It sounds like a rom-com opening. Unfortunately, it’s a pattern we’ve all experienced at work. The person you’re asked to spearhead a project with becomes a real stick in the mud. Maybe their input is delaying progress, or they’re lacking the creativity the work requires. Maybe you feel like they’re doing the bare minimum or […]
Two Good People, Stuck. Read More »
A few weeks before Christmas in the US, HBO bought the rights to a Canadian adaptation of the romance novel Heated Rivalry. They did almost no promotion — there was no time — and yet this show was quickly everywhere. It spread because people talked about it. Viewers were posting clips, imploring their friends to
What the Heated Rivalry Buzz Can Teach Us about Company Culture Read More »
For years, leadership potential revealed itself in the work; not just in the outcomes but in how someone got there. You could see it in how they framed a messy problem, how they worked through imperfect data, how they stayed steady when things got murky. You could watch their reasoning unfold in real time. You
Are We Losing the Signals That Help Us Spot High-Potential Leaders? Read More »
Coaching is an investment in individual leaders. That investment may also come into direct conflict with your organizational system. Coaching works best when the organization can support the work it generates – when insight, experimentation, and behavior change are supported rather than quietly absorbed by the individual. Organizational support is what makes coaching usable, visible,
Coaching in Organizations: Why the Environment Matters Read More »
In the early 2000s, leadership development meant a three-day, in-person program. By 2020, we’d gone fully virtual—still classroom-based, just online, with a few learning licenses sprinkled in. Fast-forward to late 2024, when we asked leaders where they most often turned for learning… It was reels, podcasts, and audiobooks—consumed through AirPods and phones, anytime, anywhere. So how
The Way We Learn Has Changed Read More »
One of the first questions we ask a new coachee is simple: What constructive feedback have you received recently? When the answer is “none,” that, in itself, is feedback. A lack of input often signals a leadership gap. Getting others to share feedback with you isn’t passive—it’s an active leadership skill. Like any other skill,
Fueling Leadership Through Feedback Read More »
New data suggests Gen X leaders are being leapfrogged in succession plans. That worries us — not just because it’s our generation, but because overlooking this group leaves a critical gap in organizational strength. Gen X often serves as the glue that holds organizations together. They bring institutional memory, operational depth, and adaptive leadership. They’ve
Are We Quietly Losing Our Most Critical Leaders? Read More »
Last year, we called generative AI the “eager intern”—clever, but unpolished. Fast forward to today, and that intern has quietly settled into a permanent role—working behind the scenes on résumé screening, policy updates, DEI tracking, and pay equity analysis. The demos are no longer the main event. We’re in the long game now: building a
From Hype to Habit: Six Shifts in AI for HR Read More »
As leaders, one of the most meaningful actions we can take is to increase our team’s involvement. Making space for team members to represent their team or function in key settings broadens their influence. This not only eases our workload but also accelerates their growth and amplifies the team’s impact—both within and beyond the organization.
Elevating Team Involvement Read More »
As you know, I lead a team coaching practice. Alongside my esteemed colleagues, I spend most of my time working with executive teams navigating immense pressure. Lately, we’ve noticed a shift—or perhaps, a regression. These teams are still filled with purpose-driven, capable, and committed leaders. But increasingly, behind closed doors, we’re hearing the same refrains
A Downward Trend (That’s in our Control): Unproductive Overdrive Read More »
