Professional Development

Being a good leader doesn’t mean you have to be the loudest person in the room. If you know that you’re an introvert, then you probably feel like you’re always fighting to get a word in edgewise during every busy, noisy gathering. You may also find it difficult to offer your own ideas in meetings, feel drained after talking with others, or struggle to connect with your team. If that’s you, then yes, you are by definition an introvert. People like you do well when it comes to listening and thoughtful communication, which makes you more likely to be good at building trust and understanding with others. Those are the makings of a good team leader right there. With the right kind of communication coaching, you can learn how to use your natural strengths to lead effectively. Whether your dream is to manage a project, run a club, or lead a small church group, there are some great professional communication tips you can use to become the leader you’re meant to be. What is Communication Coaching? Some people think communication coaching is only for those who struggle to speak in front of others. But it’s much more than that and is a great backing for anyone who wants to improve how they connect with others. It covers all kinds of communication, from speaking clearly to reading body language or just managing tough conversations. It’s also not just for people with big jobs either, but students, job seekers, and anyone looking to build better social skills is able to learn a lot from coaching. Introverts sometimes feel they aren’t fit to be leaders because they’re not as talkative or outgoing as extroverts. Yet, it is your nature, with calm and thoughtful approaches to everything you do, that builds respect and [...]

I now stop feeling guilty. I let myself out of that prison. – Louise Hay We have all experienced feeling guilty. You know, that familiar sinking feeling we have when we have failed to achieve something or when we feel like we have let someone down. Failing at something we have invested our time, energy, or money in is painful and can be a source of guilt if we do not understand why we fail or how to react. In this article, we will talk more about this overwhelmingly powerful emotion, how it affects your mental health, and what we can do to overcome it appropriately. Is feeling guilty ever good for us? It’s normal to regret. In fact, the feeling of contriteness is a necessary emotion and is thought to be the one emotion that sets us humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. If we could not feel remorse at all, we would be as dangerous and out of control as any other wild animal in the jungle. Feeling guilty can be a good thing in human society because: It causes us to regulate our behavior and helps us to have remorse and take responsibility for our actions. It keeps us in line with what is morally acceptable to create harmony with others, which makes us improve our behavior. It indicates that what we are working on is important to us. It helps us recognize when we have wronged someone else and encourages us to make amends in our relationships. That said, there is a darker and more harmful side to guilt that most of us may not even be aware of. If left unchecked, guilt can become excessive, all-consuming, and irrational and lead to other debilitating anxiety disorders. Feeling guilty can cause our minds [...]