John Liebler

As someone who has struggled with imposter syndrome my entire life, this subject is very personal to me and requires far more than 750 words to unpack. However, here are some helpful tips: 1. Reframe Your Thinking: Embrace positive self-talk (feed the good wolf) 2. Be Resilient: Keep pushing through, even when you don’t believe you belong in the room 3. Focus on Your Efforts, Not the Outcomes: Concentrate on the work you put in rather than the end result 4. Surround Yourself with the Right People: Find good and honest friends and mentors you can trust. Be honest with how you feel, ask for their insights and listen with the intent to understand. Finally: Focus on what is in your control - Your Thoughts, Your Perceptions and Your Behaviors.

Overcoming common barriers to assertiveness involves recognizing that it comes in many forms and is often mistakenly associated with aggression. This misconception can pressure “ask-assertive” communicators to change their style. However, assertiveness is about clarity and precision, not volume or dominance. One of the most assertive people I worked with rarely spoke in meetings, but when she did, her soft-spoken, articulate, and accurate assessments commanded the room. She was always direct, to the point, and never disrespectful. By focusing on quality over quantity, she demonstrated that true assertiveness is about expressing views confidently and respectfully, ensuring her voice was heard and valued without aggression.

Use the Ask-Tell-Empower method. This approach helps leaders effectively delegate tasks while promoting growth and accountability. Ask: Use with a team member who has never done the task before. Start by asking if the team member is willing to take on the task. Break the task into multiple, easily executable micro-tasks with frequent check-ins. Tell: Best suited for a team member who has prior experience or knowledge of the task. Clearly communicate the task, expectations, and deadlines. Set up checkpoints at critical stages can help ensure the task is on track. Empower: Use with experienced team members. Give them the authority and autonomy to complete the task, offering support as needed. Remember - different doesn’t mean wrong!

Don't set goals - Create a process Goals can be restrictive as they are defined by our current perspective of what is possible Goals can be changed. Human nature demands that we recalibrate our expectations, continually moving the "goal post" Goal setting falsely assumes that we have control over a limitless number of external events that may need to be navigated along our journey Instead, focus on the Process Adopt a repeatable, versatile process that can be adjusted and applied to various situations Focus on your effort, not the outcome Stay disciplined to this process, continually reviewing and refining it as new information is gained, new skills are learned, and values evolve Finally… play Tetris, not Chess DM me for an explanation.

Conflict resolution can be an incredibly complex discussion involving multiple strategies, including but not limited to: Avoidance Accommodation Collaboration Competition To pick the right strategy, consider the value of the relationship versus the desired result: High Relationship / Low Results: Accommodation Low Relationship / Low Results: Avoidance Medium Relationship / Medium Results: Compromise Low Relationship / High Results: Competition High Relationship / High Results: Collaboration Choosing the right conflict resolution strategy involves balancing the importance of the relationship with the desired outcome to achieve the most effective and satisfactory resolution.

Self-awareness, a crucial component of emotional intelligence, is not just about recognizing your emotions and their effects on your thoughts and behaviors. It's about understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and what drives you. Focusing on self-awareness can significantly enhance team dynamics. Understanding and managing your emotions allows you to lead with empathy and clarity, fostering a positive and productive team environment. Embrace self-awareness as a personal growth tool and foundation for building stronger, more cohesive teams.