Personal Growth Insights

Consider this suggestion that has helped me survive this industry for three decades at Microsoft, Google, and Amazon…during this holiday season step back from the endless cycle of activity and think, reflect, and live in the moment. Being busy every second isn’t what leads to inspired decisions or breakthroughs. Instead, it can stifle creativity, increase stress, and prevent the innovative thinking that moves the needle. Ignore work and be with your family – I guarantee that you will have better ideas and more energy when you restart next year. Here are the specifics: 1. Create Space for Innovation: The best ideas often emerge when you have room to breathe and think. Give yourself permission to slow down over the holidays. With that mental breathing room, you’ll be better equipped to imagine creative approaches, develop new strategies, and identify opportunities that may have been hidden in the day-to-day grind. 2. Prevent Burnout: Non-stop work leads to burnout—worn-down energy levels, reduced clarity, and diminished effectiveness. By intentionally setting aside time to recharge, you protect your mental and physical well-being. Returning to work refreshed means you can hit the ground running with renewed focus, making it easier to channel your energy into the projects that drive real results. 3. Refresh Your Objectives: Innovation doesn’t just appear out of thin air; it emerges when you thoughtfully consider what’s been working and where you can improve. Use the slow ramp at the start of the year to reflect on the road ahead. Coming back with a fresh perspective will help you zero in on what matters most, ensuring your efforts align with your core objectives. 4. Invest Time in Yourself: Slowing down provides time for learning and personal growth—reading, thinking, or exploring new perspectives outside your normal routine. By expanding your horizons during the break, you return to the office with heightened curiosity and sharper judgment, ready to tackle complexity. This holiday season, step away from the mindset that more activity equals more success. Instead, recharge. Let your mind wander. Immerse yourself in moments that inspire you. By doing so, you’ll return to work with greater clarity, a fresh sense of purpose, and the creative momentum.

One of my mentees asked me which soft skills I think entrepreneurs should pay more attention to and the practical activities I have recommended over the years (and undertook myself) to enhance them. Not an exhaustive list. No silver bullet. Life as an entrepreneur is a never-ending learning journey to improve oneself a little bit more every day. Curious if you have other suggestions. 1) Emotional Intelligence - Feedback Gathering: Reflect on emotional reactions & adjust behavior - Journaling: Document your feelings after key decisions or events - Mindfulness Meditation: Helps in recognizing & managing emotions - Engage in Role-Playing: Play out difficult scenarios with a coach or trusted colleague 2) Resilience and Grit - Set Stretch Goals: Goals that push you beyond your current capabilities - Failure Analysis: Analyze what went wrong & strategize for the future - Positive Affirmations: Remind yourself of your strengths & abilities, especially during challenging times - Regularly Read Biographies: Learn how successful entrepreneurs overcame their challenges - Join an Entrepreneur Support Group: Share challenges and solutions 3) Adaptability - Scenario Planning: Consider various future scenarios for your business - Rotate Roles: Temporarily swap job roles within your team - Continuous Learning: About new industries or technologies - Travel: Expose yourself to new cultures and environments - Attend Cross-Industry Conferences: Broaden horizons beyond your field 4) Communication Skills - Public Speaking Workshops: Enhance your ability to articulate ideas and inspire/engage teams - Write Regularly: Hone your ability to communicate complex concepts succinctly and clearly - Seek Feedback on Communication: Particularly after presentations or meetings 5) Negotiation Skills - Negotiation Workshops: improve negotiation strategies & understand different negotiation styles - Role-Play Negotiation Scenarios: With a colleague or coach - Analyze Past Negotiations: Reflect on what went well & what could be improved - Read Books on Negotiation: Regularly update yourself with new techniques - Seek Mentorship 6) Networking - Attend Industry Events - Set Regular Networking Goals: Such as meeting X new people a month - Follow-Up Practice: Send thank-you notes or emails after meetings - Join Entrepreneurial Organizations - Host Events: Establish yourself as a connector in your industry 7) Conflict Resolution - Conflict Resolution Training: Acquire techniques to mediate & resolve disputes effectively - Mediation Practice: Act as a neutral party in team disputes to find common ground & solutions - Seek Feedback on Conflict Handling: After resolving disputes 8) Active Listening - Practice Reflective Listening: Engage in conversations where you actively reflect or summarize what the other party is saying - Avoid Multitasking: During meetings or conversations. - Seek Feedback on Listening Skills: Particularly from direct reports Image by macrovector on Freepik

Habits separate the extraordinary from the average. For 20 years, as I’ve written about emotional intelligence and coached leaders around the world, I’ve noticed a pattern: The most fulfilled, high-performing people are relentless about the right habits. Not just motivation. Not just goals. Habits. If you want to lead with confidence, elevate your mindset, and create real momentum in your life and career—start here: ✅ Learn One New Skill Every Quarter The world’s evolving. You should too. Whether it’s public speaking, data analysis, AI tools, or storytelling—invest in yourself like it’s your most valuable stock. Because it is. ✅ Meet New People Outside Your Bubble Growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Seek out mentors, collaborators, and friends who challenge your perspective and expand your thinking. ✅ Read More Books Than You Stream Shows Great leaders are great readers. Read to stretch your mind, strengthen your empathy, and sharpen your emotional awareness. One idea from one book can change everything. ✅ Save Money Like Your Future Depends On It (Because It Does) Financial EQ is part of emotional intelligence. Saving gives you freedom, peace of mind, and the power to say yes to the right opportunities—and no to the wrong ones. ✅ Build Your Business Acumen You should always be in the business of you. Understand strategy, marketing, value creation, and decision-making. It will make you more influential and indispensable. None of this requires perfection. Just intention. The compound interest of consistent daily effort is how champions are made. Start small. Stay committed. Be the person you’re capable of becoming.

"Although we often see ourselves as thinking creatures that feel, biologically, we are feeling creatures that think." - Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.d. Imagine waking up to find your left brain—the side of logic and reason—offline, leaving only your right brain, which thrives on creativity, emotion, and connection. How would you navigate life? I recently finished My Stroke of Insight by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist who shared her experience of a stroke that silenced her left brain. This book was a real eye-opener. My father experienced a minor stroke a few years back, and the effects still linger. The book gave me a deeper understanding of what he went through. Dr. Taylor’s mother, G.G., played a crucial role in her recovery, teaching us two key lessons: 1) Holistic Support: G.G. created a calm, positive environment for Dr. Taylor's emotional, cognitive, and spiritual healing, focusing on practices that soothed and rebuilt her mind. 2) Endless Patience: G.G. was a constant source of patience and encouragement, helping Dr. Taylor relearn basic skills and stay motivated. After her stroke, Dr. Taylor had to relearn how to think logically, even basic math, as those neurons had died. But she made a conscious choice not to relearn some bad habits—like losing her temper or engaging with people whose values didn’t align with hers. This helped her maintain the peace she found in her right brain. It's this balance I strive for in my own leadership. As a leader, this book reminded me of three key principles: 1) The right mix of Heart and Mind:  Leadership is about balancing logic with empathy. Use your left brain to strategize but tap into your right brain to connect with your team emotionally. Success comes from combining data-driven decisions with genuine human connection. 2) Relationships and Motivation:  Understanding your team’s motivations and building strong relationships is essential. Make emotional intelligence your superpower—build trust, foster loyalty, and create a culture where people feel valued and inspired. 3) Adaptability and Mindful Leadership:  As a leader, more often than not, I am forced to use my left brain but switching from logic to emotion requires us to be Mindful. Adaptability allows you to navigate any situation with the right mix of strategy and empathy. As they say, 85% of our happiness in life comes from our relationships. So, when leading a team, don’t just think strategically—think compassionately. When we lead with our whole brain, we don’t just achieve success—we create it together. For more, check out the book here: https://a.co/d/ePWHKxK #BookSummary #MystrokeofInsight #Wholebrainthinking #leadership

🔄 The Emotional Reset: Reframing the Narrative in Leadership 🧠 Neuroscience Insight: Have you ever received tough feedback and immediately felt defensive? That’s your brain’s default mode network (DMN) at work—jumping to worst-case assumptions and emotional hijacking. But here’s the truth: Reframing engages the prefrontal cortex, shifting us from reaction to rational problem-solving. 📖 A Quick Story: A leader I coached received harsh public feedback from an executive during a meeting. Their initial reaction? “They don’t respect my work—I need to push back!” Frustration took over, and their body language showed it. ✅ The Shift: A Simple Emotional Reset Before reacting, they asked themselves: 🔹 What’s the bigger picture here? This feedback is about improving outcomes, not a personal attack. 🔹 If I were coaching someone else, what would I tell them? Pause, take notes, and ask clarifying questions. 🔹 What emotion do I want to lead with? Calm curiosity instead of defensiveness. 🔥 The Outcome: Instead of escalating the tension, the leader responded with: 💬 “Thank you for the feedback. I’d love to understand what specific improvements you’d like to see. Can we explore solutions together?” 🚀 CRAVE Leadership in Action: ✔ Respect – For oneself and others, even in challenging moments. ✔ Authenticity – Acknowledging emotions without reacting impulsively. ✔ Empathy – Understanding the perspective behind the feedback. ✨ Your Turn: Next time you’re faced with criticism, try this Emotional Reset. Before reacting, ask yourself these three reframing questions. What’s your go-to strategy for handling tough feedback? Drop a comment below! ⬇️ #DrAmin #CRAVELeadership #NeuroLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutivePresence #EmotionalIntelligence #FeedbackCulture

A few years ago, I felt stuck. Despite working hard, progress felt sluggish. Then someone asked me: “When was the last time you reflected on what’s working and what’s not?” I froze. Reflection wasn’t part of my routine—I was too busy “doing.” That moment changed everything. I started carving out time each month to pause and reflect. The results? Clarity, growth, and a renewed sense of direction. Here’s the simple process I follow: 1. Celebrate wins. ↳Big or small, list what you’ve achieved. ↳Progress often hides in the little victories. 2. Identify challenges. ↳What didn’t go as planned? ↳Be honest but constructive. 3. Extract lessons. ↳Ask yourself: What worked? ↳What didn’t? ↳What can I improve? 4. Adjust your goals. ↳Refine your next steps based on your insights. Reflection isn’t about looking back with regret, It’s about learning to move forward smarter. It’s like cleaning the windshield before hitting the road again. PS. How often do you take time to reflect on your goals? #PersonalGrowth #Reflection #BusinessCoach

Have you ever felt that immediate internal bristle when someone gives you #feedback? That visceral "but, but, but..." response that bubbles up before you've even fully processed what they've said? I had one of those moments just last week. A client mentioned that my explanation of a leadership framework "went a bit into the weeds". My first thought? "But I was just being thorough!" (Complete with an internal eye roll that would make any teenager proud.) #Defensiveness is such a natural human response. Our brains are literally wired to protect our self-image — it's not a character flaw, it's neurobiology! (Thanks, brain.) But here's what I've learned from years of both giving and receiving difficult feedback: how we handle those defensive moments often determines whether we grow from feedback or just barely survive it. Here's my toolkit for when those defensive walls go up (and they will): 1. Notice the feeling without jumping to action. When your chest tightens or your thoughts race toward justification, just label it: "This is defensiveness showing up." That tiny pause creates space between feeling and reacting. 2. Remember that impact beats intent every time. My intentions for that workshop were excellent (thoroughness!), but if the impact was confusion, that's what matters. My good intentions don't erase someone else's experience. 3. Reframe feedback as a catalyst for improvement and growth. The people who tell us uncomfortable truths are offering us something valuable. Sometimes the feedback that stings most contains the exact insight we need. (I have found that the truer the feedback is, the more it hurts.) 4. Focus on specific behaviors rather than your identity. There's a world of difference between "that explanation was confusing" and "you're a confusing person." Separate the action from your sense of self. 5. Give yourself permission to be imperfect. You're allowed to be a work in progress. (I know that I sure am.) Developing this #mindset transforms defensiveness from a threat to your worth into a normal part of your growth journey. What are your go-to strategies when defensiveness strikes? I'd love to hear what works for you. And yes, I'll shorten my explanation for the next time. Sometimes, the feedback that makes us squirm today often becomes the #wisdom we're grateful for tomorrow. #Professionaldevelopment #leadership #emotionalIntelligence #Feedbackculture

If people hold back their real opinions, you miss what could make you better. If no one challenges your thinking, your ideas stop evolving. In these cases, you need confident humility. I know, I know, it sounds like an oxymoron. but hear me out... Asking for feedback, advice, and new perspectives from a place of confidence can improve your work, sharpen your judgment, and help you grow. This is especially important in complex, uncertain and diverse environments where people bring different expertise, lived experiences, and communication styles. In these situations, having openness to look for feedback and advice is what allows your good thinking and work to get better. You are looking for input from others because you want greater understanding. When this is combined with confidence in what you do know, it makes you more CREDIBLE and respected because you show commitment and a willingness to dig deeper. 🔎 A simple habit to build this skill: - Ask for input, early, consistently, and from a place of confidence in wanting to learn more (not insecurity). - Ask authentically and specifically, around what you would benefit from knowing. For example “Given your knowledge of ABC, what’s something I could have approached differently?” or “I have deep knowledge of A but not B, what might I be missing in how I framed that for B?” When practiced regularly, this habit improves your performance and reshapes how others experience working with you. Professionals who lead with this type of confident humility tend to: ✅ Surface better ideas through collaboration ✅ Reduce defensiveness in high-stakes conversations ✅ Strengthen trust, especially across lines of difference ✅ Adapt more quickly in unfamiliar or shifting contexts In a world where no one sees the full picture alone, humility keeps you learning when it matters most. #Humility, #Feedback, #ProfessionalGrowth, #Collaboration, #SoftSkills, #ContextualAgility Skiilify

You’ve Got Feedback—Now What? Feedback can be challenging, especially in a season where performance reviews can feel like a weapon. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right approach, you can harness feedback as a powerful tool to elevate your leadership skills. Here’s a framework I recommend: 1. Pause and Reflect: Resist the urge to react immediately. Feedback often triggers emotional responses—good or bad. Taking a moment to step back ensures your reaction is measured and thoughtful. 2. Dissect the Message: What is the core of the feedback? Does it highlight a skill gap, a misstep, or a blind spot? Sometimes, it’s more about perception than performance— although both matter. 3. Seek Clarification: Not all feedback is crystal clear. Ask questions to understand the perspective behind it. This shows you value the input and are committed to improvement. 4. Strategize for Growth: Once you’ve digested the feedback, the question becomes, "What’s next?" Create an actionable plan. Whether it’s adjusting your approach, or doubling down on your strengths, the goal is progress. 5. Close the Loop: Circle back to the person who provided the feedback. Share what you’ve taken away and how you plan to act on it. This fosters trust and encourages open communication. Great leaders aren’t just great at giving feedback— they excel at receiving it well and transforming it into fuel for personal and professional growth. ******* Hi, I'm Love! I help leaders and organisations create impactful, resilient teams through: ➡️ Leadership training tailored for onsite, hybrid and remote teams ➡️ Strategic consultancy to bridge gaps in management and staff relations ➡️ Courses that empower leaders to adapt, engage, and thrive To explore how to take your leadership and team to the next level, use the link in my featured section to schedule a call. #LeadWithLOVE #Unsiloed #Leadership #Feedback #GrowthMindset #Unsiloed

One morning last week, I woke up feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and sad...😫 In the past, those emotions would spiral, affect my productivity for the rest of the day; I would even get more frustrated at myself for feeling those emotions But NOW I have created a mental gym to control my emotions rather than allowing them to control me 🙌 Here are the steps I took which completely shifted my state. Try it out next time this happens to you: 1. Accept that I am feeling these emotions, but detach my identity from the emotion. Ie: I am not a sad person, I am just feeling sadness. - There is a difference, and it will pass. 2. Write down why I began to feel these emotions; what caused it? What upset me? 3. When is the appropriate time to take action on the incident that triggered the emotions? Is there anything I can do to solve it? Put a time block on your calendar indicating when you can take action. 4. Write down 5 things I'm grateful for 5. Physically move my body (Crushed my workout with a killer playlist) 6. Write my long term goals, and visualize myself accomplishing them and feeling the emotions I would experience in this process. By the end of my physical and mental gym routine, I felt inspired, joyful, and motivated to take clear action. This approach has been transformational for me. Instead of getting stuck in negative emotions or ignoring them (making them compound). ➡️ Now, I feel empowered to handle them face on, and they actually give me more insight on how to have a more positive, productive, clear plan moving forward. I'm sharing this because I want you to know you don't have to stay stuck either. We all face challenging experiences, but you can truly turn challenges into strengths. Who else has developed strategies for managing difficult emotions? Comment below, I'd love to hear about your experience and tactics! #EmotionalIntelligence #ProfessionalGrowth #Resilience