The Underrated Leadership Skill: How Active Listening Builds Respect and Power Active listening skills are a communication hack for all kinds of professional and personal situations. It is one of the most effective skills a leader can develop to improve their emotional intelligence and soft skills...
People Skills
Employee Engagement Hack: Why Empowerment is More Than a Buzzword
Employee empowerment is a powerful strategy for cutting to the core of the challenges associated with employee engagement, particularly employee retention and development. Want to achieve organizational effectiveness and foster a thriving workplace? Learn to empower your employees. It can be that...
Captain Obvious Gets A Lesson in Empathy
Key Takeaways: Empathy — Recognizing that stating the obvious might sting, Mary models curiosity and care over critique, inviting us to see what’s really behind someone’s choice before we comment. She reminds us that pointing out what everyone “should do” can feel like a personal attack, even when...
Negotiation Tactics to Land a Win-Win Deal
Key Takeaways: “Negotiation tactics” aren’t about winning at someone else’s expense—they’re about discovering the solution nobody expected but both of you can smile about. (Inspired by Dana’s emphasis on "surprise win-wins." A powerful negotiation begins with curiosity—ask yourself what’s really...
My Wish List for Senior Executives
Key Takeaways: As a senior executive, simply telling yourself you listen isn’t enough—true leadership begins with patient listening that deeply seeks to learn and understand, not just solve. In our rush and multitasking world, the best of us fall prey to distraction—our devices seduce us into...
Live Your Own Fairy Tale by Negotiating Your Own Value
Key Takeaways: fairy tale isn’t just fantasy—it’s your own value story: The author encourages women to view the negotiation process like crafting their own fairy tale, reclaiming narrative control by defining and asserting what they’re truly worth. Negotiation goes beyond salary—it encompasses...
Advanced Conflict Management For Leaders
Key Takeaways: Conflict Management Starts with Perspective: Recognizing and naming differing perspectives in a conflict can be the first step toward resolution. The "Right vs. Right" Principle: Understanding that each side in a conflict is often protecting something valuable can help in finding...
The Antidote for Toxic Corporate Culture
Key Takeaways: Integrity as the Antidote to Toxic Corporate Culture: In environments where negativity and dysfunction prevail, introducing integrity can act as a transformative force. By upholding commitments and fostering trust, leaders can counteract pervasive toxicity. Empowering Personal...
5 Leadership Lessons From The Worst Bosses I’ve Ever Had
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...
Dear Dana Workplace Advice: What do you mean I’m not a good listener?
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...








