Conflict Resolutions
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: When loyalty collides with business integrity, the temptation to keep the peace can make everything worse. Dear Dr. Sylvia, My sister and I are fighting in our family business, just like we did as kids. I am the older sister and always had to protect her. She is three years younger chronologically, and I…
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: 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: Three generations. Three pairs of brothers. And one question every family eventually faces: What happens when loyalty to someone you love collides with responsibility for the larger family? We tend to watch the Royal Family as though it were a very expensive television series. But look beyond the crowns, castles, scandals, and headlines, and…
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: 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: 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…