“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

We don’t have to use a hammer to get a point across, to be heard, to influence. When was the last time any of us used or experienced aggression and it worked? Assertiveness can be gentler and more effective. Assertiveness can be expressed as naming needs and wants with clarity, conviction, emotional and relational intelligence. Assertiveness […]

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“We work on ourselves in order to help others, and also we help others in order to work on ourselves” – Pema Chödrön

The leaders I most admire practice humility and downright dig growing. They look inward and outward, supporting others while staying committed to their own development and healing too, where needed. They are attuned to themselves and strengthen tuning in with those around them. Every challenge, courageous conversation, and moment of collaboration becomes a chance to […]

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“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh

Last night, my spouse and I were walking by the ocean, flowers blooming in a spectrum of colour. We found ourselves debriefing on something simple, yet vital to our connection years later: how to be present and really listen to each other without interrupting and judgment. I’m grateful we can talk about these things openly […]

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A humbling lesson in being present.

Ever sat with someone so distracted you wondered if they were really listening? Or worse, if your time together mattered? What if they were doing the best they could with the capacity they had, unaware of the impact on you? Rewind to an early leadership chapter in my executive career: I’ll never forget 360 feedback […]

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Challenging assumptions: what if they’re doing their best?

Assuming someone’s intentions is a tricky game. What if, instead, we considered that they’re doing the best they can with what they have? When I took Dare to Lead™ training years ago, the masterful Laurie Hillis posed a powerful question in the BRAVING Trust component of the curriculum: “What if we believed people are doing […]

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You don’t have to do it alone – asking for help is a courage move!

Why is asking for help so hard in leadership? Some fear looking incompetent or weak. Others were raised and/or socialized to believe they should always have the answers. If that’s been your experience, I get it. As leaders, we’re wired to be resourceful and self-sufficient—but that doesn’t mean we have to go it alone. Sometimes, […]

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“A mistake is not a mistake if we can learn from it.”

We’ve all heard “there’s no such thing as failure, only learning.” But how that lands really depends on the culture you create. If we treat failure punitively, we: Undermine confidence and belonging Demotivate others Create fear Disempower ideas and perspectives Stifle creativity, productivity, and growth It’s a heavy toll to pay. But when we view […]

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Gossip Versus Processing: How To Tell The Difference

Did you talk about someone today who wasn’t there to hear what you had to say? Was it constructive, or did it veer off into the gossip terrain, offloading hurt or stress? Themes I’ve noticed of those who are processing with constructive intent: ·       They’re processing to seek clarity or solutions. ·       They’re discussing something with a […]

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Emotions at Work: What Are They Telling Us?

Crying at work happens. I’ve been there in my first career, and thankfully, I’ve had peers and leaders who made space for it without shame. Often, the tears came from frustration, stress, or overwhelm. In the past, I’d leave work, embarrassed. Now, I see tears as information that can sometimes lead to new awareness and […]

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