The Importance of Designing Your Steps as a Professional

Introduction

In my tenure as a leadership development professional, I've consistently noticed a pattern: a person's discontent with profession and career stems from not having a plan. The saying goes, "If you don't have a plan, someone else will give you one," has never been more relevant in our dynamic professional world. And what is more confusing to me is that they are so surprised by having no agency.

My decision to depart from a thriving corporate career in 2006 stemmed from my role as a senior executive in human resources. I had a front-row seat to the decision-making processes of top-tier executives regarding others' career directions. It became evident how little control many professionals had over their futures without a deliberate strategy and proactive implementation of their career plans. I witnessed this time and again.

However, I want to clarify: I'm not suggesting that working for a company is inherently negati...

Why does it still surprise me? A knock at the proverbial door in my heart and mind, "Hello, it's your good old friend, DOUBT. Let me in." After 27 years in the professional world, filled with countless adventures, bold moves, failures (that thankfully didn't result in my demise), experiences, and tangible victories, I still find myself grappling with doubt.

This week, I encountered a hiccup in a project I'm incredibly passionate about. I'd even go so far as to say it feels like a calling in many ways. Everything was unfolding precisely as planned, and then suddenly, it wasn't. My initial reaction was anger, but it wasn't long before doubt came knocking. Questions flooded my mind: "Is this really as groundbreaking as you believe?" "Does the world truly need this?" "Is there genuine value here for the customer?" "What qualifies you as the expert you perceive yourself to be in this domain?"

In the midst of my self-pity pool party, with DOUBT as my unwelcome guest, I had an epiphany. I r...

First off Happy National Hot Dog Day. For that matter everyday, we can take time to celebrate the hot dog. Now, let's talk about influence. As a leadership development professional, I've seen my fair share of motivational speeches, self-help books, and icebreaker activities involving awkward trust falls. But, my friends, true influence isn't about an impeccably timed inspirational quote or a well-executed trust fall (though the latter does have its merits, particularly in office comedy).

In my workshops and coaching, people talk of influence, but few know how to master it. Influence, real influence, comes from teaching someone, challenging them, and being a role model. How do we know this? Well, let me take you back a century or so. The year was 1916 and the food scene in the United States was under the influence of anti-German sentiment. Yes, folks, not even hot dogs and sauerkraut were safe!

Teaching: The Power of Education in Influence

First on our list, we have teaching as a way...

I love and I mean LOVE leading live workshops, especially when I get to shake things up with new and thought-provoking ideas. One such idea I introduce in a specific section of one of my workshops, "Show me your calendar and I can predict your bank account." This often elicits surprise, skepticism, and curiosity. Especially, in a corporate environment. In a recent workshop, a participant challenged this idea, and I asked if they would be willing to display their calendar for everyone to see. They hesitated, possibly feeling somewhat embarrassed. This is a common response, and to make a point, I'll generalize here. I suspect that most professionals would feel somewhat uncomfortable sharing their calendar with their peers, mainly because it may not be organized, prioritized, or designed effectively. In my experience, most calendars are merely filled with accepted invitations, indicating that someone else is dictating how they allocate their time. As an experienced leadership development ...

I had the opportunity to train a remarkable group of Learning and Development professionals from a prominent company last week. The training session, called CONNECT for Teams, focuses on creating deeper connections within teams, including hybrid and remote teams. During one of the breakout sessions, there were lively discussions and brainstorming activities. As I actively participated in one particular breakout, I noticed that one participant was holding back. It was evident that they had valuable insights to contribute. Later, in a one-on-one conversation, I probed further and discovered that they were suppressing some great ideas and contributions to the team. It was at that moment I highlighted that they were "violating their own constitution by censoring their freedom of speech." That is how I like to present self-censorship. This prompted a discussion on the topic of self-censorship, its reasons, and its implications. Let's talk about it.

As a leadership development professional,...