Critical Thinking
Summary: What if the employee who keeps reverting to old behaviors isn’t failing to change, but is actually showing the first signs of transformation? Discover how recognizing the small GLIMMERS of progress can help leaders balance accountability with patience, avoid triggering old patterns, and allow space for meaningful growth to take hold. Dear Dr. Sylvia,…
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: 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: 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: Let’s start with a question that you don’t get asked often, if ever: When was the last time you changed your underwear? Hopefully, this morning. Most of us wouldn’t dream of wearing the same underwear day after day. We also replace worn-out socks, buy new shoes, upgrade our phones, and trade in cars that…
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: Why do some leaders keep solving the same problems over and over while others seem able to transform an entire culture? The difference is often not intelligence, but pattern intelligence, or the ability to notice the invisible dynamics beneath visible behavior. It means recognizing recurring emotional, relational, and organizational patterns before they become crises.…
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…
Summary: Every year around this time, we celebrate freedom. Flags wave. Families gather. Fireworks light up the night sky. And while we are meant to remember past freedom fighters, we often get caught up in our day-to-day activities. Let’s take a look at freedom from another vantage point. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I see Independence Day…
Summary: Every generation believes its leadership challenges are unique, but they’re not. Technology, politics, and markets may change over the years, yet human nature changes very little. Here’s what you need to know to lead in today’s chaotic world. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day in the United States, I found myself going back,…