Blogs
The Patterns We Pass at the Thanksgiving Table: A Lesson in Leadership, Love, and Letting Go
Summary: Thanksgiving has a way of shining a spotlight on the people we love most and the patterns we pass around, but would prefer to keep in the pantry with the canned cranberry sauce. Let this year be a day of gratitude and learning. Keep reading about how to make this time with family and friends…
The Next Big Shift in Leadership Development: Stop Guessing and Start Leading with Confidence
Summary: Let’s get one thing straight: you, as a leader, don’t need more theories. Or frameworks. Or another shiny workbook that sits gathering digital dust. You need integration. That elusive moment when the light bulb goes on, and it stays on long enough for behavior to actually change. You can do it as long as…
The Stoic Leader: Steady Rock or Stone Wall? The Pattern Truth Behind the Calm
Summary: Stoic leaders are having a moment. Podcasts gush about calm. Every leadership guru raves about equanimity. And half the world is clutching Marcus Aurelius quotes. This is only one part of leadership. It is the glimmer of the mind. Read on to see what works and what doesn’t. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Until now, I…
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…
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