Blogs
Tyler Perry, Leadership, and Generational Forgiveness
Summary: Role models come from many walks of life. What really matters is how those you respect handle difficult situations. That is a gold standard for all leadership coaching programs. Here is one leader who stands out. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I know in your leadership coaching program you have a process called Sankofa Mapping. I…
How to Manage Anger at Work, Home, Everywhere
Summary: What do you do when anger boils over into your relationships? Do you walk away from angry confrontations with ease and grace? Perhaps you are left with hurt feelings, emotional scars, or physical ills. Here are ways to control anger before it becomes a tsunami. Dear Dr. Sylvia, These days fill with tension and…
Join the Sanity Challenge!
Dear Dr. Sylvia, I hear your Sanity Challenge is lots of fun and very informative. I don’t want to wait day after day. Therefore, can you send me a week worth of exercises I can do when I want? I tend to be a rebel who hates being on anyone’s timeline but my own. I…
4 Mistakes Leaders Make That Cause Stress to Boil Over
Summary: Too much stress is self-induced and comes from how we react to change. While the change won’t stop, how you respond can make a difference. While I know this is a fundamental concept, here are ways to look at your responses in a different light. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I’ll make this short and sweet.…
How to Reduce Stress at Work: Avoid Toxic Social Narcissists
Summary: We live with fake news, general rancor, sizzle and sparkle, slander, and superficiality. As leaders, you must look at the information you receive more intently. Here are ways to judge if someone is here to help or hinder long-term success. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I watched a recent 60 Minutes segment that was chilling. It…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…