Most people treat workplace conflict the way they treat the "Reply All" button after they've accidentally clicked it: immediate regret, mild panic, and a desperate search for an escape route. Let’s all take a breath and respond with one of the five Thomas-Killmann conflict modes before scrambling for the exit the next time friction rubs us wrong. But first, it’s super helpful to understand that when friction strikes, we are navigating two simple coordinates: ASSERTIVENESS: Ho

Imagine this... It's 2035. Your AI assistant has already scheduled your meetings, summarized a 300-page report, drafted your presentation, negotiated routine contracts, and answered dozens of emails before your first cup of coffee. Across the hall, someone else has access to the exact same technology. The difference? When conflict arises, YOU know how to NAVIGATE the difficult conversation. When uncertainty fills the room, YOU know how to BUILD TRUST. When a team begins to un

My supervisor looked at me and asked, sincerely: "Have you thought of what you will do differently next time?" This was one of the most memorable pieces of feedback I have ever received and it came after an exhaustingly complex, multiple-month, interdepartmental event. Not: “What went wrong?” Not: “Why didn’t you…?” Not even: “Here’s what I think you should have done.” Just an invitation to reflect. At the time, I remember thinking, "Whew...She understands the struggle." Year

As a small business owner, educator, leadership consultant, and someone who has spent years helping organizations navigate change, I have learned one simple truth: hiring is easy. Hiring well is hard. Many small business owners spend weeks reviewing résumés, conducting interviews, and checking references. Yet the most important hiring questions are often the ones they ask themselves before posting the job. After all, adding a new employee is not just about filling a vacancy.

Yes, AI can be a fabulous, lightening-fast support for elevating businesses, accelerating learning, and dramatically improving productivity, but it should not replace character. Character should be our compass. Just because we can produce something faster does not mean we should abandon the human characteristics that make leadership trustworthy in the first place. Without honesty, responsibility, empathy, and discernment, AI becomes less of a tool for advancement and more of

Self-care is not separate from leadership effectiveness. It is part of the infrastructure.

I have recently been thinking a lot about what it means to be intentional while I continue to reach for the stars. While suffering through my daily Duolingo torture session and setting new personal records for my 10,000 steps, I realized that the thing I am running from is what Susie Scott (2023) describes as "failed identity." This is the unformed alternate self that is left behind when we prioritize assimilation over authenticity. Though I understand the purposeful use of t

Here are 3 research-grounded practices to help us keep our mental health afloat when the economic waters are rough.