Blog
Why Some Workplace Conflicts Feel More Personal Than Others
Have you ever had a coworker or leader who could get under your skin faster than anyone else? Maybe it’s the way they dismiss your ideas. Their need to control every detail. Their defensiveness when you offer feedback. Or the way they become abrasive during a difficult conversation. You walk away frustrated, replaying the interaction…
The Self-Awareness That Sets You Free: How to Let Go of Workplace Negativity
During a move several years ago, I found boxes of outdated documents I’d been holding onto far longer than necessary. Old bank statements, tax forms from a decade ago, receipts for items I no longer owned, and information that served no purpose anymore. I decided to clear them out. Over three weeks, I took stacks…
How to Stay Level-Headed When Demands Exceed Your Inner Resources
How do you stay level-headed when leadership often comes with high-pressure situations, difficult conversations, tough decisions, and unexpected challenges? Some leaders seem to navigate these moments with ease, staying calm even when tensions are high, but the reality is that level-headed leadership isn’t a natural trait, it’s a learned skill. The ability to remain composed…
Emotional Regulation Isn’t Something You Learn—It’s Something You Practice
Growing up, my mom wanted me to take piano lessons. I wasn’t crazy about the idea, but I didn’t have a choice, both my sister and I were expected to take lessons. As with learning any new skill, taking the lesson is one thing, practicing so the lesson sinks in is another. Despite many reminders…
Why Your Team’s Best Ideas Never Surface During Crisis (And the Brain Science That Changes Everything)
The next time you are faced with a looming deadline or project setback, try one of these counterintuitive strategies to enhance team problem-solving.
The 5 Key Questions To Break Through What Keeps You From Addressing Abrasive Behavior
You know you need to talk to Claudie. You’ve known for months, maybe longer. Another employee came to your office yesterday—the third one this quarter—with the same story. Claudia yelled at them when they asked a simple question, spoke down to them like they were incompetent, and made them feel two inches tall in front…
What Your Hot-Headed Leader Wants You to Understand (But Won’t Tell You)
You’ve tried everything. The “let’s talk about your communication style” conversation. The feedback about “managing emotions in the workplace.” The HR mediation. The leadership coaching. But your high-performing, hot-headed leader keeps exploding. The damage spreads, and good employees start looking for the exits. You’re left wondering: Is this person even capable of change? Let me…
6 Ways Your Family Dynamics Show Up In Meetings (And You Don’t Even Know It)
You’ve worked hard to build your professional life. You’ve earned degrees, climbed the ladder, developed expertise, you show up prepared, polished, and ready to lead. What nobody mentions in leadership training was that your family came with you. Not literally, of course. But the dynamics you learned growing up — how to handle conflict, when…
Why “You Hurt My Feelings” Doesn’t Work at Work (And What Your Family Taught You About Conflict)
It’s happened again. An abrasive leader has exploded at one of your team members and now the team member is embarrassed, disengaged, and afraid to contribute when the leader is around. You know you need to address it, but when you imagine the conversation, you hear yourself saying things like… “You hurt the team’s feelings…
3 Tips to Turn Around Setbacks and Regain Your Leadership Momentum
It’s the end of January. How are you doing at staying on track with new habits for the new year? Even if you don’t set New Year’s resolutions, what area of your leadership are you working to be more effective and impactful with your team? Maybe you’re committed to giving clearer feedback. Perhaps you’re trying…