If achieving ambitious goals like reaching one’s full potential or changing a mindset were easy, everyone would do it. However, the path of every worthwhile journey is marked by obstacles at every step of the way. No matter how thorough your preparation when you set out, or how clear your vision along the way, there will be obstacles to overcome. Many people seek to minimize obstacles or to anticipate ways to avoid them, but that's a missed opportunity. It is by clearing obstacles that the journey becomes fulfilling. 

Imagine that you have been put in charge of conducting a study to find what motivates a group of employees.  You ask them what makes them more engaged with their work and offer two choices: money or recognition in the workplace.  You might be inclined to think that money is the bigger motivator.  However, in a recent national research survey conducted by oGoLead—a leadership training firm—results indicated otherwise.  In fact, 60% of employees surveyed reported being far more motivated by recognition over monetary compensation.

Real talk: Failure happens.  When it happens, it’s easy to feel like Humpty Dumpty toppling off the wall to never be put back together again.  Failure often feels like the end of the world, but the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth.  If failure is so common, how can we learn from it?  How can we fail with dignity and grace?  How can we learn to fail better?

All of us have been there at one time or another.  You find yourself sitting in a conference room, looking around at your team.  You are surrounded by competent, confident, and highly accomplished individuals.  Without knowing why, you find yourself comparing yourself to all of these individuals.  You start to question if you belong among them, and maybe even start to feel as if a mistake has been made. 

Humans are social animals.  Really, it is our ability to build connections and lasting relationships that often sets us apart as a species.  But unfortunately, this instinctual need to connect with each other doesn’t always come easily to us.  According to a 2018 study conducted by Cigna, over half of all Americans reported feeling alone and isolated.  This includes Americans working at our businesses.  If we consider that the average employee works a 40 hour week, that’s a possible 2,080 hours a year that we may be contributing to a sense of loneliness in our team!

Presenteeism—or when employees show up at work physically but are unfocused and mentally elsewhere—is running rampant in the modern workplace.  According to many recent studies, employee disengagement is at an all time high.  We all dream of walking into work to find a motivated, keyed-in, ready-to-go team, but unfortunately that just isn’t the reality for the majority of businesses.  But there is good news: this doesn’t have to remain true for you and your team.