slowing down

communication mistakes

8 Common Communication Mistakes Leaders Make

By Melissa Eisler |

There are dozens of communication mistakes leaders make, particularly when they need to communicate something tricky like behavioral feedback or ideas for improvement. Let’s take a look at the most common mistakes leaders make in communication, so that we can learn from them and avoid the common pitfalls.

Read More
routine reflection

Routine Reflection as a Leadership Development Tool

By Melissa Eisler |

Self-awareness is the foundation for growing as a leader. Building a self-reflection plan is one way to not only develop greater self-awareness, but also to help you focus on the aspects of your leadership you need to grow, based on your unique goals. Keep reading to learn about a framework and example plan for routine reflection.

Read More
Goal-setting exercise

Goal-Setting Exercise: Reflect and Plan for Next Year’s Success

By Melissa Eisler |

At the end of each year, I always take some time to reflect on the past year and design what I want the next year to look like. In this article, I outline the steps I take for my goal-setting exercise, and how you can use the same steps to set yourself up for a successful year ahead.

Read More
Strategic boundaries

How to Create Healthy and Strategic Boundaries

By Melissa Eisler |

We all have the same 24 hours in each day. You must use your time wisely – in a way that meets your strategic initiatives at work and your personal goals simultaneously. Creating and communicating strategic boundaries is the best way to focus your time and resources on high-impact, mission-critical efforts and activities.

Read More
self-awareness

10 Steps to Develop Self-Awareness – the Most Critical Leadership Competency

By Melissa Eisler |

Self-awareness is the cornerstone to strong leadership. If you are a leader, you must be aware of where you fall short if you are to close the gap between where you are and where your organization needs you to be. Because you cannot fix a problem you are unaware of, you have to be proactive about discovering your blind spots. Here are 10 ways to gain a more complete picture of who you are as a leader.

Read More
active-listening

Active Listening: 12 Levels to Enhance Your Listening Skills

By Melissa Eisler |

When most people are listening, their minds are elsewhere. By contrast, active listening is when you place all of your focus on the speaker – paying attention at 12 distinct levels. Find out what they are and how to practice them – to establish trust in your relationships, build psychological safety on your teams, and deepen your connections both personally and professionally.

Read More
slow-down-to-speed-up

A Strategic Leadership Paradox: Slow Down to Speed Up

By Melissa Eisler |

Moving too fast can cause errors, self-centeredness, misunderstandings, lack of innovation and strategic thinking, chaos, and so much more. Yet … it is what we do all the time. Here are six slow-down strategies for fast movers that will leave you more productive and engaged.

Read More

Building a Better 2021: Goal-Setting for Uncertain Times

By Melissa Eisler |

If 2020 taught us one thing, it is to slow down and focus on what matters most. Before setting any New Year’s resolutions, goals, or intentions, take some time to reflect on lessons learned from 2020, and use them to plan your year ahead.

Read More

5 Exercises to Improve Your Conscious Listening

By Melissa Eisler |

The simple act of listening – real, conscious, active listening without judgment or advice-giving – can be life changing. Yet most people only retain 25% of what they hear. Learn how to practice conscious listening to connect better with those around you.

Read More

19 New Year’s Resolutions to Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet

By Melissa Eisler |

Whether you want to lower your stress, lose weight, get healthier, or improve your mood, relationships, finances, or career, consider making one of these New Year’s resolutions to make a meaningful difference in your life this year.

Read More

7 Strategies to Build Your Patience Muscles

By Melissa Eisler |

While the thought of waiting for something you want or need seems easy in theory, it is much more arduous in practice. The good news is that for even the most impatient people, patience becomes easier with practice. Here are seven strategies you can use to get better at being patient.

Read More

Respond Vs. React: How to Keep Your Cool in Times of Stress

By Melissa Eisler |

Would you rather be the type of person who creates ease or stress around you? Follow this trick to help you respond vs. react in stressful situations and in moments where you’re triggered – so you can invite a healthier outcome for everyone involved.

Read More

6 Behaviors That Stress You Out, and What to Do Instead

By Melissa Eisler |

Once you’ve identified your unhealthy habits, how do you disconnect from them? Behavior change can be tricky. Learn about six of the most common behaviors that cause stress, and find out what to do when you catch yourself in the act.

Read More

How to Ease the Stress of Change

By Melissa Eisler |

Why is change so scary? If you’re feeling beaten down in the battle of change and uncertainty, arm yourself with these strategies to train your brain to manage change in a healthy way.

Read More

Informal Mindfulness: An Everyday Approach to Be More Present

By Melissa Eisler |

With meditation and mindfulness practiced nowadays by CEOs, surgeons, and high-achievers everywhere, it is easy to take the practice too seriously. Truthfully, mindfulness in practice can be very simple. Learn ways to practice informal mindfulness to help you find greater creativity, productivity, and focus in your life.

Read More

Quiz: How Burned Out Are You?

By Melissa Eisler |

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, but don’t know how to end the cycle of stress, you may be burned out. Take this mini quiz to find out where you are on the burnout scale – and get some ideas for what you can do about it to help you find more balance.

Read More

Podcast Pick: Can Slowing Down Make You More Creative?

By Melissa Eisler |

Psychologist Adam Grant says slowing down — even procrastinating — can incite more creativity and original thinking. Check out his fascinating and hilarious story as he put his Type A personality to the test of procrastination and reveals how this “slowing down” works so well.

Read More

Join the monthly newsletter!

If you’re an executive, leader, or entrepreneur, you’ll love our monthly newsletters.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Melissa is the founder and principal executive coach at Wide Lens Leadership. As an ICF Certified Executive Coach with a Master's degree in organizational leadership, Melissa has coached hundreds of leaders ranging from C-suite to entrepreneur, from Fortune 500 companies to startups, and across diverse industries. She is passionate about supporting leaders and teams on their growth journeys toward greater impact, more collaborative teams, and stronger results.

Join my monthly newsletter!

If you’re an executive, leader, or entrepreneur, you’ll love the monthly newsletters — featuring tips and reflections on leadership development and stress management in the modern world. Join the 5,000+ leaders who have it delivered straight to their inbox each month.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.