INSIGHTS

Dedicating time to deliver performance reviews is a critical part of the end of year process. It is important to have only one agenda item for this one-on-one discussion… the individual and their performance. I tend to do most of the listening, allowing time for them to summarize the year and revel in their accomplishments. I start the discussion by asking the person to describe their biggest accomplishment. I often have a good idea about what they will say, but I can also be

Being invited to join The Healthy Enterprise Podcast was both exciting and humbling. In the episode, I spoke with Heath about my career path—from my early days in the pharmaceutical industry to my current work as an executive coach and consultant. What struck me most was how naturally the conversation flowed into themes that are deeply personal to me: the importance of listening, the courage to face imposter syndrome, and the transformative impact of a growth mindset . Key T

Writing thoughtful end of year evaluations is important. As a team manager, I had the opportunity to write many reviews and dedicated accouple hours to each one. Why? It is an important way to memorialize the year, recognizing the accomplishments of each team member. It’s how I ensured they knew I knew what they accomplished and how they had impact on our team and the company more broadly. Reminiscing about the year, the FULL year, provides an opportunity to reflect on how th

It’s end of year evaluations time. As you reflect on your accomplishments, what are you most proud of? What did you do to move your goals and the goals of your company forward? My guess is the list is long and meaningful. Don’t mistake this opportunity as a task that must be done, rather consider it a way to tell leadership the story of your year. Invest time in memorializing your accomplishments. This is particularly important when you work remotely as your impact is not as

This Thanksgiving, I’m pausing to reflect on the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to walk alongside—clients, colleagues, mentors, and friends who continue to inspire me with their courage, curiosity, and commitment to meaningful work. Whether we’ve partnered on building Medical Affairs teams, navigated career transitions, or explored new ways to lead with clarity and compassion through coaching or mentoring, thank you. Your trust fuels my purpose. I named my business

The book Supercommunicators: How Body Language, Situations, and Tone of Voice Create Meaning by Charles Duhigg is a great read with loads of practical applications for daily interactions. It brings up many important concepts about communication including how to adjust your responses according to the needs of the individual at that moment. It’s like “reading the room” but on the individual level and for the specific conversation at hand. Sometimes we may feel compelled to jump

As I mentioned last week, I am leading the Scientific Exchange competency team under the Medical Governance & Compliance Domain as a volunteer with Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS) . The topic of compliance when collaborating with commercial in the pre-approval setting is one of interest based on feedback received. We know it’s important. We want to do it right. We recognize each company does it a little differently. In advance of product approval, collaboration b

I had the opportunity to watch an artisan creating a silk rug during my recent trip to Istanbul. The pattern was intricate, and she moved skillfully. With years of practice, her fingers moved quickly doing a ballet to music with which I was unfamiliar. How does this reflect your conversations with KOLs? Are you able to skillfully navigate the conversation the way the woman navigated the complex pattern of the rug? Are you able to swiftly switch gears when a new topic is po

I had the opportunity to watch an artist put together a mosaic for a pendant. The diameter was only about an inch, so you can imagine that each piece of stone contributing to the mosaic was very small. Each stone fits together to make a unique design and, ultimately, a spectacular piece of jewelry. As I watched him work, it made me think about the importance of each piece and the role it was playing in the design, similar to the impact of each individual on a team. Everyone b

That is the question. ...OK, so it’s not exactly Shakespeare, but it is something to think about. I’ve been a mentor for years, including through the Medical Science Liaison Society mentoring program, where I have had the opportunity to not only mentor MSLs but also new MSL leaders. I find this investment very rewarding. It’s a fun walk down memory lane listening to a new MSL excited to have secured a role in pharma after months (or years) of pursuit, or a new manager who ha

Why do you look tall on Zoom? was a question posed to me after my recent post. I’ve been mulling that over while watching the comments with my favorite being from Lisa Clark that I have a “tall spirit”. Perhaps that is the case, and I’ll take the compliment, but I think it’s a bit simpler. I place my camera so that it faces me straight on (not from below or above) and ensure it is positioned so head is pretty close to the top of the screen. I do by raising my desk and using

I hosted a workshop on crafting meaningful personal development plans at the Medical Science Liaison Society 's 13th Annual Meeting last week. My content was directed to leaders who would be working with members of their teams as they consider their areas for development, and it was on the MSL Leadership track of the conference. Low and behold when I started my presentation and “read the room”, it was clear the bulk of my audience wasn’t the team leaders I was expecting, but

I was made to feel very appreciated in the last couple weeks and it felt amazing. I felt it viscerally… I smiled a bit more frequently, stood a bit taller, and shared what was said to me with a close friend and when doing so, couldn’t help but have a big smile on my face. I’m not sure why this feedback felt so sincere, but it did and that made a real difference in the impact it had on me. Perhaps because it was out of the blue and by a couple different people with whom I resp

“You’re taller on Zoom” was something I heard last week when I had the opportunity to meet participants from the Harvard Medical School...

Fleetwood Mac told us they were afraid of changin’ back in 1975 but also said that “time makes you bolder.” Perhaps we need to be bold...

I’ve posted about the mindsets outlined in Carol Dweck, PhD’s book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” The person who embraces a...

A company’s culture impacts everyone in the organization and has many layers. It determines what is and is not acceptable at work and...

Asking the right questions to understand the deeper meaning of a response is important. Consider this analogy shared by David Macarios ...

When you consider your capabilities and attributes, what sets you apart from your peers? Consider this not only from your perspective but...

When you regale your family about the work you’ve done in your career 20 years from now, what will you be sharing? What meaningful impact...