Debra Benton 
In life there are few things you can control. You can view that fact with anxiety or with exhilaration knowing that the unpredictability and uncertainty are what make life fun. Still, the unpredictability of life doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take ownership of what you can in your career. If anything, it means you should be … Read more
Being a leader doesn’t require you to have an especially high IQ, but it does require that you are willing to learn. If you do not train yourself constantly to learn about humanity, business, places, and ideas, you are asking for defeat. Leadership and learning go hand in hand. As one CEO weighed in: “Even … Read more
If you have been investing in your career (even a little), then you have run into rejection. Rejection is inevitable in life, especially if you’re making an effort and putting yourself out there. It’s not fun. Handling rejection in business, and in life, is a skill that we aren’t always taught and, quite frankly, don’t … Read more
When was the last time you laughed at work? When was the last time you made someone else laugh? If you can’t remember, or if it was over a month ago, then you are missing a valuable opportunity to connect with others and frankly, make yourself look better. Humor and leadership may seem like an … Read more
If you’re not in a crisis situation now, just wait a moment. Crises, whether in a company, country or your personal life happen all the time, and they can create discomfort and uncertainty. It’s easy in these situations to point fingers and ask, “Where is the leadership we need during times of crisis?” Whether it’s … Read more
Recently, I was reminded that coaching is not just about “fixing a problem.” I had a client whose career was significantly impacted because he had the foresight to hire me before he had a crisis. He knew that the steps he took early in his career would impact where his career went. Executive coaching is … Read more
Do you ever wonder if too much communication is happening? There are so many ways to communicate in person and online and there’s so much information coming at you 24/7 that it’s fair to ask: Can you overcommunicate? Short answer? No. No, you can never overcommunicate. It’s similar to the daft expression people like to … Read more
Have you ever seen that CEO, executive or rising co-worker who has a certain presence about them? They exude charisma but aren’t trying to impress you. They are eager to learn but are comfortable in their own skin and intellect. These are the people with self-confidence. The person with confidence is the person we turn … Read more
Love them or hate them, virtual meetings are part of today’s work landscape. With so many people working from home, they’re crucial to maintaining morale and teamwork. According to Gigaom, 87% of remote team members feel more connected to their team when they can use video conferencing. However, as is true of any conference, you … Read more
For good or bad, video is memorable. Almost all of us have heard a story about someone who goofed on camera. For instance, I know of a bank executive who joined in on a video call with his team and, carelessly forgetting he was live, picked up the newspaper and started reading while occasionally picking … Read more