Dear Change Leader, “I thought being steady meant staying still,” Marcus told me during our coaching session last month. As the newly promoted Director of a fast-growing tech startup, Marcus had been trying to project unwavering confidence and consistency. He believed that good leadership meant being the organization’s anchor—solid, immovable, predictable. But the more he […]
The Art of Dynamic Balance Read More »
Dear Change Leader, In 1972, a small team at Royal Dutch Shell gathered to do something that seemed almost absurd: imagine a future in which oil prices would skyrocket. At the time, oil had been cheap and stable for decades. The entire industry operated on the assumption that this would continue. Planning for anything else
The Leadership Trap That Creates Tomorrow’s Crises Read More »
How leaders can reignite purpose and hope when teams are running on empty Dear Change Leader, “I look around the room and see people who used to light up when we talked about our work,” Stefan shared with me last week. “Now they just look… tired. Really tired.” As Executive Director of a community
When Your Team’s Spirit Feels Broken Read More »
What high-performing leaders discover when they stop trying to have all the answers Dear Change Leader, “Do you mind if I ask your opinion on something?” a seasoned executive asked me recently. “If you could share one thing that many leaders miss—something that could unlock a new level of leadership for them—what would that
The Freedom to Not Know Everything Read More »
How accomplished leaders can guide their teams through constantly shifting organizational landscapes Dear Change Leader, “I feel like I’m kayaking through an estuary where the channels keep shifting,” shared Rebecca, a seasoned C-suite executive, during our recent conversation. “Just when I think I’ve found the safe passage, the tide changes and suddenly I’m navigating
Navigating the Estuary: Leadership in Ever-Changing Terrain Read More »
How seeing systems reduces your overwhelm and increases your influence Dear Change Leader, “I kept thinking there had to be one key thing causing our retention problem,” explained David, a department head at a consulting firm. “I’d tackle communication, then discover it was workload. I’d address workload, then find out it was career development.
Seeing the Systems that Enable Everything Read More »
Dear Change Leader, “I thought I understood what was happening until I talked to someone in HR,” Marcus shared during a recent conversation. As Director of Operations for a growing tech company, Marcus had been wrestling with persistent delays in product launches. For weeks, he’d been focusing on what seemed obvious: the development team needed
The Perspectives that Shift Everything Read More »
Dear Change Leader, “I think I’ve been asking the wrong questions,” Sarah confided during our coaching session last week. As VP of Operations for a mid-sized company, Sarah had been struggling with an impossible challenge: her team consistently missed deadlines despite working long hours. For months, she’d focused on one question: “How can we get
The Questions That Change Everything Read More »
How overwhelmed leaders can develop strategic priorities and regain executive focus through intentional leadership calibration Dear Change Leader, “I’m being pulled in 1,000 directions, and I feel that I should be responsive to everyone and everything,” a CEO shared with me last week, her voice carrying the weight of six months of relentless disruption.
Recalibrating When Everything Feels Urgent: Moving From Distraction to Focus Read More »
Dear Change Leader, I’m writing this newsletter shortly after the summer solstice, almost at the midpoint of the year, as people traditionally prepare for their summer holidays. Given this transition point, I’d like to explore the benefit of pausing in the midst of what continues to be a hectic year. Imagine that you are
Appreciating The Clearing: Finding Perspective in the Midst of the Journey Read More »
Dear Change Leader, Picture this: A small dinosaur stands at the edge of a cliff, its body covered in what we now know were primitive feathers—originally evolved for warmth and display, not flight. Below stretches an unfamiliar landscape, changed by shifting climates and new predators. The old hunting grounds have dried up. The familiar food
Dear Change Leader, “How do you keep going when everything feels impossible?“ This question has been on my mind in recent weeks as I’ve listened to leaders describe their experience of this moment. The challenges feel relentless. The uncertainty seems endless. And many of you are wondering how to sustain your energy and clarity when
The Long View: Building Personal Resilience for the Journey Ahead Read More »