Communication
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…
Summary: There’s a sentence I’ve heard in executive team meetings, family businesses, and coaching conversations for decades: “That’s just how I am.” That sentence is almost guaranteed to shut down conversation and creativity for good. Here is another way to think and respond. Dear Dr. Sylvia, My leadership team is stuck in an “either/or” argument…
Summary: You know the feeling. Your boss walks into the meeting, and your stomach tightens. Or perhaps you have an idea, but you hesitate before speaking. Tension comes in many flavors, from yelling and passive-aggressive comments to the silent treatment. Eventually, someone says the words everyone has been thinking: “We have a toxic boss.” Maybe…
Summary: Imagine walking into a room and saying, “I have an idea for a Broadway musical about Alexander Hamilton.” That alone might get you some raised eyebrows. Then add, “It will use hip-hop and rap, the Founding Fathers will be played by a diverse cast, and audiences will pay hundreds of dollars to watch it.”…
Summary: Banksy is one of the most recognized artists in the world. And yet, almost no one knows who Banksy is. While building a personal brand, chasing followers, and measuring success by visibility is the norm, Banksy has done the opposite by remaining anonymous, yet his work is discussed around the world. That isn’t just…
Summary: We hear these phrases everywhere. “She’s toxic.” “He’s impossible.” “Stay away from people like that.” Social media is overflowing with advice about identifying toxic people, avoiding toxic relationships, and eliminating toxic employees. Sometimes that advice is necessary. Abuse, manipulation, and repeated harmful behavior should never be ignored or tolerated. But what if the label…
Summary: When people think of strong leaders, they often picture someone who is loud, commanding, and always certain. But some of the most effective leaders possess a different kind of strength. Here is what a more mature leader does. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern demonstrated that leadership begins with self-awareness. She showed the…
Summary: Millions of people around the world watched Lionel Messi walk off the field after Argentina’s heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup Final. For just a moment, the cameras caught something that statistics never can. A tear rolled down his cheek, and that single tear may become one of the most…
Summary: Every successful company reaches a moment when difficult conversations must happen; a new strategy, major investment, leadership change, growing financial concern, difficult employee, etc. Healthy organizations don’t avoid these conversations. Instead, they lean into them. But what happens when a person in leadership shuts the conversation down? The greatest danger in leadership isn’t disagreement;…
Summary: We often think freedom comes from changing jobs, relationships, or circumstances, but real freedom begins within. By recognizing the old patterns and stories that shape our reactions, we create space to choose a different response. That moment of self-awareness is where lasting change begins—and where we gain the freedom to lead, connect, and create…