Recently, I opened up social media and the first story on my feed made me literally say out loud, “NO WAY!”   It was that kind of post: intriguing, outrageous, and just believable enough to catch my attention. So, like many of us do, I clicked. And, with my mind thinking, "this can't possibly be true!"... I decided to check Snopes. And, you guessed it, it was a lie. But here’s where it got interesting.  The second post? Also unbelievable - dishonest, divisive, and misleading

I remember a time I heard the words, “I’m disappointed in your leadership” from someone on my team. I felt them land in my chest like a punch.   They came from someone I respected deeply, which made them cut even deeper.  As someone who strives to be an intentional leader, I knew, in that moment, I had two choices: defend myself… or lead myself.   I took a breath and said,  "Would you be willing to share more?" And then I listened. I heard about the moments they had hoped fo

It’s been a year. 2025 has had some incredible highs and some pretty hard-hitting lows. I’m guessing I’m not alone in that. There’s been a LOT to juggle, a lot to carry, and plenty of reasons for big emotions. And so, during this week, I call Gratitude Week, I like to pause and  notice what’s good - what is going well, what makes my heart smile, what gives me hope... Ryan Seacrest has a segment on his radio show called “Tell Me Something Good,” and I love that idea. Not as a

The holidays are fast approaching, and that means parties, festivities, and time spent eating delicious food while talking about… well, everything. From co-workers’ spouses to distant relatives and in-laws, conversations can quickly drift into charged or uncomfortable territory. What starts as small talk can turn into strong opinions, awkward silences, or that familiar inner dialogue: “Don’t say it… don’t say it…” So how do you hold your own without losing your cool, or your

I was working with a leadership team recently when one of them sighed and said, “I feel like we’ve had this same conversation five times with no change. It’s like we’re just…camping out here.” And there it was, the perfect metaphor. Camping in leadership means we’ve pitched a tent around a tough conversation.We talk about it, circle around it, maybe even vent behind closed doors, but we’re not moving through it. There’s no resolution.No behavioral change.Just smoke, sitting

A CEO I coached once told me about an lesson they learned years ago.  A new hire who showed up excited, qualified, and ready to go. She completed her HR paperwork, toured the building, got handed a staff handbook, and was introduced to a few people.    Then she was left alone. By week two, she looked frazzled.  By week three, she was making repeated mistakes.  By week  four... she was gone. The leader justified that this new hire was competent and the leader, herself, was ove

It was one of  those  days. I was running on fumes, low sleep, high stress, and a to-do list that felt longer than the interstate. I walked into a client’s building, made a beeline to the bathroom, and that’s when it happened. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a cockroach scurry behind the toilet. Now, let me pause here.  If you're the kind of person who has sympathy for cockroaches… we may choose to agree to disagree on this one. I am  not  that person.  I believe cockroach

I was at an awards ceremony.  I t was the kind where everyone received something, a lighthearted moment to recognize each person’s contribution. The person handing out the awards had a tough job: Come up with something for  everyone . Make it entertaining. Keep it moving. They nailed the “everyone gets something” part.   But in their effort to add humor, they missed the mark.  Several “funny” awards dredged up past mistakes, awkward moments, or embarrassing memories.  The kin

A colleague recently reached out after being promoted into a new leadership role. From the outside, it was a textbook success story: hard work recognized, a seat at the table earned, and a clear path forward. But on our call, her voice wavered. “I’m excited… but I’m also kind of sad. And I feel guilty for saying that out loud.” She shared how she missed being “in the know” about all things from her past role:  She missed the day-to-day rhythm with her team, the shared jokes,

Not long ago, my little one made a mistake. Nothing catastrophic, just one of those little messes that feel much bigger in a child’s...

I thought I had been crystal clear:   I’d outlined the task, shared the timeline, and assumed we were on the same page. But when the...

People talk about leadership as if it’s all vision casting and corner offices.  But what rarely gets mentioned is how isolating it can...

It was one of those days. I was mentally juggling far more than usual, trying to leave the house, get to where I needed to be, and...

I was meeting with a client recently, an experienced leader, thoughtful, solution-oriented, deeply invested in her team. She sighed, sat...

I had a moment the other day that reminded me how quickly we can slip into a disempowered mindset without even noticing. I was reflecting...

I remember a time when I was traveling with several of my team members to an event. We were weaving our way through the airport. The line...

I was driving through a neighborhood the other day when something caught my eye.   A lizard. Right in the middle of the road. Doing...

Somewhere above the clouds, I got a masterclass in leadership, and humanity, from the row behind me. It started with the sound of crying....

I recently asked a team member to complete a task for me - one with high stakes. Tight deadline. High visibility. Lots riding on it. When...

You’ve probably heard the phrase “climate matters” when it comes to workplace culture. But when you’re leading a new team, or bringing...