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From the Sidelines to the Spotlight: What Your First Leadership Role Really Feels Like
You thought it would feel powerful. Like finally having a seat at the table. Like being the one who decides, not the one who follows. And yes, it does feel different. But probably not in the way you expected. Your first leadership role is rarely the victory lap you imagined when you were still working your way up — delivering results, trying to be seen, and occasionally wondering why your boss acts the way they do. Because the truth is: when you step into leadership for the first time, the world tilts. It doesn’t revolve around you anymore. It revolves around others. And that… can be both humbling and beautiful.…
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Grace Over Games: Leading the Person Who Tries to Undermine You
You’re in charge. A new team member joins. They shake your hand, smile, nod—and then proceed to ignore everything you say. At first, it’s subtle. A deadline slightly missed. A different format than the one you asked for. Small things, and maybe you think: “They’re just finding their feet.” You give it time. But soon, the pattern sharpens. In meetings, they talk over you. They change decisions behind your back. Their tone is passive-aggressive. To your face, they’re pleasant—but the results tell another story. You sense it. Others sense it too. And you ask yourself: What is going on here? And more dangerously: Did I do something wrong? Let’s pause…
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When Saying “No” Isn’t an Option: How to Handle Tough Leadership Requests with Grace
“You can’t really say no to this, you know.” The words still echo in my mind — half a suggestion, half a command. If you’ve ever been asked to take on a task you didn’t want (or shouldn’t) do — and felt like “no” wasn’t an acceptable answer — this article is for you. ✨ When the Ask Isn’t Really a Choice Maybe it’s an extra project that feels wrong. Maybe it’s a task that clashes with your values. Maybe it’s simply more than you can — or should — take on. Whatever the reason, here’s the hard truth: Sometimes, especially when senior leaders are involved, refusing a request comes…
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Embracing the Blank Page: A Gentle Start to Journaling
Now here we are—the blank page staring back at me, as if daring me to make the first move. I’m seated in my favorite Munich café, the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloping me. Outside, the city hums with its usual rhythm, but inside, there’s a serene stillness. My journal lies open, pen poised, yet the words hesitate. This moment, this quiet pause before the first word, is both daunting and beautiful. It’s a space of infinite possibilities, a canvas for thoughts, emotions, and reflections. 🌟 The Hustle and the Hush In our fast-paced lives, we’re constantly moving—meeting deadlines, attending meetings, juggling responsibilities. Amidst this hustle, finding a moment…
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Journaling: The Science, the Practice, and the Power of a Pen
This morning, nestled in a cozy Munich café, I sipped my matcha latte and watched the world go by. Beside me sat a man, journal open, pen in hand, gazing thoughtfully out the window before writing again. There was a serenity to his presence—a quiet dialogue unfolding between him and the page. I felt a pull to ask him about his practice, to learn what brought him to this ritual. But I hesitated. Journaling is intimate, a sacred space where thoughts meet paper without pretense. I didn’t want to intrude on that private moment. It reminded me of my own journey with journaling—a practice that began not out of desire,…
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Words That Build Us: The Power of Affirmations for High-Achieving Women
Let’s talk about affirmations. I’ll be honest with you—this wasn’t something that came naturally to me. In fact, the first time I heard someone say “Just repeat this affirmation every morning while looking in the mirror,” I inwardly rolled my eyes. It felt fluffy. Like I was being asked to chant rainbows into existence. And I’m not here for googoo energy or spiritual bypassing. But I am here for living fully, intentionally, and in alignment with how I’m actually designed to move through the world. I care deeply about coherence—between my thoughts, my actions, my values, and my potential. So I kept leaning in, looking past the clichés, and asking:…
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If you want a career, this is important
The interview is going fine. Questions and answers are meandering like a lovely river – the job offering seems to be certain. This is when the applicant asks her bold last question: „What would you have liked to know when you were in my situation?“ I am smiling. „Always choose the person you are working for and not the topic.“ The applicant pauses. „I didn‘t expect that answer“, she admits. We are both sitting in silence for a moment enjoying our thoughts wandering around the idea in the room. Choosing a person. Not a topic. Selecting a teacher. Not a task. When you think of it, it really makes sense.…
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Why it is good to have no clue what to do
When I led my first project team, it felt quite overwhelming. Assigning tasks to my team, talking to the client, keeping my internal stakeholders up to date, managing the scope, keeping track of the numbers … sometimes I didn‘t know what to do first. On top, the solution for the client didn‘t fall off the shelf but we needed to interview people, ask questions, define deliverables and agree on a way of working to getting to the results. Sometimes I really wished to know everything already. At that time, a lot of the solutioning was created in the evening when I went swimming. Under water I could think. I could…
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Doing a career is easy [2/2]
Recap from lasts week article: Promotion means that there are people who put you in new roles you cannot get on your own. These people talk in rooms to which you don’t have access. These people cannot be forced to promote you – but they can be won over so that they want to promote you. How do you win people over? Think of the reasons you found for promoting somebody: Please remember that a career is done in a context, which means: other people need to be convinced that you fit the promotion standards – not you. All you can do – and have to do – is, being…
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Doing a career is easy [1/2]
“How do I get the promotion?”, it’s THE question in the room – especially in the early stages of a career. Let me turn it around: whom would you promote? Think about it for a moment. What would you like to see to promote someone? Before we get to the answer, let’s explore the habitat of a career. A career is always done in a context. There are clients who need your service. There are bosses who need your integrity. There are middle managers who need your skills. There are your peers who need you as a trustful colleague. And there is you. You. What do you want? Being the…