Mirror Mirror Strategies

There are so many things that I and my team are incredibly thankful for this year: our clients, colleagues, network and more! We could not do all the work that we do at Mirror Mirror Strategies without the support from our circle. I hope everyone celebrating has a lovely Thanksgiving! 🦃 #gratitude #thanksgiving #thankful #HappyHolidays

Whenever you take a new leadership position, regardless of how long you’ve been a leader, it is easy to fall into some common negative habits. This article by David Lancefield, dives into the four common traps leaders can fall into. And most importantly, gives actionable tips on what a leader can do instead. While this article is a tad long, the information shared is worth the read. Our #1 recommendation for new leaders: You must slow down and assess what really matters. Moving at lightspeed will only burn you and your team out. There is a saying… "Nobody has time to do it right, but everybody makes time to do it over". With leadership, sometimes we don’t get a do-over. Pause, reflect, then respond vs just reacting! #leadership #traps #followership #HBR #MirrorMirrorStrategies https://lnkd.in/g8WBQ3mE

This short read from Forbes really sparked the team’s interest this week! To briefly summarize, they were seeking to answer the question “Are parents better leaders?” Spoiler Alert: the answer is no…not automatically. BUT the question does raise an important point about leadership – that empathy and understanding will always make you a better leader. People don’t need you to be a parent yourself, but they do need you to be able to understand that sometimes “parenting” must come first. Remember though, balance is key! If you lead a team, there will likely be a mix of people with and without children, and everyone should be treated equitably. What do you do to make sure everyone feels they are seen and understood at work? #Forbes #leadership #parenthood #empathy #understanding #MirrorMirrorStrategies https://lnkd.in/g6Z9iUHy

Like many organizations, you may be finding that “employee wellbeing” is becoming a top priority. But how do you address it? This article from Harvard has six great tips to get you started. Essentially, they boil down to creating psychological safety in the workplace. When we feel safe to talk about what we’re struggling with, or give feedback in a productive way, we’re much less likely to burnout. Treating people at work as a whole person, with hobbies, responsibilities, and hardships beyond their 8-hour workday, creates an environment where everyone feels supported and seen. Creating space for the ebb and flow of how those things affect work is key to keeping burnout at bay. Addressing workplace culture is also a great way to combat imposter syndrome. Our CEO, Teresa Sande, frequently discusses how important it is to foster belonging and inclusion in the workplace, as it helps those experiencing imposter syndrome feel less out of place or like they are a fraud. What is one way you are creating psychological safety at your workplace? #EmployeeWellbeing #TipsAndTricks #PsychologicalSafety #WorkLifeBalance #leadership #MirrorMirrorStrategies https://lnkd.in/eubqYy6u

This was such an interesting article on the connection between the resistance to change and the need for belonging at work. Teresa Sande, our CEO, often discusses the importance of belonging through her book, Find Your Fierce. This is key for diverse teams to work well together. It’s something we help our clients strive for. However, according to this article, in the context of change management, “belonging” refers to our basic survival instincts. And because change can make us feel less stable, we shy away from change or resist it. The solution? Harness the power of belonging. Help people by shifting the conversation from “this change means I no longer belong” to “this change means I get to belong to something new.” #ChangeManagement #belonging #success #HBR #MirrorMirrorStrategies https://lnkd.in/gKqp-rTi

When discussing leadership styles and theories, it can feel like they are written in the sterile vacuum of research and it’s hard to imagine how it will work in the real world. Regardless of your sports team allegiance, this article by football legend Tom Brady and leadership researcher and practitioner Nitin Nohria, felt refreshing in its approach to defining the elusive role of “leader”. Together they boil it down to 7 traits of leadership. And while they are all from the perspective of a leader in professional sports, they can 100% be applied to any kind of team. One quote particularly stood out, “trust usually comes from deeply caring about one another”.  In our work at Mirror Mirror Strategies, we often discuss the importance of trust. As consultants, our clients need to trust that we are experts in our field and that we want a positive outcome for them through our work together. And one of the easiest ways we can show they can trust us is by showing how much we genuinely care. This can take several forms. Sometimes we show we care through our willingness to be flexible. Other times it’s through taking the time to understand our client’s work landscape or industry. We want to learn about THEM not only the problem we’re there to solve. And at times, we show we care by pushing back (respectfully), holding up the mirror, and driving accountability to achieving the stated goal together. Leaders of teams must do the same things to build trust within their team(s). What are some strategies you use to build trust? #TomBrady #leadership #leaders #HBR #consulting #trust #MirrorMirrorStrategies https://lnkd.in/giVsy2ws

Ever heard of “carewashing”? We recently found this article from the Harvard Business Review which breaks it down extremely well. We have shared it with a few clients and the light bulbs have been popping off! Essentially, carewashing is when organizations say to employees that they care about their mental and physical health. And, they likely do. They may even sponsor things like mindfulness or yoga classes. However, they fall short in addressing the real cultural issues that are the root cause to creating an unhealthy work environment. Things like excessive work hours, interrupting vacations, expecting heroics to meet deadlines, and not providing appropriate resources are just a few. The longer the mismatch between what leadership is saying and what they are doing goes one, the more disengaged people become. So, how does carewashing happen? · Ill-equipped leaders · Misalignment across leadership teams · Ignoring the tough competing priorities and tensions that exist in today’s business environment · Lack of follow-through · Self-interest – Leaders may prioritize reputation over addressing issues Is your organization struggling with employee satisfaction this year? Do people seem less motivated than last year, or the year prior? You might be experiencing the misalignment that can come from carewashing. Now, this is likely not the cause of all strife, but it’s worth investigating. The article gives 4 recommendations for addressing the issue: · Be who you say you are · Ask and be prepared to really listen · Align leadership criteria with organizational values · Be a self-aware leader On our team, one way we ensure we aren’t carewashing is following through on our work flexibility policies. We’re a remote team, and it’s always allowed for a team member to work somewhere other than their “home base”. Essentially, we make sure we are walking the talk when it comes to flexible work. If you do some investigation and find that carewashing is something your organization is struggling with, we recommend finding a trusted partner to help you address the issue and make change. Mirror Mirror Strategies has a lot of experience addressing these kinds of issues and can see solutions that internal leadership might miss. It doesn’t mean your leadership is bad, it simply means that you are too close to a problem and may have a hard time seeing it. However you choose to address it, make sure you are engaging your entire organization in the solution and following through! #carewashing #HarvardBusinessReview #problemsolving #flexiblework #engagement #MirrorMirrorStrategies https://lnkd.in/eaHZgb8x

Earlier today our CEO, Teresa, kicked off National Be A Good Teammate Day with some lovely compliments! Alix and I (Lily) want to make sure Teresa knows just how much we appreciate her too! Teresa - as our vision keeper, you keep our attention towards where we want to go, rather than get stuck on how to get there. You inspire us to think creatively, not only on solutions for our clients, but for our own futures as well. Good leadership can be hard to come by, and we're lucky to be able to follow you! THANK YOU! If you haven't already, today's the perfect opportunity to tell your team member(s) that you appreciate them! #NationalBeAGoodTeammateDay #compliments #appreciation #colleagues #recognition #MirrorMirrorStrategies

Happy Fourth of July! Enjoy some time outside with loved ones and good food! #FourthOfJuly #TimeOff #IndependenceDay #MirrorMirrorStrategies

Take a minute and reflect: How courageous have you been in your professional life this year? In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, it can feel next to impossible to lean in and take risks. So, what do we do about it? First, take a few minutes this week to read this Forbes article. It’s a great primer on the subject of professional courage. Next, we recommend taking at least 30 minutes next week to write out a list of things you’ve wanted to take risks on in your career but haven’t. Pick one. Then write down the actionable steps needed to take that risk. It does not need to be the biggest, flashiest, option on your list. In fact, we recommend you don’t do that one just yet. Now for the most important part: Take that first action item and do it. Just do it! Left foot in front of the right foot. That’s how anyone ever finishes a marathon. Break big actions down into small manageable actions. It might make your palms sweat and your heart race. That’s ok. The most important thing is that you get yourself in action towards what you want and where you want to be more courageous. Go forth and have courage! #courage #professionalcourage #bebrave #takerisks #Forbes #MirrorMirrorStrategies https://lnkd.in/gAw2u-rV