Leadership Development
Sometimes we want the win more than we want the relationship.
I had a colleague ask me a question last week: “What’s the one thing you’d teach someone about being a better leader if you could only teach one thing?” Here’s what came to mind. I don’t know if it’s the ultimate answer, but it rose straight to the surface in that moment. Let’s be real—sometimes we…
Read MoreIt’s the conversations you’re not having that are shaping your leadership the most.
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…
Read MoreWhen 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…
Read MoreLeadership Development Is Relational Development—And That’s the Hard Part
Are You Consuming Knowledge or Are You ACTUALLY Learning? I’m lucky enough to work with some of the smartest, most dedicated leaders in the world. My role is to challenge and support them with the conversations that matter most. Lately, we’ve been trying to get to the bottom of this question: Are we actually learning anything with all…
Read MoreThe 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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