Key Takeaways: Effective leadership begins with self-regulation: Catch yourself in the act before your inner jerk takes the wheel. Effective leadership isn’t about always being right—it’s about leading with emotional intelligence, humility, and grace under pressure. Avoid the Jerk Trap: When...
Make your YES mean more by saying NO more often. Saying “No” is hard because we don’t just say the word, we burden it with other – unsaid – baggage on both the sayer’s and receiver’s part. But it doesn’t have to be that way and powerful leaders know how to use the Art of No in ways that leave the listener feeling useful, appreciated and inspired. Learn to practice the Art of No. Your team will thank you for it.
Key Takeaways: Learn from the Bad to Lead Better: Some of the most powerful leadership lessons come from watching what not to do. Pay attention to how poor leadership feels—then commit to doing the opposite with intention and integrity. Respect Your People: Employees are not bound by loyalty; they...
Key Takeaways: Different Boss, Different Lens: Soft skills like listening are tough to measure, and what one boss sees as strength, another might view as a growth area. That doesn’t mean anyone was lying—it just means expectations and perceptions vary. Promotions Raise the Bar: With more...
The bigger the organization you work in, the greater the likelihood that you’ll meet your demise in death-by-meeting. What a horrible way to go! And the worst part? All that pain and suffering – and it’s usually a crap shoot as to whether you’ll get through all the items on the agenda.
No. Actually, the worst part is when you end up running those meetings yourself!
Agendas are often useful for thinking through what you want to cover. But – having an agenda does not mean having a meeting worth everyone’s time to attend. How to avoid death-by-meeting when you’re in charge? Agenda or not, take the time to think through your intended outcome for the meeting.
Key Takeaways: Redefine the Narrative of Womens Leadership: Women’s leadership is not about mimicking traditional models, but about bringing authenticity, collaboration, and emotional intelligence to the forefront—reshaping what effective leadership looks like across industries. Embrace Lifelong...
Key Takeaways: Fear is normal—don’t pretend it’s not there. Instead of hiding behind rational excuses, call fear what it is. You're not broken; you're just human. And fear, like heartburn after pizza, is something we all deal with. Make friends with your fear. Invite it in, give it a nickname, and...
I just read a great article by Richard Boyatzis detailing the brain science behind “emotional contagion.” I find this particularly interesting in the context of corporate culture, having observed some pretty toxic bosses “infect” their staffs and encourage cultures where competition, backstabbing, emotional abuse and just plain incompetence were so rampant that you could feel the powerlessness and despair when you walked in the door.
The good news is that the ability to emotionally infect your staff and teams can be used for good by leaders who understand their responsibility to foster a positive environment and culture where others are in their power and able to perform at their best. To be a good leader, then, you need to…
Key Takeaways: Emotional intelligence isn’t about suppressing feelings—it’s about understanding them. EQ isn’t the absence of emotion; it’s the skill of recognizing emotions (yours and others’) and responding to them in a way that’s constructive, not reactive. Strong emotions don’t mean someone’s...
Key Takeaways: You don’t need a singular, lifelong “purpose” to live meaningfully. Let go of the pressure to find your one true calling and instead focus on what brings meaning to your life today—right now, in this moment. Shift your mindset from “I” to “us.” Purpose doesn’t have to be grand or...
