by Christi Barrett | Choice, Communication
“Life is a four-letter word.” (Lenny Bruce) One of the most influential memories from childhood involves my brother getting his mouth washed out with soap for uttering a swear word. I can’t recall the specific word, but I do remember the gagging,...
by Christi Barrett | Conflict, Emotional Intelligence
A wise woman said to me recently, “My goal is to spend more time with Sue Smith (not her real name). She really drives me nuts.” I was surprised, to say the least, as my friend is not one to suffer fools gladly. Noting my astonished reaction, she said,...
by Christi Barrett | Emotional Intelligence, Leadership
Peace on earth may seem like a tall order, given the state of the world. However, there are ways you can foster a more peaceful climate in your organization. In this context, peace means a calm, nonviolent and civil (at the bare minimum) workplace. Why bother? As...
by Christi Barrett | Communication
How many times have you heard a comment that struck you as disrespectful or offensive, and you didn’t respond? Maybe you didn’t know the other person, and felt too awkward to comment. Maybe you just weren’t sure you wanted to wade into the issue....
by Christi Barrett | Emotional Intelligence, Leadership
I felt like screaming. That same old, seemingly-constant problem was back. The details aren’t important, but suffice to say, I experienced an avalanche of feelings, ranging from disbelief (AGAIN?!) to rage ($#*^@). With time and its wonderful sidekick,...