Karen’s Articles
Mimosas and Menial Labor
The year of my forty-fifth birthday, my college friends and I got together for a celebratory weekend. We left behind eleven children and six husbands for four days of rest, relaxation, and reconnecting on Amelia Island in Florida. One morning over a lovely...
Everyone Who Has A Job Is A Presenter
In our multipart series on preparing for presentations, we have discussed defining a purpose and the effective use of visuals. Too often we don’t think of meetings within our own organizations as presentations, but they are! We lament “another meeting.” We rush to...
You Are A Co-Creator!
Eight years ago on a snowy day, I met with Nancy, a director of a government agency. Driving to the meeting, I received a phone call from Tonya, Nancy’s administrative assistant. Tonya wanted to let me know that it would not be an easy meeting. Three change...
Are You Merlot, Cabernet, or Grape Juice?
I had a fabulous time last week accompanying my colleague, Jody, to a sales presentation for a large-scale coaching program that would involve many coaches. During the presentation, Jody was asked, “Why do you think that everyone needs a coach?” Without...
Showed More Love Than I Could Some Days
Monday morning I got a text from my son Jeffrey, who is working at The Newton School as a PE teacher. He was pleased to have received a note from the family of one of the students, letting Jeffrey know that his work makes a difference for their son. When I...
Have You Committed Murder by PowerPoint?
Concordia Consulting’s monthly series on presentations skills continues this week. Last month, I shared information on preparing for a board meeting. The principles of preparation are the same whether you and your group are preparing for a board meeting, a...
Profanity in the Workplace
I met with a manager yesterday and she relentlessly told me all the things her department “should” be doing. Frustration and anger were oozing out of her. I had to wonder how all these "shoulds" were manifesting themselves when she spoke to her employees:...
Is There a Vaccine For Stress?
While we can’t manage anyone else’s stress, only our own, there is a lot we can do to make sure we don’t “contaminate” our workplaces by spreading stress. I think that stress is more contagious than a virus. I refer to some people in workplaces as Henny Penny in...
What Would Buddha Say About Your Deadline?
In my work with leaders and managers, I am often asked “What can I do to lessen the stress here?” It is a heartfelt question from leaders who want to improve the culture of their workplaces. Above all, remember that stress is an inside job. In many cases, what’s...
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