Dr. Haesung Han, clinical director at New Friends New Life, shares her insights on human trafficking.

I recently had the honor of moderating an educational forum that confronted a horrific reality facing girls and young women right here in our community. New Friends New Life hosted this event entitled Our Girls, Our City: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children on the Southern Methodist University campus. The panel included local experts in the fields of clinical psychology, law enforcement, political science and education, committed to advancing the discussion of human trafficking.

~ Dr. Haesung Han – a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, specializing in trauma, and the clinical director at New Friends New Life

~ Major Jeoff Wiliams – head of the Criminal Investigation Division, Northeast Texas, Texas Department of Public Safety

~ Dr. Vanessa Bouche – Assistant Professor of Political Science at Texas Christian University, specializing in Politics and Policy of Human Trafficking

~ Coach Scott Nady – Head Football Coach at Parish Episcopal School, founding member of NFNL’s Men’s Advocacy group and an activist guiding young men to develop proper values and respect to women and girls

As the mother of two daughters and a son, this topic is sobering and hits uncomfortably close to home. It’s tough to talk about – but talk we must. The attendees that night represented a wide slice of Dallas citizenry. Some were knowledgeable on the topic of sex trafficking and others were there to learn. While my role was to guide the conversation, I was also there to learn more myself.

I spend my days working with corporate senior executives and company stakeholders, helping them to have difficult conversations with team members and customers. I provide leaders with tools to connect with their audiences, and to listen with empathy.  But those speeches and conversations rarely tackle life and death situations. I wondered if my coaching skills could aid these conversations. Could I help someone bridge into a discussion on human trafficking? Would I know what to say if I encountered a young woman who needed help?

Regardless of your profession, passion or day-to-day activities, having meaningful conversations are key to our success as members of the human race. But these days, it seems difficult to have any kind of civil discourse on any topic. We’re on edge. Testy. Quick to challenge. Maybe things will calm down soon and we’ll go back to a more mannerly way of engagement. Unfortunately, I don’t believe it will happen without some concentrated effort – on everyone’s part. Events like this one are a great start.

I applaud Kelly Cruse, Executive Director of New Friends New Life, and Gerald Turner, president of SMU and Chairman of the New Friends New Life Advisory Board, for continuing to raise the difficult topic and have the challenging conversation. And I look forward to learning more – and lending my skills wherever they are needed. I wish we didn’t have to have these conversations. But we do. We must.

For more information on the New Friends New Life organization, visit http://www.newfriendsnewlife.org

I’m looking forward to speaking to the staff at D Magazine this week about leadership, communications and personal brand. I’ll share some of our discussion next week – stay tuned!

Do you have a To Do list? Start a To Do list – or Action Plan – for your professional goals.

I admit it. I live and die by my To Do list. Nothing fancy – just a $2 spiral bound notebook filled with lists of things to do. Categorized and prioritized…work and family items included. It’s a reflection of my busy world. I take great tactile pleasure in scratching items off the list, only to add a few more at the end. Looking back through these notebooks gives me a sense of accomplishment and reinforces my goals. I can clearly see the strides I have made professionally as well as the passage of time with my kids.

Do you have a To Do list? Do you share it with others – specifically your work colleagues and management team? Most of us only consider our goals and accomplishments during the annual review process. But what if you started a To Do list for your professional goals? Call it an Action Plan for Success.

This Action Plan is an important step in managing your personal brand image. How do you want to be perceived as a leader? What words do you want others to use when they describe you? When you communicate, do you send a message that is often more powerful than your actual words? With a little advance planning – and some help from others – you can make great strides to advance your personal brand image and leadership quotient.

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Rhonda Hughes’ passion for communicating in a global society is evident in this recent video from the Dallas Independent School District, promoting their Two-Way Dual Language program.

Do your servant leadership skills align with Mother Nature’s playbook?

As Earth Day approaches, it’s refreshing to see the attention companies and civic organizations are placing on our Earth. Around the globe, people show their passion for the environment and conservation with events like fun runs, recycling drives and educational forums. This Friday, April 22, your company or favorite civic organization may commemorate the day with a tree planting or clean-up activity…a way to honor Mother Nature.

I was thinking recently about the idea of “Mother Nature.” Strong – yet kind. Values everyone – and everything. Commands respect – and gives respect in turn. Is always listening – and persistent. Essentially – the qualities of a servant leader. Read More

Are you trapped in your data – or do you share a vision that engages employees and compels them to action?

It’s tax season and if you’re like me, you’ve been spending a fair amount of time with numbers lately. Numbers can tell a compelling story. Did you stick to your budget? Did you take a special vacation? Was there an illness or unexpected expense? Stitched together, numbers can give color to your year in review.

When evaluating your year in review – what if you only looked at the numbers – and not the story? It would paint a rather dull picture. I have seen the same thing happen to executives when presenting to their internal stakeholders and even external audiences. They can get bogged down in the numbers – the minutiae of the past – and neglect to share their vision for the future. Then they become angry when the “troops” fail to execute the company’s goals. But how can the team be effective when all they have to reference is the past? The executive failed to share their vision – and path – to the future. Read More

Communicating in a global society

Let’s face it – our lives are becoming increasingly more global. From new types of food we regularly enjoy to new people we meet in our work and personal lives, we now engage with people from around the world. While these interactions certainly broaden our horizons, they can cause challenges when it comes to communication.

As a leadership and communications coach, I spend my days working with professionals to improve their verbal, vocal and messaging skills. Information poorly delivered to a diverse audience can result in a serious business issue. But what if we had the opportunity to hone our global communication skills long before we reached the business world?

Recently, I had the opportunity to share my passion for communication with the leaders of the Dallas Independent School District’s Two-Way Dual-Language program. The goal of Dual Language is to provide opportunities for all students, regardless of their native language, to obtain a second language while interacting with students from a range of diverse cultures and backgrounds setting the stage for cultural awareness, understanding, inclusion and global citizenship. Read More

Leadership evolution is a constant challenge.

Spring has clearly sprung in my part of the world. My garden is coming alive as the roses and azaleas bloom, adding vibrant color and texture to my yard. But spring can be fraught with storms that destroy those blooms in a quick minute. Sometimes, a career feels a bit like spring – glorious wonder and tremendous squalls. It’s a natural progression, but can be unsettling, to say the least.

Our work lives also progress over time as we take on new challenges and learn new skills. Mistakes are made and successes are applauded as we travel our career paths. I found Jim Collins’ book Good to Great in my bookcase recently. Thumbing through the pages, I was reminded of the seven characteristics that cause companies to go from “good” to “great.” I believe these characteristics apply to individuals as well as companies. Leadership, discipline, and humility are all elements of success. But, in my opinion, what separates the individual from the company is passion. Passion for growth – passion for helping people – passion for a challenge. I’m firmly embracing my passion for the coaching space with a renewed vigor these days. Are you in touch with your passion? Do you remember why you’re working? Read More