Life + Leadership

     Being a people pleaser can be both innate and a choice. Innate tendencies can play a role in shaping our behavior and personality traits, including the desire to please others. However, whether or not we continue to be a people pleaser is also influenced by our life experiences and choices. This is something I have always struggled with in my personal and professional life. Ultimately, I know that it's important to find balance between meeting my own needs and desires while also considering the needs and desires of those around me.      From an early age I had a strong desire to meet the needs and expectations of others, even at the expense of my own needs and desires. I am not certain how it got started, however I became consciously aware by recognizing my fear of rejection or disapproval from others, especially those in a position of power such as my parents or a superior at work. I incorrectly conditioned myself early on in life that my worth and ...

Leadership is a crucial aspect of helping individuals achieve their best selves, and effective leadership requires numerous traits that instill confidence, clarity, engagement, and inspiration. While there are many leadership traits, five of them stand out as important top leadership qualities that any leader should possess to help others achieve their best selves.  One of the critical leadership traits necessary for helping others achieve their best selves is emotional intelligence. Effective leaders understand their emotions and those of their team members. Such leaders know how to communicate effectively, empathize with others, and handle conflicts positively. Possessing emotional intelligence enables leaders to connect with their teams on a personal level, improving motivation, and ultimately leading to higher performance. Another crucial aspect of leadership is effective communication. A good leader is an excellent communicator, able to communicate a vision or a message to...