Although not the path I saw through my tears, I have learned much these past few years. A second chance and a chance to renew, I share with you now as my gift to you this holiday season.

There are a couple of simple things that we can do to help us deal with the stress of the season. The biggest help would be to breathe.

Whatever feelings and significance the holidays inspire in you, whether on the list or off, may you use the time to hit the reset button, both personally and professionally.

The days of transactional selling are over. If you think more people will buy from you simply because your sign is bigger, your online ads appear more frequently, or your price is lower, you are missing an opportunity.

Being someone's management style can have a significant influence on professional growth as well as practice. The diversity of the influence generates a blended understanding that the successful workforce of today and tomorrow must be increasingly engaged and prepared to meet the challenges of a dynamic global economy.

Frequently, it's not about the process and technology, it's about people's emotional investment in current state. Taking the time to understand it, respect it, and productively address it may in fact enable you to reap benefits far beyond your original goals!

It doesn’t take too many instances of managers stepping in or coming to the rescue before people abdicate ownership of their jobs. Even people who try to take ownership and initiative will back down after too many instances of guessing wrong on how their manager wants something done.

The retention of performers is critically important for successful companies. It is the concerted effort of an organization to convey a message that generates actions and a long-term commitment that retains performers.

We are almost always surrounded by guideposts and opportunities that can lead us to further success. But, how often do we stop what we are doing long enough to take in and process these indicators and clues?

Team leaders must clearly practice leadership that understands what beliefs are being communicated in your team as well as taking the time to examine and act on those beliefs.