Patterns

A calm leader surround by a team in chaos.

The Quiet Storm: How Type B Personalities Lead Without Needing a Spotlight

By Sylvia Lafair | June 19, 2025 |

Summary: Let’s face it, workplaces are loud these days. They are noisy and speedy, not always in decibels, but in energy. Type A individuals are often at the forefront, leading meetings as if their lives depend on it. Then there are the Type B individuals who are not sure how to fit in. Here is…

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A man in office attire illustrating oversharing at work with colorful letters and symbols swirling from his mouth and around his head.

Oversharing at Work: When “Being Real” Turns Really Awkward

By Sylvia Lafair | June 17, 2025 |

Summary: Let’s talk about oversharing. It’s that awkward moment when someone turns a team meeting into a therapy session. You’ve seen it. You’ve cringed. Maybe (gulp) you’ve even done it. Welcome to the land of Too Much Information (TMI) at work. Today’s world of stress has this population growing fast. Dear Dr Sylvia, Why do…

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Split-screen image showing a children with a father figure transitioning to the same person as a confident business leader in a modern office, illustrating how fathers shape leaders.

Father’s Day Reflections: The First Leader You Ever Met (Or Not)

By Sylvia Lafair | June 13, 2025 |

Summary: Father’s Day appears on the calendar, and for some, it’s all about gratitude and grilled steaks. For others, it’s confusion, avoidance, or grief. And for many, it’s both. Here are thoughts for you to consider. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Father’s Day hits me like a wave I can’t predict. Sometimes I feel nothing, sometimes I…

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Two mythical kings clash in a surreal fantasy realm, embodying invisible patterns of power—one channeling fire, the other arcane energy amid cosmic chaos.

THE DADDY WARS: Thoughts About Patterns and Challenges in Modern Power Battles

By Sylvia Lafair | June 11, 2025 |

Summary: Let’s talk about power. Not just the kind that buys social media platforms or rallies crowds with a slogan; I mean deep-rooted ancient, as old as your family tree power. The kind shaped by invisible patterns you were trained in long before you ever had a job title. Welcome to The Daddy Wars. Dear…

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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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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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Diverse group of people smiling together.

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

By Sylvia Lafair | May 28, 2025 | Comments Off on Generational Whiplash: How to Lead When Gen Z Calls the Shots to Reshape the Workforce

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

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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