Leadership

a man moving toward his goal

5 Ways to Handle Stress at Work and Become Resilient

By Sylvia Lafair | August 2, 2022 | Comments Off on 5 Ways to Handle Stress at Work and Become Resilient

Summary: When tough times happen, it’s easy to pull the covers over your head and stuff down the upset or go to the other extreme and shout it out. A powerful way to drop the doldrums and be courageous is often finding courage from others. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Between the heat, the unrelenting virus, and…

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a flyer with group of diverse people smiling and posing

Leadership Lessons: When Hidden Emotions Show Up

By Sylvia Lafair | July 26, 2022 | Comments Off on Leadership Lessons: When Hidden Emotions Show Up

Summary: The emotions underneath leadership decisions are often ignored. Learning to read your specific personal concerns and upsets can lead to more effective leadership moving forward.  Dear Dr. Sylvia,  I cannot watch the news anymore without a knot in my stomach. When I see the fires roar around the world and the guns destroy lives,…

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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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Artwork and illustrations of different women leaders

What Happens to Women Leaders When They Tell The Truth?

By Sylvia Lafair | July 12, 2022 | Comments Off on What Happens to Women Leaders When They Tell The Truth?

Summary: There is always a risk to telling the truth. Is it more difficult for women to speak up? Most research says “yes.” Here is a way to be clear, heard, and respected.  Dear Dr. Sylvia,  As a leader, I know I must give difficult feedback to my team. However, I have not mastered “the…

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I must not tell lies written over and over again in a notebook

We All Tell Lies, Which Type of Liar Are You? 

By Sylvia Lafair | July 6, 2022 | Comments Off on We All Tell Lies, Which Type of Liar Are You? 

Summary: We have all heard “the truth shall set you free,”; yet, lying is a daily occurrence. Read on to see which pattern, from fibs to fraud, fits your personality and, more importantly, what to do about it.  Dear Dr. Sylvia,  I don’t know who to believe anymore. When I ask my direct reports about…

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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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mental health

How to Be In Charge of Stress NOT Just Cope

By Sylvia Lafair | June 21, 2022 | Comments Off on How to Be In Charge of Stress NOT Just Cope

Summary: I did a survey asking the following question: What are your usual coping mechanisms? Here are new ways to cope with today’s stress. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Is the world moving faster? Perhaps it’s just me? Nah, I understand that we have more technology to give us information at warp speed. Thus, we know more…

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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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gun violence a public health issue placard

Peace Tools NOT Pistols (or any other weapons of destruction)

By Sylvia Lafair | May 30, 2022 | Comments Off on Peace Tools NOT Pistols (or any other weapons of destruction)

Summary: It is critical to look “upriver” to solve the polarization and violence we are now seeing at work, at home, and in our communities.  Dear …  I am getting so many questions from leaders and emerging leaders about the polarization of our society and the number of attacks on innocent people that I want…

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