Career

Build a relationship and their criticism will soften

We had a saying in corporate communications when it came to reputation management… sometimes you have to simply aim for fair and balanced because there may not be any winning. It’s especially true for your critics. But what if you could change that? Considering your interpersonal relationships: Have you learned that someone who actually has some meaningful impact on your career had something negative to say about you?…

Lyric Opera Chicago Taps NSC Coaching

It is rare that I post new business wins with organizations, but this one is pretty special and uncovers some work that I’ve been doing for some time in this industry, but never at this scale. Recently, I joined forces with @Lyric Opera Chicago to kick off an integrated engagement which blends, individual and group coaching, consulting, workshops and brainstorming to primarily assist their development teams and DE&I…

L Michelle Smith Decoded

  Ever wonder what the secret code is to break into the executive level at top tech companies? Unlock the answer at this year’s Decoded cohort, presented by the Executive Leadership Council The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and sponsored by Google. I’m glad to return as one of their elite, certified executive and personal coaches. Last year, I witnessed first hand, five incredible leaders grow their leadership abilities and…

How do you remove the sting of formal feedback?

Consider that written feedback seems to be more piercing than the spoken kind. We can stare at it, revisit it. It seems more permanent and carries more lasting impact. It seers into our psyche. Try not to give negative feedback the entirety of your attention especially if you have glowing and more neutral feedback to consider. Let’s do some math: ➕ Count the number of positive statements ➕…

UNT Honors LMS

It’s incredible to be recognized by a university you’ve never actually attended, but I have employed their graduates over the years and contributed as a keynote speaker at conferences on campus and as a guest lecturer at the University of North Texas. So it is an honor to receive the UNT Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism Career Service Recognition Award next week, honoring my contributions…

How to beat the guilt

Someone asks you to do something for them, and you feel the pressure. If that person outranks you, you may automatically drop everything and move. But is that productive? Healthy? It is no secret that generally, women tend to put others before themselves. It seems we are hardwired that way in most cases…there are exceptions. Today, ask yourself, “What do I need to say to myself to give…

How to make your message memorable

Give them a reason to remember.  The science behind storytelling. Need your team to remember something? Here’s a hint: don’t simply give them a list. Give them a reason to remember. Tell a story. It’s not just more relatable, it helps your people to remember better. Today’s #NSCRockstarLeadership Tip of the Day explains the neuroscience behind memory. It’s also a great tip for you if you’re trying to…

How to get clearer on the monkey business

Can you see the 500,000 pound gorilla pacing your floor? Inattentive blindness can be a hindrance to you in the workplace because it causes us not to see the larger context when we are super focused on what is in front of us. Today’s #NSCJournalPrompt asks a probing question that will help you to be intentional when attempting to navigate the monkey business that happens in every workplace.…

Shift your perspective

Sometimes, what’s obvious isn’t what’s causing the problem. I remember once when there seemed to be a colleague hell-bent on my undoing. It was odd to me because until a certain point, I thought that we were good. In fact, it was so disturbing because this colleague seemed to be going to great lengths to undermine me, but I would learn eventually that what was obvious wasn’t the…

Handle your toxic boss with science

How do you handle a toxic boss? One tactic that many of them use is to keep you reacting, mainly to their requests. When you are reacting, you are not in control, and it is a great way to lose your focus which is paramount to your excellent performance. One of the primary complaints I get from clients about toxic bosses is that they fill their day with…

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