So often, we enter conversations from a defensive perspective. In this reactionary mode, we are not engaged with anyone except for ourselves. We are not listening. What if I told you there’s an easier, less stressful, more effective way to approach challenging and stressful conversations? Let me introduce you to the concept of deep listening.

At some point or another, we’ve all felt wronged, annoyed, frustrated, repelled, or angry because of someone we work with. How do you deal with them? Here’s the secret: you won’t find the answer by analyzing the other person. You have to look within.

This year, I invite you to take an intentional and specific approach to closing out 2022 and release some important mental weight. Instead of a vast reflection of all the good and not-so-good elements of this year, I recommend honing in one area alone: your relationships.

One of the most powerful ways to exercise generosity as a professional is to become a mentor. I challenge you to consider taking on a mentoring role as an opportunity to teach, coach, provide feedback, and share your knowledge with someone else… all resulting in community building, a greater sense of purpose, learning (on both sides), and increased levels of joy.

What is trust, what does it feel like, how do we foster it, what derails it? These are essential questions for any leader to consider as they forge a path to organizational success. Trust is at the foundation of all healthy, successful teams; without it, your team and your organization will not reach its full potential.

When conflicts arise in our relationships at home and at work, they are almost always pointing to something trying to shift, something trying to happen. Too often our discomfort with conflict creates…