Leadership Perspectives

How important is sleep?

Marie Peeler

  Recently a client asked me how important I thought sleep was.  I didn’t hesitate before I said “Critically important” with some vehemence.  The context of the conversation was leadership, leadership performance, and showing up emotionally centered and resilient in the face of challenge. My answer didn’t surprise him.  I think he was simply looking for […]

Overworked and Overwhelmed: The Mindfulness Alternative

Everywhere I go, from coaching sessions to professional meetings, in large corporations and small nonprofits, I encounter people suffering from the pace of modern life. Increased illness, lower productivity, damaged relationships, and waning satisfaction are the prices that we pay. Earlier this month, fellow executive coach and Georgetown Leadership Coaching Program faculty member, Scott Eblin, […]

4 ways to work more sustainably

Last week I wrote about working sustainably and the magic of pausing.  Here are some additional ways that leaders can work more sustainably. 1.  Examine your systems and fix ones that are inefficient Do you know exactly what you need to do and where to find the paperwork, tools, or other resources that you need […]

Working sustainably: The magic of pausing

When someone refers to a sustainable workplace, do you think of environmental initiatives; installing blue bins for recycling, replacing disposable water bottles with water bubblers, or retrofitting lower wattage light fixtures?  If so, you are not alone. On a bigger scale, perhaps you think of sustainability as it is discussed on the world stage, in […]

7 things extraverts and introverts can each do to be better leaders

In my last post, I asked you to make a list of all the ways that your preference for introversion or extraversion may help you in your leadership endeavors.  (To understand whether you prefer introversion or extraversion, read Do you prefer extraversion or introversion?  Your leadership style may depend upon it.)  Then I suggested that […]

Want to improve your relationships? Change your lens.

Sometimes in the drive to get things done, leaders inadvertently run roughshod over people.  Yet, these same leaders are horrified to find that others perceive them to be uncaring, not compassionate, or even downright abrasive.  They lament that they really do care about people and they hate that they are perceived as they are. Regardless, […]

Priorities are a funny thing

I’ve noticed a funny thing.  Whenever I have a trip planned, whether for business or pleasure, I always start a few days or weeks in advance (depending on how far in advance the trip is planned) listing and trying to chip away at the things that I need to do before I leave. Listing the […]

Downtime is essential for leadership effectiveness

Some of a leader’s best thinking and learning occurs in that space in-between when all is still.  It’s known as the creative pause, a term probably coined by the best-selling author Edward de Bono, and it refers to the increasingly rare downtime that leaders have to rest and to quietly reflect. Between the ultra-connected world […]

Leaders under stress: Pay attention to lifestyle factors

Many leaders compound the stress inherent in leadership responsibilities with the additional stress experienced by our bodies and minds when we don’t care for ourselves properly.  I have learned that three lifestyle factors are essential for me to operate effectively.  Without them my ability to manage stress goes right out the window.  Proper nutrition:  Food […]

Leaders under fire and National Stress Awareness month

Whether you call it stress, overwhelm, or some other name, I constantly hear from leaders that they are pulled in too many directions, expected to multitask relentlessly, and have significantly more input and information coming in than they can ever effectively process.  In short, they live their lives as though they are constantly under fire. […]