Laura Berger
Kenneth Kaye once said, “Conflict is neither good nor bad. Properly managed, it is absolutely vital.” Highly effective leaders identify, understand and develop swift and smart resolutions to workplace conflicts, most of which demand some level of confrontation. Yet I’ve found many coaching clients dread confrontation, shifting the focus toward diversionary topics or simply turning … Read more
Improvisation, or improv, is a type of theatre – without the script – in which every aspect of the scene is contrived by the “actors” at the moment. Improvisors draw on a spontaneous source of inspiration to launch a plot. The actors are responsible for the success of the performance, as they create and direct … Read more
Researchers at Harvard Business School estimated that job burnout accounts for up to $190 billion in health care spending each year, and work-related stress can lead to a number of serious problems, including type two diabetes, coronary heart disease, gastrointestinal issues, high cholesterol and even death for those under the age of 45. Being overworked and putting in … Read more
Are you or someone you know one of those people who gets annoyed with the Pollyannas (or Pollyandys)? Why should a force of optimism and positivity ever draw contempt? Maybe pessimism, stress, and fatigue are dominating your path — and holding you back from the life you want to lead. The good news is that … Read more
Despite all the talk and best efforts, work-life balance remains elusive for many professionals. The generic advice about how to structure our time fails to account for each individual’s income requirements, career goals and personal values. When you fall short of “having it all” — the successful career, the storybook family life, the active gym … Read more
Do you feel like bad habits and negative thought patterns are holding you back at work? The good news is that you can eliminate them by activating your brain’s delete button. Using neuroplasticity, you can rewire your brain by changing your behavior, thinking and emotions. This means that no one is doomed to be a control … Read more
Have you ever tried to make someone stop smoking, lose weight or do a digital detox? As you get older and wiser, you learn to not even attempt such things on behalf of others, don’t you? As my husband Glen always says, “I quit smoking at least 200 times. No one could make me do … Read more
The average S&P 500 company must generate more than $1.05 billion in growth by the end of 2016 just to meet shareholder expectations. For sure, the fuel of easy money presents a tradeoff between striking as hard as possible while the iron is hot and ensuring that the fires lit in favor of growth don’t … Read more
While living in Costa Rica, I learned to rappel waterfalls from great heights. I overcame what I thought was an insurmountable challenge — my fear of heights. When my husband and I went on our first rappelling trip, I was instructed on the techniques for gradually rappelling without having to plunge into the water from … Read more
As we admired the north flank of the main chapel at Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai Thailand, we came upon a most unexpected surprise on a cardboard sign reading “monk chat” hung from a cloistered area to our right. Our group of five sat in front of a 24-year-old monk from Mumbai who—as I’ve … Read more