Finding Your Foundation When Everything Feels Unsteady The Resilience Paradox: Why Optimism Isn’t Optional Here’s what I’ve learned after years of working with leaders in crisis: resilience isn’t about being tough enough to power through. It’s about being adaptive enough to find solid ground, even when the landscape keeps changing. A seasoned CEO […]
Leadership In Action: Optimism 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 »
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 »
Dear Change Leader, When a storm strikes, it’s not the strongest tree that necessarily survives—it’s the grove with intertwined root systems supporting each other through the gale. As we continue exploring resilience, let’s focus on what might be the most powerful dimension: relational resilience—the unique strength that emerges when teams bond through disruption. The
The Bonds That Rebuild: Cultivating Team Resilience Read More »
Dear Change Leader, Imagine this scene with me… It’s a windy day in the forest. Trees sway dramatically as gusts intensify, their rustling growing louder in your ears. Suddenly, one tree—its roots perhaps not as deeply anchored as others—topples onto a power line. An electrical arc sends sparks flying in all directions. In these
Finding Renewal in Disruption: The Forest Fire Principle of Resilience Read More »
In a recent newsletter, I introduced the concept of “personal resilience” as a foundational element for organizational strength. This post is part of a series exploring more concrete ways to develop this critical capacity. As leaders, we often focus on organizational systems while neglecting the foundation upon which they all depend: our own ability
Building Personal Resilience: Simple Practices for Challenging Times Read More »
Dear Change Leader, “How are you doing?” I asked a leader recently. “I’m taking it one day at a time, and I’m okay with that,” he replied, a note of celebration in his voice. You see, until we connected in a CEO Roundtable I was hosting, he had been worried that his ability
The Pathfinder Approach: Leading When You Can’t See the Full Trail Read More »