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, Ready. Fire. Aim. Sound familiar? If you’re wincing right now, you’re not alone. This all-too-common approach to change initiatives might be the most expensive three-word sequence in business. As one veteran change leader noted in Bent Flyvbjerg’s “How Big Things Get Done”: “Change Projects, not only do they often
Dear Change Leader, Would you fly on this airline? “We will no longer perform regular maintenance on our aircraft.” “Due to our hiring freeze, there will only be one pilot on the flight deck.” Imagine an airline making these announcements in the name of cost-cutting. Your reaction would likely be a mix