Leadership Styles

The Secret to Strong Leadership: Less Sparkle and More Facts

By Sylvia Lafair | March 25, 2025 |

Summary: How to lead is often more about charisma, clickbait, and influencers than “just the facts, ma’am.”It’s easy to fall under the spell of charm. Whether it’s a smooth-talking executive or a magnetic team member who lights up every meeting, the sparkle often gets more attention than the substance. But for strong leadership—the kind who…

Leadership and Power: The Hidden Parallels Between the Films Conclave and Anora

By Sylvia Lafair | March 10, 2025 |

Summary: At first glance, Conclave and Anora seem to belong to entirely different cinematic realms. One is a tense political-religious drama about the secretive election of a new pope. The other is a raw and darkly comedic exploration of a young woman navigating the unpredictable world of sex workers. However, beneath their disparate settings and…

How to Spot Manipulative Individuals

By Sylvia Lafair | February 20, 2025 |

Before They Take You for a Ride with Your Work and Your Money Summary: Have you ever met someone who seemed too good to be true, only to later realize they had manipulated, deceived, or even financially exploited you? If so, you encountered a “toxic friend.” In the workplace, these manipulative folks can be incredibly…

Transforming Triggers into Pathways for Work and Personal Growth

By Sylvia Lafair | February 18, 2025 |

Summary: Do you ever sidestep discomfort, avoiding situations that unsettle you? Yet, these moments—your emotional triggers—are key to profound self-discovery and growth. By confronting and understanding your triggers, you can transform them from sources of distress into valuable teachers. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Yesterday, at my semi-annual review with my boss, he told me, and I…

How Patterns of Behavior Differ from Habits: What You Need to Know

By Sylvia Lafair | January 28, 2025 |

Summary: Understanding the distinction between behavior patterns and habits is essential when examining personal growth and professional success. Although we often use these terms interchangeably, they represent two distinct concepts that impact how we navigate relationships, make decisions, and respond to challenges. Let’s delve into how patterns of behavior and habits differ and why recognizing…

From Tyrant or Timid to Visionary Leader: Transforming Extremes into Empowered Leadership

By Sylvia Lafair | October 23, 2024 |

Summary: In every workplace, leaders influence their teams’ and organizations’ direction, culture, and overall success. Those in the extremes are the hardest to change. They are either persecutor/ tyrants or pleaser/milk toasts. On one end of the spectrum, the persecutor or tyrant leads through intimidation and fear, while on the other, the milk-toast or pleaser…

The Immutable Leader: Understanding the Impact on Organizational Dynamics

By Sylvia Lafair | June 11, 2024 |

Summary: Some leaders firmly believe that individuals do not fundamentally change. This belief can profoundly impact an organization’s culture, employee morale, and productivity. Let’s explore the characteristics of such a leader and their potential effects on their organization. Dear Dr. Sylvia, The Founder and CEO of my company and I had a dispute last week.…

What is “Eggshell Leadership?” And What To Do About It

By Sylvia Lafair | August 30, 2023 |

Summary: When you have a leader with unpredictable moods, many employees feel their organization is like a roller coaster without a stop button. Here are some methods to reduce tension and exhaustion and create psychological safety. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Whenever I meet with my boss, I get a queasy feeling in my stomach. My work…

Leadership Lessons: What Matters When You Tell The Truth

By Sylvia Lafair | January 19, 2023 |

Summary: In this era of social media excess, where everyone can offer their version of what is truth without fact-checking, it’s time for critical thinking to stop the dysfunction of speaking without considering the consequences of our words. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I have a question for you. Question: How many business coaches does it take…

How to Leap into the New Year and Let Your Dreams Take Flight

By Sylvia Lafair | December 27, 2022 |

Summary: This is a great time to think about how you want to advance your career and your relationships. Go ahead, take a leap of faith. Here’s what to do.  Dear ….  Did you know that at least 50% of adults make new year’s resolutions?  Mostly they are about more exercise, less weight, healthier eating,…