It’s the conversations you’re not having that are shaping your leadership the most.

Conversations You're Not Having

We’ve explored how defensiveness hijacks our internal dialogue and how control can quietly close off connection. But there’s a third force—quieter still, yet just as disruptive: avoidance. Avoidance doesn’t raise its voice. It doesn’t make a scene. In fact, it often disguises itself as patience, professionalism, or keeping the peace. Especially in organizations that prize…

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When Control Closes the Conversation

I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years, but recently I went back to taking lessons—to challenge myself and to reconnect with the basics through a fresh lens. Not long ago, my teacher stopped me mid-song and said, “You’re gripping the neck way too tightly.” I hadn’t even realized it. What I thought was focus…

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The Balancing Act of Effective Leadership

Leadership is a constant balancing act. We want results, we need accountability, but we also know that people don’t operate in a vacuum. We recently introduced a framework for understanding behavioral influences to a group of plant supervisors, the reaction was immediate: “If we start looking at all these factors, aren’t we just making excuses…

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