Making the decision to win someone over to the light instead of succumbing to the forces of the dark will usually generate a happy ending. It’s your choice. You can use these strategies with everyday interactions with your stakeholders.

Making the decision to win someone over to the light instead of succumbing to the forces of the dark will usually generate a happy ending. It’s your choice. You can use these strategies with everyday interactions with your stakeholders.

Would it be nice to have recognition and remuneration for going the extra mile? Sure, but it’s not about that. It’s the satisfaction of knowing you have gifted someone something valuable. Maybe it’s a good moment to ask ourselves, “How can I be more generous?”

People ask me if I feel like I missed the opportunity to develop roots in one place. I say you can't miss what you don't know. I became a global nomad and am grateful for the curiosity it fostered in me. I wouldn't trade being a TCK for anything in the world since after all, the world was part of the deal.

“What are the characteristics of a good leader?” When asked, at some point, most people will list “effective communicator” as one of the characteristics that are essential for good leadership. Yet, within this overarching skillset lies a crucial component often overlooked: the art of listening.

Connecting with people can be extremely satisfying and rewarding. It may just be a moment where you share a brief connection, a smile, a chuckle, a comment, or it can be a longer conversation. The problem is, if we are constantly looking at our devices and have headphones on, we are literally blocking the real people around us in favor of virtual presences far away. And how many opportunities may we be missing?

Did you know companies in the US waste enough money on bad communication every year to fund a luxurious tropical all-inclusive vacation for every employee in the country? Yes, you read that right. We waste $12,500 per employee per year or the overall equivalent of 1.2 trillion dollars total.

In today’s impersonal virtual world, it’s easier to look away at a screen than connect with people. Don’t lose the ability to share experiences with others and listen to theirs. Practice active listening. Practice empathy. You will come away all the richer for it.

What’s so important that requires someone walking into a meeting and interrupting in order to greet each person individually with a handshake or a kiss? Or stooping from an elliptical machine at the gym and hovering dangerously to kiss a known passerby? Two words: acknowledgement and respect.