Did you know one in four employees don’t have regular 1-1 meetings with their boss? As an executive coach, the reason I hear most commonly for not holding regular 1-1’s is “I don’t have time,” followed closely by “my direct reports communicate with me all the time, we don’t need a formal meeting.” True Story The “my direct…
Why leadership habits are so hard to break, the neuroscience behind it, and four research-backed tips to replace old patterns with better ones. Did you know roughly 43% of each day, including our leadership habits, is spent habitually? Wendy Wood, author of Good Habits, Bad Habits, has spent nearly three decades studying habits and determined close to…
Today I’m not writing about a client’s story or a general leadership principle. I’m sharing a personal experience that caught me by surprise. It took me some time to realize what was going on, and it turned out to be an emotional intelligence lesson. Heading into May, I noticed I wasn’t quite myself. I was…
Which comes first, driving for results or building relationships? Feel like a trick question? It is. If you’re an executive or senior leader who knows for sure results come first, congratulations! You are in the majority. And I’m sorry to be the one to tell you – you have it backwards. According to Gallup’s 2025 State of…
What if your calendar was a trusted strategic partner, rather than a visual reminder of an overwhelmed schedule? This week I’m sharing how to gain back the time you need to maximize your focus, presence, and results. Once upon a time there was a leader whose days were jam-packed. She rushed from meeting-to-meeting and topic-to-topic…
Uncertainty can be scary. Whether you are in the leadership seat or a team member, navigating without clarity brings out unproductive behavior. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that uncertainty at work negatively impacts mental health, job satisfaction, and performance, while additional studies link uncertainty directly to emotional exhaustion and negative organizational outcomes. Worry, fear, short…
When was the last time you made a decision that went against the data, but aligned with your gut? As leaders, making sound decisions is a huge piece of our role. We analyze the metrics, seek expert input, and pressure test assumptions. This disciplined approach is important, but sometimes our internal signals capture what the…
Have you ever worked for a leader who justified poor communication or alienating behavior with a “this is just who I am” attitude? I have, and it was a frustrating experience that severely limited our team’s productivity and results. Many leaders underestimate how much leadership communication accountability shapes trust, engagement, and results. More recently, as an executive coach,…
The Power of “How Can I Help?” Did you know “How can I help?” is a powerful de-escalation skill for leaders to hone? It’s such a simple thing, yet incredibly underutilized. As leaders, when we’re faced with emotionally charged situations, we tend to move straight into fixing, defending, teaching, or shutting the conversation down. Those…
Did you know most leadership goals don’t fail because they’re unrealistic? We don’t achieve goals because we didn’t make them meaningful. It’s February now, and if you’re a leader, now is the time to make sure your commitments for 2026 are clear. What makes a leadership goal meaningful? Meaningful leadership goals are clear and specific….
Feeling overwhelmed by year-end demands? Being present may be the gift you need most right now.
One of the most extraordinary leaders I’ve worked for was my boss of nearly 20 years ago, Ed. He was smart, no-nonsense, with a dry, witty humor that surfaced at just the right moments. To some, he was intimidating—but as his direct report, I found him approachable and deeply thoughtful. Ed was an extraordinarily good…