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...

I was recently part of a committee, a passionate group of professionals gathered to solve a big issue. Everyone had a strong opinion...

I remember a moment years ago, early on in my working relationship with a new team member. They had come to me, clearly wanting to...

I was on my way to a speaking engagement the other day when that light came on. You know the one.  The little orange triangle that gently...

One time on a plane, I observed a passenger boarding the plane and moving through First Class to call out with a grin:  “Anyone wanna...

Recently, I had the opportunity to present at a national conference out of state. I was in the conference room, prepping for my session,...

I was recently thinking about a moment when I completely missed the boat and created a much messier interaction than was necessary....