Speaking Truth to Power

Creative Energy Options

Summary: How do you stand for what you believe is right and be heard? Speaking truth to power takes courage and determination. Here are some thoughts to consider when you make your own decision. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I built a remarkable career over the past 15 years. I was considered a high potential emerging leader,…

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I’m Not Pattern Blind

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Summary: Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are essential aspects of high-level positive communication. Here are some ideas to help you be the best leader you can be. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I’ve heard you talk about “Pattern Blindness” in the same sentence as “Speaking the Unspeakable.” Can you say more, please?  In addition, you also talk about…

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Romancing the Bullies

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Summary: How to become more self-aware is vital for workplace productivity. Here is what you can do. Dear Dr. Sylvia,  My boss is driving me crazy. I want to help and be a great colleague. However, what he is doing makes no sense. Could you help me understand?  For example, He ignores those who want…

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Did Anyone Ever Ask You To ‘Fix’ Your Personality?

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Summary: There is a fine line between what we do as individuals and how to respond in a relationship. For instance, when do you take a stand, and when is it better to go along with what someone says? Self-awareness is needed. Here are ideas to consider. Is it better to keep the peace and…

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Freudian Slips Are NOT Something Women Wear

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Summary: Did you ever wonder why you want to yell out something that can be embarrassing? It stems from your subconscious. Here is what happens when you think, “What made me think/say THAT!” Dear Dr. Sylvia, I had an awful thing happen to me when I was talking with my boss last week. He was…

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Can You Detox a Terrible Situation at Work?

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Summary: When teams divide into “for” and “against” camps, work suffers. Here is a suggestion to have team collaboration and more productivity. Without collaboration there is limited creativity and lower productivity. Dear Dr. Sylvia, The past months have been like living in an extra awful, super-hot hell. I know I shouldn’t complain because my staff…

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Leadership in a Time of Incivility

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Watching the service for John Lewis got me thinking. About civil rights, about politics, about funerals, and mostly about civility. That’s something we have lost in our country. Not only civility, even more, but we have also lost the dream of the United States. Why are we so fragmented today? Why are so many people…

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How to See Your Emotional Blind Spots

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Summary: Do you want to be able to see what you can’t see? There are ways to make the invisible visible. Keep reading. What can you do to make positive changes when you cannot see what is wrong? That is to say, can you use a magnifying glass or an x-ray machine to help? Above…

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Can You Remember?

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Summary: The time has come to understand better diversity and inclusion in our work, schools, and communities. It begins with your personal story. Everyone has one where they were excluded or ignored. Here is how to use storytelling at work. Can you remember the first time words were thrown your way that would bite and sting?  Above…

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Leadership and Stress

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Summary: Leadership skills must include best practices for dealing with stress. Here is some food for thought. What is top of mind today is what leadership skills are needed when stress is high, which seems to be hanging around every day during these changing times. That is to say, we all feel it. At least,…

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