Leadership Archive

  • Princeton Reunion2

    Lessons Learned: 20 Years Later

    A few weeks ago I passed a milestone in my life when I journeyed back to Princeton, NJ to celebrate my 20th college reunion.  I was excited to head back to see old friends, and to show my wife and daughters around a place that...

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  • Chocolate and raspberry cupcakes

    Cupcakes and Other Random Reflections on Life and Leadership at 40

    A milestone birthday always offers the opportunity to reflect (hopefully at the spa or over several margaritas) and my recent birthday was no exception.  I thought about life – my family, my friends, my goals, the fact that people now call me Ma’am instead of...

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  • multitasking

    It’s OK if you do one thing at a time….really!

    “I didn’t meet anyone.” “I didn’t get any business leads.” “It wasn’t worth my time.” Those are some of the reasons I hear from people dissatisfied with a membership organization, professional development course or community program. If you joined a health club, but didn’t go,...

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  • j0198091

    I’m Making A List, And Checking It Twice….

    Ho hum, same names, same companies. That’s what I thought when I read the Twin Cities Business magazine’s “200 Minnesotans you should know”. I think I could have listed about 75% of the people mentioned without ever looking at the article. Are you a “usual...

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  • Outstanding Evaluation

    So, What Do You Think?

    We launched the Leadership and Community Blog on September 1, 2009.  So, what do you think? A little over a year ago I started my journey of creating this blog.  Long story short – my idea was to create a collaborative blog focused on our...

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  • Trust

    Quick fix? No Thanks

    “Nothing lasts 20 years anymore.” These were the words spoken a few weeks ago – with pride – by former Ambassador Geri Joseph, as she helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Policy Fellows program at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Ambassador Joseph had...

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  • iStock_000003699195XSmall

    Seriously, How do you Lead Volunteers?

    “Those who can, do.  Those who can do more, volunteer.”  ~ Author unknown There is no doubt that volunteers are the straw that stirs the drink for many organizations, associations, clubs, committees/boards, fundraisers and initiatives.  We are very blessed to live in a community, and...

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  • j0386036

    Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

    Breaking up is always hard to do. Besides personal relationships, most people have a messy “break-up” with a personal trainer, hair stylist or Facebook friend. But what happens when a relationship with a nonprofit runs its course? Some organizations have very strict rules for your...

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  • 8rumba1

    Leadership vs. Management

    Leaders have followers, managers have subordinates; this is the theory that popped into my head this week as I met with a manager who was trying to lead using fear. Our “first thing Monday morning” meeting left me angry for the entire day. (Well, angry...

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  • CBR003593

    Umm, Ahh, Listen to Me

    It always amazes me when people work so hard on their careers, achieve success, but ignore the importance of public speaking skills.  We have all sat through presentations that lost our attention, failed to effectively communicate the key message(s), or worse yet, had us feeling...

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