Everyone has to change… Except for me because I’m the boss!How many times have you heard a boss say “you’ve got to change ______” (fill in the blank), and when he or she tells you what they expect, it’s something that they themselves are guilty of.  In my experience as a corporate trainer for over thirty years in numerous organizations, I have heard these same concerns expressed by participants over and over:

• “I wish my boss was here.  He/she really needs to take this.”
• “This is really great stuff. I only wish I could do it back on the job. My boss has to ‘approve’ everything.”
• “If only my boss would let me do this.”
• “I like my job and the people that I work with; it’s just that my boss is ______________.”

My "generation" is showing! Grammar check: When I learned how to type way-back-when on a manual typewriter, it was drilled into my head that two spaces were always inserted after a period or colon. Now I stand corrected because, after a little bit of research I learn, while that was what was necessary in the past; it is no longer today because of technology... I'm finding it's a challenge, however, to get out of the habit of hitting the space bar twice.

This got me to thinking of some other areas where I might be thinking with a “manual typewriter” mindset and I came up with the following three realizations:

• No one has to tell you that the rules changed.  In my book, Power vs. Perception: Ten Characteristics of Self-Empowerment for Women, the Resiliency Wheel is used to illustrate four critical parts of self-empowerment.  Three of the major parts of the wheel are scout, educate and grow. This means that it is my responsibility to scout the environment to keep current on new trends in my industry; whether it’s new product lines or technology. It’s my job – no one else’s!

• Personal biases might be rooted in the “manual typewriter” mindset. I tended to want to correct these “misguided” individuals who obviously didn’t know how to type the correct way.   I have to ask myself: What other areas in my life have I found myself wanting to correct others when I myself was using the outdated data? 

• You can “teach an ‘old dog’ new tricks.” Change isn’t easy, I’m reminded of the many changes I experienced in life that felt uncomfortable at first, which became second nature with practice.  It reminds me that, while I can’t change anyone else, I can change myself.  This “extra” space is no big deal – and, according to Grammar Girl, it is a style issue, so it’s not considered “wrong,” however, for me, it’s important to stay current.  I don’t want to look like a “dinosaur."

Welcome to my Blog! I will be sharing articles that I've written and exerpts from my book, Power vs. Perception: Ten Characteristics of Self-Empowerment for Women.

I hope you find value in it as well as enjoy what I have to say. 

Mary Anne