Leadership

patterns escalate

Patterns Escalate at This Time of Year: Complete Them or Repeat Them, Your Choice

By Sylvia Lafair | December 4, 2025 |

Explore why family patterns escalate during the holidays and learn simple shifts that transform your reactions, relationships, and leadership.

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the leadership trifecta

The Leadership Trifecta: Why Expectations, Accountability, and Follow-Up Make or Break Your Team

By Sylvia Lafair | December 2, 2025 |

Master the leadership trifecta of expectations, accountability, and follow-up to build trust, reduce drama, and elevate leadership impact.

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The Patterns We Pass

The Patterns We Pass at the Thanksgiving Table: A Lesson in Leadership, Love, and Letting Go

By Sylvia Lafair | November 24, 2025 |

Summary: Thanksgiving has a way of shining a spotlight on the people we love most and the patterns we pass around, but would prefer to keep in the pantry with the canned cranberry sauce. Let this year be a day of gratitude and learning. Keep reading about how to make this time with family and friends…

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the next big shift in leadership

The Next Big Shift in Leadership Development: Stop Guessing and Start Leading with Confidence

By Sylvia Lafair | November 20, 2025 | Comments Off on The Next Big Shift in Leadership Development: Stop Guessing and Start Leading with Confidence

Summary: Let’s get one thing straight: you, as a leader, don’t need more theories. Or frameworks. Or another shiny workbook that sits gathering digital dust. You need integration. That elusive moment when the light bulb goes on, and it stays on long enough for behavior to actually change. You can do it as long as…

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the stoic leader

The Stoic Leader: Steady Rock or Stone Wall? The Pattern Truth Behind the Calm

By Sylvia Lafair | November 17, 2025 | Comments Off on The Stoic Leader: Steady Rock or Stone Wall? The Pattern Truth Behind the Calm

Summary: Stoic leaders are having a moment. Podcasts gush about calm. Every leadership guru raves about equanimity. And half the world is clutching Marcus Aurelius quotes. This is only one part of leadership. It is the glimmer of the mind. Read on to see what works and what doesn’t. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Until now, I…

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A leader breaking through barriers, symbolizing the emotional and strategic challenges of leading change with courage and empathy.

When Pushing Boundaries Feels Like a Battle (But You Know It’s Right)

By Sylvia Lafair | October 30, 2025 | Comments Off on When Pushing Boundaries Feels Like a Battle (But You Know It’s Right)

Summary: Every leader who has ever driven meaningful change knows this moment: you’re pushing forward, stretching the system, and the resistance hits like a wall. It’s not subtle. You can feel it in the silence after you speak, in the sideways glances, in the sudden reappearance of “that’s not how we’ve always done it. And…

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Feeling disconnected at work, a symbolic red figure surrounded by muted tones representing isolation and the path to reconnection.

What to Do When You Feel Disconnected From Your Team at Work

By Sylvia Lafair | October 28, 2025 | Comments Off on What to Do When You Feel Disconnected From Your Team at Work

Summary: Even in the most collaborative workplaces, it’s natural to go through periods when you feel disconnected from your team. Maybe everyone’s working remotely, or priorities have shifted, or you’re just not clicking the way you used to. Whatever the reason, disconnection doesn’t have to last forever. Here’s how to reconnect with your colleagues, your…

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A confident woman in red glasses and a vibrant superhero outfit represents leadership development with confidence and authenticity.

Are You a Pleaser or Rescuer? Yes, They Are Different

By Sylvia Lafair | October 21, 2025 | Comments Off on Are You a Pleaser or Rescuer? Yes, They Are Different

Summary: Most people who’ve worked with me know that I often trace workplace behavior back to family dynamics. It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness, recognizing how the lessons we learned at home subtly influence our leadership, communication, and relationships. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I always thought I was, like most women, a pleaser. I was…

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Office celebration with coworkers toasting champagne glasses, capturing the spirit of success, teamwork, and camaraderie in an office drinking moment.

Why So Many People Drink Too Much at Work Offsites and Holiday Parties: And What It Really Says About Culture

By Sylvia Lafair | October 15, 2025 | Comments Off on Why So Many People Drink Too Much at Work Offsites and Holiday Parties: And What It Really Says About Culture

Summary: In my work studying patterns of behavior, I’ve learned that culture isn’t built in Executive Leadership meetings; it’s revealed by what happens after hours. Offsites don’t just show how we celebrate; they show what we avoid. Here are some thoughts to consider as we prepare for the holiday season. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am…

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Three colorful darts strike the bullseye of a vibrant painted target, symbolizing focus and recovery from burnout through balance and alignment.

Listen for the Glimmers: Go Past Burnout and Resentment by Offering Ways to Reconnect Head, Heart, and Gut

By Sylvia Lafair | October 12, 2025 | Comments Off on Listen for the Glimmers: Go Past Burnout and Resentment by Offering Ways to Reconnect Head, Heart, and Gut

Summary: Resentment and burnout are not simply emotional states; they are physiological signals that a person has been living in chronic misalignment. The brain spins with overanalysis (head), the heart closes off in self-protection (heart), and the gut tightens, warning that something feels “off” (gut). This disconnection often results from prolonged stress, people-pleasing, or purpose…

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