Coaching Tips

speak up

Speak Up Like a Leader: Your Responsibility Is to the Room, Not Just Your Ego

By Sylvia Lafair | December 18, 2025 |

Learn how to speak up in toxic leadership cultures, address bully bosses, and communicate truth with clarity, dignity, and real influence without fear or fallout.

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how wise leaders survive

How Wise Leaders Survive the Holidays (and Don’t Lose Their Minds, Their Teams, or Their Health)

By Sylvia Lafair | December 10, 2025 |

Learn how business leaders survive holiday stress with clarity, and ways to protect energy, support your team, and lead wisely.

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Wooden table under desk lamp with puzzle pieces labeled Talent Crisis, AI, Economy, Burnout, Polarization, Old Patterns, partly assembled to represent top leadership concerns.

What’s Keeping Leaders Up at Night? (Hint: It’s Not Just the Quarterly Numbers)

By Sylvia Lafair | August 12, 2025 |

Summary: Around the world, leaders are tossing and turning, not because of poor mattresses, but because the weight of leadership in 2025 is heavier than ever. Here are the top issues robbing today’s leaders of sleep, and what to do about them. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am the executive assistant to a highly creative and…

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In a spacious loft, two work colleagues are fighting.

ALPHA MEETS ALPHA: How Strong Leaders Can Thrive Together Without Making People Choose Sides

By Sylvia Lafair | May 26, 2025 |

Summary: It takes practice for two strong-willed individuals to collaborate. Here’s how strong leaders can find common ground, so people dont have to choose one over the other. Dear Dr Sylvia, My colleague and I, both Senior VPs in a fast-moving tech company, are constantly butting heads. We are two strong leaders, and our teams…

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The Great Disconnect: Why Communication in the Workplace is Crumbling and What It Is Doing to Our Productivity

The Great Disconnect: Why Communication in the Workplace is Crumbling and What It Is Doing to Our Productivity

By Sylvia Lafair | May 22, 2025 |

Why Communication in The Workplace is Crumbling and What It Is Doing to Our Productivity

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Pattern-aware leader with colorful thoughts coming out of the head.

Become a PAL (Pattern Aware Leader) in 2025: How to Release Outdated Patterns and Lead Like Never Before!

By Sylvia Lafair | January 2, 2025 |

Summary: Ready to kick off the new year by becoming the leader you were always meant to be? One who doesn’t just manage the team—but inspires, empowers, and creates a culture that thrives? It’s time to step into your new role as a PAL—a Pattern Aware Leader! This isn’t just about leading with authority; it’s…

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A group of people sitting in chairs around each other.

Top Three Reasons Business People Seek a Coach

By Sylvia Lafair | November 6, 2024 |

Summary: Coaching can be transformative. While some leaders find great success through coaching, others experience setbacks due to a lack of commitment, unclear goals, or ineffective coaching partnerships. Let’s explore why business professionals seek coaching and how it can lead to success – or failure. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I hired and then fired my executive…

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A blue background with red bandaids on it.

Unmasking the Illusion: The Pitfalls of Quick Fixes in Executive and Life Coaching

By Sylvia Lafair | February 14, 2024 |

Summary: The demand for quick solutions and instant gratification is more prevalent than ever. While the promise of simple answers and rapid results may seem appealing, a closer look reveals a lack of lasting impact in many coaching approaches. Here’s why they often fail to create sustainable, transformative change. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Over the years,…

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Image of boy and girl talking

Leadership Lessons: What Matters When You Tell The Truth

By Sylvia Lafair | January 19, 2023 |

Summary: In this era of social media excess, where everyone can offer their version of what is truth without fact-checking, it’s time for critical thinking to stop the dysfunction of speaking without considering the consequences of our words. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I have a question for you. Question: How many business coaches does it take…

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Colorful firework with bokeh background.

How to Leap into the New Year and Let Your Dreams Take Flight

By Sylvia Lafair | December 27, 2022 |

Summary: This is a great time to think about how you want to advance your career and your relationships. Go ahead, take a leap of faith. Here’s what to do.  Dear ….  Did you know that at least 50% of adults make new year’s resolutions?  Mostly they are about more exercise, less weight, healthier eating,…

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