Workplace Environment

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Clear Roles EQUALS Happier Teams

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 21, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on clear roles the image small game pieces of different colors.

I’ve been doing a lot of research recently on toxic leadership and how we can lessen toxic behaviors. One of the biggest contributors to workplace toxicity is poor work design—and lack of clear roles and responsibilities is often at the heart of it. Whether it’s an unclear handoff, an assumption about a deadline, or a…

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Rethinking “It’s Just Who I Am”

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 25, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on "it's just who I am the image shows an image of a dial with max and min.

“It’s just who I am.” If you’ve been listening to my learning snacks or reading my blogs, you’ve probably heard me rail against the sentence. I just don’t like it because it limits growth and flexibility. I was discussing this phrase with a leadership client of mine and I came to realize that there’s another…

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Pay It Forward: The Hidden Value of Accepting Help

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 18, 2024 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, CEO of Incite to Leadership on accepting help the image shows a drawing of paying it forward.

Do you hesitate when accepting help at work because you fear being indebted to someone? Don’t worry, most of us feel that way. Recently, I was attending one of my colleague groups where we discussed the issue of accepting help, and how reluctant we are to accept it because we’re not sure what the giver…

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Mastering the Art of Apology

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | December 12, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on the art of apology the image shows a man sheepishly holding up a sign saying "I'm Sorry"

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you realized you’ve made a mistake and hurriedly rushed to apologize, only to sense something wasn’t quite right? You’re not alone. Recently, I’ve been working on an article on what to do when you mess up and in the process, dived into the nuances of apologies…

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Do You Know Why You’re Doing That?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 29, 2023 |

Spending part of the summer in Carmel has become a significant ‘Why” for me. It started during the pandemic. I realized how meaningful it was for me to have a couple of summer weeks where I take daily walks on the beach with my pups, enjoy some amazing California cuisine, and experience the slower pace…

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Frustrated by Return-to-Office Policies? 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | October 3, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on return-to-work policies the image shows a woman looking up wistfully at an office building.

Are you in a workplace that is changing their return-to-office policies? It’s a topic that I have been discussing more often recently with my clients. I recently received a call from a friend whose company is turning the screws on going back to work in the office. For her and many others, this transition presents…

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The Power of a Best Friend at Work

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 26, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on workplace friendships the image shows two women at work smiling and chatting.

Do you have a best friend at work? Over the summer, when I was working remotely in Carmel, I found myself connecting with one of my close work friends. We shared a Zoom screen, working on our tasks while holding each other accountable. This experience got me thinking about the research that highlights the significant…

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Managing Workplace Outbursts: Is It a Draymond Green Moment?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | August 15, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on workplace outbursts the image shows a basketball being shot into the net.

Are you a basketball fan? Even if you aren’t, I think you’ll find this helpful. Recently, I had an insightful conversation with a client about handling unexpected workplace outbursts in professional relationships. The client shared an experience concerning a colleague. Their professional relationship had been progressing well until an unexpected outburst changed the atmosphere. Although…

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Hybrid Work: Are We Doing It Wrong?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | June 15, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on hybrid work the image shows a business woman alone in her office in front of a large video screen showing a Zoom meeting

I was recently talking with a client about hybrid work initiatives and how to get people back in the office and how companies are really coming down on different sides of this. As the business world embraces hybrid work models, finding the right balance between in-office and remote work becomes crucial. Bringing employees back to…

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