Heartmanity's Blog

Approximately one-third of our adult lives are spent at work. Americans spend more time working than any other task, second only to sleeping. For entrepreneurs and business owners, that time might be even greater. With work time adding up to an estimated 90,000 hours over a lifetime, job satisfaction has a substantial impact on our lives. Our work can be a fulfilling and positive experience that enriches the rest of our life—or not. We can love what we do in our work and have both a supportive, nurturing home and work environment—or not! How happy we are in our career determines, to a [...]

Emotional intelligence and social intelligence are no longer optional in leadership. And there are many leadership styles, yet there is only one kind of leader that raises profits while also growing people, engaging employees, cultivating thriving teams, and producing brilliant results.

That’s authentic leadership. This leadership style can make the most significant difference. And showing up authentically as a leader clears the obstacles to success with one irreplaceable skill that outshines all others.

“Take the emotion out of it. This isn’t personal; it is business.” That was the response received early in my career from a new boss when sharing a tough client situation. I had reached out to him for guidance because I needed to talk through the issue and was seeking support. How could they dismiss so abruptly how I was feeling? I did not feel understood or valued. 

Had my boss taken the time to show empathy to my perspective, that interaction would have been much different for me. Empathy is about genuinely looking to understand someone else’s perspective, which creates a connection. [...]

Today, inside a fired kiln, businesses and leaders sit scorched by the heat of the current crisis. Will they survive the heat?

A kiln’s heat reaches temperatures upward of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit to refine the clay and make it permanent. Crisis is a refiner’s fire, and the pandemic is applying pressure to business leaders in ways never before experienced. The rules of engagement have changed—the unexpected threat awakens us to our greatness (if we accept the invitation that can feel much more like a shove right now!)

In the last couple of weeks amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic and social distancing, many employees are working from home for the first time in their careers. The idea of working from home sounds very attractive yet also comes with a whole different set of challenges. For those experiencing this situation for the first time, everyone’s routines are turned upside down, especially since we also have children and partners at home.

Recently, I was driving down the interstate in a blizzard. I could barely see even a few feet ahead. Little did I know I was on the bumper of a revelation. I slowed down, but not soon enough. The snow cleared for a second, and I discovered myself face-to-face with the tailgate of a semi-truck. I swerved to safety, but something caught my eye.

Glaring back at me was a large bumper sticker: “Truckers don’t deserve to be treated like ....” I strained to see the final word. There was none—only a picture of a slab of beef.

To communicate, or to commune using its Greek root, is at the core of all relationships, teams, and communities. Without communication, there is no bridge from my private universe to yours. However, finding our way through the mazes created by our unique experiences, thoughts, emotions, biases (over one hundred!), assumptions, and beliefs is a feat in and of itself. So, every day, life presents us with a daily puzzle: to understand and connect with ourselves, and then to one another. To lead from within instead of reacting to outside stimulus.

It can often be challenging at any given [...]

“If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.” ~Daniel Goleman

Emotional intelligence (EQ)  is vital in today’s workplace. And to be an effective leader, EQ is a critical skill set to have. By recognizing and addressing your employees’ emotional needs, as well as your own, you can increase trust, morale, and productivity. Let’s explore leadership qualities and techniques for [...]

Every company needs managers to make sure that the work gets done and employees stay on track. Every manager needs specific skills to be successful. However, many people who excel at their job get promoted to management without proper training. Managing people is vastly different from managing a process or project, and studies find that companies pick or hire the wrong people for managers 82% of the time! Now that’s a ton of wasted time, lost revenue, retraining costs, and frustration.

Finding the right people with the needed skill sets may be challenging. However, without the right [...]