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Your Relationships Resources

The quality of a life is defined by the quality of your relationships.  True happiness doesn’t come from focusing solely on yourself and what you want.  Instead, it is about making a positive difference in lives of others.

Leadership Thought #348 – Do You Know What Truly Makes You Happy?

There are quite a few people out there who claim to know what will make us happy. I am always a bit suspect of accepting general answers to mostly subjective questions. One person’s happiness can be another person’s obligation or chore. My contention is that most people don’t spend enough time truly trying to get in touch with themselves as individuals and what honestly makes them happy. In fact, we often feel a bit sheepish or odd when we don’t follow a conventional formula for happiness. There is this overriding sense that it is better to fit in than be different – which is nonsense and direct pathway to personal malaise and/or unhappiness.

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Leadership Thought #367 – Be Authentic and Honest In Your Communication

I find that most of us tend to avoid the emotionally difficult or awkward conversation. Instead of addressing an issue head on, we “beat around the bush” or try and avoid the issue altogether. This puts the onus on the other person to become a verbal detective and/or force the issue. This isn’t fair to them or us. Moreover, I find that most of these types of exchanges devolve into a passive-aggressive dynamic which is unhealthy for the relationship. You ever notice that avoidance never works – it just delays the inevitable. In matters of importance to you or someone else, when you don’t say what you truly mean (or feel) this is the textbook definition of be inauthentic as fellow human being.

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    Favorite Articles

  • Forgiving a Difficult Colleague

    Forgiveness is a complex and often misunderstood concept. Theologians and philosophers have discoursed for centuries on what it is, when to offer it, and why it’s good for us. But what about those times when someone’s aggravating or offensive behavior is unlikely to ever change? It’s one thing to extend forgiveness to someone who is […]

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  • High-Performing Teams Don’t Leave Relationships to Chance

    Research has shown that employees with close connections at work are more productive, creative, and collaborative. They’re also more satisfied with their job, less susceptible to burnout, and less likely to leave. Managers can create the conditions for work friendships to flourish through three simple actions. First, make it easier for employees to identify commonalities. […]

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  • How to Handle Office Gossip … When It’s About You

    Gossip comes in different forms that serve different purposes. When it’s used as an indirect way of surfacing or engaging in interpersonal conflicts, it can incite workplace drama. So what should you do if you find out a colleague has been gossiping about you? First, let the messenger of the gossip know you’ll be discussing it with […]

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    Video Favorites

  • The Eight Rules of The School of Life

    The School of Life is an organization built to help you find serenity, resilience and connection. Here are 8 rules designed to guide you to the life you deserve, 8 key ideas to hold on to during difficult times.

  • What do all great leaders have in common

    Matt Beeton has been in leadership positions for the last 20 years and has been conducting research in to the ‘common denominator’ of great leaders over the past two years. Matt will share insight into a few of those most common denominators and use these findings to offer advice to the next generation of leaders. […]

  • Ken Blanchard – Servant Leadership

    Management legend Ken Blanchard reveals why servant leadership is the only model for better organisations and a better world.

    Reading Excerpts

  • Reflections On Life and Leading Book Excerpts – Part 2

    Very few of us have a life curve that is only upward sloping. The difference is that “lucky” people just do not let their periods of adversity define them in unhelpful ways. They just keep plugging away, learning from their mistakes, continuing to believe in themselves, and taking calculated risks anyway. Their worldview is usually […]

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  • HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across

    Managing Up and Across Excerpts   SECTION ONE – MANAGING UP Managing Your Boss: This relationship can be problematic for two reasons. First, a boss plays conflicting roles: supporter and evaluator, which can create confusion. Second, people often bring their past experiences with authority into the relationship, which can create unnecessary complications.   Don’t presume […]

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  • Reflections on Life and Leading Book Excerpts – Part 1

      Your Life: I have always thought that the whole concept of work life balance is a bit of an illusion. It is difficult for me to imagine someone who has a life that is always completely in balance. Things don’t always work out this way. It’s like the idea of a fifty-fifty partnership or […]

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Interested in learning more about leadership?

Ed’s books on Leadership, Life and Business will elevate your knowledge and give you the confidence to apply it to your personal and professional life.