Hustle culture is not sustainable for anyone, no matter how dedicated and passionate they feel towards their position. After slowing down during the pandemic, many people are ditching this mindset in place of a better work-li...
Public speaking is a point of contention for many people. There are times in our lives where public speaking is inevitable, and most don’t feel equipped to do it well. However, you don’t have to do it well, you just …
What does leading a strategic plan for a library and riding a bike have in common? A ton, actually! Keeping your eyes forward, focusing on the task at hand, and trusting the process. These are all points to take into …
Are you a micromanager? I know all too well what being a micromanager entails, and where it comes from: a lack of trust. Micromanaging can have detrimental effects, like burnout, loss of connection, and living in a state of u...
It’s time for another leadership challenge! Today, we’re looking at a real-world scenario where a leader feels they are clearly communicating their expectations, but team members just aren’t quite getting it. We should warn y...
Let’s just go ahead and get right down to it: your team at work is not your family, and believing otherwise will lead you down a disastrous path. It makes sense that people often compare the two because a cohesive …
Workplace drama is unnecessary and quite frankly, annoying! Do we really need to bring melodrama into the workplace? Of course, where there are humans, there will be some sort of conflict, but there are usually solutions to a...
You’ve heard me say it many times, “stay kind now”. This phrase sounds like a simple pleasantry, however it is so much more than that. This phrase is quite powerful, and each word on its own can be broken down …
I’m going to warn you up front, today’s episode is one of those “podcaster, heal thyself” situations. Because despite how confident and with-it I may sound on these episodes, I’m an introvert who stinks at networking. However...
From July 24th to 29th, I had one of the most amazing professional experiences of my entire life at the Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. And I kept a journal of sorts,...
My fellow library and educational leaders, I come to you today with an uncomfortable truth. It’s time to listen to your shadow. We all have things about ourselves we don't like, or try to ignore. And we leader types just …
As I mentioned back in episode 10, I am the proud owner of a Peloton. One of the big reasons I bought a Peloton was because I have to exercise first thing in the morning or it never happens, and …
I have a big vision for the Kind Leadership Guild. I think I’ve mentioned it in passing here and there, but my long term goal is to create the Kind Leadership Academy, a membership community where dozens or even hundreds …
How can you grow your leadership skills, regardless of your job title? My Guest Alvina Peat and I will be talking about this in the first interview episode of the Kind Leadership Challenge. It’s a little longer than our usual...
When people join the Kind Leadership Challenge facebook community, one of the entrance questions is: What is your biggest kind leadership challenge? I was reading over some of those questions earlier today and I was struck by...
Today’s challenge is a hypothetical scenario, one that I’m sure hasn't happened to anybody listening to this episode. But it will teach you the one skill that is necessary to making powerful leadership decisions that move you...
I was skimming through my emails looking for something else when I remembered it. Between the amazon receipts and updates from my favorite newsletters, I saw the three-week old order confirmation for a free tee shirt. I got t...
Why is a Challenging Conversation challenging? Well, as we’re going to discuss today, challenging emotions make for challenging conversations. That’s probably not surprising to you. But what’s the cause of all of those challe...
So here’s a tough question for you. Is it possible to conduct a mass layoff in a kind manner? If you are an educational or library leader listening to this episode, you have either already ended the employment of a …
The Free Mastering Challenging Conversations Guide is Live! Get it now at https://kindleadershipchallenge.com/conversations . ~~~ Show notes and Transcript: https://kindleadershipchallenge.com/17 Join the Challenge Community:...
As I record this, the 2021-22 school year is winding down at my place of work. It’s definitely been the most “normal” year we’ve had in a while, but it’s still been exhausting in ways big and small. As I …
In August of 2011, I started one of my favorite PhD classes, Organizational Theory. I learned something in my first evening of class that deeply informed the way I see leadership, and the daily ins and outs of conflict and …
Most people will live up to your expectations--as long as you're clear on what they are, the rewards for meeting them, and the consequences for violating them. But it often feels like a struggle to hold people accountable to ...
The solution to essentially all leadership problems can be found on the other side of an uncomfortable conversation. And believe it or not—the best way to have a successful conversation that solves your problem is… to stop lo...