I've always loved magic. Quarters and cards, rabbits and hats charmed me endlessly. So when I got a "How to do Magic" book on my 7th birthday, I dove all in! But my enthusiasm quickly faded to frustration as I realized that clear instruction was not translating to magical performance. The tricks just weren't working for me! But I had an awesome uncle with a few tricks up his own sleeve. He took me under his wing and we began practicing together. He taught me the value of trial and error; of starting with the fundamentals; of practicing without an audience; of building confidence; and of learn ..read more

You came for the family-unfriendly. But you’ll stay (I hope) for the insight and action. The latter I’ve got. The former…well, this just isn’t that kinda newsletter. Today’s about the importance of the explicit. Not the kind we bleep. But the kind we see and hear. Out loud. Here’s a thing that blows my mind. When I runPulse Checks in organizations, it’s so common to hear employees wishing for things that their leadership swears are already present! Employees striving to better Deliver, Develop, Connect, and Thrive wish… they had access to tools or info that leaders tell me live on their intr ..read more

Quiet Quitting. Kinda the loudest thing on the socials right now. Amiright? Feels like it’s everywhere, sparking countless debates! It’s a good thing – we’re finally setting boundaries! It’s a bad thing – people are getting lazy. The employee is to blame. The manager is to blame. It’s an old concept – disengagement rebranded. It’s a new concept – our collective pandemic response. The adorably alliterative phrase has polarized the working world! But also. Wherever you stand. I think this Two-Q trend is trying to tell us something. Something we need to step back and really hear. But first, a qu ..read more

Remember when change was a choice? Made with intention in pursuit of a known outcome? Remember when change was a contained thing, with a beginning and an end? How quaint does that seem now? Change has been forever changed. It’s become pervasive, unchosen, unbounded, never-ending – and we’re kind of exhausted. And also, ready to move forward. Leaders need to be leading their teams through this change, and yet so many are justifiably struggling to lead themselves through! So, when we started getting requests from organizations seeking counsel on how to lead through this brand of change, I neede ..read more

Not sure what you’ve been up to, but my summer’s been pulsing with Pulse Checks! As organizations continue battling burnout, attrition, and the latest addition to the trend bench – quiet quitting – there’s a screaming need to peek under the hood of the ol’ Employee Experience (EX). Friends, I’ve heard a lot this summer. Some of it uniquely specific to a person or team. But also, I’m seeing themes; some very real things leaders need to be looking in the face and responding to. As loyal readers know, we design our Pulse Checks around Four Quadrants of an impactful EX. We’re hunting to understan ..read more

An economist I am not. So, I’m unapologetic about my using the word “recessiony.” But regardless of the technical state of our current economy, we’re seeing the pendulum return from the height of the Great Resignation. The war for talent is a gently calming storm. And companies – and leaders – may experience a false sense of security. With the threat of layoffs or hiring freezes looming, hey no one’s gonna leave in this economy, right? This deeply flawed logic causes companies to lessen their focus on Employee Experience (EX). And here’s where I get real unapologetic. Because in recessiony ti ..read more

In this action-packed talent market, we’re seeing lots of first-time leaders step up to the plate. And this transition sure can be scary! Some organizations are taking a “thoughts and prayers” approach to readying these first-timers. Others are giving the gift of skills-based training. But nearly all are leaving these new leaders woefully unready – AND are missing an opportunity to empower said leaders to really harness potential and amplify results. Because stepping into leadership requires so much more than a toolbox full of skills. It requires a mindset shift, a safe space in which to prac ..read more

These days it feels like bad bosses and toxic culture get all the airtime when it comes to reasons why people leave jobs. These are real, research-backed factors. But they’re not the whole story. Today I’d like to shine the spotlight on organizational sludge, which deserves its place on the podium (even if it’s holding the bronze). As the Great Resignation continues to morph into the Great Reconsideration, people just aren’t willing to wait for things to get awful. Feeling stuck and stunted and slowed by the goopy, sepia-toned, honey-like sludge that sucks the fun out of work seems to be enou ..read more

Decision-making is coming up inPulse Checks a lot these days. Like, a LOT. But the conversations aren’t about power or entitlement. They’re not about “who gets the D” (as in decision right). What’s poppin’ (as my teen loves to say) is the burnout people and teams are feeling from the inefficiency, the exclusion, the lack of downstream consideration as choices and tradeoffs are made. Poor decision-making hygiene is degrading the employee experience and triggering organizational unwellness. And as I’m debriefing Pulse Check results with clients, decision-making is more often than not rising to ..read more

At the start of – and throughout – the pandemic, leaders were called on to showcase their Communication chops – the capital “C” brand of communicating; the brand that's a discipline, an art. The kind designed to be deeply thought out – to inspire and assure; to deliver vision and lead through uncertainty and change. Once leaders found their sea legs, I saw many step up and do this well. But now we’re in a moment of…settling? Of breathing and recognizing the train is mostly on the tracks. It’s time to step out of crisis mode and redefine normal (for now). I’m hearing – in ,Pulse Checks – that ..read more