Growth

A dramatic gap between two broken cliffs under stormy skies, symbolizing the communication breakdown and disconnection caused by mistakes leaders make.

Broken Bridges: 7 Trust-Busting Mistakes Leaders Make, and How to Avoid Them

By Sylvia Lafair | June 25, 2025 |

Summary: Trust is a leader’s currency; make sure you don’t go bankrupt. Here are seven ways to consider navigating the complexities of trust. Also, a bonus true story from my executive coaching practice. Dear Dr. Sylvia, In every team meeting, we need to examine how we want to work together. There is a mysterious word…

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An intense close-up of a man's face screaming in fury, his head completely engulfed in flames symbolizing addiction to being right.

Why the World’s Biggest Addiction Isn’t What You Think.

By Sylvia Lafair | June 23, 2025 |

Summary: Let’s call it out. The biggest addiction in the world isn’t sugar, caffeine, alcohol, or your phone.It’s not even power. Let’s discuss what more people are addicted to than anything else. Dear Dr. Sylvia, No matter how many communication and conflict resolution programs we do at my company, there is still way too much…

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Business leader navigating change from Industrial Revolution to AI era — a visual metaphor for chaos fatigue and pattern transformation

From Steam Engines to AI: Leaders’ Chaos Fatigue is Real, Here’s Why This Time Feels Like the Industrial Revolution All Over Again

By Sylvia Lafair | June 9, 2025 | Comments Off on From Steam Engines to AI: Leaders’ Chaos Fatigue is Real, Here’s Why This Time Feels Like the Industrial Revolution All Over Again

Summary: We’ve been here before. Not exactly here, with algorithms whispering into our ears and AI generating your next social media post. But we’ve been at this kind of edge. It’s a precipice of massive societal upheaval and a growing sense of chaos fatigue, which is a real phenomenon, especially for leaders. It’s time to…

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multi colored hands holding to show trust

Rebuilding Trust in a Chaotic World: Why Leaders Must Lead With Courage, Not Control

By Sylvia Lafair | May 20, 2025 | Comments Off on Rebuilding Trust in a Chaotic World: Why Leaders Must Lead With Courage, Not Control

The Trust Crisis is Real—and it’s Costing You. Tension is everywhere. Everyone is careful and afraid to speak out. Trust isn’t just low in today’s chaotic world; it’s evaporating. And without it, even your best strategies fall flat. Here is what to think about moving forward. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I just resigned from a company…

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Masks in line to represent behavioral patterns

Same Problems, New Day? Break the Behavioral Patterns That Keep You Stuck

By Sylvia Lafair | May 15, 2025 | Comments Off on Same Problems, New Day? Break the Behavioral Patterns That Keep You Stuck

You’ve tried everything: new systems, better meetings, even hiring new talent. And yet, here you are again: overwhelmed, constantly putting out fires, and asking yourself, Why does this keep happening? Welcome to the invisible force running your business: repeating behavioral patterns. They’re more than just frustrating—they’re costly. And until you learn to recognize and shift…

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3 generations of women smiling on Mother's Day

This Mother’s Day, Celebrate the GUTSY Women Who Lead, Including You!

By Sylvia Lafair | May 8, 2025 | Comments Off on This Mother’s Day, Celebrate the GUTSY Women Who Lead, Including You!

Pattern repetition can keep us stuck, but pattern transformation gives us strength. We grew up learning how to fit in and be appropriate. Now is the time to flip those ingrained, outdated patterns and soar. We change when we are brave enough to face the old patterns and say, “No more.” Dear Dr. Sylvia, Yes,…

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Modern leaders burning from being so out of touch

When Modern Leaders Are Out of Touch

By Sylvia Lafair | April 10, 2025 | Comments Off on When Modern Leaders Are Out of Touch

When Modern Leaders Are Out of Touch: Don’t Be the Nero of Your Workplace History and headlines repeatedly show us what happens when modern leaders lose touch with the very people they are supposed to serve. The result? Low morale, missed opportunities, and, at worst, organizational collapse. One of the most enduring metaphors for detached…

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Sibling Repair as a Leadership Lesson

By Sylvia Lafair | April 1, 2025 | Comments Off on Sibling Repair as a Leadership Lesson

Summary: Adult sibling relationships often drift apart, influenced by various life circumstances, unresolved childhood conflicts, or differing personal values. However, repairing communication and reconnect can yield profound personal and emotional benefits. Here’s why re-establishing a positive relationship with adult siblings matters, even when a minimal or no relationship currently exists. Dear Dr. Sylvia, As a…

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Parents as Leaders: Netflix’s “Adolescence” Reveals the Hidden Stress of Being a Leader at Home

By Sylvia Lafair | March 27, 2025 | Comments Off on Parents as Leaders: Netflix’s “Adolescence” Reveals the Hidden Stress of Being a Leader at Home

Summary: If you’ve watched Netflix’s Adolescence, you probably felt your heart twist a few times. I know mine did. The show brilliantly captures what it means to come of age in today’s turbulent world. There’s another layer quietly pulsing beneath the surface—the stress of being a leader as you parent your children. Dear Dr. Sylvia,…

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Two leaders navigating conflict

How Leaders Can Help Teams Move Beyond the Past

By Sylvia Lafair | March 20, 2025 | Comments Off on How Leaders Can Help Teams Move Beyond the Past

Summary: When left unresolved, conflict can linger like a heavy cloud, impacting individuals, teams, and entire communities. But what if the best way to heal isn’t through endless debate or forced apologies but by doing something together to move beyond the past? Dear Dr. Sylvia, I was thinking about a pre-pandemic on-site my company did…

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