Owning Our S**t, er… Mistakes
Recently, I screwed up. I had emailed a new coaching client several times to set up our sessions but received no response. I then connected with their assistant who gave me their available dates, which I confirmed by sending the client emailed calendar invites. When they didn’t show for the first scheduled meeting, I assumed I was being ignored and sent the client an email expressing that I...
What Elon Musk Just Said…
During a live interview on Wednesday, Elon Musk responded to a question about advertisers leaving “X” (formerly Twitter) because of an anti-Semitic post he’d supported, saying “If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or money go f**k yourself. Go. F**k. Yourself,” he said. “Is that clear?” Yes, that’s clear. It’s also disrespectful, short-sighted, and ignorant. It’s also clear...
Hold That Thought: Our annual reminder to DON’T GO THERE on Thanksgiving
It’s that time of year again! We’re all about to sit down to a fulsome, fattening feast with our families, friends, and colleagues (really?) only to collapse afterwards in a wine and tryptophan infused stupor. But as sure as Black Friday sales start at midnight, it’s certain that someone at the table is going to feel the need to loudly express their heartfelt opinions about current events...
Respectful Leadership & Creating Positive Environments
Listen to the full Enterprise Now! podcast with Elzie Flenard here. Respectful leadership and creating positive environments are not just buzzwords—they’re essential components of a successful entrepreneurial journey. With an energetic “can-do” spirit and friendly persuasion, entrepreneurs can foster a climate of mutual respect, where ideas thrive, collaborations flourish,...
HR Blaming the Victims?
Recently, while speaking at a large human resources conference, I sat down for breakfast with an HR executive who, after hearing about the work I do in respect, immediately ranted “I’m sick and tired of employees being so sensitive.” Wow. Now, to be fair, I’ve heard this complaint many times before, especially from baby boomers who had to put up with a lot of disrespect and struggle for...
Are You Being Handcuffed?
Last year I got an all-too-familiar call from Trevor, the head of HR at a mid-sized accounting firm in Virginia. He’d been recruited into the role six months earlier and, shortly after starting work, found what he called, “a culture of disrespect.” “The senior managers have been playing favorites for years,” Trevor told me, “And everyone knows it.” When I asked him about how this was impacting...
The Changing Landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has become an increasingly prominent focus for organizations over the last two decades. The murder of George Floyd in May of 2020 sparked a wave of public declarations of support by major US companies. However, recent political and legal developments have created new challenges and uncertainties around corporate and institutional DEI efforts. To better...
President Biden’s call for civility in the White House…
Recently featured in The San Diego Union Tribune, Gregg Ward offers an opinion on how to ensure President Biden’s call for civility doesn’t backfire. During the first day of his presidency, Joe Biden conducted a virtual swearing in of a group of White House appointees over a videoconference call. He then presented them with a very stern warning: “I’m not joking when I say this,”...
Wait…what? We Agree?
Something odd just happened in American politics that deserves attention. Two opposing candidates for Governor of the state of Utah – one a Democrat, the other a Republican – bucked the advice of seasoned political advisors and appeared together in a political ad they both approved. You read that right, they appeared together. Their message: while we represent two opposing parties...