Leadership

Smartphone recording of a crowd capturing a silhouetted couple in a concert balcony, symbolizing public scrutiny in the CEO-HR scandal

Concerts, Cameras, and Consequences: What the CEO-HR Scandal Teaches Us About Leadership in the Age of Public Scrutiny

By Sylvia Lafair | July 21, 2025 | Comments Off on Concerts, Cameras, and Consequences: What the CEO-HR Scandal Teaches Us About Leadership in the Age of Public Scrutiny

Summary: The internet did what it does best: took a grainy concert video and turned it into a full-blown social media bonfire. The latest “did-you-see-this?” involves a CEO and the head of HR caught on camera looking very cozy. Let’s consider “two consenting adults” versus “a total breach of workplace ethics.” Dear Dr. Sylvia, I…

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A green sprout growing through cracked concrete on a steep San Francisco sidewalk, symbolizing how curiosity transforms stress into growth.

When Stress Clamps Down, Curiosity Blows the Doors Off

By Sylvia Lafair | July 17, 2025 | Comments Off on When Stress Clamps Down, Curiosity Blows the Doors Off

Summary: You know that feeling, your chest tightens, your jaw clenches, and suddenly your to-do list feels like a personal attack. That’s stress! We all relate to stress. Instead of taking the meds, here is another way to pivot the stress factor and feel better faster. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I read your book “Invisible Stress…

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A silhouetted business leader stands at a crossroads at sunset, with directional signs reading “Old Patterns” and “New Awareness,” symbolizing a leadership choice.

Why Most Leadership Programs Fail, And How Pattern Awareness Changes Everything

By Sylvia Lafair | July 15, 2025 | Comments Off on Why Most Leadership Programs Fail, And How Pattern Awareness Changes Everything

Summary: Let’s get right to it: most leadership programs fail. Not because the content is bad. Not because the facilitators lack experience. However, they focus on surface-level skills while overlooking the underlying factors that drive behavior. Der Dr. Sylvia, I would like to persuade my favorite member of our Executive Team to participate in your…

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A single white feather floats against a vibrant blue background, symbolizing quiet strength and resilience, reflecting how to build self worth.

Stop Giving So Much: Think About Yourself Like a Feather in the Wind

By Sylvia Lafair | July 8, 2025 | Comments Off on Stop Giving So Much: Think About Yourself Like a Feather in the Wind

Summary: Are you always giving 110%, but you still feel like you need to prove your worth? You’re stronger than you think, and your persistence is your power. Read on. Dear Dr. Sylvia, It’s exhausting, constantly feeling like I have to do more, be more, just to be seen. I don’t need to be a…

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Happy Independence Day graphic with bold patriotic text declaring personal freedom and empowerment — “Happy Independence Day” in red and blue against a white textured background.

What Is Your Declaration of Independence?  Lead the Rest of 2025 Like You Mean It

By Sylvia Lafair | June 30, 2025 | Comments Off on What Is Your Declaration of Independence?  Lead the Rest of 2025 Like You Mean It

Summary: Flags, fireworks, and food sum up the traditional way Independence Day is celebrated.  Welcome to July 4th. But before we fall into another loop of red, white, and blue, let’s pause and ask the underlying question that the Founders discussed over and over as they planned a new way in the 13 colonies. Dear Dr.…

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Founding Fathers depicted with historical textures reflecting the leadership patterns that shaped a nation.

How American Independence Was Sparked with Rumors and Conspiracy Theories, Much Like Today: Pattern Repetition to Pattern Transformation

By Sylvia Lafair | June 29, 2025 | Comments Off on How American Independence Was Sparked with Rumors and Conspiracy Theories, Much Like Today: Pattern Repetition to Pattern Transformation

Summary: Let’s learn from the American Revolution. Rewind to 1776, a time before cable news. Back then, the colonies were a hotbed of unrest, rebellion, and yes… conspiracy theories. But instead of letting these theories spiral into chaos and infighting, the early revolutionaries did something brilliant: they used the momentum to unite the colonies under…

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

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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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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Group hug in a sunny forest.

Beyond Either/Or: When Leaders Embrace the Power of “And”

By Sylvia Lafair | June 5, 2025 | Comments Off on Beyond Either/Or: When Leaders Embrace the Power of “And”

Summary: “We’re all in it together, and no one wins unless we all do,” is precisely what leaders need to hear right now. It’s a core theme of Creative Energy Options Inc., and no, it’s not too simplistic. It’s deceptively profound. In a world addicted to binary thinking, right/wrong, win/lose, my way/the highway, let’s cut…

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Brain in cage with businessman holding key.

The One Thing Every Leader Must Know—Now More Than Ever

By Sylvia Lafair | June 3, 2025 | Comments Off on The One Thing Every Leader Must Know—Now More Than Ever

Today’s work environment is fueled by uncertainty, AI overload, and emotional burnout. The workplace is a psychological pressure cooker. And guess what? No amount of corporate jargon will fix that. Here’s how leaders help employees succeed. Dear Dr. Sylvia, There is a song  from way back in the 1980s titled “Looking for Love in All…

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