Posts by Jo Ilfeld, PhD
Here’s Why You Should Celebrate Endings
Endings are a natural part of life, but how often do we actually take the time to celebrate them? I’ve been giving some thought to this lately because my son recently graduated and I finished up a course I had been taking for the last few months. Colleges are amazing at celebrating endings—think of the…
Read MoreView from the Top: Is It Really Worth It?
Recently, I was running in one of my favorite places in the world, Carmel by the Sea, California. And upon my run, I came to Carmel River Beach. Now, this is a beautiful beach on the outskirts of Carmel and the second most popular beach in Carmel. As you can see from my selfie of me on Carmel River…
Read MoreIt’s NOT All About the Money
If someone is getting paid for a job, shouldn’t they want to do what you’re requesting? I often hear from clients, “I’m paying them to do this job. Why do I need to be nice to them? Why do I need to figure out what motivates them?” Here’s the reality: Most people, probably including yourself,…
Read MoreStepping Up: 3 Tools for Navigating New Challenges
This article was first shared in Forbes. Recently one of my former clients, Rena, contacted me both excited and pensive. She had just been offered a big new senior role and she wanted my help to “hit the ground running without being intimidated.” Rena is not alone. Many of my clients are also undertaking big…
Read MoreIf You Get Anxious Right before a Meeting Try This
I recently read Charles Duhigg’s new book, Supercommunicators. Being a fan of his work, I wanted to share an insightful tip he mentioned in an HBR article about what you can do if you get anxious right before a meeting. If you have a meeting with someone that you’re excited about, anxious about, or nervous…
Read MoreStop Thinking This Is a Waste of Your Time
What’s your attitude when you need to talk to someone during the workday? Do you think it’s a waste of your time? I had a great conversation with a client the other week. She had a realization that I just had to pass on. She mentioned how she often wants to quickly get things done…
Read MoreThree Obstacles Blocking Progress on Your Goals
We’re at the mid-point of the year. If you’re like 91% of Americans, you haven’t thought about your New Year’s Resolutions in months – unless it’s to lament how quickly you gave them up. In my hall of shame, I resolved to read a chapter a day of War And Peace – 361 chapters –…
Read MoreThe Power of Transparency
I recently had two contrasting conversations that underscored the importance of transparency in leadership. Now, let me ask you: when faced with the choice of sharing what’s going on or withholding information, which way do you usually lean? In both instances, the discussions centered around the profound impact of transparency on team dynamics. While your…
Read MoreThe Power of Second-Order Thinking
Have you ever thought you had the perfect solution only to realize it wasn’t as easy as you initially thought? In my executive coaching practice, I often see my clients jump straight to implementing new solutions, especially during reorgs or when moving people around. They focus on the desired outcome and the immediate fix, which…
Read MoreAccountability: Leveraging Your Team
Have you ever thought about all the things you need to get done and felt a sense of dread, overwhelm, or resistance? Recently, I discussed with a friend this universal experience of holding ourselves accountable for tasks. We often feel we “should” do this or “should” have completed that by now. If you’re in the…
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