Why pushing through is the problem, not the solution.

A personal reminder that rest isn’t weak — it’s wise. This past weekend, I was humbled—big time. I coach others through all kinds of growth and transformation. I tend to attract bold, purpose-driven humans—folks who won’t compromise on meaning, contribution, or alignment within themselves or the world around them. And yet, there I was: in […]

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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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Never too late, never too old.

From dancers to painters, public servants to writers, leaders to entrepreneurs, marketers to therapists—I wholeheartedly believe age doesn’t have to be a barrier to purpose, growth, and contribution that aligns. My dad, nearing 80, still plays in bands. My stepmother just finished her latest book. My late grandmother closed real estate deals well into her […]

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The Relationship We Often Neglect

So many of us look outward—seeking validation, striving to contribute, giving endlessly. It’s natural. We want to belong, to make an impact. But in that pursuit, we often neglect the most important relationship: the one with ourselves. I see it all the time—leaders, business owners, and high achievers pushing so hard they become depleted, even […]

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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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“Change management is all about loss management.”

When we reality-check the people side of change management, we see a grief process unfold. Change means losing what’s familiar—some embrace it, while others feel threatened or saddened. As leaders, we can either acknowledge and support this emotional journey or ignore it. Uncomfortable with emotion, especially when leading others through it? That’s part of change […]

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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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Why Are We So Afraid of Conflict at Work?

“Conflict is inevitable”, they said during my Conflict Dynamics training at Mediation Training Institute at Eckerd College. I felt a weighted acceptance normalizing conflict as not only unavoidable but essential for trust, creativity, diversity, better decision-making and a call for us to step further into emotional intelligence. Many of us fear conflict. In comes narrative… […]

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