Patterns
Summary: Forget the official “goodbye” emails and polite handshakes. The fear of gossip often haunts people when they resign. There is a whispered, “Can you believe she left? She’ll regret it.” Or the raised eyebrows that silently say, ”I bet he was actually fired and they are just covering it up.” Here are some thoughts…
Summary: Leaders who can hold the “both/and” philosophy in our polarizing world are needed more than ever. CEO’s VP’s. therapists, educators, trainers, coaches, directors, and media do best when they lead others to better ways of interacting rather than telling them what is right or wrong. Here are some thoughts to consider. Dear Dr. Sylvia,…
Summary: A coincidence is like bumping into an old friend at the grocery store when you’re both reaching for the same bag of organic spinach. Random, curious, and a little funny. Synchronicity, though, that’s a whole different ball game. It’s when life’s things come together like a cosmic stage manager with perfect timing. Read on.…
Summary: The phrase “living your best life” has been hijacked by surface-level nonsense. Let’s reclaim it. Living your best life means confronting the behavior patterns that still influence you. It means saying no to outdated roles (such as rescuer, martyr, or avoider) and saying yes to leading with purpose and clarity. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Today…
Summary: When a team member is suddenly fired without clear communication, it doesn’t just impact that individual. It shakes the entire team’s foundation. Here are the emotional and psychological ripple effects, along with practical ways to restore clarity, confidence, and trust. Dear Dr. Sylvia, One of the nicest and most connected members of our Senior…
Summary: You’ve heard the advice before: “Just let them be. ”You can’t change people. “Ignore them and move on.”Sure, there’s a time for inner work. There’s also a time to get off the meditation cushion and actually speak up. Let’s get real: thinking about how you feel isn’t the same as doing something about it.…
Summary: They’re falling behind. You swoop in to help. You make sure they won’t drown. You’re praised for being “the one who always saves the day.” After the tenth time of fixing someone else’s mess, a thought creeps in. ”Why am I working harder than the people I’m rescuing?” Welcome to the Rescuer Pattern, a…
Summary: Most leadership problems aren’t actually leadership problems. They’re pattern problems. The conflict you keep running into, the communication breakdowns that repeat, the team dynamics that never quite shift, they’re often not coming from a lack of skill. They’re coming from something deeper that most leadership training never touches. Before you assume it’s strategy, tools,…
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.…
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…