Posts by Frances Shuster, PCC, M. Ed.
Looping for Understanding
In today’s contentious and often polarizing dynamic, we search for effective ways to connect and understand others with whom we disagree.
Read MoreThe Importance of Connection
We experience the importance of connection daily—with our significant others, with our families, our friends, our colleagues, our communities, and with those we may encounter rarely or even only once. How do we invite others in? How do we show others we want to connect? We know that we pay attention to body language, facial…
Read MoreIlluminator or Diminisher?
David Brooks, in his new book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, makes a distinction between Diminishers and Illuminators. “Diminishers make people feel small and unseen. Illuminators have a persistent curiosity about other people and have trained themselves in the craft of understanding others. They shine…
Read MoreGetting in Touch with All Three Brains
You may be curious, feel connection, or have a gut reaction (head, heart, gut) to the idea of three distinct brains. You may find confirmation that things you have experienced or sensed intuitively have a biological basis. Each brain has a biological role. The Heart Brain operates on the principles of empathy and connection, constantly…
Read MoreFebruary—a Lovely Month
Hearts are everywhere! We may think first of romantic love based on what we are seeing in marketing and sales efforts that began right after the new year. This brief article is an invitation for you to think more deeply about how your heart is speaking to you—and how you are speaking to another’s heart.…
Read MoreVertical Coaching
What is vertical coaching? In Coach the Person, Not the Problem, Marcia Reynolds describes vertical coaching as transformational. She defines horizontal coaching as transactional. What is the difference? Transactional coaching stays at the tip of the iceberg, focusing only on results or behaviors. It is about the client deciding what to do or not do…
Read MorePsychological Safety, Part 2
William Kahn describes psychological safety as “being able to show and employ one’s self without fear of negative consequences of self-image, status or career.” Psychological Conditions of Personal Engagement and Disengagement at Work. In the previous post, the first two stages of psychological safety were discussed — Inclusion Safety and Learner Safety. The next stages…
Read MorePsychological Safety
Timothy R. Clark, in his book The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety, defines psychological safety as a condition in which you feel (1) included, (2) safe to learn, (3) safe to contribute, and (4) safe to challenge the status quo—all without fear of being embarrassed, marginalized, or punished in some way. Clark states that psychological…
Read MoreThe Upside of Uncertainty
As I continue my exploration of uncertainty, I discovered a new book—hot off the press—entitled The Upside of Uncertainty. I am intrigued with this idea, as we have recently experienced a great deal of uncertainty and continue to do so. The authors, Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr offer up uncertainty as a space for creating…
Read MoreAll Times are Uncertain
As I was searching my bookshelf for something inspirational to read during these continuing times of change and uncertainty, my eyes fell on a book I purchased several years ago and—as several other of my books—had remained on my shelf untouched. The title of the book, Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change, by Pema Chodron,…
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