Release the fear that we’re not quite ready
As an assistant professor, especially in the first couple of years, so much is new. It’s easy to feel as if we’re never fully prepared for anything.
Limericks for the recently tenured
I got tenure. Now what do I do?
There are so many paths to pursue.
I’m not sure where I’ll go,
But there’s one thing I know.
Yep, some “me time” is long overdue.
Release the fear of being scooped
It happens when we least expect it. We open an email, glance at a website, or peruse a conference program and there it is… OUR paper, written by another author.
Leading Life: In focus
It's hard to believe that we’ve already arrived at the final post in the Leading Life series! Where has the time gone? We’ll wrap up by spending a few minutes focusing on… focus.
Leading Life: Trust me
Today we’ll turn our attention to a critical ingredient of all successful relationships, both personal and professional: trust.
Leading Life: Less is more
The message that’s been buzzing around me over the past couple of weeks is this: “Less prep, more presence.”
Leading Life: Story problems
We glance over at a colleague during a high-stakes meeting and notice the frown on his face. Immediately, our mind gets to work… "He hates this idea. He’s going to do everything possible to kill my proposal..."
Leading Life: Day by day
In this post, I’ll concentrate on a simple and poweful technique called “daily questions,” recommended by Marshall Goldsmith.
Leading Life: A value proposition?
In the first post in the Leading Life series, I shared simple steps for crafting a life-purpose statement. Here, we’ll focus on clarifying our values.
Leading Life: It’s all you
Whether you’re a higher-ed leader trying to maintain some sense of balance or someone who simply wants to spend a bit more time focusing on things that matter, I think you’ll find tools here that can help.
Anatomy of a “no”
I know we’re all busy—thus, the need to say no!—so let’s dive right in. The next time you’re presented with a request, how about giving the following steps a try?
On the fence
Setting boundaries seems easy in theory, but it’s much harder in practice, especially when people start bumping up against those boundaries and expressing their displeasure—sometimes subtly, sometimes not.
Do you see what I see?
While negative emotions narrow our focus, it turns out that the opposite is also true... positive emotions broaden our awareness.
Now that’s another story
We all procrastinate. We all have insecurities. We all have days when things don’t go as planned. Luckily, there is a fairly simple technique that I’ve found remarkably helpful.
Notes to self
I invite you to join me as I practice saying yes to whatever comes—the pleasant and the unpleasant, the planned and the unforeseen, the ups and the downs.
To thine own self be true
In the past week, two different people have shared the same quote with me: “The way we do anything is the way we do everything.”
Recombobulation, anyone?
This sign reminds me how much I could use a recombobulation station of my own. Couldn’t you? The thought of having a place to regroup mentally, emotionally, and physically feels miraculous.
Staring down resistance
So why am I sitting here staring at a blank computer screen rather than happily typing away, letting the words magically flow from my fingers? Because I’ve got nothing. Sound familiar? Sigh. Resistance sucks.
Teaching… and learning
Students, colleagues, family members,… people in general will sometimes do things that make us feel “less than.” It often has nothing to do with you.
To everything there is a season (turn turn turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes)
I easily get stuck in what I’m doing, possibly because I sometimes have the ability to be focused and determined (generally a good thing) and possibly because I find it impossible to leave well enough alone.