Articles by Jo

I got schooled in leadership…by a cabbage  🥬👩‍🌾🦌

I got schooled in leadership…by a cabbage 🥬👩‍🌾🦌

Who’s your farmer? Mine is Carmen Black. She’s the owner of Sundog Farms, an organic vegetable farm in rolling hills…
Up-Level Your Elevator Speech (Video)

Up-Level Your Elevator Speech (Video)

Your elevator speech is your verbal business card—a way to reinforce your leadership brand every time you introduce (or reintroduce)…
The Best Form of Career Insurance

The Best Form of Career Insurance

What’s the best form of career insurance? In my recent Insta live with @LeanInLondonUK, a viewer asked: “How can you…
4 Rules for Accepting a Stretch Assignment

4 Rules for Accepting a Stretch Assignment

Want to connect to a bigger, bolder vision for your career? Try taking on a stretch assignment: A new project,…
Master the Art of the “Yes, If…” 

Master the Art of the “Yes, If…” 

I’ve said it before: It’s OK to say no to any new project, assignment, or role you’re offered. I’ll always…
Take Back the F Word! Turn Your Failures Into “Flopportunities”

Take Back the F Word! Turn Your Failures Into “Flopportunities”

Have you ever noticed how best learning opportunities sometimes come brilliantly disguised as a gut-wrenching, cringe-inducing flops? So you bombed…
Prioritize Your Professional Passions

Prioritize Your Professional Passions

Prioritize Your Professional Passions Welcome to year 3 of the pandemic. If that thought made you feel a little crumpled…
17 Ways to Say No to an Assignment That's Not Right for You

17 Ways to Say No to an Assignment That's Not Right for You

When you’re invited to work on a new project, assignment, or role that you’re excited to take on, it’s easy…
3 Steps to Finding Your Signature Leadership Strengths

3 Steps to Finding Your Signature Leadership Strengths

Your leadership strengths are your most powerful differentiators. Identifying, embracing, and unleashing these strengths can form the foundation of an…
Is your organization suffering from “gratitude deficit disorder?”

Is your organization suffering from “gratitude deficit disorder?”

Does your organization suffer from “gratitude deficit disorder?” Quoting Department of Labor statistics, organizational psychologist Lea Waters says more than…
Four Strategies for Finding Your Voice

Four Strategies for Finding Your Voice

Stephanie Matthews started her career as a producer in broadcast news. In those early days, promoting her expertise and accomplishments…
The Soul-Crushing Truth About Women and Self-Promotion

The Soul-Crushing Truth About Women and Self-Promotion

When 240 senior leaders of a Silicon Valley tech company were asked to name the factors that got them promoted…
People With Strong Networks and Good Mentors Enjoy More Promotions, Higher Pay, and Greater Career Satisfaction 🚀

People With Strong Networks and Good Mentors Enjoy More Promotions, Higher Pay, and Greater Career Satisfaction 🚀

Fact: People with strong networks and good mentors enjoy more promotions, higher pay, and greater career satisfaction. Simply put, having the…
21 Leadership Quotes to Fuel You in 2021

21 Leadership Quotes to Fuel You in 2021

Here are 21 favorite quotes to fuel your leadership development in 2021. I hope they’ll serve as a reminder of…
Stop "Shoulding" All Over Yourself

Stop "Shoulding" All Over Yourself

“The most successful leaders don’t try to do it all.” That’s a quote from one of my favorite leaders, Alice…
4 Questions for Finding Your Passion

4 Questions for Finding Your Passion

Passion drives performance, and this matters—a lot. When a team at Deloitte examined what makes work not feel like work,…
Roundup of Leadership Podcasts, Etc

Roundup of Leadership Podcasts, Etc

I’m fortunate to know some kickass authors, speakers, and thought leaders—the best of the best—many of whom host leadership podcasts…
5 Leadership Types: Which One Are You?

5 Leadership Types: Which One Are You?

You don’t need a title to be a leader, and you don’t need to head up a team to accomplish…
We Need to Talk About “Office Housework”

We Need to Talk About “Office Housework”

We need to talk about “office housework,” because women and minorities are doing more of it. What’s office housework? Some…
Connect Before You Collaborate

Connect Before You Collaborate

Connect before you collaborate. Listen before you lead. Partner before you persuade. Building relationships is not something that chitchatting slackers…
3 Ways to Attract Influential Career Advocates

3 Ways to Attract Influential Career Advocates

Sponsors are influential advocates who believe in you, see potential in you that’s unformed or untapped, and are willing to…
Mobilize Your Leadership Support Network

Mobilize Your Leadership Support Network

Deep personal relationships, not large superficial networks, are the foundation of leadership. Even if you’re a star performer, your progress…
Switching Focus from Mentorship to Sponsorship (Video)

Switching Focus from Mentorship to Sponsorship (Video)

A sponsor is an influential advocate who believes in you, sees potential in you that’s unformed or untapped, and is…
Choose Gigs That Feed Your Soul

Choose Gigs That Feed Your Soul

“You have one lifetime to live. Choose gigs that feed your soul.” — Sara Sperling When I first spoke to…
The Attention Span of a Goldfish (Video)

The Attention Span of a Goldfish (Video)

I can’t be the only one who’s struggling right now to be present, remain focused on what’s important to me,…
100 Leadership Qualities: Which Do You Recognize in Yourself?

100 Leadership Qualities: Which Do You Recognize in Yourself?

There’s an entire industry of books and seminars founded on the assumption that if you just learn the right set…
Don't Just Kick Open Doors...

Don't Just Kick Open Doors...

Roses are red. Violets are blue. Don’t just kick open doors. Hold them open and invite others others to step…
Are You Dreaming Big Enough?

Are You Dreaming Big Enough?

Pamela Stewart’s experience with audacious goal setting predates her professional career. Today, as senior vice president of national retail sales…
You Do You: Own Your Leadership Strengths

You Do You: Own Your Leadership Strengths

We are often so focused on trying to fix our weaknesses that we neglect to nurture our strengths. It’s time…
25 Songs For Your Leadership Playlist

25 Songs For Your Leadership Playlist

What are your all-time favorite leadership songs — the ones that make you feel fired up, unstoppable, and ready to…