Author: Bridget Zappa Hahn

I’m a change and communications expert. Part of this includes executive c0aching and guidance. As a result, leaders and executives have strong communications opportunities. Some communicate well, others have room to grow and change.

A company’s web presence matters, especially if the organization is public. The external story online matters. This may include social media handles or ways customers, investors or potential employees can engage with the company.

That’s why corporate leaders need strong online bios. It’s more than just photos and titles. Each leader should actually have bios that explain their role, maybe some of their background and education. I’ve seen too many companies not do this well. It doesn’t need to be too difficult. It can be simple, just more than just a photo and title.

Another challenge for corporate leaders and executives is effective internal or employee communications. In my experience, leaders who don’t engage and communicate internally have challenges taking care of clients. After all, it’s employees who care for customers and drive company growth. So, leaders need to be more transparent with staff.

Part of engaging employees means leaders need to be visible. Prior to Covid when employees were in the office five days a week, leader visibility could include walking around, going to the bathroom down the hall or elsewhere so employees could see you around. It could also include regular town hall meetings for updates.

Leaders can still be visible visibility in virtual environments. Town hall meetings can be held virtually. They can have Q&A sessions. Teams or other virtual tools can be used t0 be available and visible. There are  challenges here, but it’s possible.

Finally, leaders need to know when to expand staff either through full-time, part-time or with fractional or contract resources. I’ve filled multiple roles like this to support  communications, change, transformation and executive support.

These communications recommendations are just a snapshot of the end-to-end opportunities for leaders and organizations.

Weather is finally starting to warm up in Minnesota. Winter is so long and this one was especially cold. Just about three weeks ago, we got a foot of snow! Only in Minnesota…

Well, Easter this week is all about new beginnings because of the resurrection of Jesus.

It’s the end of Lent and Holy Week which started yesterday on Palm Sunday.

For a few years, I would attend the Easter Triduum at Notre Dame. It was a wonderful experience. It was the first time I went to Tenebrae at midnight. The key for all of the services was to get there early so you could get a seat. It was always full-plus.

I was actually at N0tre Dame for Easter in 2010 when Rob first asked me out on a date. I’ll never forget it.

I haven’t been there for awhile given the fraught relationship I now have with my alma mater. But I can now attend the Triduum with my love.

Let’s hope the weather cooperates and I don’t need t0 wear winter clothing f0r the newness of Easter.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

To look for work right now is not easy. Just check LinkedIn to see the struggles first-hand by people. I think companies, and interviewers, forget they are communicating with human beings, including when they send those lovely rejection emails.

I think people who interview, and some who provide feedback, can be arrogant. And that’s putting it mildly.

I recently interviewed for a contract role (not even a full-time role) that was full of screaming red flags.

The company is acquiring another one. A company with about 5K employees may be adding another 1K with the merger. It’s a relatively small company. I’ve supported company divisions more sizeable than that.

For this transformation, there is no executive sponsor. One leader defined the change as managing by FOMO. A question during another interview asked how I’d handle 15 approvers for one communication. 15!

Then, their feedback to me was condescending at best.

Specifically:
“They commented that the 3 of you had very different styles which was helpful for them to see who they felt would fit best at (the company). They also shared that they felt you would thrive in a role where the scope was deeper and narrower; perhaps a bit more defined. More specialized perhaps?”

My response:
“Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. Interestingly, this project is deep and narrow. I also find different work styles and perspectives lead to better outcomes. Regardless, I wish them well with this transformation.”

I took this feedback with a grain of salt, especially given the horrid red flags and the narrow thinking of these interviewers.

Sometimes a “no”after interviews is truly a gift in disguise.

I’m more than fine to let someone else navigate the red flags of this contract role. I trust my gut and may not have taken the role if offered. I’m better than that and am moving on.

St. Patrick’s Day is this week. For me, it’s all about the Luck of the Irish.

That phrase conjures b0th my heritage and my alma mater N0tre Dame. It’s also a wonderful remembrance of of our Ireland trip late last year. And all of this I share with my husband, my love.

Rob has Irish heritage, went to Notre Dame and, 0bviously, we shared our Ireland trip. That’s what happens when you find the one – we are aligned on so much, everything just falls int0 place.

Being with Rob is so easy. That’s because we’re the same on almost all the important elements from faith to politics to values.

That’s really the main reason why I feel so lucky in my life because I’m the luckiest in love.

Even with life’s ups and downs, love and luck make it more than worthwhile.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “childhood trauma.” It might be  a term that resonates. The reality is childhood trauma is common and leaves lasting emotional scars on mental health and general well-being.

I feel this. Was I abused as a little girl? Not physically. Childhood trauma doesn’t need a necessary physical component. The mental trauma of childh00d  is much worse in my opinion and experience.

A child should be hugged and loved. I didn’t experience that. I have no memory of any love expressed from my parents. In fact, they often ignored me and left me to myself. I remember sitting at my desk in my bedroom doing high sch00l homework. They kept the house so cold that my fingers were often purple.

Also, it was always about my narcissistic m0ther. She  took a daily two-hour nap. As a result, I was often left to entertain myself by reading. By reading every day, I established a habit I’ve had to this day.

I think of this little girl wh0 really never felt like enough, who did’nt feel loved. I would tell her than none 0f this was her fault. I’d give her a huge hug and tell her I’m here for her. Also, I’d say that it’s ok to not want t0 be around people wh0 ign0re you, even your parents. Healing and being a good person is possible and up to you.

Little Bridget, you will be an independent person who makes mental health your focus. You are enough. I love you.

And now, as an adult, this Bridget never wanted t0 repeat this trauma in her life. That is why I raised my daugher totally different with hugs and words of love, and I’m focused on being the best wife I can be.

“Let Them” is a book by Mel Robbins. The theory is a mindset shift that involves accepting that you cannot control other people’s actions, opinions or behavior.

Instead of trying to change others, you “let them” be who they are, which frees up your energy to focus on your own peace and happiness.

This approach is a tool for managing stress and improving relationships by shifting focus from what you can’t control to what you can control: your own response and emotional well-being. 

Let them show you who they really are. Others eventually reveal themselves. Then you can decide what’s right for you from individuals, stress and more.

Core principles of the “Let Them” theory include:

• Letting go of control
• Believing in the behavior of others when you see it or experience it
• Taking back your power only for you
• Focusing on your own happiness and peace
• Protecting your energy at all costs

All of these elements are fundamental as I focus on me and cut nasty people out of my life.

This is a sad day. It marks two years since I lost my sweet corgi girl Tea Biscuit. She was my soul dog. There’s no doubt.

I remember the day like it was yesterday. Losing her happened fast. When she died in my arms, I howled and cried like never before. I loved her so completely and unconditionally as she loved me. I didn’t know how I was going to ever be happy again.

Even as I write this right now and remember, I’m tearing up. And it’s been two years.

I remember h0w much she loved to cuddle with me. She would lay next to me on my left and look up at me with her dark eyes with such love. She would often fall asleep next to me  I miss that, a lot.

I’ve bawled  many times in the last two years, especially when I lost her, and didn’t shed one tear when my dad died late last year. Pets are true family.

My lovely Tea Biscuit loved me unconditionally and I did the same. Biological family doesn’t really d0 that. Tea was my true family. My ride-or-die sweetie.

Pets truly are part of the family. They are so central to the love in the house. That’s why for so many people, like me, experiencing the loss of a pet  hurts more acutely than the loss of a family member.  Pets truly are one of the hardest losses to endure.

I’ve dreamed of Tea Tea  occasionally. I believe it’s her letting me know she’s ok and that she still loves me. Waking from a dream like that is wonderful. It’s like she’s with me again. Oh, what I’d do to have her with me again!

While I’ve marked her death for the last two years, I think I’ll focus on happier times from n0w on in my posts about her. I’ll celebrate her birthday in June and her gotcha day in August. She deserves that from n0w 0n.

One day, I will see her again. I know that for sure. At that time, and we can snuggle together like she did with me, with her beautiful brown eyes looking at me with love.

My beautiful Tea, I love you with all of me. I always will.

Everyone needs someone in their corner. Whether a person is thriving or struggling, having someone ready to lift them up can make all the difference. Many people don’t have that kind of support. It’s why I believe I  can choose to be it for others.

This is especially true for women. However, women don’t talk to themselves with love. I know I’m my worst critic. I don’t always think fondly of myself or speak to myself with love. I have a lot of improving to do. I think that’s pretty normal for women. It’s a constant struggle.

Having another woman ready to help you, lift you and light you up can make all the difference. Like most women, I have a bestie, a best friend. I speak to her with more love than I speak to myself. Perhaps more women like me can take a lesson from how we speak to our best friend. We should speak to ourselves with that same love and concern. Wouldn’t that be wonderful, to build ourselves up and light ourselves up, just as we light up our friends?

Just as I’m super firm with the boundaries I set with others, I need to do the same with how I treat myself. Setting boundaries without guilt is self care. It’s taking care of me. It’s ensuring my light isn’t dimmed by the toxic people who I continue to cut out of my life.

No one should dim my light. I won’t allow it. I feel the same way of making sure I light others up, too. After all, light begets light. That means I can be there for me and for others, too.

Life happens in ordinary moments. Yes, sometimes miracles and exciting moments do happen. But the ordinary is when life’s magic truly appears.

In beauty of ordinary moments, there is space for quiet and stillness. This could be challenge because I often try to get more and more done and end up overwhelmed and exhaused. The quiet, stillness and peace enables true mindfullness, resilience and rest and relaxation.

Again, this is not easy. It makes me feel a little uncomfortable. It may be messy. It means getting comfortable feeling uncomfortable. How to do that?

One small practice that helps during these moments? Instead of trying to get rid of the discomfort, I gently make room for it. Know it is ordinary. It’s beautiful. After all, it’s truly part of  day-to-day life.

However, I try not to force it. It’s not about“fixing” how I feel. It’s about releasing a firm grip on it and resisting –  and instead, just being. Being me and be proud of it. It’s beautiful to live in the ordinary. 

I just need to remind myself every day.

Change is defined as alteration, transformation and something different from the ordinary. With these definitions, it can be difficult to navigate change generally and specifically.

As a career communicator, I handled change communications and change management pretty much regularly. Change management can be summarized as a structured approach to transitioning something, individuals, teams and organizations from a current state to desired future state, aimed at employee empowerment for accepting change in the work environment. It demands transparency and clarity.

This means communicating simply and often and working with executives and other leaders regularly. I was proud to help employees and leaders learn how to adapt to change.

Both in companies and with individuals, change can be difficult. That includes each of us in our daily lives. Change isn’t easy. It can be messy. It can make life difficult at times.