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This week I’m looking at the advice that writer Louise Penny puts in the mouth of her character, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Gamache tells his protégés that there are “four sentences that we must learn to say, and to mean.”   I don’t know. I need help. I’m sorry. I was wrong.   What all of … Read more

This week I’m looking at the advice that writer Louise Penny puts in the mouth of her character, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Gamache tells his protégés that there are “four sentences that we must learn to say, and to mean.”   Gamache has to specifically advise young police officers about these four sentences because they are … Read more

This week I’m looking at the advice that writer Louise Penny puts in the mouth of her character, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Gamache tells his protégés that there are “four sentences that we must learn to say, and to mean.”   Gamache has to specifically advise young police officers about these four sentences because they are … Read more

This week I’m turning for inspiration to one of my favorite writers, Louise Penny. Her wonderful mystery series is set in Québec, and it features Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.   Gamache tells his protégés that there are “four sentences that we must learn to say, and to mean.” He is referring to people in his … Read more

In North Carolina, when the Department of Employment Services (sorry, Division of Employment Security) decides that a worker can receive unemployment benefits, here is how they say that:   Claimant is not disqualified for benefits. “Not disqualified.”   They could say “approved.” They could say “earned.” They could say “given.” They could even just say … Read more

I love an article or a book about productivity. If there’s a hack, I’ve read about it and probably tried it out. But here’s one I’m having trouble with.   “Get 10% better.” (The idea is that you’re not trying to blow anything out of the water, you’re improving incrementally.)   But what does that … Read more

I don’t know about you, but the internet is giving me a lot of advice about what I should be doing during the stay-at-home order.   Make the most of this time!  Develop that side hustle!  Train for an Iron Man!  Learn a new language! Bake bread! Spend time with your family! Spend time with … Read more

One thing I have loved about this time is the dropping away of artifice.   We’re seeing our colleagues’ homes and families and pets, our friends’ gray hair and their faces in the unflattering light of Zoom.   And most of all, I feel like I am really hearing what’s going on with people, even … Read more

Face to face Shoulder to shoulder Toe to toe Elbow room Heart to heart   Our language is full of phrases that describe what it feels like to be physically near one another. They evoke our need to be together in person. When we work shoulder to shoulder, we know that the whole team is … Read more