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How To Create An Affirming Culture

When you first hear about an affirming culture, you may think the culture will be weak or timid. You may think your organization doesn’t need to affirm the abilities of your team.

If this is your line of thinking, you would be incorrect. Your team needs to be affirmed. You need to tell your team “Good job on completing the project ahead of time” or “You know, you’ve been on time for a full year. You are awesome.”

Man standing in front of mountain range

Photo by Axel Holen

What Is Affirmation?

You may come from a culture where affirmation isn’t common. You may not even know what affirmation is.

If you’re wondering what affirmation is, wonder no more. Affirmation is the act of validating or confirming a person or their actions.

Affirmation isn’t pandering to someone. Instead, it is recognizing what they’re doing or who they are and choosing to say something positive.  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Sonic The Hedgehog Movie

A Reel Leadership Article

I have fond, fond memories of Sonic The Hedgehog. From the SEGA startup sound to the blur of blue on the screen as you raced through the levels, Sonic was the video game character with spunk and attitude.

Sonic was a stark contrast to the Mario and Luigi’s Nintendo offered up. He was fast, had attitude, and began to kick butt for Sega and their Genesis system.

Sonic the Hedgehog live action movie clip with sonic skidding on the street

Had the original Mario movie not bombed in the theater, I’m sure we would have had a live-action Sonic The Hedgehog movie well before now. Thankfully, they waited.

Sonic The Hedgehog’s new movie is a fantastic blend of nostalgia and newness, of adult and childlike humor… Dare I say Sonic The Hedgehog has become my favorite movie of 2020 so far? I think I will.

But Sonic The Hedgehog does more than entertain. Sonic The Hedgehog can help you become a better leader.  Read more...

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4 Reasons Leaders Need To Slow Down

Do you feel like you never have enough time? By the time you solve one business problem, another issue raises its ugly head. You never have enough time to slow down.

You may feel like you have to run around like the Flash from the Justice League. Rushing from one emergency to the other. Always taking on more and having less time to slow down.

Red and blue lines creating image blur

Photo by Fabio Ballasina

Slowing down may make you feel like a sloth. Just trudging along and never getting anywhere. You may believe slowing down will hinder your ability to lead. But that’s what I want to encourage you to do today. I want you to take a moment, take a deep breath, and slow down.

Are you a leader who is always on, never off? It’s time to kick the bad habit.

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Keeping Yourself On Track

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Another distraction.

Woman sitting behind a laptop with her cell phone

Photo by Charlz Gutierrez de Pineres

Or maybe it’s not knock, knock but ring, ring. The sound of your cell phone going off constantly.

Distractions are all around us. They’re keeping us from doing our best work.

In a world of distractions, how do you stay on track?

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Does anyone else ever feel this is their daily journey? You walk into the office. You take a seat behind your desk. And then someone interrupts your day.

You help your team member take care of the issue. Problem solved. Then the next “knock, knock” happens. And there’s another issue presented to you.

Or, maybe, you’re on track and then you notice the latest season of Stranger Things has dropped on Netflix. It’s time for a binge!

You’re distracted. You’re off track…  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn)

A Reel Leadership Article

In a not-so-shocking move, DC and Warner Brothers created a movie from one of the hottest properties to come out of a movie (Suicide Squad) that was panned by critics. That movie? Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) stars Margot Robbie as one Harley Quinn, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Dinah Lance/Black Canary, and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain.

DC and Warner Brothers had seen the success of Fox’s take on Marvel’s Deadpool and went for an experience that could rival Deadpool’s crassness and vulgarity. They succeed. They also succeeded in making a fun yet obscene movie.

Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Ella Jay Basco in Birds Of Prey

If you’re a fan of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, you’re going to love seeing her break free from Joker’s control and take on a life of her own. You may also enjoy seeing three female characters introduced to the DC movie universe that may hold their own in a later Birds Of Prey movie.  Read more...