Leadership Styles

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 |

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 |

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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Young boy in white suit and blue sunglasses holding money, representing childhood wounds and leadership development.

Lost in Childhood ™: How One Leader Faced His Past Before It Finished Him

By Sylvia Lafair | November 11, 2025 | Comments Off on Lost in Childhood ™: How One Leader Faced His Past Before It Finished Him

Summary: Most leaders don’t realize this, but destructive workplace behaviors rarely begin at work. They begin in childhood, long before the corner office, long before the first promotion, long before the first glass of wine at a client dinner seemed like no big deal. Keep reading. This is a need-to-know issue important for long-term success.…

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A cartoon-style hand pointing outward through torn paper, symbolizing authority and self-awareness in sounding like my parents at work.

Help! I Sound Just Like My Parents at Work

By Sylvia Lafair | November 6, 2025 | Comments Off on Help! I Sound Just Like My Parents at Work

Summary: You know that moment. You open your mouth, and your mother or father comes out.“Do you think we’re made of money?” or “Turn off the lights; we’re not paying to illuminate the city.” Then,“Because I said so, that’s why!” It happens all the time. Here’s why and what to do about it. Dear Dr.…

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Three glowing purple light beams symbolizing head, heart, and gut alignment in whole-person leadership.

Glimmers, Leadership, and Alignment: The New Trifecta for Whole-Person Leadership

By Sylvia Lafair | November 4, 2025 | Comments Off on Glimmers, Leadership, and Alignment: The New Trifecta for Whole-Person Leadership

Summary: We all know what triggers feel like, those moments when something small sets off a big emotional storm.But what about the opposite? What about the micro-moments that bring you back to yourself? Here’s how head, heart, and gut coherence can turn ordinary leadership into something extraordinary. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am dedicated to helping…

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A professional man juggling glowing orbs symbolizing hypervigilance at work, set against a futuristic background of digital data and analytics.

The Martyr at Work: How Childhood Hypervigilance Shapes Adult Professional Behavior

By Sylvia Lafair | October 23, 2025 | Comments Off on The Martyr at Work: How Childhood Hypervigilance Shapes Adult Professional Behavior

Summary: Many people grow up in unpredictable homes, where moods shift without warning, where you have to “read the room” to stay safe. In those environments, children often learn hypervigilance: a heightened awareness of potential threats, emotional cues, or shifts in tone. It’s a survival strategy that keeps individuals alert and adaptable. Dear Dr. Sylvia,…

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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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Hand catching golden glimmers of light and glitter, symbolizing hope, positivity, and leadership moments.

How GLIMMERS Illuminate The Leader’s Path to Success

By Sylvia Lafair | October 1, 2025 | Comments Off on How GLIMMERS Illuminate The Leader’s Path to Success

Summary: We live in a world full of noise, deadlines, and distractions that pull us away from ourselves. But glimmers are stubborn little messengers of hope. They sneak in anyway. For example, they arrive in a stranger’s smile, the smell of brownies baking in the oven, the sound of wind threading through trees. These signs…

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Breaking Boundaries: The Leader’s Guide to Doing It Right

By Sylvia Lafair | September 30, 2025 | Comments Off on Breaking Boundaries: The Leader’s Guide to Doing It Right

Summary: Family, culture, and tradition: our loyalty to them shapes who we are. But sometimes it cages us. Leaders must know the difference. Most leaders don’t fail because of competition; they fail because of the boundaries they refuse to challenge. Breaking boundaries isn’t about chaos. It’s about progress with purpose. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am…

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A crystal prism on a desk scattering rainbow glimmers of light across business papers, symbolizing leaders trusting glimmers for guidance.

The Spark Leaders Don’t Know They Need

By Sylvia Lafair | September 25, 2025 | Comments Off on The Spark Leaders Don’t Know They Need

Summary: Leadership is often painted as a game of strategy, data, and grit. But ask the best leaders what guided them at critical crossroads, and the answer is rarely found in a spreadsheet. They’ll say, “I just knew,” or “something told me,” or “it clicked in my gut.” Here is why GLIMMERS are so crucial…

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