Patterns

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

By Sylvia Lafair | June 3, 2025 |

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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Generational Whiplash: How to Lead When Gen Z Calls the Shots to Reshape the Workforce

By Sylvia Lafair | May 28, 2025 |

Summary: Most leaders over 40 are still figuring out if “ghosting” means disappearing from a project or ignoring emails and texts. In today’s new reality, Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is speaking up to reshape the workforce. Leaders everywhere are feeling the generational whiplash. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am the CEO of a…

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The Great Disconnect: Why Communication in the Workplace is Crumbling and What It Is Doing to Our Productivity

The Great Disconnect: Why Communication in the Workplace is Crumbling and What It Is Doing to Our Productivity

By Sylvia Lafair | May 22, 2025 |

Why Communication in The Workplace is Crumbling and What It Is Doing to Our Productivity

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Masks in line to represent behavioral patterns

Same Problems, New Day? Break the Behavioral Patterns That Keep You Stuck

By Sylvia Lafair | May 15, 2025 | Comments Off on Same Problems, New Day? Break the Behavioral Patterns That Keep You Stuck

You’ve tried everything: new systems, better meetings, even hiring new talent. And yet, here you are again: overwhelmed, constantly putting out fires, and asking yourself, Why does this keep happening? Welcome to the invisible force running your business: repeating behavioral patterns. They’re more than just frustrating—they’re costly. And until you learn to recognize and shift…

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A women in a wheelchair defying all perceptions

Exploring Perspectives: Leadership Lessons from ‘Rashomon,’ ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,’ and ‘Good American Family’

By Sylvia Lafair | April 3, 2025 | Comments Off on Exploring Perspectives: Leadership Lessons from ‘Rashomon,’ ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,’ and ‘Good American Family’

Summary: Understanding that individuals can have different perspectives of the same event is crucial for effective leadership. This concept is vividly illustrated in Akira Kurosawa’s classic film Rashomon, the Netflix series The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, and the recent Good American Family. The narratives delve into the complexities of subjective truth, offering valuable insights…

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A family overcoming generational karma

How Karma Tumbles Through Generations: Changing Generational Karma- A Look at Elon Musk’s Family

By Sylvia Lafair | March 1, 2025 | Comments Off on How Karma Tumbles Through Generations: Changing Generational Karma- A Look at Elon Musk’s Family

Summary: Generational karma is a powerful force. It’s the set of unconscious patterns—beliefs, behaviors, and emotional responses—that tumble through families until someone finally decides to stop the cycle. We see it in our own lives, but it’s especially fascinating when examined in high-profile families. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Everything seems so upside down at the moment.…

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A man with gold he's manipulated out of people as a sociopath in business

How to Spot Manipulative Individuals

By Sylvia Lafair | February 20, 2025 | Comments Off on How to Spot Manipulative Individuals

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…

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Transforming lights headed for a target

Transforming Triggers into Pathways for Work and Personal Growth

By Sylvia Lafair | February 18, 2025 | Comments Off on Transforming Triggers into Pathways for Work and Personal Growth

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…

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Dog cowering from misdirected anger from owner

Misdirected Anger and Caring: Two Sides of the Same Coin in Leadership and Life

By Sylvia Lafair | February 11, 2025 | Comments Off on Misdirected Anger and Caring: Two Sides of the Same Coin in Leadership and Life

Summary: Have you ever lashed out at someone who doesn’t deserve it? Or overextended kindness in a situation where you need firm boundaries? These are two common behaviors in both personal and professional life—misdirected anger and misdirected caring. They may seem like opposites, but they stem from the same root cause: unresolved patterns that cause…

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A pattern of people lined up

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

By Sylvia Lafair | January 28, 2025 | Comments Off on How Patterns of Behavior Differ from Habits: What You Need to Know

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…

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