What keeps you from hiring a coach? People facing tough environments and difficult people at work often come looking for advice, but I’ve learned a coach gets you further, faster. Get curious about YOU, tell me what keeps you from thriving and schedule time with me now. #BefriendingDragons #WorkplaceThrival #Thrive #AntiBullying #AntiHarassment #Equity #Gender #RaceContinue reading “Why hire a coach?”
Category Archives: Befriending Dragons
Land Acknowledgments
A land acknowledgement is a way to recognize and respect Native peoples and their relationship with the land we colonizers stole from them. It also strengthens everyone’s relationship to nature, the lands we occupy, and the communities our dominant cultures often never take the time to see.
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When Should White People Quote MLK?
When should white people quote Martin Luther King, Jr.? I’ve heard many Black anti-racism advocates say the answer is somewhere between when we deeply understand how to not whitewash his quotes and never, ever, ever. So for any white folks reading this, here’s why we should follow this very reasonable request: Believe Black people whenContinue reading “When Should White People Quote MLK?”
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Taming the Inbox Dragons
It’s time for an inbox cleanse. I do this periodically, and it never lasts. I can get close to the coveted “inbox zero” for a few days, and then it creeps back up. I’ve tried tools and techniques and timers and rules…. And still several times this year I’ve had many thousands of emails in my inbox. I can just see my inner dragons settling comfortably on top of the hoard of emails, nestling in and getting comfortable.
So as a generative coach, how do I coach myself to deal with this?
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Remotely Biased – A Befriending Dragons Story
Last week @VeniKunche tweeted asking for “remote work” tips for managers. I immediately replied with a whole string of tips that reduce bias. Veni said, hey, blog that. And I thought, sure, that’s easy. And yet here it is, days later, and I hadn’t written much more than a paragraph until I accepted Amy Cuddy’sContinue reading “Remotely Biased – A Befriending Dragons Story”
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Reclaiming My Voice, Becoming Me – A Befriending Dragons Story
In the mornings I search my closet to find the perfect outfit that shows I’m technical enough, I’m smart enough, I fit in. One day I wear a skirt, and my manager can’t seem to process it, I have gone outside his expectations. He flips to the script of “this is a woman, not aContinue reading “Reclaiming My Voice, Becoming Me – A Befriending Dragons Story”
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Befriending Dragons | #Words4Justice
Today is my last official day at Microsoft. I no longer feel safe, comfortable, or valued working in tech. Going forward I’ll be working to actively disrupt tech culture and systems to reduce harassment and discrimination. Keep an eye on #Words4Justice. 😊 Be kind. Be brave. Go beyond ally to accomplice to actively disrupt bullying and discrimination. cindygross@outlook.com @cindygrossContinue reading “Befriending Dragons | #Words4Justice”
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Moving Beyond Unconscious Bias – Good People Matter!
Presented at SQL Saturday Oregon on October 24, 2015 by Julie Koesmarno and Cindy Gross Good People We’re good people. As good people we don’t want to think we do things that have negative consequences for others. But sometimes our subconscious can fool us. What we intend isn’t always what happens. We think we’re makingContinue reading “Moving Beyond Unconscious Bias – Good People Matter!”
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Diagnosis – Those First Moments of Breast Cancer
I wrote this Reader’s Opinion for the “Pink Edition” of the Idaho Statesman October 2, 2013 for Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Do something. Anything. Make the cancer go away. What will I have to endure – will they chop off my breasts, make me ingest toxic drugs, poke me and prod me and stick meContinue reading “Diagnosis – Those First Moments of Breast Cancer”
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The Princess and the Cancer Pea
Once upon a time there was a princess in Boise, ID. We know she is a princess because she has so many advantages. She works for a Fortune 50 company that provides excellent health care and whose culture encourages strong support of employees as they go through hard times. She owns a nice house in theContinue reading “The Princess and the Cancer Pea”
