Blogs
Lost in Logic™: When Leaders Ignore the Voice Beneath the Data
Summary: Here is a more complete way to view your behavior at work. In the new leadership science, your head analyzes, your heart connects, and your gut predicts. When they’re aligned, decisions flow. However, if they’re not, chaos follows. Read on for new ideas. Dear Dr. Sylvia, It’s all my fault! I was the final…
Lost in Childhood ™: How One Leader Faced His Past Before It Finished Him
Summary: Most leaders don’t realize this, but destructive workplace behaviors rarely begin at work. They begin in childhood, long before the corner office, long before the first promotion, long before the first glass of wine at a client dinner seemed like no big deal. Keep reading. This is a need-to-know issue important for long-term success.…
Help! I Sound Just Like My Parents at Work
Summary: You know that moment. You open your mouth, and your mother or father comes out.“Do you think we’re made of money?” or “Turn off the lights; we’re not paying to illuminate the city.” Then,“Because I said so, that’s why!” It happens all the time. Here’s why and what to do about it. Dear Dr.…
Glimmers, Leadership, and Alignment: The New Trifecta for Whole-Person Leadership
Summary: We all know what triggers feel like, those moments when something small sets off a big emotional storm.But what about the opposite? What about the micro-moments that bring you back to yourself? Here’s how head, heart, and gut coherence can turn ordinary leadership into something extraordinary. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am dedicated to helping…
When Pushing Boundaries Feels Like a Battle (But You Know It’s Right)
Summary: Every leader who has ever driven meaningful change knows this moment: you’re pushing forward, stretching the system, and the resistance hits like a wall. It’s not subtle. You can feel it in the silence after you speak, in the sideways glances, in the sudden reappearance of “that’s not how we’ve always done it. And…
What to Do When You Feel Disconnected From Your Team at Work
Summary: Even in the most collaborative workplaces, it’s natural to go through periods when you feel disconnected from your team. Maybe everyone’s working remotely, or priorities have shifted, or you’re just not clicking the way you used to. Whatever the reason, disconnection doesn’t have to last forever. Here’s how to reconnect with your colleagues, your…
The Martyr at Work: How Childhood Hypervigilance Shapes Adult Professional Behavior
Summary: Many people grow up in unpredictable homes, where moods shift without warning, where you have to “read the room” to stay safe. In those environments, children often learn hypervigilance: a heightened awareness of potential threats, emotional cues, or shifts in tone. It’s a survival strategy that keeps individuals alert and adaptable. Dear Dr. Sylvia,…
Are You a Pleaser or Rescuer? Yes, They Are Different
Summary: Most people who’ve worked with me know that I often trace workplace behavior back to family dynamics. It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness, recognizing how the lessons we learned at home subtly influence our leadership, communication, and relationships. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I always thought I was, like most women, a pleaser. I was…
Why So Many People Drink Too Much at Work Offsites and Holiday Parties: And What It Really Says About Culture
Summary: In my work studying patterns of behavior, I’ve learned that culture isn’t built in Executive Leadership meetings; it’s revealed by what happens after hours. Offsites don’t just show how we celebrate; they show what we avoid. Here are some thoughts to consider as we prepare for the holiday season. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am…
Listen for the Glimmers: Go Past Burnout and Resentment by Offering Ways to Reconnect Head, Heart, and Gut
Summary: Resentment and burnout are not simply emotional states; they are physiological signals that a person has been living in chronic misalignment. The brain spins with overanalysis (head), the heart closes off in self-protection (heart), and the gut tightens, warning that something feels “off” (gut). This disconnection often results from prolonged stress, people-pleasing, or purpose…
The Ugly Middle: When Conflict Gets Messy (and What to Do About It)
Summary: Every leader wants conflict resolution to occur as quickly as possible. Few are prepared for the ugly middle, where things get confusing. Here’s how to stay grounded when you feel frustrated and hopeless. Dear Dr. Sylvia, The entire world seems to be fighting all the time. There is no middle ground. I often feel…
How Seasoned Leaders Can Help Emerging Leaders Become Their Best
Summary: If you’ve led for a long time, you eventually realize leadership isn’t about staying in front; it’s about walking alongside. The most incredible legacy any long-standing leader can leave is not a list of accomplishments, but a new generation of leaders who’ve learned how to think, decide, and lead well because of your influence.…
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