Now is the time to practice courage. In these uncertain times, courage is an important leadership skill to practice. And just as any other skill, practice enhances most skills and usually makes them stronger. Courage is a skill we need to be practicing professionally and personally in order to do the right things. What is courage? There are a few …
Becoming a Sage Episode 5
Welcome to the Becoming a Sage podcast, hosted by Dr. Jann. Episode 5 features Dr. Jann’s conversation with Dr. Tim Ihrig. We recorded this episode on one of the biggest snows of the winter (Thank you Dr. Tim for making it despite the weather), but you can hear a snow blower in the background of the audio. The content is great, so we …
When We Need Community the Most: Where Is Everyone?
Several of my recent posts have been on the need for leaders to build community in workplaces because of the growing disease of social isolation. In fact, I was recently giving a talk at a technology conference about the importance of “disconnecting to connect.” But where is everyone when we need them most? Where is our community of people we …
Learning from Life Experience: Predicting the Future and Reflecting on the Past
In workshops, I often ask these two questions: What is the difference between getting older and becoming an elder? What are the differences between someone who is aging and someone who is becoming a sage or sage-ing? The responses usually include wisdom: someone who is wise and shares wisdom. Then I ask, “How do we become wise?” Just because we …
Vulnerability is a Leadership Strength
Vulnerability is a leadership strength. This was the title of one of the chapters in my book Leading with Wisdom: Sage Advice from 100 Experts. But the editor from my publishing company did not think that title would resonate with male leaders. So the chapter is called: Leaders Connect with Empathy and Compassion. I still believe vulnerability is a strength, yet …
Embracing Mortality to Move Forward
One of the themes that emerged out of the research for my leadership book Leading with Wisdom: Sage Advice from 100 Experts was the value of embracing mortality and learning about grief and dying in order for leaders to connect with empathy and compassion. I started the research for this book in 2004 when I was teaching undergraduates. In fact, I developed …
Becoming a Sage Episode 4
Welcome to the Becoming a Sage podcast, hosted by Dr. Jann. Episode 4 features Dr. Jann’s conversion with Mary Cathetine Bateson. Mary Catherine Bateson is a writer and cultural anthropologist living in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire with frequent visits to Cambridge, Massachusetts. She has written and co-authored many books and articles, lectures across the country and …
Living in Portfolio Mode
Living in portfolio mode as defined by David Corbett in his book Portfolio Life involves investing in yourself, but it also means spending time exploring and discovering what interests you right now and what you are going to do about it. This blog post is going to summarize some advice I share in my Sage-ing Workshops about moving onto what’s next. …
Creating and Investing in a Portfolio Life
According to David Corbett, author of Portfolio Life: The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Passion After 50, the portfolio life is a life-planning tool adapted from the financial services. The point is to view life as a mix of elements that take our time and energy. We should be thinking about diversifying, balancing risk and return, and making intentional decisions–rather than …
In the New Reality: We Are All Self-Employed
We are living in a new world of uncertainty. Industries, companies, and positions are disappearing –causing lingering fear and mistrust. As a result, there is a shift in the way people connect with their organizations (employee contract) and expectations. The old reality (old paradigm) was based on employee performance, loyalty, dependence, and commitment. In return, organization had an obligation to …
