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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Advice from a Life Coach

February 18, 2026 Small Actions Matter

It is easy to feel small—a little fish in the big, wide ocean. It is easy to feel like your work, your actions, and your words don’t matter. But they do. In fact, small actions are the foundation of major change.

Minor, everyday actions are important in all aspects of life—in work, personal life, and society. We never know how a kind word or meaningful gesture might land. We don’t know how a donation or volunteer stint might improve someone else’s life. These things have ripple effects. The compliment you give someone at the grocery store could brighten that person’s day, which might lead them to give a server an extra tip, which could make it easier for that person to pay rent that month. The point is to try—to intentionally and continually make choices that could potentially have a positive impact.

If we think on a broad scale too often, we might feel overwhelmed or helpless. It can be difficult to see how your actions and words make a difference when you’re up against a large or complex problem, but if you shrink your thinking just a little, it can be easier to fathom how you’re moving the needle. And when many people work together, that needle can be moved even faster and more assertively. There is power in numbers—we see it in mass protests, boycotts, and other actions of solidarity. One example: thirty years ago, smoking was widely accepted, and many establishments catered to smokers. The number of smokers plummeted, however, due to many factors (anti-smoking campaigns, informed consumers, smoking bans, etc.). But the plummeting number of smokers was made possible by individual decisions—one person choosing to quit here, another person choosing to quit there. Together, these individual decisions created meaningful change. They created a movement.

Another example that comes to mind when I think of meaningful change has to do with the workplace. When I was a manager at 3M, I used to compose handwritten thank you cards to my team members when they did outstanding or “above and beyond” work. One time, I was riding along with a sales rep when I noticed my thank you card tucked into his visor. When I asked him about it, he told me he would glance at it whenever he needed a reminder that he was skilled at this work and could make the sale, even when his confidence was lacking. I had no idea my message to him would resonate so deeply, and this was an excellent reminder of the power of small gestures.

Next time you’re feeling small, helpless, or overwhelmed, I suggest reminding yourself that you can only do what is within your power. You can affect your personal, professional, or societal sphere in small, but meaningful, ways. It’s difficult to know what your actions might achieve, but I encourage you to try anyway. Positive change is only possible when we choose to act—to do whatever we can. Your small actions matter, and they can add up to something great.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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February 4, 2026 Empathy As a Superpower

Empathy is a term that is used frequently and not always in a positive manner. It is sometimes viewed as weak or wishy-washy. And some people even see it as political. In truth, empathy is not a sign of weakness but of strength. And it isn’t political, or religious, or only meant for a certain segment of the population. Rather, it is deeply human and more necessary than ever.

It’s important to note that empathy is not the same as sympathy. Sympathy relates to feeling sorry for another, or even pitying them. Empathy is more about understanding. It’s about expanding your horizons to see another’s perspective. It’s about being curious and open enough to want to understand. This innate curiosity helps people of all backgrounds and beliefs work together, live side by side, and cooperate.

Because no two people are alike, empathy can, indeed, be a superpower. It’s a way to reach others, negotiate, and have productive dialogues. When there’s a need for creativity or brainstorming solutions, it’s a way of gathering different ideas and making sense of them. That’s because empathy goes hand-in-hand with solution seeking. It is essentially the opposite of combativeness or stubbornness.

In my experience, empathetic leaders are often skilled at bringing out the best in their teams. These individuals understand the importance of truly listening—soaking in both what someone is saying and the context or subtext related to what is being said. For example, if a team member is adamant about gearing a product toward working parents, an empathetic leader might think about what they know about that team member. Maybe they are a single mother who faces numerous everyday challenges. As such, their passion makes sense, and the empathetic leader will know they are speaking from experience. Likely, this person is not the only one who is facing similar struggles, and it is probably smart to consider their perspective when developing products or solutions.

Empathy is useful in all different contexts, both within and outside of the workplace. It’s a simple fact that everyone wants to be understood and listened to. Because of this, an empathetic person makes a good conversation partner by giving others the space to express themselves and explain their perspective. That doesn’t mean being a pushover, and it doesn’t mean an empathetic person doesn’t have their own opinions and beliefs. It simply means that they are open to listening and understanding.

In a world where things are often portrayed as black and white, empathy is a courageous but necessary choice. Without it, we would constantly be at loggerheads with others, stuck in a single perspective. That’s not productive, and it only creates animosity and hard feelings. Rather, let’s make an effort to choose empathy and start really listening to what others have to say. That can make all the difference.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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January 7, 2026 Learning to Love Your Current Role

woman with reddish blonde hair and bangs wearing a pale-blue button-up shirt looking to the side and smiling

When I was ramping up the career coaching side of my business in 2011, the atmosphere was much different than it is today. As a nation, we had made our way through and out of the Great Recession, and companies were once again enthusiastic about hiring. Additionally, the younger members of the workforce were approaching it with a different mentality than past generations, knowing that the best way to climb the ladder (in terms of both position and pay) was to change jobs periodically. They were no longer being rewarded for staying in one place, and they knew it. So, job hopping became the norm.

Today, however, things have slowed considerably and the job numbers (when they’re released) look dismal. Economic growth is shrinking, and the “AI bubble” that is helping to keep the economy afloat is expected to pop at any time. In this environment, employers are more cautious about hiring, and employees are more reluctant to leave their current jobs (knowing that finding another one may be extremely difficult).

So, what do you do in this situation if you’re discontent with your job? One approach is to stay put for now and make the best of your circumstances. Of course, if your job and/or boss are absolutely terrible, you might want to plan your exit, BUT if you’re simply dealing with a few less-than-ideal aspects of your job, you could try staying and shaping your professional future within your current role. Here are four approaches you could take:

Set Clear Boundaries

The workplace can quickly become toxic if bosses or co-workers overstep your boundaries. Do you feel pressured to reply to emails after hours? Are you frequently asked to do tasks outside your professional scope? Do you feel pressured to pick up others’ slack? All of these are signs that your boundaries are being crossed.

To prevent this, practice tactfully saying “No.”

“That’s outside of my scope, so I think this would be better suited to someone in the IT department.”

“I have too much on my plate right now to take that on by the deadline.”

And if the problem has to do with after-hours calls or emails, simply do not respond until normal business hours. When you establish that this is the norm, you empower others to do the same.

Switch/Redefine Your Role

If you’re discontent with your current work, you may want to explore your options within the organization. Is there latitude to take on a different set of tasks than the ones you’re currently doing? Could you reshape your role? Or, perhaps, move to a different department within the organization? Before abandoning the entire company, it’s a good idea to look internally for other options.

Befriend Colleagues

You don’t have to be best friends with your work colleagues, but it is incredibly helpful to be friendly with each other. Having work friends or allies can help you in numerous ways. You can talk over problems you’re experiencing, you can support and uplift each other, you can ask each other questions about projects or tasks, etc. Even if you work remotely, it’s possible to make work friends by simply being a little more open, vulnerable (without oversharing), and friendly. Ask others about their lives and share a little about yours. Swap some stories and laughs. Simply put: don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and be yourself.

Take Advantage of Opportunities

Whether education training, office book clubs, ERGs, or volunteer opportunities, it can be motivating to become more deeply involved in your workplace. Additionally, some of the offerings could help you learn valuable new skills that could be carried over to a new job in the future. In nearly every role, you have the power to shape it—and improve it—in some way, no matter how small. Consider your position and what you can do this week (or today!) to make that happen.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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