Guiding groups successfully requires responsiveness. Whether you facilitate workshops regularly, or frequently find yourself in the role of meeting leader, this necessary skill can often be the difference between a stellar session, or one that misses the mark. Here’s why it matters, and what the power to pivot says about…

I’ve been working for myself for about 7 years now, and I’m always surprised when someone expresses interest in how I manage the different moving parts. People are sometimes amazed to find me at a noon weekday yoga class, or able to plan an intentional break from projects. It’s not…

Hard-to-handle participants are par for the course if you frequently facilitate meetings and workshops. How many of us have been in meetings where one person throws off the entire group with their remarks, disinterest, or general resistance to the task at hand? …

I learned last year that many people are interested in actively using icebreakers to kickstart meetings. I couldn’t believe the positive response I received when I wrote about them last year, and again a few months ago. Opening workshops and sessions intentionally can go a long way in setting the…

Have you ever edited an email or text message before hitting “send” in an effort to trim down your exclamation point use? Most of us have. I love this Tweet from Grace Segers because it shows just how much brain power many of us (especially women) allocate to writing emails…

If data shows that having fun is critical to our health and wellbeing — and it does — why do we often relegate it to weekends, special occasions and sporadic occurrences? Maybe it’s because play time is in constant competition with productivity? Or because we’re so overscheduled we forget to…

Are you committed to constant discovery? Do you like learning about yourself and the world around you? Is curiosity something hardwired within you, or something you aim to cultivate more of? If so, I’ve got a few amazing resources to share that will speak to anyone who loves to reimagine…

Did you know there’s actual science behind the power of self-affirmations? Also called mantras, the practice of repeating an affirming word, sound or phrase is enough to help us feel more positive, cope with perceived threats, and become happier. Not buying it? Other research shows that athletes perform better when…

What helps start a hard meeting on a positive note? How do you encourage team members to think bigger? The answer: icebreakers. Or should I say, the answer is still icebreakers? Last year I wrote an article about the power of this misunderstood tool to impact group attitudes and outcomes…