Whenever I speak about virtual facilitation, the first question I typically receive is: "Maria, how do I engage the "quiet" meeting participants?" My recent talk at a Scrum Alliance event was no exception. This is the number one question on people's minds as far as virtual meeting facilitation is concerned! So, how exactly can you… Continue reading How Do I Engage and Include the “Quiet” Meeting Participants?
Annual Life and Career Retrospective
Introduction Happy New Year, everyone! Did you know that performing an annual life and work retrospective can be one of the most powerful instruments for transformation and growth in your life? This practice empowers you to create the space to reflect on your year, check how satisfied you are with the direction of your life… Continue reading Annual Life and Career Retrospective
On Ego and Personal Branding
Yesterday, when I was delivering a talk on power of personal branding, I received a fantastic question. “Don’t we need to focus on deflating our ego rather than inflating it?” In the past, I have received many questions about humility and whether engaging in personal branding best practices might be immodest, but this was the… Continue reading On Ego and Personal Branding
Power of Coaching and Facilitation Seminar on July 20-21
It is with pleasure that I’m sharing that on July 20-21 I will be leading a virtual seminar on “Power of Coaching and Facilitation” at Project Management Institute Seminars World. Hope to see you there! The session provides 14 PDU’s. Link to registration: https://www.pmi.org/events/seminarsworld/seminarsworld-in-chicago/the-power-of-coaching-and-facilitation Description: Did you know that #coaching and #facilitation skills are essential… Continue reading Power of Coaching and Facilitation Seminar on July 20-21
How Can I Become a Coach When I Grow Up?
This article is part of #AskMaria series; in it, I will be addressing questions I receive most often. Stay tuned for other #AskMaria Frequently Asked Questions. Maria, I am doing really well in my career. However, I do not feel fulfilled in my current career path. I came to realize that I feel the most… Continue reading How Can I Become a Coach When I Grow Up?
How Did You Choose Your Coaching Training Program?
This article is part of #AskMaria series; in it, I will be addressing questions I receive most often. Stay tuned for other #AskMaria Frequently Asked Questions. Maria, I see that you got trained as a coach at Georgetown University. How did you choose it? There are many coaching schools, and I am overwhelmed by the… Continue reading How Did You Choose Your Coaching Training Program?
On a Bridge of Assumptions
Isaac Asimov wrote: "Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off once in a while, or the light won't come in." This simple aphorism leads us into a constellation of not so simple questions. What assumptions are governing your life? What was the last time you looked at your assumptions and intentionally… Continue reading On a Bridge of Assumptions
Happy New Year! Time for a Life and Work Retrospective
Happy New Year everyone! Did you know that this is a perfect time for life and work retrospective? Here is how to do it: - Schedule a block of time (1-2 hrs at a minimum) offsite where there are no distractions. - Perform a life and work review: how were the last 12 months? How… Continue reading Happy New Year! Time for a Life and Work Retrospective
Don’t Miss More Posts by… You: Surprisingly Good News from LinkedIn Publisher
Don’t have three whole minutes to read my article? I got your back, here is a 30 second version. With an introduction of a new LinkedIn publisher page, your most recent LinkedIn blog posts are automatically advertised at the bottom of all your LinkedIn articles. This is good news for driving up your viewership and… Continue reading Don’t Miss More Posts by… You: Surprisingly Good News from LinkedIn Publisher
You’re So Vain: Vanity URL for Your LinkedIn Articles
What if I told you that there is a way to share all your LinkedIn articles in one link, memorable and brand-friendly? There is indeed a new feature that does for your articles what so called vanity URL (customized URL) does for your LinkedIn profile! ... Unless you live under a rock, you have heard that LinkedIn publisher is a… Continue reading You’re So Vain: Vanity URL for Your LinkedIn Articles
12 Baby Steps to Leadership
Once in a while, a question shows up in my inbox that makes me pause, smile, shake my head and ask myself: "Why didn’t it occur to me to write about this before?" "Dear Maria, I am struggling with the leadership step in my career. I have been a Software Developer for the last 10… Continue reading 12 Baby Steps to Leadership
It Takes Two to Tango: LinkedIn/Twitter Interface
Imagine that you have two employees working on the same project. They are both talented and diligent; however, they don't coordinate their efforts at all. Do you think there is any efficiency lost due to them not setting a common strategy and not working in sync? You bet there is! And yet, this is exactly… Continue reading It Takes Two to Tango: LinkedIn/Twitter Interface
Wanted: Unmotivated, Dispassionate Employees
“I am a motivated, passionate and creative expert, driven, responsible, with an extensive experience in various organizational roles, track record of success, and a strategic mind set.” How does this description sound to you? Do you want to hire this person? … This was a trick question. I wrote this sentence using top 10 most overused… Continue reading Wanted: Unmotivated, Dispassionate Employees
The Showdown: Resume vs. LinkedIn Profile
"Is having a stellar resume a good enough substitute to having a LinkedIn profile?" I was asked this question on multiple occasions, but haven't written an article on the topic yet. So when yesterday someone inquired: "I have a great resume, so I don't need a LinkedIn profile, right?", I knew I had to do… Continue reading The Showdown: Resume vs. LinkedIn Profile
3 Magical LinkedIn Questions to Ask
Did you know that all it takes to avoid making costly mistakes in the area of LinkedIn engagement is asking 3 simple questions before you take action? Let me explain. When considering taking a certain action on LinkedIn, ask yourself: 1. Will it negatively affect my personal brand? 2. Will it negatively affect the people… Continue reading 3 Magical LinkedIn Questions to Ask
Your LinkedIn To Do List
Do you have a LinkedIn to do list? What’s that, you ask? It's simply a list of activities you will be engaging in on LinkedIn to accomplish your professional goals. It's a bridge between your long term objectives and your everyday activities. It's the answer to your: "Now that I have clarified my goals, how exactly… Continue reading Your LinkedIn To Do List
Are You Mad About Grammatical Mistakes?
Maria, what do you make of great content with grammatical mistakes? Does it warrant intense public criticism? Without a doubt, proofreading is crucial - for anyone, but especially for a writer. While I agree with the sentiment that errors can distract from the content of the article, I am convinced that intensely criticizing an author in… Continue reading Are You Mad About Grammatical Mistakes?
Only an Artist Needs a LinkedIn Portfolio, Right? Wrong!
Still don't have a powerful, substantial and visually appealing LinkedIn portfolio? Your competition does! Including a portfolio of your work in LinkedIn profile is a great way to demonstrate what you bring to the table, as opposed to simply talking about it. This applies to your situation, whether you are an artist or a business… Continue reading Only an Artist Needs a LinkedIn Portfolio, Right? Wrong!
Top 5 Reasons to Use LinkedIn Publishing Platform
I am very excited about LinkedIn publishing platform. There are many reasons why you want to leverage it, and here are the top five: It allows your long-form posts to become a part of our profile It comes with a potential be featured on LinkedIn Pulse (in other words, LinkedIn will recommend your article to other members… Continue reading Top 5 Reasons to Use LinkedIn Publishing Platform
Claim Your Territory: Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URL
You have heard that it's important to customize your LinkedIn profile URL (claim your vanity URL), but simply didn't get around to it. Or, most likely, you don't feel particularly motivated to take care of this as you don't know why exactly it matters. So why is it crucial to customize your LinkedIn profile URL, you ask? This little… Continue reading Claim Your Territory: Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URL
From Fear to Hope: Introduction to the Leadership Circle Profile for Agilists
Sample slides: from-fear-to-hope.pptx-1Download
Magic of Virtual and Hybrid Facilitation for Scrum Masters
Sample slides: magic-of-virtual-facilitation-and-engagement-for-sms_maria-fafard-1Download
Virtual and Engaging? Yes and Yes!
It was an incredible experience teaching my first Project Management Institute all virtual course, “Power of Coaching and Facilitation" for PMI Seminars World. I am so grateful for this opportunity and for my insightful, deeply curious students. One sentiment expressed by them was how engaging our time together was; their surprise and delight that this… Continue reading Virtual and Engaging? Yes and Yes!
The Power of Coaching and Facilitation for Project Managers
Presentation slides: Power of Coaching and Facilitation for Project Managers PMI evaluations summary: PMI Dublin_Evaluation_Summary_Markin_Fafard (1)
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