In January 2022, Carrie Fox set out on a blog series called Finding the Words because she had something to say. By the end of the year, you were doing more than listening. You were deeply in this work with her. And because of you, we’re keeping this series going, every week through 2023 and beyond. Our promise: Carrie will keep delivering these essays each Wednesday morning to further support your work as a communicator for change. Your promise: keep telling us how these insights are impacting and influencing your work.
Here are some of the most regularly shared columns. If you like what you see, then subscribe here.
Tackling Tough Feedback.
If you want the process of delivering feedback to serve as an opportunity to deepen trust rather than to damage a relationship, then take time to understand the situation AND the person before rushing to assumptions or judgment. Being clear, candid, and consistent can help move your fear of feedback to a practice of love.
Life Lessons, Part II
It’s never too late to learn and never too late to love. There will never be enough time, so use the time you’re given today running after something, or maybe someone, that you love.
Life Lessons.
We can’t turn back time, but we can progress forward. So, if there is a person you believe you’re done learning from, I invite you to reach out to them today. Tell them that you were thinking about them. And then listen closely to whatever they have to share. You may be surprised by how much there is left to learn.
Brace Yourself for This.
No organization is immune from a crisis erupting at any moment. It’s how you prepare, plan, coordinate, and communicate in the moments of calm that will determine how you weather the storm when it rolls in.
Checking In.
Checking in may not change the big things, but it will matter deeply to those around you, who need to feel and see that you understand the weight of this time. And maybe that’s something good to hold onto in these uncertain times.
Empathy over Ego.
Life is hard, and there will always be more to people’s stories than they let on. Start every day from a place of compassion and a commitment to lead with empathy over ego. In taking the time to understand and practice empathy, you may find that people take the time to understand you better, too.
Get A Little Uncomfortable.
Consider where you’re feeling most comfortable in your work and what you could do to push a little further outside of that zone. Challenge one of your existing routines and what “changing up the process” might look like. And while you’re at it, consider where you can give a colleague a boost in their learning by providing safe opportunities to test their boundaries, too.
Way to Win: Lessons Learned from Coco Gauff
In tennis, as in life, there are moments when we’ll be on the defense and moments when we’ll play offense. Every day, however, is a chance to play and lead with care, courage, and clarity. And Gauff is a great reminder of what winning can look like at its best.
Can AI Make Us More Human?
AI is an important tool and an indelible part of our future. But we don't need to lose our humanity in the process of using it. Consider how your team's intelligence can be augmented by technology, rather than replaced by technology, and you'll be futureproofing your work in the process.
Mind Over Machine.
The memory in our pockets directly affects the memory in our heads—and that impacts how we communicate. So, before you reach for the phone to help you remember something, give yourself time to think. Practice building back up your memory and brain function, and you should start to see that digital amnesia clear up, too.
You Can Say Something.
Saying something when we see something is not easy. But the effect could be the start of something groundbreaking, too. You just won’t know if you don't try.
The Hard Truth about Soft Skills
When leaders communicate with care, courage, and clarity, they can also better lead through tumultuous times. It comes down to how we use the power we have.
Did You Hear That?
Find ways to get closer to the users of your content, and when you get there, listen carefully. That closer listen will always be worth it.
With Love.
This book isn’t about me. It’s about the people who inspire me, and it is for you. I hope you appreciate its message.
Take Good Care.
When it comes to mental health in the workplace, putting people first will always be a winning strategy. Just don’t forget to include yourself among those people.
When You Say Nothing At All.
Rather than saying nothing at all or rushing to say the first thing that feels right, focus your energy on being genuine in your words and approach. Listen carefully. Acknowledge issues. And commit to bravely speaking in service of your community rather than running away from the moments that may ultimately shape you most as a leader.
Fact Check.
It's all too common for meaningful sayings to be altered or removed from their original context, making it hard to know who said what, and when. Focus on getting down to the roots of the words you choose to use, and when in doubt, stay grounded in the facts.
Start Where You Are.
In the fast-paced nature of time, where it’s all too easy to get caught up in what’s coming next (vs. what’s happening now), where we want to be (vs. where we are), and how we get there (vs. what we’ve accomplished to date), it’s good to pause and remember that life is fast, and it’s short. Wherever you are, may you find something wonderful worth holding onto in this present moment.
Banking on Trust.
Losing a previously invested donor, partner, or team member is always challenging. But a loss without any related learning is the worst kind of loss. In losing, find ways to uncover essential insights and small wins that make the most of difficult situations.
Learning from Our Losses.
Losing a previously invested donor, partner, or team member is always challenging. But a loss without any related learning is the worst kind of loss. In losing, find ways to uncover essential insights and small wins that make the most of difficult situations.
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