Gutsy
SUMMARY: Dolly Parton reminds us that the most successful leaders refuse to let other people’s labels define their future. One of my favorite quotes from her is, “I’m not offended by all the dumb blond jokes, because I know I’m not dumb and I also know I’m not blonde.” She nailed it for all the…
Summary: Most leadership programs teach skills, like how to communicate better, manage conflict, and improve engagement. All are worthwhile goals, but after more than 35 years working with leaders and organizations, I’ve learned something important—skills alone do not transform culture. Read on to see what matters even more. Dear Dr. Sylvia, My team is efficient…
Summary: Leadership is easy when everyone agrees with you. It’s much harder when speaking your truth costs you a career position, paycheck, or your reputation. That is why the recent controversy surrounding veteran journalist Scott Pelley and the iconic television program 60 Minutes caught my attention. Read on to learn what telling the truth means…
Summary: When a mentor who made a difference transitions, it prompts reflection on the core of how life has changed. The words from the song “Wicked” have been quietly ringing in my ears. For Jean Houston, “knowing you has changed me for the better.” Change Happens in Unexpected Ways “Something is wrong here.” That was…
Summary: Most people look at Anna Wintour and see the sunglasses, the precision, the intimidating reputation, and the legendary standards. I see something else: a leader who understands the power of GLIMMERS. While others focus on fashion, status, and spectacle, I see a deeper lesson about clarity, courage, and the quiet signals that shape extraordinary…
Summary: Everywhere we turn, there’s noise, uncertainty, division, and pressure to perform. A constant low hum of anxiety that never quite shuts off. Leaders feel it. Teams feel it. Organizations live inside it. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most leadership tools today are designed to help people cope with chaos, not transform it. Let’s go…
Summary: Most people think leadership is tested in team meetings, boardrooms, and strategy sessions. Sometimes it is. But the deepest truths about leadership often show up when the stakes are high, emotions are raw, and no script exists. That is when we see underneath the charisma and charm. Here is a great example of positive…
Summary: We’ve been sold a powerful idea that vulnerability is the key to better leadership. And to a point, it is. Thanks to the groundbreaking work of Brené Brown, leaders now understand that courage, connection, and trust require emotional honesty. But here’s the problem no one is saying out loud—vulnerability, by itself, can backfire. Here…
Summary: Let’s start with a truth that may surprise you ➜ Not all tension on a team is a problem. In fact, some of it is essential. But here’s where leaders get it wrong; they treat friction and conflict as if they’re the same thing. They’re not. And when you confuse the two, you either…
Summary: Let’s start with a truth most leaders don’t want to hear. People don’t leave companies; they leave patterns. And more specifically, they leave leaders whose patterns create disconnection, confusion, and emotional exhaustion. But the reverse is also true. When people love working with a leader, it’s not random. It’s not charisma alone, or just…