Thoughtful Leadership
Summary: What if the things that bother you most are actually trying to get your attention? Gloria Steinem’s life offers a powerful reminder that change often begins with a GLIMMER—a question, contradiction, or moment that makes you stop and wonder why things are the way they are. Discover what happens when you pay attention to…
Summary: Your team may look terrific when everything is going well. People collaborate. Meetings are cordial. Deadlines are met. Everyone talks about trust, transparency, and “being one team.” Then the pressure hits. A major client threatens to leave. Revenue falls short. AI changes someone’s role. Instead of doom and gloom, here is a better way…
Summary: What happens to leadership when artificial intelligence can analyze faster, process more information, and produce answers in seconds? Perhaps the answer is surprisingly simple: We have to become more human, not less. Microsoft’s CEO has something to teach us about empathy, self-awareness, and human leadership in the age of AI. Satya Nadella, Chairman and…
Summary: There’s a sentence I’ve heard in executive team meetings, family businesses, and coaching conversations for decades: “That’s just how I am.” That sentence is almost guaranteed to shut down conversation and creativity for good. Here is another way to think and respond. Dear Dr. Sylvia, My leadership team is stuck in an “either/or” argument…
Summary: Dolly Parton has spent a lifetime covered in rhinestones. Yet somehow, she has never appeared to hide behind them. That may be one of the most remarkable things about her. In a culture fascinated by status, image, followers, titles, money, and the carefully polished version of ourselves we present to the world, Dolly Parton…
Summary: What if one of the worst moments in your career actually pointed you toward the work you were meant to do? Long before Oprah Winfrey became Oprah, she was a 22-year-old television journalist who moved to Baltimore to co-anchor the evening news at WJZ-TV. Oprah has written and spoken openly about those early years.…
Summary: You know the feeling. Your boss walks into the meeting, and your stomach tightens. Or perhaps you have an idea, but you hesitate before speaking. Tension comes in many flavors, from yelling and passive-aggressive comments to the silent treatment. Eventually, someone says the words everyone has been thinking: “We have a toxic boss.” Maybe…
Summary: Imagine walking into a room and saying, “I have an idea for a Broadway musical about Alexander Hamilton.” That alone might get you some raised eyebrows. Then add, “It will use hip-hop and rap, the Founding Fathers will be played by a diverse cast, and audiences will pay hundreds of dollars to watch it.”…
Summary: Banksy is one of the most recognized artists in the world. And yet, almost no one knows who Banksy is. While building a personal brand, chasing followers, and measuring success by visibility is the norm, Banksy has done the opposite by remaining anonymous, yet his work is discussed around the world. That isn’t just…
Summary: We hear these phrases everywhere. “She’s toxic.” “He’s impossible.” “Stay away from people like that.” Social media is overflowing with advice about identifying toxic people, avoiding toxic relationships, and eliminating toxic employees. Sometimes that advice is necessary. Abuse, manipulation, and repeated harmful behavior should never be ignored or tolerated. But what if the label…