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“Symbols can be so beautiful, sometimes.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut, “Breakfast of Champions” Sandra described the past week of headaches associated with a systems conversion that took place in the …
“Symbols can b…
“Symbols can be so beautiful, sometimes.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut, “Breakfast of Champions” Sandra described the past week of headaches associated with a systems conversion that took place in the call center in which she works as a customer service representative. She outlined the many hiccups and problems they encountered, the way data dropped out of fields, and calls that were habitually misdirected. She described the 14-hour days that would likely go on for another week or so, the intensity of the customers’ expectations, and management’s scrutiny. When I responded empathetically ab…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
June 27, 2024 
The frustration was palpable within a group of leaders with whom I recently worked. They were in a tough spot. Competition was emerging from unexpected sources. Revenue was not tracking to meet expect…
The frustration was …
The frustration was palpable within a group of leaders with whom I recently worked. They were in a tough spot. Competition was emerging from unexpected sources. Revenue was not tracking to meet expectations. The organization was responding with significant structural change. And these leaders had been told by executives that if the business was to survive, they had to improve their Coaching ability and results.One leader, unable to contain his urgency and angst, blurted out, “Just tell us the four or five steps we have to take to become better coaches.” Another jumped in with, “Certain…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
May 22, 2024 
Everywhere we turn—conferences, leadership forums, executive meetings—employee happiness (or the lack thereof) is a hot topic. And it makes sense. Research from BambooHR and others tells us employ…
Everywhere we turn…
Everywhere we turn—conferences, leadership forums, executive meetings—employee happiness (or the lack thereof) is a hot topic. And it makes sense. Research from BambooHR and others tells us employee happiness is at a historical low. The past few years—with all its upheaval—have inspired many to re-evaluate their relationship with work. And a lot of employees have discovered that relationship is falling short of what they want and need. The once-standard career trajectory and traditional trappings of success don’t have the same power they once did. Now, people are measuring success di…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
April 30, 2024 
“We’re living in a time of unprecedented change.” If I had a dime for every time I heard that phrase over the past few years, I’d be a wealthy woman. But it’s undeniably true. Rapidly advanc…
“We’re living in…
“We’re living in a time of unprecedented change.” If I had a dime for every time I heard that phrase over the past few years, I’d be a wealthy woman. But it’s undeniably true. Rapidly advancing technology, the proliferation of AI, shifting demographics, changing global markets, organizational realignments, and more continue to transform the workplace in profound ways and at a profound pace. It’s easy, as a leader, to focus on the mechanics of what must happen, and the action steps and milestones required to reach the future state. In the process, we can forget that change is fundam…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
March 27, 2024 
As the workplace and the workforce continue to morph, understanding what people are looking for in and from their work has taken on greater significance. When we understand interests and motivations,…
As the workplace and…
As the workplace and the workforce continue to morph, understanding what people are looking for in and from their work has taken on greater significance. When we understand interests and motivations, we’re able to offer an employee experience that generates engagement, taps discretionary effort, promotes productivity, and ensures the retention of top talent. Our third annual report, Career Development Today: What People Really Want, sheds much-needed light upon what employees prioritized last year and offers organizations and leaders important insights to drive talent-centric strategies and…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
February 21, 2024 
As 2024 begins, it’s seductive to make declarations about how things (including ourselves) will be different in the coming year.Daily exercise Kind words to the crotchety co-worker No sugarThe l…
As 2024 begins, it…
As 2024 begins, it’s seductive to make declarations about how things (including ourselves) will be different in the coming year.Daily exercise Kind words to the crotchety co-worker No sugarThe list goes on. The problem is that too frequently we jump to these resolutions prematurely. They end up operating in a vacuum and without context… more like challenges than congruent, integrated intentions. They capture our intention for a few weeks, but they fail to capture our imaginations and hearts sufficiently to carry them further. And it’s all because we skip an important step: we look fo…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
January 9, 2024 
The talent development strategy of mentorship is getting a lot of attention these days. From books to boardrooms, everyone is trying to crack the code and tap its potential and power. Mentors have the…
The talent developme…
The talent development strategy of mentorship is getting a lot of attention these days. From books to boardrooms, everyone is trying to crack the code and tap its potential and power. Mentors have the ability to accelerate the growth of others through their generous sharing of their perspectives, time, insights, Coaching, and experience. Is this a selfless act of service? Not even remotely. Savvy mentors stand to gain as much from the experience as do the protégés they guide… and frequently a lot more. Are you on the fence about becoming a mentor? Consider these 6 ways you can personally b…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
December 19, 2023 
As the year draws to a close, I’m thrilled to be able to compile and share this month’s Leadership Development Carnival. In this ‘Best of 2023’ edition, you’ll be treated to the most impactf…
As the year draws to…
As the year draws to a close, I’m thrilled to be able to compile and share this month’s Leadership Development Carnival. In this ‘Best of 2023’ edition, you’ll be treated to the most impactful insights of 21 thought leaders as they offer their favorite articles from the year. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader, these pages promise to be an invaluable companion on your path to personal and professional growth. And you’ll want to dive in immediately… not just for the wisdom, but also for the free gifts that many contributors are offering. This is just a sma…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
December 5, 2023 
Despite high-profile examples of organizations requiring employees to return to the office, the reality is that plenty of leaders continue to find themselves in the position of managing employees who …
Despite high-profile…
Despite high-profile examples of organizations requiring employees to return to the office, the reality is that plenty of leaders continue to find themselves in the position of managing employees who don’t routinely share the same working space. Many organizations have made the commitment to continue to tap a wider talent pool, to allow for the autonomy and work-life balance that employees desire, and to take advantage of the agility that a distributed workforce is uniquely positioned to deliver. And yet, despite advances in technology and several years of experience and experimentation, cha…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
October 25, 2023 
Women in leadership get a lot of advice, most of it unhelpful. The first step in finding our way is to recognize and reject poor direction, so let’s take a look at three main types of advice served …
Women in leadership …
Women in leadership get a lot of advice, most of it unhelpful. The first step in finding our way is to recognize and reject poor direction, so let’s take a look at three main types of advice served up to women by career gurus:Lean in Aim to please Walk the tightrope1. Lean in. Sheryl Sandberg’s book of this name is the best-known in a large collection of similar guides that urge women to be more assured and direct—to “sit at the table,” as Sandberg puts it, rather than in a side chair. Some of these advisers take a kindly big-sister tone: be confident, don’t sell yourself s…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
September 27, 2023 
In Promotions Are SO Yesterday, I introduced the idea of the Multidimensional Career and a framework that expands the definition of career development. Rather than conflating growth with the tradition…
In Promotions Are SO…
In Promotions Are SO Yesterday, I introduced the idea of the Multidimensional Career and a framework that expands the definition of career development. Rather than conflating growth with the traditional upward trajectory of promotions, positions, and move, this framework offers seven alternate ways employees can grow – right within the context of their own careers. They include:Contribution: Making a difference, being of service, or aligning with purpose Competence: Building critical capabilities, skills, abilities, and expertise Connection: Cultivating relationships, deepening networks, e…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
August 30, 2023 
I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much as I dressed in pink and headed off with the family to see Barbie last weekend. Without spoiling the plot for those of you who have yet to see it, this m…
I have to admit that…
I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much as I dressed in pink and headed off with the family to see Barbie last weekend. Without spoiling the plot for those of you who have yet to see it, this movie offers a surprising commentary on such things as aging, the patriarchy, development, and even the workplace. I never would have guessed that a plastic doll would inspire such interesting discussions in social media and real life. One particularly rich LinkedIn conversation was started by Jessica Segal with a post likening Ken to real human employees who are happy doing what they do and have n…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
August 8, 2023 
Experiencing stumbles and setbacks can teach us a lot about ourselves – a lot about being a leader. I was reflecting on a stage production of Circus 1903 I attended several years ago. It was a varie…
Experiencing stumble…
Experiencing stumbles and setbacks can teach us a lot about ourselves – a lot about being a leader. I was reflecting on a stage production of Circus 1903 I attended several years ago. It was a variety show featuring turn-of-the-century circus acts. The audience enjoyed heart-stopping performances from high-wire artists, aerialists, contortionists, and acrobats from around the world. (While this isn’t intended to be a review, I can highly recommend the show!) Even a few years later, I remember that each act was an impressive display of a lifetime (sometimes generations) of muscle and skill …
Julie Winkle Giulioni
July 26, 2023 
I’m not going to lie. When I was first introduced to ChatGPT, it absolutely terrified me. Was it going to:Automate the task and talent of writing that I find joy in? Transform my craft into a comm…
I’m not going to l…
I’m not going to lie. When I was first introduced to ChatGPT, it absolutely terrified me. Was it going to:Automate the task and talent of writing that I find joy in? Transform my craft into a commodity? Render a skill set I’ve worked hard to hone irrelevant?Rather than sit with the fear, my team and I took action, investing every ounce of curiosity we could muster in learning about the capability and exploring its limitations. We played and explored in an effort to identify clear applications and use cases where AI could add real value to our clients and community.Introducing GrowBot…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
June 21, 2023 
Question: What do employees crave, expect, and consider leaving their current jobs for… but increasingly are not taking the initiative to pursue? Answer: Career development! Despite high-profile res…
Question: What do em…
Question: What do employees crave, expect, and consider leaving their current jobs for… but increasingly are not taking the initiative to pursue? Answer: Career development! Despite high-profile research studies highlighting the importance of career development to employees worldwide, leaders report that employees are taking a noticeably more passive approach than in the past. They typically attribute this inertia to generational factors, entitlement, and shifting power dynamics. But in conversations with employees, I hear something very different. A large portion of the workforce is putting…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
May 23, 2023 
Failure is getting considerable attention in leadership and management circles these days. Articles, books, and keynote speeches preach the value of mistakes and learning from failure. The current dia…
Failure is getting c…
Failure is getting considerable attention in leadership and management circles these days. Articles, books, and keynote speeches preach the value of mistakes and learning from failure. The current dialogue begins once the mistake or failure occurs and addresses how to leverage it for maximum return. But the employee must take a risk before any of this is possible. risk management concept hand drawn on chalkboard Risk is defined as a ‘situation that involves exposure to danger.’ And in today’s workplace, the dangers are very real. Between the rise of AI, the return to work mandates, and t…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
April 26, 2023 
Career development appears at the top of many lists. Unfortunately, they tend to be lists focused on what employees desperately want but are not getting from managers. As for managers, most appreciate…
Career development a…
Career development appears at the top of many lists. Unfortunately, they tend to be lists focused on what employees desperately want but are not getting from managers. As for managers, most appreciate the value of career development and really wish they could do it more frequently and more effectively. But let’s face it: A manager’s day-to-day reality is a kaleidoscopic blur of meetings, responsibilities, and shifting priorities. Helping employees to develop and grow is one of many activities that is continually pushed out in time to that elusive “someday” that too rarely comes. How ca…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
March 22, 2023 
‘Love’ is a word that only recently has crept into our workplace vocabulary. And it’s an appropriate addition! Sustainable satisfaction and success demand work that people love. In many ways, ef…
‘Love’ is a word…
‘Love’ is a word that only recently has crept into our workplace vocabulary. And it’s an appropriate addition! Sustainable satisfaction and success demand work that people love. In many ways, effective leadership is a profound expression of love – love of learning and love of the organization and the people whose lives leaders affect on a daily basis. So, this month, in honor of Valentine’s Day, our Carnival will focus on what leaders can do to help others – and themselves – to love their work… and the results that follow. I know you’re going to love the insightful articles c…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
February 7, 2023 
