There are many kinds of leadership and power and I choose to focus on personal power for myself and with my clients – I call it InPower. InPower is that special ability leaders can develop to free themselves from the culture around them so they can choose where and how they place their energy in service to the world and themselves. Our dominant culture doesn’t train us to see InPower and many can’t appreciate it until you do.
So much stress results from our sense of chaos. Most of us are not comfortable with chaos, and we need to be! When we feel out of control we tense up, releasing all that stress-hormone confusion into our body and brain. Lex reminds us that a certain amount of chaos is inevitable. When we get used...
The U.S. has a love affair with entrepreneurship, and it’s no big surprise. Our founding mythology is built on the stories of loners, tribes and rebels. Entrepreneurship is the ultimate definition of modern freedom — accountability only to yourself. No more “workin’ for the man” (or wo-man)....
In executive coaching (both women and men) I’ve often observed that two parallel stories about women and men in the workplace often coexist. First, “women and men communicate differently” is a truth that few bother to deny. Second, “men and women are treated equally in the workplace.” To me, it’s...
In entrepreneurial circles, there is a well-known trap waiting for any successful startup visionary, the Founder’s Syndrome, which has gotten many an organization’s founder fired by the board and/or their funders. No matter how smart they are, even experienced entrepreneurs rarely know all that they need to know to lead a long-term successful effort. Here are three things you can do to make sure you don’t fall prey to Founder’s Syndrome, and better yet, transform yourself in the process.
Key Takeaways: Organic Mentoring: Formal requests aren't always necessary; consistent seeking of advice can naturally cultivate mentoring relationships over time. Clarify Your Goals: Understand your career objectives and challenges before seeking mentorship to effectively communicate your needs to...
Welcome to “Dear Dana”, a column to give you career and workplace advice/coaching from executive coach, Dana Theus Dear Dana, I am updating my resume to apply for jobs. I read your article about "speaking accomplishments." I liked your advice and will apply it to how I manage the way I think about...
When I was early in my career, I sought leadership positions because I felt compelled to achieve my higher purpose through my career. I set out on a personal development plan for leadership believing it would make me a better, and more impactful person. But I soon became very disappointed with...
A PRIME is a pattern or principle that reliably comes into play when people gather in a group. This observable pattern – once named and shared with the group – goes from being an unconscious pattern to a manageable dynamic. Use the PRIMES to increase your team’s power. A powerful group makes a more powerful leader.
If you pay attention to your language it will provide you insight and power over your subconscious – “natural” – InPower stance. As you practice obtaining and maintaining InPower balance, your language – internal and external – will begin to shift and change, becoming a source of your power. But first you must learn to “hear” yourself from an InPower perspective and listen for your InPower and out-of-power voice. In another post we’ll talk about what you are saying, but for now, just learn to listen to how you are saying it. When you speak – to yourself or to others – your choice of words can quickly tap you into your current power stance. Here are some examples.
Language is important indicator of everyone’s InPower stance, but it may be especially important for women, based on a new study by Judith Baxter.
