Rachel Cooke is a leadership and workplace expert who holds her M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Founder of Lead Above Noise, she has been named a top 100 Leadership Speaker by Inc. Magazine and has been featured in Fast Company, The Huffington Post, and many more.
Meetings, one of the most criticized elements of the workplace, are often vilified for hindering productivity rather than promoting it. According to the Wall Street Journal, we spend an average of two full days per week in meetings. However, meetings should serve your ability to deliver excellent work, not hinder it. They should feel like a platform from which you deliver something important, not merely a drain of your time. Here are some strategies to improve your meeting experience and amp up your impact. 1. Attend only relevant meetings The issue begins when people accept every meeting invite that hits…
In the busy world of business, communication is the key that unlocks many doors. This article will provide insights into the importance of communication, especially given an example from a global CEO’s recent decision to lay off employees in the middle of celebrating a company-wide success. The Memo: a mix of triumph and termination This CEO, amid the rejoice of record-breaking success, sent out an employee memo. Necessity might say layoffs, but this well-drafted note announcing nightmare job losses was undoubtedly a case study in how not to communicate better at work. Between the perfectly framed professional sentences, the memo was a…
How to improve communication at work with tense teams In my role, I spend a lot of my time running Pulse Checks—engaging in open and honest conversations with teams about what they most need to deliver, develop, connect, and thrive. Having difficult conversations at work is hard, and you need to be fully activated to make progress. One of my favorite things about running Pulse Checks is seeing the leader’s face when I share the results and recommendations back with them. Almost always, they’re bracing for recommendations that will cost millions and take months to implement. Also, almost always, they’re…
Introduction As we continue in the new year, the allure of a fresh start and the pursuit of success beckon us. The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions, however, often falls victim to a barrage of “shoulds.” In this article, we break away from the conventional resolution mindset and invite you to focus on what truly matters—your aspirations and defining success on your terms. Reflecting on 2023 The past year has been intense, with many of us caught up in a whirlwind of busyness and multitasking. Amidst the chaos, it’s easy to lose sight of our true pursuits. Modern Mentor…
Introduction: A Timeless Practice for Reflection We’re posting this at the end of 2023. And my goal today is to share one of my favorite year-end practices – Creating a personal highlight reel. Timeless Reflection: Beyond Year-End But frankly, I think this practice suits at the end of a quarter or even a month. So don’t sweat if you’re listening to this smack in the middle of a year. It’s an exercise that never goes out of fashion. The Power of Your Mental Montage Cinematic Inspiration for Workplace Reflection So, let’s chat about this highlight reel. It’s kind of like…
Know how many Google search results there are for the phrase “manage burnout?” Over 39 million! It seems the struggle is still so real for so many. Luckily, there’s no shortage of tips on how to manage your own burnout at work. But what if yours is feeling managed…and now it seems your boss may be the one who’s struggling? Like second-hand smoke, your boss’s burnout may still present risks to your own sense of wellbeing. If you suspect your boss may be suffering from burnout (and you, in turn, are feeling the pain) then let’s talk about what you…
I’ve been fortunate in recent weeks to take some amazing time off. I traveled with my family, saw new parts of the world, rested deeply, and I’m feeling super recharged. Before we headed out, I knew how badly I needed a break. But candidly—given I’m my own boss—I have no one to blame but myself for the toll I let these last few months take. Is Everyone Overwhelmed at Work? Now, in this state of refresh and recharge, I’m noting how many people around me (some aware and some not so aware) seem equally overwhelmed. Overworked, overburdened, and kind of afraid…
I really do think one of the best ways to enhance the employee experience and your workplace is to ensure we’re also prioritizing life experiences—the good stuff that happens outside of work—and letting those moments really inform and inspire us. And I had the amazing fortune recently, speaking of incredible experiences, of seeing Taylor Swift live. All the eras. And it truly was unforgettable. She’s a tremendous performer. Kind of stays with you for days. And I’ve been noticing my brain has started thinking about my work through the lens—and the wisdom—of her songs. Today, I’d love to share some…
I’m excited to share with you a conversation I had recently with leadership and coaching expert Michael Bungay Stanier. Michael Bungay Stanier helps people be a force for change. He’s best known for his book The Coaching Habit which has sold close to a million copies and has thousands of 5-star reviews online. His last book The Advice Trap focuses on what it takes to tame your Advice Monster. And his latest book, How to Work With (Almost) Anyone is hitting shelves right about now. Michael was a Rhodes Scholar and plays the ukulele badly [his words, not mine!]. Hear…
Construct a Thriving Employee Experience I use a framework to help companies understand the employee experience. It’s got these four pillars you may have heard me yammer on about before but at its core, it’s about creating the conditions in which our teams can deliver, develop, connect, and thrive. What’s been so interesting to me over the last few years is how the lens of these pillars has helped me make sense of what’s been happening in the world of work. Like early in 2020 when the corporate world went remote overnight, companies, understandably, were focused on that “Deliver” pillar.…