Sylvia Lafair

Transformation: How Real Change Happens (and Why Most People Get It Wrong)

By Sylvia Lafair | May 13, 2025 |

Let’s start with the truth: change isn’t a light switch. You can’t just decide to change and expect the heavens to part and your stress to vanish. Real, lasting change — the kind that shifts not just your habits but your entire way of relating to the world — requires deeper work. It takes courage,…

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3 generations of women smiling on Mother's Day

This Mother’s Day, Celebrate the GUTSY Women Who Lead, Including You!

By Sylvia Lafair | May 8, 2025 |

Pattern repetition can keep us stuck, but pattern transformation gives us strength. We grew up learning how to fit in and be appropriate. Now is the time to flip those ingrained, outdated patterns and soar. We change when we are brave enough to face the old patterns and say, “No more.” Dear Dr. Sylvia, Yes,…

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The Courage to Change: Why Staying Stuck Is the Real Risk

By Sylvia Lafair | May 6, 2025 |

Summary: Most people say they want to change—until change knocks on their door wearing work boots and holding a mirror. Then suddenly, resistance becomes the name of the game. It is like that most of the time. Yet, there are better ways. Read on. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I’m reaching out with steam still coming out…

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When Yelling Erupts at Work

By Sylvia Lafair | May 1, 2025 |

How to Handle Conflict Without Losing Your Cool If you’ve ever been the recipient of someone’s work meltdown, especially when the volume turns to eleven, it is disorienting. You freeze, fume, or fantasize about quitting on the spot. But here’s the truth: conflict is inevitable. How you handle it is optional. Let’s look at handling…

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Man hiding from fear of losing job

Fear of Losing Your Job: How to Turn Panic into Power

By Sylvia Lafair | April 29, 2025 | Comments Off on Fear of Losing Your Job: How to Turn Panic into Power

Summary: Fear of losing your job can bury or build you. Which one are you choosing? Our economy is like the biggest roller coaster in an amusement park. However, while fear of losing your job can cause screams, it’s not fun. Nobody gets a lifetime guarantee stamped on their paycheck. Fear is natural—it’s what you…

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Charisma vs. Emotional Maturity: Why Leaders Need More Than Just Sparkle to Shine

By Sylvia Lafair | April 24, 2025 | Comments Off on Charisma vs. Emotional Maturity: Why Leaders Need More Than Just Sparkle to Shine

Let’s pull back the curtain and get real: Leaders who rely solely on charisma eventually hit a wall. The ones who rise (and stay risen) have something deeper, quieter, and far more powerful—emotional maturity. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Our CEO, a quiet and helpful leader, recently hired a new head of sales with minimal input from…

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When Conflict Hits: Align Your Head, Heart, and Gut

By Sylvia Lafair | April 22, 2025 | Comments Off on When Conflict Hits: Align Your Head, Heart, and Gut

In times of chaos and conflict, most people either freeze, fume, or flee. But smart leaders? They align. Align what, you ask? Not your calendar. Not your chakras (though hey, that might help too). We’re talking about Triple Alignment™: Head, Heart, Gut. It’s a new way of thinking about conflict resolution for leaders. Dear Dr.…

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Leadership by Walking Around : A Classic Practice with a Modern Twist

By Sylvia Lafair | April 17, 2025 | Comments Off on Leadership by Walking Around : A Classic Practice with a Modern Twist

Tired of Zoom fatigue and Slack pings? Try LBWA (Leadership by Walking around). There’s something refreshingly old-school—and surprisingly effective—about a leader who shows up. It’s time to redo what used to be popular and bring it back. Dear Dr. Sylvia, My mentor is a very successful man who is handing me the keys to take…

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Bite Your Lip Communication: A Leader’s Secret Weapon for Long-Term Influence

By Sylvia Lafair | April 15, 2025 | Comments Off on Bite Your Lip Communication: A Leader’s Secret Weapon for Long-Term Influence

Summary: Often, less is more when it comes to being a successful leader. Here is why it may be best to hold your tongue, bite your lip, and wait for a better time to respond. Leadership communication is both an art and a skill if done correctly. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I have often heard you…

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Modern leaders burning from being so out of touch

When Modern Leaders Are Out of Touch

By Sylvia Lafair | April 10, 2025 | Comments Off on When Modern Leaders Are Out of Touch

When Modern Leaders Are Out of Touch: Don’t Be the Nero of Your Workplace History and headlines repeatedly show us what happens when modern leaders lose touch with the very people they are supposed to serve. The result? Low morale, missed opportunities, and, at worst, organizational collapse. One of the most enduring metaphors for detached…

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