Your Leadership Coach

The phrase for the week is "Listen Without Defending and Speak Without Offending" I remember the painful sting of my boss’s words in my first PR job.   “William (Bill) Pajaud said, “Cheryl, you’d get more done with less rework if you were a better listener.   And, you’d probably have fewer planning meetings if everyone in the room listened.   I left his office, determined to become a better listener and test his theory. These seven little words by Margaret Drake, I believe, are the foundation for any success I’ve enjoyed—“Listen without defending and speak without offending." Bill was right.   A good listener excels at all the basic human relations skills critical to success in all professions.   A misunderstanding can account for missed deadlines, projects that don’t match with expectations and other problems.   A good listener seeks out other points of view, thus showing respect for others and helps to facilitate open, honest communication. It is

The phrase for the week is "Check Your Toolbox" Never attempt to climb a mountain without the right gear, support & mental toughness. Failure to do so can leave a scar on your soul. I will make a list of tools I need for my leadership toolbox. Share your progress here!

The word for the week is "Mentor." Betsy Plank was a mentor to so many in public relations, including me! When she donated significant funds to her alma mater, University of Alabama, she helped to establish the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. It ensured her legacy of mentoring would be passed down for generations. Having a mentor is one of the foundational blocks for a successful career and successful life.  If you don’t have a mentor, this is the week to research and identify potential confidants.  If you already have a mentor, this is the week to connect and review your goals and aspirations. Knowing what you want from a mentoring relationship is critical. Before you sit down with your mentor for the first time, decide what you hope to learn. Ask yourself what you want in work and life. What assets will help you get there? Identify the strengths that will best serve you. Then, honestly examine the roadblocks, challenges, or weaknesses t

The word for the week is "Compromise." Pick your battles. I mean really, you can’t win all the time.   Find an opportunity to compromise at work and home this week. Please note: never compromise your ethics and values. When you find yourself in a situation where you are being asked to give up an idea, position or some ground on a matter, press the pause button.   Tap into what is really at stake for you here.   Compromise is not surrender.   You aren’t weak when you yield some ground, you are establishing a truce for the betterment of all. What are you willing to give up?   Determine this before going into the discussions.   If you’re already in the midst of the struggle, again, press the pause button and ask yourself, 'what can I give up to gain something more significant'? Viewing the other person as the enemy is asking for failure.   And since failure isn’t an option for you, approach this as a negotiation and manage a smile to create a positiv