Communication
Summary: Why disruption brings out our oldest behaviors, and how to turn uncertainty into a GLIMMER. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Have you noticed how differently people respond when the world suddenly feels uncertain? My son-in-law, who was a “shew-in” for a relatively minor public office, now looks like he will lose the vote for a job…
Summary: I recently received an email from a client that speaks to the tension we are all feeling these days. Here is the essence of it: I am exhausted by the anger surrounding this election. Friends no longer speak to one another. Even at work, people are careful about what they say because one wrong…
Summary: What your hiring and firing decisions tell your team about trust, stability, and the kind of leader you really are. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I have made some dreadful mistakes with our last two hires. Yes, they sounded great in the interviews and answered questions with a flair. However, after only a few months on…
Summary: Canva CEO Melanie Perkins challenges traditional leadership by showing how collaboration, empowerment, and innovation are reshaping success. As AI transforms the workplace, leaders must rethink old patterns and focus on building bridges rather than climbing the corporate ladder. Keep reading to discover what today’s leaders can learn from this shift. For decades, the corporate…
Summary: Why tomorrow’s best leaders will stop pretending they have all the answers—and how to move forward. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am a leader who thought I had most of the answers for my staff. After 25 years at the helm of a very successful retail business, I am now stuck for solutions. Every day,…
Summary: We often think of boundaries as walls that we put up when we’re angry, hurt, or trying to keep someone out. But healthy boundaries are not about rejection. They are about clarity. When attempting to break an old pattern, clarity can be uncomfortable, especially when the person on the other side is someone you…
Summary: What do you do when no choice feels comfortable? Ed Sheeran found out very publicly. Read on for my thoughts on what to do when you’re caught between a rock and a hard place. Dear Dr. Sylvia, There is so much polarization in our world right now; we can’t even go to a concert…
Summary: What if the things that bother you most are actually trying to get your attention? Gloria Steinem’s life offers a powerful reminder that change often begins with a GLIMMER—a question, contradiction, or moment that makes you stop and wonder why things are the way they are. Discover what happens when you pay attention to…
Summary: Your team may look terrific when everything is going well. People collaborate. Meetings are cordial. Deadlines are met. Everyone talks about trust, transparency, and “being one team.” Then the pressure hits. A major client threatens to leave. Revenue falls short. AI changes someone’s role. Instead of doom and gloom, here is a better way…
Summary: What happens to leadership when artificial intelligence can analyze faster, process more information, and produce answers in seconds? Perhaps the answer is surprisingly simple: We have to become more human, not less. Microsoft’s CEO has something to teach us about empathy, self-awareness, and human leadership in the age of AI. Satya Nadella, Chairman and…