Berkana Co.

Holding the belief that the brain is fixed and not capable of growth, hampers many people. A fixed mindset, according to Carol Dweck, the well-known Stanford psychologist, holds people back. Successful people are not set apart because of Intelligence, talent, or education. The way they approach life’s challenges, their mindset, sets them apart. The mind […]

Some years ago, I resigned as General Manager of the Universe. It became obvious to me that people didn't appreciate my efforts to control everything to make everything just right. Everyone would have to handle their stuff the best way they could, and I would take care of my stuff the best way I could.  […]

Being hypervigilant can turn you into a professional “boy who cried wolf.” People do not believe you when you warn them repeatedly, but nothing happens. Being too cautious limits your options. Closing your mind to possibilities because you see danger causes you to miss opportunities. This approach makes it difficult to attract ambitious people because […]

People pleasers cannot be trusted. When they are telling you what you want to hear, it validates them as being helpful. Agreeing with the leader puts them in the good graces of the power broker. It's a problem because they're not required to come up with any counter-solution or ideas to improve the organization, for […]

Business owners or team leaders know people must follow through to achieve goals for the organization to be successful. People who are being held accountable consider it a punitive action. Some managers, unfortunately, use accountability as a weapon. People do not respond well to punishment. It may, in the short term, produce some results. However, […]

Stress is ever-present. We all experience it to some degree or another in all areas of our lives. The World Health Organization defines stress as any type of change that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. Stress is your body's response to anything that requires attention or action. How do you deal with stress? How […]

In an industry with so many moving parts, it is easy to respond to the urgent while the important stands waiting. Knowing what needs doing and getting it done are two different concepts. How equipped are you to weather the uncertainties and take advantage of the opportunities? What is Contractor Coaching? Contractor coaching is the […]

Our very own brain hijacks us and puts us into survival mode when no real danger exists. Looking at the world through a survival lens, most things look like danger. With the focus on safety, powerful mental resources such as creativity take a backseat. The problem with unconsciously allowing your thinking to spend so much […]

Every day leadership is a balancing act. You are always trying to keep the appropriate tension between building for the future and serving clients today. Focusing on the future while meeting the demands of the day can be challenging. The opportunity lies in knowing what people want, understanding how much they are willing to pay […]

Have you ever been disappointed by someone who has broken a promise? Or failed to honor his word? If this happens often enough, he has the reputation of unreliability. This is true in your business, too. If customers discover they cannot trust your company to deliver on a product or a service, they take their […]