Is “You” a Fighting Word? In pondering what the first conversations would look like, or sound like, as the case may be, I’ll invite two of my initial guests to change “you statements” to “I” statements. Rather than say, “You’re making me angry,” the reframing could be, “I felt angry when . . .”
Musings from Diana Peterson-More, this Month’s Hostess: Welcome all – the always thoughtful and insightful contributors – and to our valuable readers. In the September Leadership Carnival, please find a wealth of information on a variety of leadership topics that will serve as the launch pad to the balance of the year. And, speaking about…
Words don’t just transmit information—they set tone and assign responsibility. Shift from “you” to “I” statements to clarify intent, reduce blame, and keep conversations respectful and productive.
Playgoing is one of my passions. Yesterday, it was a contemporary (as could only be playing in Los Angeles) reinterpretation of Hamlet. Thankfully, Shakespeare’s immortalized phrases were left unaltered. The one that rings truest for me has been on my mind: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Over the years, I…
Unless it’s a birthday party, a marriage proposal, or a public display of gratitude by a boss, most of us don’t like to be surprised. Some don’t even like to be surprised by those three happy events! What about unhappy or negative events, situations, or circumstances in the workplace? What about the no-surprises rule? Many…
Political discussions at work have shifted from casual water cooler conversations to significant sources of conflict. A recent Resume Now report found that:
91% of employees have witnessed or experienced political clashes at work, 51% actively avoid colleagues with different political views, 93% believe leadership’s political bias influences workplace policies and promotions.
As we break out the bubbly, sing Auld Lang Syne, and hold tightly to those we love, we typically ponder what New Year’s resolutions we will make for 2025. Among the most popular? Lose weight, exercise more, improve eating habits, and save more money. All are worthy goals. Those I’m adding to my list come right out of the book…
Remember the book: All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten? With two recent experiences under my belt with two different elementary schools, author Robert Fulghum’s book came to mind. The first experience was at a local IB (International Baccalaureate) school, where I had the privilege to serve as “Principal for the Day,”…
There was a time – in the not-too-distant past – when we agreed on facts yet differed on their implications. This resulted in diverse opinions and various conclusions on how to proceed. As the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”
As summer comes to an end, it takes me back to my days in elementary school. Regardless of grade, we seemed always to have been asked to write an essay entitled, “How I Spent my Summer.” Those were carefree days when even in the greater Los Angeles area, neighborhoods held block parties, and front doors…