10 Hot-Topic Blogs for 2023
Now that we’ve all had some 2023 transition time, the Vida Aventura team took a look back at some of our top blogs over the last year or so that continue to be must-reads for teams, business leaders and executives. Whether it’s upping your leadership game, learning...
The Case for ‘Slow Productivity’
Increased productivity is usually on the top of the list when I work with executives, teams and organizations on setting goals. Who doesn’t want that for a healthy bottom line? So when we hear the words ‘slow’ and ‘productivity’ together in a purposeful and positive...
The Rise of Helicopter Bosses
We’re all familiar with helicopter parents, but have you heard of helicopter bosses? It’s a newer way to think about a very old problem: micromanagement. But thanks to the pandemic and the rise of remote working employees, managers have been facing new challenges, and...
Beginning Your Year With Intention
By this time, company leaders and managers have usually already moved on from setting organizational goals, budgets and strategies for the coming year. And as individuals, we’ve transitioned into the new year, working toward our goals, organizing family schedules and...
What Is A ‘Chief Remote Officer’ & Who Needs Them?
Do you remember when the business world was collectively scrambling to abruptly transition from brick-and-mortar work models to the largely unknown and often bewildering territory of remote working? And there was a panicked scramble to answer ever-evolving questions,...
State of Women in the Workforce: It Ain’t So Bright
There is an abundance of information coming out these days about women in the workplace, and specifically, in upper level management. And from my Vida Aventura work with clients, I’m not surprised at what we’re learning. The numbers aren’t great, and when it comes to...
Neurodiversity, DEI & the Power of Knowledge
Let’s talk about diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) policies and programs in your workplace. If I asked you about the diversity part, and to name the types of differences that might be present within your organization, what would be your answers? I...
The Bright & Dark Side of Resilience
I’ve been revisiting the word resilience lately, and what it really means for a person to be described as resilient. You might be thinking, “Des, what’s the big deal?” And on the surface, you’d be right. Resilience is a revered trait and common topic in the coaching...
Whataboutism, Finger-Pointing & The Blame Game at Work
Oh, if only work teams could all get along. But it usually doesn’t work that way, and often due to three destructive elements: whataboutism, finger-pointing and playing the blame game—all of which are toxic if left unchecked. When Vida Aventura clients need help with...
Essential Tips For Successful Leaders in 2022
“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.” - John Kenneth Galbraith Working and...
Morning Routines: 8 Ways to Get Your Groove Back
“I have to get back into a routine!” If you’ve been muttering that to yourself lately, especially after having enjoyed a summer full of vacations, parties, late night movie binges and a less structured schedule, you’re not alone. Fall has a way of saying, “Hey, it’s...
The Frozen Middle: Defrosting Tips For Managers & Leaders
The Frozen Middle. It sounds like a great title for a television series or mystery novel, doesn’t it? In reality, the term describes those in middle management who are tasked with carrying out strategies and direction from upper-level management, but aren’t actually...
“Celebrate Victories” & Other Top Team-Building Tips
Whenever I come across an insightful article about team building, I still get a little giddy. That’s because time and time again, over the years and through my own work with corporations and organizations, I’ve seen the positive impact that it has - on employees,...
Reframing: How to Turn Problems Into Opportunities
Take a minute to think about this past week, month or even the year. I’m betting there were times when you didn’t get what you wanted, things just didn’t go your way, or you felt stuck in a rut and not going anywhere. Maybe it was due to a negative reaction from a...
Are Remote Workers Happier? New Study Says Yes
I’m fielding lots of questions from clients these days - especially executives participating in Vida Aventura leadership development programs - and they revolve around corporate culture, remote working, and hybrid work structure. Some of their biggest concerns? ...
Want a Promotion? Get Yourself A Critic
Standard advice for people looking to reach a new career level, get a promotion or start a new business includes things like, “Give more value to your workplace, get noticed … demonstrate your leadership abilities.” Those are all great tips, but I’d add another one...
Must-Do’s For Leading Exhausted Teams
If you know anything about me or my Vida Aventura work with clients, you are aware of my mantra about celebrating: Celebrate everything, often! But lately I haven’t been so great about following my own advice. The reason? Pure, bottom-of-the-barrel, end-of-my-rope...
We Just Hope Nobody Gets Hurt: A Conversation with Cuban & Sooner
What happens when two entrepreneurs, friends and sometimes colleagues put their proverbial money where their mouths are? A podcast is born. Deseri Garcia (the “Cuban), founder and owner of Vida Aventura, and Michelle Freed (the “Sooner”), founder and owner of Woodfish...