When times are good, the economy is strong, markets are booming and there is a bevy of good candidates to hire, leadership comes relatively easy. You don’t have to be a genius to be a good leader. It’s when times are tough that one’s true leadership qualities are engaged — for better or worse. If there was one thing that leadership experts agreed upon during and following the COVID-19 disruption, it was the need for resilient leaders and organizations. See Deloitte, Gartner, HCI/UKG and HRD. Resilience What does it mean to be resilient? The Oxford Dictionary states that resilience is “… the ca ..read more

Many leaders avoid honest conversations because they fear that honest conversations could ignite conflict with the other person. The narrative goes something like this:  They’ll be surprised. We’ll feel bad. They might cry. Harsh words will be spoken, and trust will be lost. It doesn’t matter much if the other person is an employee, a colleague or our boss; the underlying belief is that conflict is the problem.  But conflict is not really the problem. The problem is mismanagement, which includes avoiding, undermining,or reorganizing departments instead of facing the issues head-on.&n ..read more

More is better! The more power at work you have, the more able and prepared you are to direct, advise and influence people.     Effective leaders use their power to help individuals, teams and organizations achieve success. Conversely, ineffective leaders squander their power, hoarding it for personal gain.  There are three types of power.   1. Position power Your position on the org chart gives you power over the people below you.    Position power allows you to:   Assign tasks, schedule meetings and establish the agenda.  Eval ..read more

How generative AI makes scammers alarmingly convincing “Taylor Swift” giving away cookware. “Tom Hanks” shilling for a dental plan. “Grandchildren” asking for emergency funds. The rise of generative AI has been a boon for many people, and unfortunately, this includes scammers and hackers. Now people are making their losses public, celebrities are speaking out about their digital impersonators and government agencies are considering harsher measures to fight the rising tide of AI-powered security hazards. Moving pictures, faking conversations Celebrity video deepfakes have taken the media spotl ..read more

What if you could call up the grace of a wise and seasoned leader next time you encounter conflict, adversity or a plot twist you didn’t expect? If you’re like me, showing up with poise and elegance takes practice, especially in the heat of the moment. Our lives move quickly, and we need tools to balance our strength of character with the generosity and kindness we’d like to show the world. While we cannot control the challenges that enter our lives, we can choose to be less emotional and respond to them strategically, resourcefully and gracefully.  Resourceful leadership is an inside job ..read more

The intersectionality of neurodiversity and physical disabilities can have a profound impact in the workplace and on society. Christine’s journey began with challenges that many would find insurmountable. Displaying signs of autism spectrum disorder as a child and having been diagnosed with Biedl-Bardet Syndrome, a condition that caused her to be legally blind, she navigated a world not designed to her benefit. Yet, where some saw limitations, Christine saw opportunities to excel — her neurodiversity providing her with unparalleled attention to detail and an extraordinary memory. With technolo ..read more

What are CEOs’ top priorities and challenges this year? A January 2024 study of 197 CEOs by the Chief Executive Group found that 60% of CEOs who responded said their top priority is retaining and engaging employees. In fact, two of the top five priorities from this study relate to staffing. Thirty-five percent of respondents said recruiting and training employees is a top priority. CEO’s challenges this year include these same priorities. Forty-one percent said retaining and engaging employees is a big concern. Forty percent identified recruiting people for open positions as a top challenge ..read more

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of speaking at a conference of more than 500 military officers and senior enlisted women who are in various stages of their career transitions. These women are leaders at a crossroads, many of them contemplating moving from a prescribed mission-driven leadership environment to a role in the corporate world. The anticipated shift in expectations, culture, climate and responsibilities for many participants couldn’t be starker when compared to military leadership, so taking a sober-eyed look at what it will take to transition successfully is forefront in the ..read more

Stepping into an executive leadership role for the first time can be as thrilling as it is daunting. The transition from a team member or mid-level manager to a C-suite executive involves not only a shift in responsibilities but also a fundamental change in perspective. First-time leaders might find themselves facing a unique set of challenges as they navigate through uncharted territories. This blog post will dissect the common thoughts, situations, pain points and mistakes new leaders encounter and offer actionable best practices to help them excel in their roles. Common thoughts and situati ..read more

YOUNG LEADERS In the wake of a 2023 that was challenging for thousands of workers, with major layoffs across tech, professional services and life sciences, I came to the conclusion that it is as important as ever to honor the contributions of those in our circles. Moreover, as our workplaces become increasingly diverse, understanding how to provide employee recognition — unique, meaningful feedback to employees of varying ages, background and cultures — should be top of mind for more leaders.  As a management consultant working with constantly shifting teams across a variety of projects ..read more