I am a “can do” type of person, whether at home or on the job. Achiever and Responsibility are two of my top Gallup Strengths, and I’ve invested time developing these over the years. Given a task or project, I can easily jump in and go it alone, and forget that I can brainstorm, share…
pLink Leadership Blog
Leading from the Inside Out
I am a huge Chicago Cubs fan. Not a “lifer,” but for the last 13 years, I have loved the Northsiders passionately and am excited to see where the next month will take them. One of the benefits of following this amazingly talented group of athletes and coaches this year has been watching the way…
What To Ask When You Are Looking For Training
An organization’s ability to learn faster and better than its competitors is a strategic competitive advantage. So why do so many training programs fail? We’ve all attended ineffective programs and then promptly forget everything we’ve learned and carry on, business as usual. What are the differences between effective, engaging training programs that lead to desired…
The Power of Focus
I don’t have a great sense of direction, particularly when driving. I find it stressful to drive in locations I’m not familiar with, especially in rental cars that don’t come with a functioning GPS. The ability to hit the Locate Me symbol on Google Maps, see exactly where I am on the map, and then…
Striver Fatigue and The Art of Well Compensated White Space
I have been a striver all of my life. I love the emotion of anticipation and I am future oriented. This meant that, for the first few decades of my life, I was always looking to what was next. I set a relentless pace for myself and I was enchanted by my sense of accomplishment….
pLink Mindful, Minute Savoring
Savoring is a practice to build positivity and boost feelings of well-being. It simply means thinking about the good things in your life in such a way as to intensify, and prolong your deep enjoyment of them. To build this mental habit, slow down and take the time to mindfully pay attention, pump up and…
pLink Mindful Minute, Be Present or Be Absent But Don’t Be Both
From across the room I watch my daughter type on her computer (theoretically doing homework), keep an eye on her phone and occasionally glance at the television. From the front of the meeting room I watch people “participate” in a meeting, shuffle papers and interact with their phone. On conference calls I hear fingers flying…
A Busy Person’s Guide To Healthy Living
It’s 5:30pm already, and you are still at your desk. The last time you got up was at 2:15pm for a bio break and a handful of almonds. There are still plenty of unanswered emails, your family is talking about dinner and you are wondering where the time has gone since you sat down at…
The Present In Presence
I’ve had an on-again off-again relationship with mindfulness. I started practicing some form of meditation in my early twenties and even took classes at University with my best friend, who was in in her first years of medical practice and would keep falling asleep as I stifled giggles at her snoring or we would mutually…
How to Avoid Burnout
Life is busy and can be overwhelming these days. It feels like the pace and demands of the world have exponentially sped up. Here are some ideas on how to manage and eventually avoid burning yourself out. Notice and name your burnout When does it happen? (After a huge project, weekly, when personal and work…