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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Advice from a Life Coach

May 7, 2025 Your Actions Matter (even if you don’t realize it)

Photo by Linus Nylund on Unsplash

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
– Mother Teresa

In these tumultuous times, when everything seems to be changing at lightning speed, it is easy to feel like a very small fish in a very big pond. Politics, technology, the economy—it all seems so chaotic and beyond our control. Additionally, when we turn on the news or log onto social media, we’re often blasted with the latest problems and scandals of the day, which can send us down a rabbit hole of bad news and hot takes.

With so much going on—so many changes and so much chaos—it is easy to become discouraged, overwhelmed, or even depressed. What can one person do against such large forces? How can one voice or one action possibly make a difference? Take heart! It’s possible your actions matter more than you think.

The Ripple Effect

When you throw a rock into a pond, it sends out ripples that change the surface of the water. This is a common metaphor that illustrates how one small action can make a world of difference. Every decision you’ve ever made has had some kind of effect, whether the decision was small (choosing to drive a certain route, deciding to say hi to a grocery clerk, etc.) or large (deciding if (and where) to go to college, choosing who to marry, etc.).

These choices can impact you, those around you, and even people you’ve never met. For example, if you choose to be kind to a grocery clerk, that person might brighten up a bit and say something nice to another customer, who, in turn, might leave a generous tip at dinner that evening, potentially helping out a server who needs a little extra money to care for her sick child. That chain of events might sound far-fetched, but things like this happen every day. Our actions ripple out in ways we will never fully know.

In other words, your decisions matter! Because of that, I encourage you to stop feeling small and start taking intentional actions, knowing that they can (and do) make a difference.

Focus on Small Actions

Although most of us are not equipped to singlehandedly influence large systems or the “powers that be,” we can make an impact through small, meaningful actions. Your actions might be directed toward any of the following:

  • Community (getting to know your neighbors better, helping someone with their yardwork)
  • Family (taking time to be present, scheduling a family trip)
  • Workplace (setting clear boundaries, asking for help when you need it, standing up for a co-worker)
  • Politics (attending a protest, making a phone call)
  • The Environment (picking up trash, planting a bee-friendly garden)
  • …the list goes on!

Your everyday actions matter. Even if you cannot see their full impact, just know that every decision you make (no matter how small) can potentially create a positive or negative influence. Because of that, it’s a good idea to move mindfully through the world, choosing to act with kindness, patience, and understanding. It does make a 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. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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April 9, 2025 How Your Personality Type Adapts to Change

Photo by Ambreen Hasan on Unsplash

We are living through a time of major change. No matter your location, job industry (or job status), political leanings, or background, you have likely been affected by all the change that is underway. Maybe you (or someone you know) were part of the recent mass layoffs, maybe you’ve simply noticed the prices of certain items changing, or perhaps you’ve observed relationships changing due to recent political tension. Whatever the case, you have likely felt the ripple effect of change, whether subtle or severe.

Since we are all “built differently,” we deal with change in different ways. Our brains process information differently, and our bodies react in varying ways (a faster heartrate, clenching up, preparing to either fight or flee, etc.). One of the best ways to cope with change is to become familiar with your personal tendencies—the ways in which you typically react when confronted with change.

As a Licensed Practitioner of Insights® Discovery, I know how helpful it is to develop a deep understanding of yourself, your personality, your strengths and flaws, and the way you respond in certain situations. The Insights® Discovery program defines people by four distinct “color energies.” Each of the four colors is connected to a certain set of personality traits and tendencies. Because humans are multi-dimensional, we all have the capacity to embody all four colors, but we tend to embrace one or two more often that the others. The chart below shows some of the basic characteristics of each color energy. Which one(s) do you find yourself identifying with most?

NOTE: This was a very basic introduction to Insights® Discovery. If you are interested in diving deeper, you can contact me or explore the topic on my website.

Insights® Discovery and Change

When you’ve developed an understanding of yourself, your personal attributes, and how you approach difficult situations, you can begin to understand how you’re predisposed to coping with change.

Someone who leads with blue energy may feel overwhelmed by a lack of information or clarity. They may think that things are accelerating too quickly, and it is necessary to pump the brakes and think critically before proceeding.

Someone who identifies with red energy may cope well with fast-moving change, but they may also get frustrated with a lack of clarity or end goals.

A person leading with green energy might automatically think about the implications the change will have on others. This could either energize them, or leave them feeling disheartened (depending on how the change impacts other people).

Those leading with yellow energy may start thinking creatively about where the change could lead, and how it could affect others. They may feel compelled to talk over the change with other people to make sense of it.

These potential reactions are generalizations, of course, but they give us an idea of how varied a person’s response can be to change. When facilitating the Insights® program, I have found that people respond to change with varying degrees of:

  • Adaptability
  • Eagerness or energy
  • Resilience
  • Creativity
  • Compassion or empathy
  • Skepticism
  • Vision or big-picture thinking

Not only are we all very different, we can even take on different attitudes day-by-day, depending on our state of mind, the circumstances, the support of others, etc. In other words, we are dynamic and our reactions to change or difficult circumstances can change. And that’s okay! There is no single “right way” to react to change.

Lastly, please refer to the infographic from Insights® Discovery below. This image conveys how each color energy can make change work for them (through research, establishing clear goals, considering others, etc.). If you’re finding yourself having difficulties grappling with a certain change, consider using this chart as a guide.

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. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE.

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March 19, 2025 5 Strategies for Being Heard

Photo by Oleg Laptev on Unsplash

Do you sometimes feel like your voice isn’t being heard? Do others tend to dominate the conversation, putting forth their ideas and perspectives without giving you a turn to speak? Whether you’re dealing with interactions in your personal life or the workplace, it is incredibly frustrating to be silenced.

This silencing can happen for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re naturally quiet or laid back. Perhaps the people dominating the conversation are especially loud or domineering (or, in some cases, even narcissistic). Or maybe the workplace culture or social norms dictate who normally speaks and is listened to. Whatever the case, it is possible to break through the barrier and be heard.

Keep in mind, your thoughts, opinions, points of view, and ideas are valuable. You bring fresh perspectives to the table, and your views are worthwhile. Not to mention, assertive people are the ones who normally get raises and promotions; they’re noticed, and people listen to them. You can be that person. Here are five suggestions to get started:

Enter with Confidence

You set the tone for a conversation as soon as you enter a room or log into a Zoom meeting. Your body language can exude confidence and savviness…or it can show timidness and insecurity. To develop the confidence you need, I suggest preparing as best you can for the meeting or conversation. Do your due diligence and learn whatever background information you need to be a confident contributor. You could even practice reciting a few sentences in the mirror (practicing out loud really does help).

Then, focus on your body language. Keep your shoulders up, head high, and a pleasantly confident expression on your face. Pay attention to what is being said, and understand when your input might be valuable.

Stop Interrupters

If someone interrupts you in the middle of a sentence, put a stop to it, if possible. Sometimes interruptions happen in the natural flow of conversation, but other times they are chronic and consistent and need to be stopped. To stop an interrupter, try holding up your hand and saying something to direct attention back to you. Some examples are:

“Wait. I know you want to jump in, but I wasn’t quite finished.”

“Great point. I’ll address that when I’m done speaking.”

“Hold on, please. I’m almost done making my point.”

Anticipate the Interruption

If interruptions are the norm in certain groups or settings, you can set yourself up for success by preemptively addressing that problem. When you start speaking, try opening with a sentence like, “I would like two uninterrupted minutes to make an additional point.” Or: “I know many of you are eager to share, but I would love to say one thing before anyone else gives their input.” Then, proceed.

By opening with such a statement you’re setting up a clear expectation. You will say your piece, and then others will have a turn.

Find an Advocate/Partner

If your efforts to be heard are not bearing fruit, it may be a good idea to confide in someone else who is regularly in the same meetings or conversations. Confide in this person privately and let them know your frustrations. It’s possible they have no clue that you’re feeling silenced or left out. Once they’re aware of the issue, ask if they would be willing to subtly include you in meetings. This could mean saying something like, “We haven’t heard from Catherine yet. I’m curious if she has any ideas.” Or: “Catherine, you seem to want to say something. What’s on your mind?” Or: “Hold up, Roger. I think Catherine was in the middle of saying something. Let’s hear her out before you take your turn.”

Talk to Your Interrupter

In some cases, depending on your relationship with the person or people who chronically interrupt you, it may be best to be direct. If you feel comfortable enough with someone to have an honest conversation, do so and let them know how you feel. You might say something like the following:

“I always appreciate your enthusiasm in meetings, but lately it feels like there’s no room for my voice. Do you suppose I could have the floor for a few minutes next time?”

“I didn’t get much of a chance to offer my perspective at yesterday’s meeting. At our next one, I would love just two or three minutes of uninterrupted floor time.”

“I had several thoughts during our last meeting, but I didn’t have a chance to express them. Could I kick off our next meeting with a few uninterrupted minutes of speaking time?

I suggest having this conversation in person, rather than over email or a messaging app, so you can talk civilly and not blow things out of proportion.

Don’t let those who are the loudest and most confident (or aggressive) always get air time. You, and your quieter colleagues and friends, have valuable things to say and contribute, and your voices deserve to be heard. With a few intentional strategies and actions, you should be able to amplify your voice and confidently deliver your message.

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. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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