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THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY BLOG
Sharing thoughts and resources to help people become better leaders
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There are many good options for providing feedback in the workplace; choosing the right one depends on several variables, including the level of trust between parties, the severity of the issue, the desired outcome, and what’s at stake. It’s important to be able to think through the variables and coach yourself through the options. And to coach yourself, you must know yourself well enough not to step into the poop you’re trying not to pick up!
Something to Learn from my Kids?
Authentic Leadership and Parenthood
Leadership is often associated with titles or positions within an organization, but in reality, it’s much more than that. Leadership is a way of being—in every aspect of your life.
For example, while my role as President of Cressy Leadership has been a significant expression of my leadership, some of my most profound lessons have come from being a parent.
What I’ve Learned…
How to Tackle Your Saboteurs
What are Saboteurs?
Saboteurs are the negative thoughts or self-talk that we direct inward toward ourselves or outward toward others. These internal critics are universal—we all have them. They are rooted in the biology of our brain and were originally designed to help us navigate perceived threats, both physical and emotional.
Why Saboteurs Matter…
"No" is a Leadership Skill
A Story:
When my son Jackson was young, he was an all-in kind of kid. If one Nerf gun was fun, then ten were even better. Candy for breakfast? Absolutely—why not every day? The tantrum that followed my firm “no” to that idea is still vivid in my memory.
Jackson’s enthusiasm for more of everything was matched by his determination, intelligence, and physical prowess—qualities that serve him well today but can make parenting a challenge at times. When he was young, I felt like I constantly had to put up boundaries for him—to keep him safe and healthy and help him thrive as a child. It didn’t seem to me he had the ability to create his own boundaries. In his worldview, more was always better.
One day, as I was cleaning the family room…
From Achilles Heel to Super Power
At Cressy Leadership we do impactful work with our clients, and our vision is to expand this impact to a broader audience. Thus, we created “The Leadership Academy” blog. The purpose of this blog is to share thoughts and resources to help people become better leaders, and the foundation of our approach is Authentic Leadership. We define Authentic Leadership as:
Knowing yourself and leading in alignment with this self-knowledge…
The Seeds of a WHY
When I was an undergraduate student at the University of Dayton (Go Flyers!) I had an awesome teacher, Cindy Kennedy, for Psychology 101. She was a rare find in a teacher: an expert in her field and incredibly gifted at being able to entertain and impart knowledge to a room full of 100+ college freshman three times a week…
Judgy McJudgerson
Challenge your Saboteurs and Empower your Leader Within
I recently read Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine and was reminded of the idea of “Saboteurs.” This is an idea that I learned about in my coaching training years ago, but over time it has fallen off my radar. The book reminded me how powerful this concept is, and about the value of doing self-work related to one’s own saboteurs…
A Guide on the Side
Over the last several years, I’ve been on a health journey. In 2014 I had my first challenge with digestive issues that required a trip to the hospital and a heavy dose of antibiotics. I followed up with my regular doctor, integrated the recommendations she had, and went on with my life…
Stuck in that Same Old Argument, Part 2
Last month I shared a blog about a recurring argument my husband and I have. It’s a pattern I’ve been wanting to shift for years, and despite my efforts I haven’t been able to. When going on road trips together we struggle to get on the same page with driving and navigation and often have interactions that escalate to frustration and arguing…
Stuck in that Same Old Argument, Part 1
Do you ever find yourself stuck in that same old argument with a loved one?
You know, when they do that thing that drives you crazy, then you do that thing that drives them crazy, and within a few seconds you are stuck in an exhausting argument that gets you nowhere?
They Drip Off You Like Sweat Beads
A new client showed up for a coaching session and was more than ready for some change. We had connected a month or so before, so I had some context for what he was looking for, but the first session went deep, quickly…