Most leaders I work with want to do right by their people. They want their teams to thrive, to feel connected, and to experience a sense of belonging at work. Where things tend to go sideways isn’t a lack of care or effort; it’s a lack of clarity. Organizations often aren’t clear about what…

I’ve found myself spending hours on social media under the guise of staying informed, but it has slowly drifted into doomscrolling. I know I’m not alone in looking for information and some sense of connection when everything feels overwhelming. A lot of people aren’t okay right now. They’re exhausted, distracted, worried about layoffs, drinking…

When my marriage was unraveling, I kept asking myself, “How did I get here?” Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself asking the same question again, but on a much larger scale, “How are we still here?” Six years later. Sixty years later. Still protesting for basic human rights. Still repeating conversations we…

This month has already started heavy. In recent days, many people have watched videos of Renee Nicole Good being killed. For some, this has triggered memories of George Floyd’s murder in Minnesota six years ago. Fear, anger, grief, and numbness are present in conversations and in the ways people show up or pull back…

January often comes with a quiet expectation that we should feel refreshed, focused, and ready to go.  We’re at the end of the first week, and I found myself wishing for another week off. That surprised me, especially because I’m falling back in love with my work. But the late movie nights with my…

Thanksgiving was full of good food, laughter, lots of love, and grief. This year is full of transitions for me as my daughters apply to colleges and prepare to leave home. While I was thankful for the break, I also found myself eager to return to a routine. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and…

The workplace and family structures aren’t so different. Both have rules, often unspoken, that we must follow to feel included, connected, and valued. Because we have a deep human need for belonging, it’s easy to find ourselves engaging in behaviors that don’t always serve us, from laughing off inappropriate jokes to staying quiet when someone…

Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S., and every citizen has the opportunity to vote. Yet many won’t. Not because people don’t care, but because they don’t believe their vote or voice will make a difference. Organizations are microcosms of our society. Civic and organizational disengagement have a lot in common. I’ve been hearing from…

“How do you give feedback in a culture that prioritizes niceness?” An attendee asked during last week’s webinar, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. While niceness sounds good, comfortable, polite, and conflict-free, it often masks something else entirely. Nice-nasty. Agreeing publicly, then undermining privately Smiling in meetings, then bad-mouthing the idea (or person) later…

I almost ignored important feedback earlier this year. I was surfing when my instructor yelled, “TURN TO THE RIGHT!” as I was catching a wave. It wasn’t gentle or detailed. No prep or encouraging pep talk. Just a sharp, clear directive. I was irritated.  “Why am I paying to be yelled at?” I thought. In hindsight,…