How to make hard feedback easier to give
Early in my career as a leader, I knew in my head that I would have to learn to give critical feedback, but my heart just couldn't take...
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Kelli Thompson
- Aug 6
- 3 min
How to Break the Overwhelm Cycle
As we approach back-to-school time, I always feel like this is the season of overwhelm for me and my clients, even if they don't have...
Kelli Thompson
- Jul 30
- 4 min
3 Ways Leaders Can Improve Coaching Skills
A client recently began her session with me saying that she wanted to talk about onboarding her newly hired employee. This new employee...
Kelli Thompson
- Jul 22
- 3 min
How do you know when it's time to quit?
Full transparency, this topic wasn't on plan for my newsletter today. However, given the news on the political sphere that erupted over...
Kelli Thompson
- Jul 15
- 3 min
What are you willing to be criticized for?
One of my clients recently had to make a hard employee hiring decision. She was faced with managing the politics of interviewing a...
Kelli Thompson
- Jul 8
- 3 min
How to be a leader who changes policy
Learn how to be a leader who changes policy.
Kelli Thompson
- Jul 1
- 2 min
My favorite mid-year planning & goal setting activity
We are officially halfway through the year! It's the time of year where most people begin to panic that they only have six months left to...
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 23
- 3 min
Rest v Recovery: Why it matters for you as a leader
One of my clients had recently come off a streak of intense work projects - ones that consumed her mind, heart and energy for far too...
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 10
- 3 min
Are you talking? Or truly contributing?
Okay be honest, how comfortable are you with silence? That uncomfortable, awkward silence that just hangs in the room (live or virtual)...
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 3
- 3 min
Counterintuitive approach to lead change & results
How do you hardwire new behaviors into your team to support a thriving culture? That was the question we worked to answer in an afternoon...
Kelli Thompson
- May 27
- 3 min
5 money conversations every woman needs to have
Don't talk about your salary. I'm not sure where the origins of the don't talk about your salary rule started, but it has fostered a...
Kelli Thompson
- May 20
- 3 min
What 3 female CEOs say is key to success
Last week I had the opportunity to moderate a panel of powerhouse CEOs in my hometown (Omaha, NE). In preparation for this panel, I met...
Kelli Thompson
- May 14
- 3 min
Real Talk About "Imposter Syndrome"
I was recently interviewed for Chief Executive Magazine, and thought the editor, Emily DeNitto, did a wonderful write up. So, I wanted to...
Kelli Thompson
- Apr 29
- 3 min
Gender norms hurt men, too (why this matters for women)
While I am a women's leadership and executive coach on a mission to help women advance to the rooms where decisions are made, in specific...
Kelli Thompson
- Apr 22
- 3 min
Closing the leadership development gap for women
When I left corporate for entrepreneurship, my father in law asked me, So what do you do? In the simplest terms, I explained to him that...
Kelli Thompson
- Apr 15
- 3 min
What is the Enneagram and Why Care?
This week, the women in my Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership program are diving deep into their Enneagram types and it's always so...
Kelli Thompson
- Apr 8
- 3 min
Get out of your head with this simple tip
A quick note:) I am geeking out today because I am a guest on my favorite podcast, Hello Monday. Hello Monday is (in my opinion) the...
Kelli Thompson
- Mar 18
- 3 min
How simplifying can make you a more impactful leader
This Women's History Month, I am committed to sharing stories of women leaders who don't “fit the mold” in their industries, but because...
Kelli Thompson
- Mar 12
- 3 min
How To Find Your Unique Leadership Talents
How can you find that unique leadership skill is that only YOU can offer your team and your organization? Ask yourself these questions.
Kelli Thompson
- Mar 5
- 4 min
10 Questions To Build Your Leadership Legacy
All of us have the power to break a barrier and create a legacy with our leadership. You don't have to “fit the mold” to break a barrier.
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 27
- 3 min
Five Leadership Lessons In Five Years
I never set out to be an entrepreneur. In fact, I frequently remember telling people when I worked in my banking and healthcare tech...
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 20
- 3 min
Why Your "Flaws" Are Your Best Leadership Gifts
What if all the qualities you’ve been scared to demonstrate are exactly what you need to be successful? Try this reframe.
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 13
- 3 min
Rust Out Boredom is Burn Out
A client told me recently that she couldn't figure out why she was starting to feel exhausted and restless at work. In her mind, she...
Kelli Thompson
- Jan 30
- 3 min
5 Types of Support Networks for Women Leaders
In the months leading up to my book launch, I experienced some of the worst imposter feelings I've ever felt in my life. I couldn't stop...
Kelli Thompson
- Jan 23
- 4 min
How to Define Your Leadership Style
A few weeks ago I was working on a business communication idea and I shared it in an online community I belong to comprised of fellow...
Kelli Thompson
- Jan 16
- 4 min
My Most Popular Confidence Coaching Tool
I recently met with a client who received a well-earned promotion. She was a couple of months into a new, more strategic role and she'd...
Kelli Thompson
- Jan 9
- 3 min
New Year, New... Quits!
Happy New Year! I hope you and your family enjoyed the holidays. Our holidays were celebrated a bit late as we just held our family...
Kelli Thompson
- Dec 19, 2023
- 4 min
My Favorite Things (+ a year-end reflection tool)
This is my final newsletter of 2023 before I go into reflection and planning mode for the remainder of the year. Well, that along with...
Kelli Thompson
- Dec 12, 2023
- 3 min
How to Handle Discomfort as a Leader
Earlier this year, I spent the day with a group of women leaders in an all-day workshop. We talked about many leadership topics: Shifting...
Kelli Thompson
- Dec 5, 2023
- 3 min
Are You Selling Yourself Short?
Is it performance review time in your company right now? If not, I bet it will be coming up soon for you in the next few months....
Kelli Thompson
- Jul 24, 2023
- 3 min
How to Find Your Genius Zone
In honor of the women's World Cup soccer tournament, I'm sharing a shortened book excerpt this week about Jill Ellis, the former U.S....
Kelli Thompson
- Jul 13, 2023
- 3 min
How To Advance From Doer to Leader
When we promote people from doer to leader, we assume a magic transformation will happen in their comfort and skill to coach others.
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 30, 2023
- 3 min
How To Stop Procrastinating
When I first launched my coaching business, I planned out all of my projected revenue and expenses, but I missed a big one. It's one that...
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 28, 2023
- 2 min
Making A Clear Impact Through Subtraction, Not Addition
The key to making an impact with your project or message is through subtraction, not addition.
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 27, 2023
- 3 min
Could Doubt Be a GOOD Thing?
Even successful leaders feel doubt. They take actions aligned to their values while also feeling doubt. Courage & doubt can coexist.
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 23, 2023
- 3 min
The Best Leadership Advice I've Received
When we're in conflict, it's tempting to think it's us vs. them. But every person values being seen, heard and communicated with.
Kelli Thompson
- Jun 5, 2023
- 3 min
Rest V Recovery: Why knowing the difference prevents burnout
As a former corporate leader and a leadership coach, I see major health consequences from leaders who refuse to give themselves a break
Kelli Thompson
- May 15, 2023
- 3 min
How To Decide With Confidence
2016 was a year of hard choices for me. Within a period of four months, I called off a wedding and quit a job I loved to take an even...
Kelli Thompson
- Mar 17, 2023
- 3 min
Advancing women in the workplace: 3 tools to boost your peace, potential & paycheck
March 8 is International Women's Day and the entire month of March is reserved to honor Women's History Month. There is good news - more...
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 21, 2023
- 2 min
3 Questions To Help You Level Up At Work
You cannot be a $500 million dollar leader with $200 million dollar habits. If you want to level up at work, you create the new results you
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 14, 2023
- 2 min
5 Tips For Managing Up At Work
A key mindset shift we all must learn as we advance in our career is this: You won't always have the leader you want, but many times you're
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 14, 2023
- 3 min
Leading Through Uncomfortable Situations
In times of discomfort, it's tempting to use short-term strategies like taking over a task, shying away from the risk, staying silent or pro
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 14, 2023
- 3 min
Why "Rust Out" leads To Burnout
Something to consider is this: Burnout isn't always caused by overwork, there is a type of burnout called “rust out" - and it's caused by us
Kelli Thompson
- Feb 14, 2023
- 3 min
Are You Leading As a Hero or a Coach?
Several years ago when I was still in the corporate ranks, I told my leader that I wanted more practice in developing my executive...
Kelli Thompson
- Oct 20, 2022
- 2 min
How To Advocate For Yourself (in a way you won't regret)
I had an impromptu call with a client because she felt stuck. A few weeks prior, she learned that her peer would be leaving. Instead of...
Kelli Thompson
- Oct 13, 2022
- 2 min
Why Saying No Builds Confidence (and how to do it)
This week I was talking with a friend about an opportunity that was presented to her. While on paper the opportunity looked good in terms...
Kelli Thompson
- Sep 22, 2022
- 3 min
Make The Shift from Doer to Leader
As leaders, we have to make the shift from doer and fixer to leader and coach. We can’t have it both ways. We can choose be the one who does
Kelli Thompson
- Sep 15, 2022
- 2 min
Leading With Confidence: Lessons From Indra Nooyi and Padmasree Warrior
In honor of Women's Equality Day, I had the privilege of a lifetime to moderate a conversation with Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of Pepsi,...
Kelli Thompson
- Apr 26, 2022
- 4 min
I Kept My IVF a Secret at Work Because of the Stigma Around Fertility Treatments
First seen on Working Mother. “The test is negative. I’m sorry, Kelli.” My doctor’s words rang through the still air and pierced right...
Kelli Thompson
- Mar 17, 2022
- 2 min
Why Your "Flaws" Are Your Best Leadership Gift
In the 1960's my great grandma bought this bus so she could pick up and house a seasonal harvest crew for our ranch in Southwest...
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Website Photography by Ariel Panowicz
© 2024 by Kelli Thompson
Omaha, NE
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