Neal Anderson

It’s with great excitement I get to announce the opening of CARTO Counseling this fall!

Ash is a licensed professional counselor, returning to her therapist chair after spending a season at home with our young boys.

Since our first coffee shared together on Rush Street in downtown Chicago 20 years ago, we have dreamed of working together.

While our work is distinct from one another in certain ways, CARTO Leadership & Counseling is going to be a beautiful partnership and company.

More to come!

What is the cure for burnout?

CARTO Leadership contributor J.E. DeGraaf highlights these 12 steps to proactively prevent burnout:

1. Increasing/maintaining job control
2. Increasing/maintaining supervisor social support
3. Increasing/maintaining coworker social support
4. Seeking feedback
5. Seeking/performing tasks that energize
6. Reducing hindering job demands
7. Increasing/maintaining home autonomy
8. Increasing/maintaining home social support
9. Reducing work-home conflict
10. Improving/maintaining physical health
11. Improving/maintaining psychological wellbeing
12. Engaging in relaxing activities

Check out the whole article in the January edition of the Guidepost 👊

CARTO Leadership Navigate your potential.

A year ago today, I launched CARTO Leadership!

I love the opportunity I’ve had to see leaders grow, thrive, and flourish.

My vision for CARTO is growing, and I can’t wait to share with you what’s coming in year 2.

Thank you to…

- The incredible clients I’ve worked with across so many diverse industries

- My launch team (The First 50)

- All my fellow leadership development professionals working to serve and improve how leaders grow

To another year with CARTO! Navigate your potential.

Ps. Join me over on LinkedIn where all the daily action with CARTO happens 👊🏼

Proud dad brag- my preschooler, Merritt, got the Leader of the Month award today 🤩

The monthly award is given to a student in the class who exemplifies one of the 7 habits of the Leader in Me program.

I decided to interview Merritt to learn a little bit more about this experience.
--
Me: What’s your favorite habit?

Merritt: Synergize!

Me: Why?

Merritt: Because you get to work and play with other people :)

Me: What’s the hardest habit?

Merritt: None of them are hard.

Me: What habit do you need to work on?

Merritt: Put first things first.
--
I love seeing how even a 5 year old can benefit from the basic leadership principles of the 7 habits.

Can you name all 7 habits? What’s your favorite?

Hard conversation butterflies? Yesterday was one of those days. I had to have several hard conversations.

I woke up with that feeling in my stomach, anxious about what was coming.

I used to think that feeling revealed a weakness or insecurity in my leadership, an inability to handle the tough conversation. Over the years, I've learned, if I'm operating out of health, the feeling is an indicator of the weight of the conversation.

Feeling the weight is a good thing, not something to shed.

If you have a hard conversation coming up, here are a few things I try to keep in mind during mine:

1) Get to it. Don't waste time upfront with weather chit-chat and sports recaps. State the main purpose of the conversation clearly, within the first 30-45 seconds.

2) As Brene Brown says, "Clarity is kind." Say it in a way a 2nd grader could understand.

3) Don't over-talk. This is usually an indicator that I'm over-managing possible reactions or feelings. I've been down this road, and it's the fastest way to an uncomfortable and weird conversation.

4) Be human. Feel. Connect. Engage. Stoicism is not a virtue. Gentleness, patience, and kindness are.

I have lots to learn still. What would you add?