Even the best intentions can fall short in leadership. In my last blog post, I shared a story about one of my recent clients, a business owner who deeply cared about his general manager (GM) to whom he was transferring leadership of the business. Their friendship...

Leadership is more than overseeing tasks and managing performance — it’s about supporting people. A recent conversation I had with a business owner highlighted this critical distinction. The owner had promoted a general manager (GM) to oversee the organization while...

In my last post, I talked about the power of setting ground rules as foundation for respect. Once we’ve set our ground rules, the next and perhaps most powerful step is designing a playbook for what we do when someone breaks them.  We often have policies like “no...

In any negotiation or team setting, establishing ground rules is common practice — and for good reason. When union and management sit down to bargain, for example, they start by agreeing on the basics: no cell phones, no foul language, no name-calling. This step is...

“Transparency” is a buzzword in today’s leadership vocabulary, and for good reason. People want to feel informed, involved, and respected in their organizations. But transparency is often more complex than it sounds.  One of the nonprofits I work with recently faced...

When an organization hits a major financial or operational challenge, there’s often a ripple effect that impacts everyone involved. Recently, I worked with a nonprofit that experienced just such a challenge — a startling budget deficit — leaving its leadership...

As human beings, we’re incredible designers. Heck, we designed our way to the moon. And when Apollo 13 failed, we designed a safe passage home. We design our homes, meticulously planning every detail before we begin a remodel. We wouldn’t just tear apart the kitchen...

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I mention vulnerability?  We often think of vulnerability as a weakness, but in reality, it’s one of the most powerful tools for building authentic relationships. Whether we’re talking to a parent, partner, or co-worker,...

Lately, I’ve been sharing quite a bit about navigating interpersonal relationships by fostering empathy, collaboration, and personal growth. Our communication patterns — whether through questioning, generational differences, leading like we mean it, or offering...

In my last post, I shared how learning to ask questions that are rooted in curiosity — and encourage dialogue instead of defensiveness — can change the entire dynamic of our relationships. These sorts of questions also foster empathy and understanding. Defensiveness...