The Shared Work of Engagement: What Leaders Control- and What They Don’t

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Every leader I know, whether in a five-person business or a 400,000 multi-site employee system, feels the pressure to “drive engagement.” In a small business, that pressure feels personal—every person matters, every attitude shapes the atmosphere.In a large organization, it comes from dashboards, survey scores, and top-down goals. It’s a noble goal, an important goal—and … Read more

When Your Greatest Strengths Get Hijacked by Stress (And What to Do About It)

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We often think of our strengths as the best parts of us—the qualities that help us succeed, lead, and connect. And they are! But here’s a leadership truth that often goes unspoken: under stress, those very strengths can become our biggest liabilities. This doesn’t mean our strengths vanish. They don’t. But stress hijacks them, puts … Read more

Clearing Moral Debris: What Leaders Need to Know About Moral Injury

Stitched bandaid heart

In Leading Becomes You, I write about the emotional and psychological debris leaders accumulate — unresolved experiences, compromises, betrayals, and unprocessed wounds that clog the inner terrain of their leadership. One of the most significant kinds of debris is what psychologists now call moral injury, the disruption to one’s moral fiber that arises from committing … Read more

Leader Identity Clarity: The Antidote to Leading on Autopilot

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Most leaders don’t wake up and say, “Today I’ll lead on autopilot.”But if we’re honest, many of us slip into it without realizing: back-to-back meetings, urgent churn through emails, cuaght up in constant change. We keep moving, but not necessarily with awareness. Autopilot leadership feels safe and necessary—it keeps the wheels turning. But over time, … Read more

Why Leadership Behaviors Don’t Stick Without Identity

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You’ve seen it before: A leader goes through a training. They learn how to motivate the team, engage a crucial conversation, delegate, hold one-on-ones, or communicate more clearly. For a few weeks, they try out their new skills. But soon old patterns creep back in. Or worse, the “new behaviors” vanish under pressure. Why? Because … Read more

Why Self-Awareness Isn’t Enough Anymore

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And what you (and your organization) need instead. Self-awareness gets a lot of press-And for good reason! It is linked to all things ROI for leader, manager, supervisor development and connected to personal and professional flourishing. It is a vital element for effective leadership, healthy team relationships, workplace wellbeing, and performance. The research backs it … Read more

Finding Your Leadership Sweet Spot: Balancing Connection and Boundaries

Balance

We often think of leadership in terms of strategy, execution, and achieving results. But in today’s dynamic work environment, something more nuanced is required for the relationships you lead: emotional precision. At the heart of effective leadership lies the delicate art of balancing genuine human connection with clear professional boundaries – a “sweet spot” that … Read more

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