Business

Time to Upgrade Your Communication Skills

By Sylvia Lafair | January 15, 2020 |

Time to get your communication skills upgraded. Let’s start with a quiz. What are the two most annoying words that we all misuse?  Don’t cheat and look at the end of this. Just keep reading. It will make more sense that way. Here’s the story Carol told me about a situation at work. It locked…

Communicate to Captivate: How to Talk Truth to Power

By Sylvia Lafair | January 9, 2020 |

This month is dedicated to communication, to telling the truth without spilling your guts, or for some, letting go of the truth festering inside because of the fear of retribution, and getting past the upset.   There is a better way…  Based on so many calls and emails I have gotten in the past few months,…

What to do when life seems out of balance

By Sylvia Lafair | December 18, 2019 |

Everyone is telling me this year has more stress and strain than in the past? You agree? “Why,†people are asking, “is life so much more out of balance now?†I must admit, I’m not sure. However, I have a hunch that all the social media stuff is really making us kinda crazy. I was…

Can people with high emotional intelligence still be assholes?

By Sylvia Lafair | October 29, 2019 |

Here’s a question that comes up way too often. Before I state the question let me set the context.  Do you believe the leaders at your organization are good and positive people? Can you talk with your team and feel there is mutual respect? Have you ever been bullied by a brilliant boss?   Now the question: Can people with high emotional…

3 Key Ways to Win at Work

By Sylvia Lafair | October 1, 2019 |

My work with individuals and groups over the years has helped me to uncover 3 key ways to win at work when you’re feeling frazzled and ready to throw in the towel. Have you found that at one time or another you wanted to stuff a sock in someone’s mouth rather than listen to them…

What Does Integrity Really Mean?

By Sylvia Lafair | August 28, 2019 |

Did you know that integrity is the most mentioned business value in the world? In almost all cultures the concept of integrity comes at the top of the list which also includes collaboration, creativity, and communication. Integrity is such a BIG word. Question is “What does it really mean?†Traditional ways of thinking about integrity…

Being Able to Communicate for Clarity is Necessary

By Sylvia Lafair | August 6, 2019 |

Being able to communicate for clarity is an art…even if we are speaking in the same language it’s often hard to get clear with another person. My dear client Kellie called me, and I could tell she was choking back tears. I waited to see what the dilemma was. It was a big one. She…

How do you stay calm, cool, and collected?

By Sylvia Lafair | July 30, 2019 |

When the heat index goes way into the red zone how do you stay calm, cool, and collected? Here is a composite of the types of emails I have been getting the past month, mostly from the east coast of the U.S. and from much of Europe. It goes something like this: “It’s too hot…

My Radical Sabbatical Update

By Sylvia Lafair | July 17, 2019 |

Several months ago, I took a ‘radical sabbatical’ to recalibrate and decide on the next steps for my career. I must admit, that one month now seems like several years ago. Why? Because I wanted to do something new and different and I wasn’t sure what that was. I found myself floundering and I couldn’t…

These 3 habits may be keeping you labeled as mega-stupid

By Sylvia Lafair | July 8, 2019 |

Summary: Who do you work with you think is a dumb ass? Here are ideas to move beyond judging and make a positive difference at work. Everyone has their idea of what “stupid” means. Someone who you will never ask for advice. Did you ever take the time to sort out the different levels of…