It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in the happiness of pursuit. – Denis Waitley In coaching, the easy part for most of my clients is to figure out what they want to pursue to bring better performance, more happiness, or fulfillment to their lives. It is the implementation, i.e., the how, that frequently presents the struggle. In fact, most of us can list a number of things we would like to take up, improve on, or change. We might know our ac

Rising pressure to achieve better medical outcomes with increasingly limited financial resources has created an acute need for more physician leaders. Several studies have shown that doctors want to be led by other doctors. Yet most doctors in the U.S. aren’t taught management skills in medical school. And they receive little on-the-job training to develop skills such as how to allocate short- and long-term resources, how to provide developmental feedback, or how to effective

You feel exhausted, ineffective, unaccomplished, and cynical. Maybe you feel like no matter how hard you work, you can never keep up. Or that you can’t make your boss happy no matter how hard you try. And you’re beginning to question your professional situation: Am I in the right job? The right company? The right career? While these are classic signs of burnout, Elizabeth argues that we often start assigning blame to external circumstances and people rather than taking contro

Some senior business people skillfully and consciously manage their sleep, emerging refreshed and alert after crossing multiple time zones or working late into the night. Yet we all know caffeinated and careworn executives who, after hours of wakeful slumber, struggle to recall simple facts, seem disengaged and uninspired, lack patience with others, and can’t think through problems or reach clear-cut decisions. Research has shown that sleep-deprived brains lose the ability to

People commonly report that they make the best decisions not while actively trying to make a choice but, say, taking a shower, knitting or working out. This is because "aha" moments that spark brilliant, unexpected solutions tend to crop up when our minds are quiet and our conscious-ness is at rest. These aha moments are often the only way to solve truly complex problems that are too big for our conscious mind to process. The good news is that these flashes of insight are not

Humans evolved in social hierarchies, and, as a result, we have significant cognitive resources devoted to identifying and then empowering potential leaders. Toxic leaders, like overly sweet deserts, might seem delicious in theory, but the results can leave a bad taste in the mouth. In his blog post, David Rock reveals what might seem attractive in a person at first sight and fools us to cede more leadership to him or her than we should. Read more...

Work invariably ebbs and flows. However, unexpected setbacks, project sprints, or even vacations and holidays can create mayhem and tension. Maintaining focus and managing energy levels become critical as tasks pile onto an already full load. Amy explains 5 research backed things you can do to keep your stress levels low and remain focused and calm. Read more...

Behavioral scientists have spent a lot of time studying what makes us happy (and what doesn’t). We know happiness can predict health and longevity, and happiness scales can be used to measure social progress and the success of public policies. But happiness isn’t something that just happens to you. Everyone has the power to make small changes in our behavior, our surroundings and our relationships that can help set us on course for a happier life. Read more...