When Did “Hard Conversations” Become “Just Let Them Go”?
A word for leaders who know that the health of their mission depends on the health of their people. You got into this work because you believed people mattered. That relationship could be restored, and the community was worth fighting for. Every day you show up and ask your team to believe that too, often […]
Think on What Is Admirable
A small shift in focus, from what’s wrong to what’s worthy, can transform the culture around you. “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It sounds like something a grandmother, mine was a seamstress, might have stitched carefully into the corner of a pillow. But the older I get, and […]
Leading Through Communication Differences
Recently, I sent an email to a colleague. In my mind, it was flawless. Clear. Direct. Impossible to misunderstand. An hour later, the reply came back… confused. My first reaction was mild irritation. I remember thinking, How is this unclear? Instead of responding, I paused and reread the email. Full transparency, I wasn’t rereading it […]
Healthy Conflict: How to Address Issues Before They Become Landmines
Most people will tell you the same thing about conflict: “I hate it.” Some don’t just dislike it, they avoid it at all costs. But what if conflict isn’t the problem? What if avoiding it is? In marriage, in parenting, and in leadership, conflict is inevitable. It will show up in different forms, misunderstandings, unmet […]
Built to Last
It is that time of year when we begin identifying goals, setting expectations, creating vision boards for what we hope this year will bring. We choose a word of the year and use it as a north star as we navigate forward. Yet a question keeps surfacing for me. Why do so many of us […]
A Mother’s Lesson on Forgiveness: When Leadership and Life Collide
How do you forgive when the unthinkable has been done, when the damage feels too deep, too unfair, or too personal to move past? That question isn’t just personal. It shows up in our workplaces, our families, and our leadership every day. Sometimes the most powerful leadership lessons don’t come from books, mentors, or boardrooms, […]
“I Am What I Am” – A Reflection on Conflict and Growth
Growing up, I watched Popeye, and his famous line stuck with me: “I am what I am and that’s all that I am. I am Popeye the Sailor Man.” Popeye was confident in who he was—a sailor, and for him, that defined everything. When faced with conflict, whether with Bluto or over Olive Oyl, Popeye’s […]
