Do You Judge Behaviors or Intentions?

August 1st, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

  We tend to judge ourselves based on our intentions and we judge others based on their behaviors.  Similarly, others judge themselves based on their intentions and they judge us based on our behaviors. Here’s how that plays out at work:  A colleague did not get

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Leadership and Kite-flying

July 3rd, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

“If everything depends on context, how can you still have principles?” This is a question asked of Sonia Sotomayor, as described in her autobiography, “My Beloved World”.  This question is asked of her in high school, when she is accused of arguing from multiple viewpoints, always

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Helpful Envy

April 30th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

Green with envy.  We often think of envy as a prickly thing that can only hurt us.  So, let me explain how someone recently used envy in a helpful way. Consider what sort of person you always wish you were.  What characteristics of your friends or

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Feeling You Are Without Options? Let’s Create Some…

March 29th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

Our frustration at work usually comes as a result of feeling we have no options. We hear ourselves and our colleagues say: “This is the only result that will please the client.” “We don’t have the resources to do anything else.” “We simply don’t have any

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Surprise!

February 28th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

When was the last time you were surprised to discover something about a colleague?  What made you feel surprised?  Was the new fact so very unusual for a member of the human race?  Likely not.  Yet it was probably unusual to the image you had constructed

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Which Way Do You Go: Towards What is Known or What is New?

January 29th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

How do you know whether to accept a new opportunity?  What are the merits of listening to the voice of experience and reason versus the dare-devil voice urging you towards a new, bolder move?  When making a decision, how much should we rely on proven strengths

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Goal Overload? Think Tiny.

November 29th, 2012 by Kelly Kienzle

This month’s article is a cautionary warning as we enter The Season of Goal Setting.  The approach of year-end starts a marathon of goal-setting and vision-defining activities that is intended to gear us up for the new year.  It is meant to inspire and motivate us

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Building Your Chinese Stool

November 2nd, 2012 by Kelly Kienzle

Chinese Stool

One of the most oft-cited problems I hear from my clients is how to handle the limitless number of demands put on their time and energy.  We grapple with how to address critical needs while also protecting time to consider long-term vision-setting.  We shift our priorities

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The Forgiveness Vitamin

October 5th, 2012 by Kelly Kienzle

What if you were to forgive yourself once every day?  What if you allowed yourself to make at least one mistake for which you would not beat yourself up?  What if you held yourself to the same reasonable standard that you hold others? Here’s the scenario: 

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Begin.

September 5th, 2012 by Kelly Kienzle

 A client recently sent me an interesting manifesto, “How to Be Legendary” about how to develop new habits and get things done.  One of its central points was that if we want to start following our dreams, then we need to begin.  The author put it

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