Meg Salter's Blog, page 2

Owning Your Shadow Side

Leaders who want coaching are successful, smart people. So why do I insist that we approach their dark or shadow side? Because that’s where the gold is.

Leaders want coaching for a variety of reasons. They may have been promoted to a new role and want some new tips and tricks. They may have had feedback on watch-outs and want to learn new ways to deal with that. Or they may have experienced a perfect storm situation, where a combination of external circumstances and their own personality trig...

Four Factors of Powerful Communication

Communication is a challenge at every level of leadership. Powerful communication can be learned, if you build your capacities for personal authenticity, relational connection, behavioural agility and context management.

Communication Can Make Us Cower

We’ve been travelling in Haida Gwaii, a beautiful archipelago of islands off the northern coast of British Columbia.  Rose Spit, at the very northern end, appears desolate, but is full of life, if you know where to look. I was moved here by the...

What Phase of Change Are You In?

Knowing what phase of change you are in can help you normalize it. If you can recognize the signposts and relax into it, to your current phase will go smoother. Maybe even faster. And you’ll have valuable practice for the next time!

This beautiful picture reminds me that spring is on its way. The northern sun is strong enough to melt the snow, but only for a few hours each day before the freeze-thaw cycle resumes.

Several client conversations have reminded me of the basic phases of change.

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Feminine Wisdom of Day by Day Awakening

I was talking recently with a new mother of a beautiful, bouncing toddler. The little boy is cherished by his two mothers and thriving in a good daycare. My friend is struggling to re-find her centre; exhausted from lack of sleep, disoriented by the sudden dropping away of her professional self-identity. As we are both meditators and mothers, a feminine wisdom voice erupted. “Just think of new mothering as a deep dive into No-Self.”

This really helped, changing her narrative from one of perso...

Deliver On Your Positive Change

I don’t know a single leader who goes to work with a deliberately bad intention.  Yet too often we get derailed from delivering on positive change. Whether it’s too many demands, too many conflicting points of view, or limited capacities to actually deliver, it can be stressful to find ourselves stymied, our reach bigger than our grasp.

I had a great time exploring the relationship between positive change and mindfulness on a recent podcast with colleague Robyn Stratton-Berkessel of Positivit...

Find Positive Change in the Rear View Mirror

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#MeToo, Russian interference with US elections,terrorist car bombs; you’d think the world is getting worse every day. Look again.To find positive change, look in the rear-view mirror for what’s not there.

Yesterday’s Bad News Sells

It’s easy to get discouraged when checking on your daily news feed. Juicy as it is,

… Read more Find Positive Change in the Rear View Mirror

Mindfulness: Distinguishing Hype, Genuine and Awesome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People often ask, “What can I really expect if I take up mindfulness? How long will it take?” I answer, “You may get both less and more than you expect. Find what works for you, and be prepared to be surprised.”

Hype

Mindfulness is now in the bright lights. Sometimes used to promote product.

… Read more Mindfulness: Distinguishing Hype, Genuine and Awesome

Resilience in Communication

Communication challenges can be stressful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clients often seek coaching on communication challenges. There is no one right answer. Each person’s communication challenge is unique, surfaces in periods of disruptive personal change, and creates new opportunities for resilience and flourishing. Mindfulness skills can also help you become a better communicator.

Like sex or money, communication is essential, highly personal and deeply shared. Yet we risk vulnerability, conflict, a...

7 Points to Check Out Before a Meditation Retreat

Meditation Retreats are like extreme sports

When you want to take meditation practice to the next level, meditation retreats are an experience like no other. Be warned; intensity brings challenge! Use this 7-point check list to see if a particular retreat is good fit for you.

In my book Mind Your Life, I talk about meditation retreats not as a withdrawal from life, but as learning to engage with life more fully. Retreats are periods of intensive practice. You unplug from your devices and dist...

The Seven Muscles of Resilience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mindfulness practice can automatically build resilience. This adaptation from my book Mind Your Life was originally published on Michael Taft’s site Deconstructing Yourself , a great source of  information and inspiration on “mindfulness meditation and awakening for modern mutants” .

Why do different people respond to stress so differently? Part of the answer lies in our individual resilience. This ability to bounce back can make the difference between normal stress that enc...