Author Archives

Sometimes it is in the most informal conversations that we hear what we need to hear.  I had such an “ah-ha” moment last week during a phone call with a friend. I was talking about the role I play with two groups for which I volunteer.  I shared that I am the person who takes … Continue Reading

I got a sage piece of advice when I was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. I was told, “Don’t make this time about cancer. Instead, make it about something you always wanted to do and did not have the time to do it.” I missed singing so I auditioned for the Westchester Chorale and spent the … Continue Reading

I feel encouraged by efforts being made in corporations to root out anti-blackness. We see the slogans and hear about the plans for increased education in diversity and inclusion and for programs to recruit people of color and ensure they have equal opportunities for advancement. While these efforts are extremely important, it is my opinion … Continue Reading

A crazy thing happened yesterday as my Toyota Camry Hybrid was moving through a car wash. The emergency button started flashing on my dashboard alerting me to the fact that my battery was extremely low. This was accompanied by another message – that my battery could not recharge because I was in neutral. I have … Continue Reading

Back in January, I had a check-in with a business associate. I was happy to report that I had four speaking engagements and a new contract for a major piece of business. She shared her prospects and offered a catchphrase that I embraced. She said, “Let’s view the year 2020 as a time of ‘perfect vision.’” … Continue Reading

People have long memories. I have done countless interviews and focus groups in organizations over the past 21 years. Even though my objective was to gather data about the current state of the organization’s culture, invariably stories were told about incidents that happened 10, 20, even 30 years ago. These stories would recount actions taken by management … Continue Reading

A guided meditation for businesspeople.   The pandemic has thrown us all into uncharted territory. It has triggered our most basic needs. We are concerned about our health and the health of our loved ones. We worry about our resources: Will we have enough food? Will we be able to keep our homes? Pay our … Continue Reading

A few years ago, I traveled to an assisted living facility to meet with Edgar Schein, a pioneer in the field of organizational culture and leadership. I had contracted for two hours of his time to tap into his wisdom and get his feedback on the work I was doing in my consulting firm. I … Continue Reading

Working with clients, I try to operate on the principle that, “There is no me.” My job is to be fully present, available and responsive to the client and what’s going on in the room. I can’t get in the way.   I was struggling with what to write this month. A couple of ideas popped into … Continue Reading

It’s so frustrating to have to reduce what you do to a soundbite. When I first started my business and people would ask about my consulting firm, I would stammer and talk too much and I quickly lost the interest of the listener. Nowadays, I simply say “I am an organizational shrink.” This works better … Continue Reading