Welcome to Misti's Insights
How to Get the Best Out of Annoying People
At the end of a recent podcast interview, the host asked, “What is the number one leadership principle you live by?” Without thinking, I said, people really are doing the best they can. I call it The Best Principle. As he repeated my words, I could sense that a part...
From Ineptitude to Initiative: Strategies for Building Psychological Safety
Have you ever wanted your team to take more initiative, be accountable, speak up, stay later, work harder, and produce better results? Are you tired of having to pick up the slack, and work harder to compensate for your team’s ineptitude? If so, you’re not alone....
Unexpected Adventures with a Bidet: Learning by Doing and Laughing Along the Way
Have you ever stumbled upon an unfamiliar contraption that sparked your curiosity? Well, I certainly found myself in that exact scenario when faced with the enigmatic bidet. "Well... that's an interesting toilet," I said to my new friend, who had invited me over to...
9 Strategies to Reach for When You’re Thrust Into a Difficult Conversation…
From comedians to the media to business leaders and politicians, I have heard these words spoken what seems like a zillion times. “Our nation is divided.” How many times have you heard, seen evidence of, or thought the same thing? It’s literally everywhere, from the...
A Simple Way To Improve Focus and Re-Energize Your Team
Imagine for a moment, if you will, that you trained for nine months to prepare for a marathon. Each day, you got up early, showed up with your running shoes on, and completed your run for the day. In order to keep your muscles strong, you also hit the weight room a...
Enjoy Trying And You Cannot Fail
This summer my wife, Yvette, and I decided to serve our passion for locally grown foods by volunteering for the Lewes farmers market in Delaware. After learning the ropes of the market, we were placed at the main entrance to serve as greeters. “Here,” Linda, the...
Beyond Transactional: The Power of Empathy in Leadership
Have you ever found yourself irritated with a service provider, or maybe even someone on your team, who isn’t quite prioritizing you (or their work) the way they should? I mean, you are paying them after all… they should want to do a good job, right? If they’re not...
The Courage to Connect: How Asking “Tell Me More About You” Can Change the World
Yesterday a simple sentence was delivered to my text message inbox that left me feeling connected, engaged, and empowered. Because of these words, I felt a sense of belonging and a deeper connection with the bright light that shines through all of us. These words may...
Today’s My Birthday: 9 Life-Changing Lessons for Building Stronger Relationships
Nearly a decade ago, I was hit with a phone call that felt like a hurricane in my life. It shattered my rose-colored glasses, leaving me with a tough decision to make - bury it, deny it, pretend it never happened or start the healing process. The call, and all that...
Mental Health Awareness Month: A Journey to Overcoming Mental Health Challenges
I will never forget the doctor who asked me, “Has it occurred to you that your family suffers from mental illness?” “No! No, sir, it did not, and please don’t say that again,” I wanted to respond, embarrassed and ashamed by that truth. At the time, I preferred to...
From Ineptitude to Initiative: Strategies for Building Psychological Safety
Have you ever wanted your team to take more initiative, be accountable, speak up, stay later, work harder, and produce better results? Are you tired of having to pick up the slack, and work harder to compensate for your team’s ineptitude? If so, you’re not alone....
Make Sure Negotiations Are Fair
Have you ever sat in front of your computer, trying to gather the courage to send the email detailing your fees (or salary requirements)? Why is that? Why do we hem and haw, fearing the worst— That they won’t pick you because your fee (salary requirements) is too...
Pulsing Possibility of Enduring Love
Giving ourselves fully to each moment and the people we share it with is a precious gift that we can offer to ourselves and others. Whether at work, home, or in our communities, being present and authentic allows us to connect with others on a deeper level....
Embracing Authenticity To Create Psychological Safety, A Conversation With A Fifteen-Year-Old
Sitting on the bed next to Treni, a friend's 15-year-old, I was struck by the intensity of her anxiety. As we sat there in her pitch-black room, Treni kept one hand over her face as she talked. “What’s up?,” Treni, I asked, “Why are you hanging out in a dark room all...
How to Respond When Someone Tells You That You Hurt Them
“Please remind me… how did we first meet?” I asked Heather, a woman I had become friendly with via social media. Sitting across a cloth-covered table, with the ocean a hundred yards to my left, I expected to hear that we knew each other through social media. Her...
Salt and Wounds: The Blessings in the Burn
“If someone throws salt at you, and you don’t have any open wounds, it won’t hurt,” a friend shared, after hearing about a situation that was upsetting for me. A few days later, my wife, Yvette, got bit on the thumb by one of our cats while trying to get her into the...
Stop Quitting On Yourself, Please
A few weeks ago, I was hanging out in the kitchen with my friend, Kate, and her two children. When I asked her what the best part of her day had been, she said, “My coffee.” It wasn’t the first time Kate referred to coffee as the best part of her day. Concerned, I...
What To Do When January Passes and You Haven’t Made Progress on Your Goals
As I sit here, thinking about the peeling back of the calendar, I feel antsy — like there’s something I need to do and quickly, to ensure that I get to the end of the year feeling accomplished. Fear is strong. Can you relate? Here’s what the fears sound like right...