Leadership Styles

words have power quote

How to Use Your Favorite 4-Letter Word and Make a Positive Difference 

By Sylvia Lafair | July 19, 2022 | Comments Off on How to Use Your Favorite 4-Letter Word and Make a Positive Difference 

Summary: The world has changed, and more freedom of speech exists. However, freedom has a downside. The big question is how to use that freedom productively rather than hurt and hinder relationships.   Dear Dr. Sylvia,  Am I alone in using strong words to help calm me down when I am upset?  I think not.  However,…

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an artwork of an elephant with six people in a room

The Benefits of A Difficult Conversation

By Sylvia Lafair | June 29, 2022 | Comments Off on The Benefits of A Difficult Conversation

Summary: If being judged makes you uncomfortable, here are some ways to structure a feedback session for success. Who do you think has the most challenging time with feedback? Is it the giver or the receiver? Most leadership development programs focus on how the giver, the leader, discusses feedback with the receiver, the employee. The…

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a man putting jigsaw puzzle pieces together to form the word success

Here’s What Success at Work Looks Like During Difficult Times

By Sylvia Lafair | June 14, 2022 | Comments Off on Here’s What Success at Work Looks Like During Difficult Times

Summary: How do you stay true to your core values when everything is out of focus? Dear Dr. Sylvia, How do you ever know when enough is enough? I mean, enough in every sense of the word. For example, when is there enough money in the bank? Or when there is enough food in the…

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a team working together and fist bumping each other

Case Study for Leadership Development and Team Collaboration

By Sylvia Lafair | June 6, 2022 | Comments Off on Case Study for Leadership Development and Team Collaboration

Summary: Here’s how to tell the truth at work; encourage openness and collaboration rather than defensiveness for successful team development. Dear Dr. Sylvia, We are now back in the office three days a week and working from home for two days. It certainly is changing the dynamic of how people behave with each other. Sadly,…

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a photo depicting the levels of leadership

Leadership Education and Transformation: Is Change Worth the Effort Or Not?

By Sylvia Lafair | May 10, 2022 | Comments Off on Leadership Education and Transformation: Is Change Worth the Effort Or Not?

Summary: Transformation is in vogue right now. Here are ideas to help you decide what to decide. Be careful what you ask for, you may just get it. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am a Senior Vice President of a very successful retail furniture company. However, I have lost my mojo. I want to quit and…

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Creative Energy Options

Leadership SOS: How Can We Release The Pattern Repetition of Divide and Conquer Sweeping the World?

By Sylvia Lafair | February 22, 2022 | Comments Off on Leadership SOS: How Can We Release The Pattern Repetition of Divide and Conquer Sweeping the World?

Summary: How do we, as leaders, work with the constant behavior patterns of hate and division now sweeping the world. Here are some thoughts, especially about the younger generations. I received this email today, and it took me back to a video I posted in 2020 after the George Floyd situation. The video I made…

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Creative Energy Options

What is the best present for you to receive now or ever?

By Sylvia Lafair | December 28, 2021 | Comments Off on What is the best present for you to receive now or ever?

Summary: Look at this year and decide the best presents you received. There are birthdays, holidays, and “just because” gifts. Think about relationship communications and see how that fits into your best current list. What is a meaningful gift? Is it something you requested, or did someone make an excellent guess, and voila, there it…

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Telling the Truth: Not for Wimps

By Sylvia Lafair | November 30, 2021 | Comments Off on Telling the Truth: Not for Wimps

Summary: Why is telling the truth so darn hard? Why is it even worse to speak truth to power? It’s about the words and especially about the timing. Here are some ways to make truth-telling more effective. So much information, so much confusion. Who do you believe?  Which media outlets are pushing out fake news…

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What to do when you feel overwhelmed

By Sylvia Lafair | November 2, 2021 | Comments Off on What to do when you feel overwhelmed

Summary: What do you keep telling yourself when you have no more bandwidth to do one more thing? Overwhelmed is how most business people feel these days. Here are some ideas to help you find a way to be reinvigorated. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Everything right now seems to make my staff (including me) tense and…

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Creative Energy Options

Leadership in Times of Stress and Change

By Sylvia Lafair | June 8, 2021 |

Summary: Do you, as a leader, work under intense pressure? My guess is the answer is a resounding “yes.” Here’s what to do. Leadership needs a clear vision to not collide with stress For example, can you keep your employees aligned on vision, mission, and results? Or is conflict higher than ever? To clarify, what…

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