Blog
What If the Conflict at Work Is Actually Teaching You Something You Need to Know?
April is Workplace Conflict Awareness Month. This is your invitation to ask: What is this conflict trying to teach me? There’s someone at work who makes your days unbearable. Maybe it’s the colleague who flies off the handle, or the one who withdraws into silence when you need to address a problem, or the person…
The Leadership Behaviors That Make Your Team Feel Safe Enough to Tell You the Truth
Your team just left the leadership meeting, and you asked if anyone had concerns about the new strategy. Silence. You asked if anyone saw potential problems with the timeline. More silence. You said, “I really want your honest feedback.” Still nothing. Later that afternoon, you overhear two team members in the hallway discussing exactly the…
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 Cost of Staying Silent: What Happens When Abrasive Behavior Goes Unchecked
There’s a moment most leaders know well. You’ve just heard again… that a high-performing employee crossed a line. Maybe they humiliated someone in a meeting. Maybe they snapped at a colleague in front of the team. Maybe the complaints landing on your desk have quietly multiplied over the past several months. And you’ve done what…
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 Interpersonal Success Requires Practice, Not Perfection
What most leaders get wrong about interpersonal skill, is that they think it’s something you either have or you don’t. You’re either “a people person” or you’re not. You’re either good at difficult conversations or you avoid them. You’re either naturally empathetic or you’re more task-focused. Interpersonal success isn’t a personality trait, it’s a practice.…
Choose a Team Rallying Cry: How One Powerful Phrase Can Transform Your Team in 2026
What is your team’s focus for 2026? Many teams enter a new year with good intentions but without a clear sense of direction that creates a shared purpose. This turns into misalignment, conflicting priorities, and tensions that drain energy and productivity. Team members end up operating in silos rather than moving together toward a common…
How Self-Aware Leaders Turn Feedback Into Their Greatest Strength
“No one wants to tell me anything. They say I’m intimidating.” I’ve heard this from more leaders than I can count. And when I sit down with their teams, the employees tell me the same thing: “We don’t feel safe bringing up problems. Our ideas get dismissed. The leader gets defensive and condescending.” So I…
The 3 C’s of Difficult Conversations: How to Stay Grounded When the Conversation Gets Tough
As a leader, Ben knew he needed to address Bob’s abrasive behavior. Bob had a pattern of dismissing colleagues’ ideas in meetings, sending curt emails that left people feeling belittled, and making sarcastic comments that created tension across the team. Ben found every reason to avoid the conversation. He anticipated Bob being defensive. He worried…
Choose Your Mindset Before Addressing Employee Behavior: An Emotional Intelligence Approach
Before having a candid conversation with a difficult employee, choose your mindset to optimize the likelihood of a positive outcome.