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…
Authored by Karen Pelot, Edited by Becca Whipple Attitude is Everything Have you ever worked with a leader who makes difficult things feel easy? What about a leader who made everything feel more difficult? Juxtapose those two. If you could choose, which would you spend time working with? Years ago, I was working with a…
Organizational culture as a strategy first got my attention when I heard the phrase “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” in a customer-service workshop as a young leader. The idea resonated with me immediately, and over the years I’ve repeatedly experienced it firsthand. Sometimes in great ways, sometimes like a SH*% show. Peter Drucker is credited…
As an executive coach, I’m often brought in to work with leadership teams when they need successful change. Regardless of the nexus, I’ve learned the real change needed – the one that will make the change stick – is usually tied to the organizational culture. Candidly, culture shifting is not easy, but leaning on the…