Going Solo: 3 Ways to Push Your Team Past Stage Fright
“You should do pageants,” a family friend said. All I could think was, “Yeah, right. Be on stage all by myself. Absolutely not.” Since the age of 12 seconds old, I have been performing. I’m not kidding. There is a picture of me being born, arm first. Some see jazz hands and others see my […]
Serving by Example: Why Volunteering Can Change How You Lead
When I worked at Georgian Court University, we had four “floating holidays” where the university was open, and it allowed for staff to stagger time off. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day happened to be one of those days. Except in my position. Each year, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., we would coordinate a […]
[BONUS Episode] Feed Your Butterflies – The Swift Kickin’ It Show
Feed your butterflies! No, not the ones you raised from larvae in 3rd grade. We are talking about the butterflies you get when you stand on stage or decide to try something brand new. Instead of running away and calling your mom, what if you turned that feeling into an accomplishment? This episode of the […]
The Camino Way: Finding Leadership in a 500 mile walk across Spain
“Regardless of a pilgrim’s background, though, it is a deeply spiritual experience as you learn to connect on a new level with yourself, with others, with nature, and with whatever higher powers may be. Most importantly, though, it is a deeply HUMAN experience.” -Martine De Matteo, Swift Kick family member & El Camino pilgrim Whenever […]
3 Signs Your Team Culture is Rotten
The team had nicknamed their boss “Lunch Box” so they could talk trash about him in the company chat room without him noticing. As if that’s not sad enough, what’s even sadder is that Lunch Box didn’t even know his team had nicknamed him Lunch Box. Sometimes he’d jump in on the conversations, thinking they […]
How Effective is Your Virtual Team? Take the Test!
I have attended video meetings while in the basement of Grand Central, on a train, walking down the street, in a car, and in a coffee shop. We live in a world where we can be at work without actually being there, and it’s awesome. Sometimes, members of your team are only “virtual” because they […]
[Video] Emotional and Cultural Intelligence for Your Team – The Swift Kickin’ It Show
You’ve probably heard of emotional intelligence. But what about cultural intelligence? Do you have it? Does your team? If you ever interact with humans, you should probably level up on these skills. This episode of the Swift Kickin’ It Show is for team leaders who wonder about how to encourage higher emotional and cultural intelligence […]
Under Pressure: Staying Cool When It All Seems to Go Wrong
Incorrect audio supplies…check. Main point of contact not in the office…check. Audience is less than a third of what was expected…check. Clicker sensor is too far to reach my position at the front of the room…check. Are you sensing a theme here? Sometimes, (all of the) things go wrong. As a leader of the team, […]
[Video] Working On Your Team Vs. In Your Team – The Swift Kickin’ It Show
“Unfortunately, I don’t like to have fun!” Except we do, and it’s evident in this energetic episode of SKTV. You’ll have to watch the episode to understand why Melissa said this at all. This episode of the Swift Kickin’ It Show is for leaders who feel it’s time to step back from the day-to-day work […]
Asking TO Help Instead of Only Asking FOR Help (and Why It Matters)
Recently, a friend told me a story about the unexpected joy she received one day while she was out running errands. She wanted to stay anonymous, so we will call her Charity. One afternoon at work, Charity left the office to take care of some shopping for work. It was a lovely day, and she […]