Leadership Development: How Watching A Movie Changed Everything

Three people watching TV on a sofa.

Summary: The term “out-of-the-box thinking” has been around for decades. Let’s explore how watching a movie offers a unique approach to transforming team conflict into team collaboration. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I grew up in a world where the mantra was “better safe than sorry.” Therefore, risk-taking is not in my toolkit. For example, I lost…

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Sibling Repair as a Leadership Lesson

Two men standing back to back.

Summary: Adult sibling relationships often drift apart, influenced by various life circumstances, unresolved childhood conflicts, or differing personal values. However, repairing communication and reconnect can yield profound personal and emotional benefits. Here’s why re-establishing a positive relationship with adult siblings matters, even when a minimal or no relationship currently exists. Dear Dr. Sylvia, As a…

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How Leaders Can Help Teams Move Beyond the Past

Two leaders navigating conflict

Summary: When left unresolved, conflict can linger like a heavy cloud, impacting individuals, teams, and entire communities. But what if the best way to heal isn’t through endless debate or forced apologies but by doing something together to move beyond the past? Dear Dr. Sylvia, I was thinking about a pre-pandemic on-site my company did…

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The Power of Clarifying Questions

Imagery for clarifying questions

Transforming Conflict Into Win-Win Solutions Summary: In the heat of a conflict, our natural response is often to judge, blame, or attack (what I call JUBLA), and then we move to the next level, to defend, explain, or justify (DEJ) our position. These are traditional methods in most cultures. Resolving conflict was to punch, jab,…

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Transforming Triggers into Pathways for Work and Personal Growth

Transforming lights headed for a target

Summary: Do you ever sidestep discomfort, avoiding situations that unsettle you? Yet, these moments—your emotional triggers—are key to profound self-discovery and growth. By confronting and understanding your triggers, you can transform them from sources of distress into valuable teachers. Dear Dr. Sylvia, Yesterday, at my semi-annual review with my boss, he told me, and I…

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Stress Goes for a Touchdown

Football player making a touchdown

How Excellent Behavior Leads to Victory On and Off the Field Summary: As Super Bowl LIX nears, the NFL’s best will take the field, showcasing skill, strategy, and sportsmanship. The game will offer leadership lessons far beyond touchdowns, teaching us that character and excellent behavior often define true winners. Dear Dr. Sylvia, There is so…

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How Fires, Floods, and Wars Impact “Safe Zones”

People sticking together in safe zones

The Illusions of Safety: How Fires, Floods, and Wars Impact the Daily Lives of Those in “Safe Zones” Summary: No one is truly untouched in a world increasingly defined by its challenges—climate change, wildfires, droughts, and conflicts. While some regions experience these crises firsthand, others may seem to exist in “safe zones.” Yet, the ripple…

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