be time to pause, hit the reset button, and ask why you do what you do? When my father-in-law, in the late 1980s, approached the end of a long career as … Continue reading

Posted in amplifying, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, feedback, generativity, Goals, Life lessons, resilience | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

(#436) Facing the Worst. Preparing for the Best.


Once the conversation started, no one was going to stop it. Two NOTES to my readers: Tomorrow, October 1, begins Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This week’s blog post honors the month, those with (and who have had) breast cancer, the … Continue reading

Posted in amplifying, Appropriate Behavior, authenticity, awareness, change, Choice, Community, courage, focus, fortitude, Friendship, generativity, Gratitude, growth, inspiration, Integrity, Life lessons, Passion, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#429) Everything Is Up for Revision


Considered evaluation can alter, broaden, and strengthen our belief system. My wife and I recently heard several teens deliver a Sunday message at their church. Their individual messages struck common chords about compassion, acceptance, and communal growth. One of the … Continue reading

Posted in Appreciation, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, focus, generativity, Gratitude, growth, Integrity, Life lessons, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#406) Purpose and Authenticity


Mortality salience often leads you to ask questions about the meaning in your life. In his book, The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons from the World’s Happiest People, Dan Buettner builds a case for well-being consisting of three strands: pleasure, … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, fortitude, generativity, Goals, Gratitude, Integrity, intentionality, Life lessons, Passion, Purpose, resilience | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

(#401) Improv and Leadership


Incompetent and fear-based managers rely on rigid scripts. Sam Wasson’s Improv Nation: How We Made a Great American Art provides lessons for transformational leadership. As early Improv players experimented and developed the art form, they learned the power of two … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, Appropriate Behavior, Choice, Civility, collaboration, collegiality, Communication, effective meetings, generativity, growth, improv, professional development, resilience, self-awareness, self-regulatory behavior, Teaching, teaching and learning, vulnerability, wisdom, Words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#383) Creating Direction


While simple dichotomies may be deceptively simplistic, they can provide a starting point for conversation and movement. Each day we have the opportunity to provide light or darkness. We provide direction or obfuscation. With every decision and interaction, we can … Continue reading

Posted in Appropriate Behavior, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, Being REMARKABLE, change, Community, community development, dignity, fortitude, Friendship, generativity, Gratitude, Life lessons, listening, Personal Wellbeing, potential, practicality, respect | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

(#364) Your Legacy


Whatever you build, destroy, hand down, create, or undo will be your legacy. Legacy: Something handed down from one generation to the next; from one person or group to another. Whether for good or ill someone or some entity passed … Continue reading

Posted in generativity, Goals, inspiration, legacy, Passion, resilience, self-efficacy, sharing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#362) Small Acts of Gratitude


“Silent gratitude is not much use to anyone.” – Gertrude Stein – Saying “thank you.” Giving a cheerful “good morning!” Expressing appreciation. Providing a hug, emotionally if not physically.  Each of these requires a tiny investment of energy.  The result … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, awareness, Being REMARKABLE, Civility, collaboration, Community, Connection-Disconnection, curiosity, empathy, engagement, fortitude, Friendship, generativity, Gratitude, happiness, Life lessons | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments