Solving for Time
Posted On October 8, 2024 BY Dean Brenner
My colleagues and I are always making the case for stronger communication skills. And if we are going to make that case, then we also have to make the case for better preparation. And if we are going to make that case, then we also need to create some time in our work lives to […]
Managing the Ego in the Workplace
Posted On September 24, 2024 BY Dean Brenner
My wife Emily and I have recently been going through some old files in our basement, clearing some stuff out and making some much-needed room in an already-crowded basement. And whenever one starts opening boxes from long ago, two things always seem to happen. You find some stuff, and wonder “why did I ever keep that?” And […]
Fixing Feedback
Posted On September 19, 2024 BY Jay Prewitt, EdD
“Would you like to turn on tracking to allow us to gather personal information to improve the experience?” After downloading a new operating system, app, or device, we have all pondered this question. This question often creates antipathy or anger, curiosity at best. But it is an important question. Direct, honest, raw feedback is needed […]
A Story About Sourdough Bread (Sort of…)
Posted On September 11, 2024 BY Lauren St. Germain
This post was written by Lauren St. Germain, Facilitator and Coach for The Latimer Group. I am an “at home sourdough bread baker”. And to know me is to know that I love talking about bread just as much as I love baking and eating it. Think of me as your new “bread obsessed” friend. I started […]
On Leadership, Parenting and The Importance of Principles
Posted On September 10, 2024 BY Dean Brenner
My wife and I were recently organizing a box of keepsakes we have been collecting over the last few years: birth announcements, report cards, art class masterpieces… you get the idea. And in that box, we found a note we had written to ourselves, where we had laid out our intended “principles of parenting.” We […]
Your Garden is Never Complete… Neither is Your Team
Posted On August 27, 2024 BY Dean Brenner
I love to garden. And I love being part of a team. So let’s connect those two topics today. Every skilled gardener knows that building a healthy and successful garden requires planning, effort and maintenance. You need to understand the environment for your would-be garden… sun, soil and water are the big variables. You need […]
How to Recognize and Manage “Listening Bias”
Posted On August 22, 2024 BY Dean Brenner
We post frequently on this blog about listening skills. Listening is of critical importance to your ability to persuade, sell, lead, follow… everything in the work place. But here is an important question for you to think about. How well do you listen to people you don’t like? We all come in contact with people […]
Are You Ready and Able to Translate?
Posted On August 13, 2024 BY Dean Brenner
Checking in from vacation with my family… Our son had a friend with us for a few days. And amidst all of the typical summertime outdoor activities, they asked for (and received) permission for some daily screen time. The two boys are both avid fans of Minecraft, a digital world I know precious little about. […]
Sand Castles and Power Dynamics
Posted On August 6, 2024 BY Dean Brenner
Greetings from vacation with my family! I was thinking about power dynamics yesterday, as I watched my fourteen year old son and my nine year old daughter interact while building a sand castle on the beach. They get along great, but on some days it is an uneasy alliance. They are 5.5 years apart in […]
What Are Your Coffee Beans?
Posted On July 18, 2024 BY Jay Prewitt, EdD
This post was written by Jay Prewitt, Director of Coaching and Facilitation at The Latimer Group. In my workshops and coaching sessions, I often ask, “What are your coffee beans?” This metaphor represents the mindfulness practices that help you stay present and focused, even when it’s tough. At The Latimer Group, we recognize that everyone has too […]