Karen’s Articles
Beginnings
Sometimes it's hard for me to start things. Like this newsletter. First, I wanted to find just the right focus. Then I was worried about format. Would your company consider this to be spam? Would you? (That's why we made it SO easy for you to go to the bottom and...
Teach Your Kids to Ask for the Ketchup
Driving on a long car trip with my adult son Josh is always a pleasure. Josh's myriad of interests coupled with his loquaciousness makes for a pleasant journey. Travelling on Interstate 81, we were discussing pollution, global warming, poverty and the gravitational...
How a Spider Taught Me to be More Sensitive
Yesterday, I conducted a "Positive Workplace" program for a large organization. I know what you might be thinking: either "Ugh, another one of those programs" or "Isn't it enough that I work 50 hours a week? Do I have to be nice and 'positive' as well?" I suspect...
Drinking and Driving in Cubicles
I was driving my daughter Katie when she was about six years old. Along the way -- with a facial expression that communicated "I am very upset" -- she exclaimed, "Why are you drinking that?" It was true that in the afternoons, when I was feeling exhausted, I...
Explain, Don’t Complain …
My husband and I had the pleasure of taking our daughter, Katie, on college tours last week. The campuses were lovely with both young adults and spring flowers sprouting and growing. And yes, we are one of those families that actually sits through the tours and...
Friday Night Football
2-4-6-8 Who do we appreciate? Team name, Team name, Team name... You remember the cheer. You remember the thunderous applause at high school games. I've always known how important appreciation is. I often do appreciation exercises in my programs. Recently, I...
Who are we protecting?
One of my sons' best friends was moving away. I knew it for months, but didn't tell him. I knew it would be hard for him, and I thought we should talk about it. But I also thought it would be better if he heard the news from his friend and came to me himself. Weeks...
Preparing for Performance Review Discussion when you are the employee
Performance reviews are an opportunity for you and your manager to have a “year-in-review” conversation. This is a two-way conversation where you are able to receive feedback on how well you’ve performed over the course of the year and begin to focus on the...
The Gift of Feedback
Receiving feedback can feel like a gift, or feel like a hard slap in the face, can’t it? So I have a lovely neighbor who is full of love and light. When she sees me, she always finds the positive to report on. “I love to see you pounding away on the...
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