Why do some groups seem to thrive with conflict while other fall apart? If you are like me and occasionally suffer from being too agreeable, then all conflict is bad. I fearfully shrink away from argument and think that the situation will self-destruct. They will think I’m a terrible person. Task Conflict vs. Relationship Conflict …Read More
Category: Mind
The Moment One Definitely Commits ~ W. H. Murray
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one …Read More
How changing your story can change your life ~ Lori Gottlieb
“Once upon a time in a land far far away…” As a communication skill between a teller and a listener, “story” is a structure to convey an experience. With oral storytelling, my words paint on the canvas of the imagination to create sights, sounds, and even tastes and smells. The experience becomes even richer as …Read More
The Why Engine ~ Ridgely Goldsborough
“WHAT do you do?”“HOW do you do it?”“WHY?” At any networking event, it’s the “WHY” question that stumps most people, including me. There are many reasons to do what you do: fame, fortune, family, fun…. I’d like a dose of all of them, but instead I struggle to come up with a “socially acceptable” reason. …Read More
Speak Like a Leader ~ Simon Lancaster
“Instead of teaching our kids how to sit down and shut up, we should be teaching them to stand up and speak out.” ~ Simon Lancaster The ancient art of rhetoric (the art of effective persuasive speaking) is no longer taught routinely in schools. The STEM education initiatives support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. However, …Read More
Juggling Elephants ~ James Loflin and Todd Musig
Does your life feel like a 3-ring circus? Have the animals gotten loose? Does it feel like you are trying to juggle elephants? “The result of juggling elephants is that no one, including you, is thrilled with the performance.” James Loflin and Todd Musig have created a lighthearted guide with a heavy metaphor, Juggling Elephants: …Read More
John Cleese: On Creativity
John Cleese is a writer, comedic genius, and co-creator of Monty Python (the comedy troupe). Creativity, he says, is elusive because it comes from the unconscious mind. While the conscious mind will “prime the pump” as you contemplate a problem, it is the unconscious mind that comes up with creative solutions. Creativity is not a talent …Read More
#23: Thinking Directions (Jean Moroney)
“Writer, Teacher, and Mostly Recovered Nerd,” Jean Moroney works with ambitious individuals and teams who know sharpening their mental skills will give them a performance edge. She teaches thinking skills that help us make better judgment calls, align motivation with intentions, and cross the finish line sooner. She believes that we can all learn to …Read More
#20: Intuitive Reading (Jamie McCall)
If you are like me, fortune tellers are scary! Tapping into some secret knowledge, they make pronouncements about my future. It is as if they are taking away my free will and I no longer have any power to change my life. I am trapped in my life, rather than master of my life. In …Read More
Too good to be true
An unexpected email arrived in my inbox. “I would like you to perform at Oxford Storytelling Festival…” Wow! How did they find out about me? I’m a famous storyteller. I’ve been doing this for a while. Working hard on stories. This is so cool! Maybe they saw me perform at one of the festival new …Read More