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The Leadership Vacuum: What to Do When Your Ship Has No Captain
Throughout my 25-year career, I’ve witnessed quite a few leadership vacuums. It’s what happens when a team lacks clear, accountable leadership or chain of command. Sometimes it’s a physical absence where leadership unexpectedly resigns or retreats with poor succession planning in place. But sometimes, it’s a much slower burn where leadership might technically be present,…
What Travel Teaches Us About Leadership and Discomfort
Travel can teach us so much about resilience, flexibility, and humility. As a frequent traveler, I strongly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity as a way to stretch yourself, not only as a person but also as a leader. And for the record, travel doesn’t always have to take you an ocean away….
When Your Heroes Let You Down
When someone we admire disappoints us, it’s tempting to reach for an extreme reaction. Either defend them at all costs or condemn them entirely. But growing older (and wiser) usually asks something harder of us than either response. It asks for discernment. This is not an argument against heroes or role models. Human beings need…
Is the Art of Good Conversation Lost in the Age of Constant Communication?
“Ah, good conversation—there’s nothing like it, is there? The air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.” So wrote Edith Wharton, the Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist and a keen social observer of the early 20th century. Wharton wrote about the intricacies of privilege in novels like The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth….
Moving from Command-and-Control to Trust-and-Empowerment: Why We Needed One Leadership Style to Have the Other
In conversation about leadership, it’s become popular to talk about a “command-and-control” style of management as a relic or something of the past. And yes, this legacy of control was built on hierarchy and compliance, which no longer completely reflects the needs of many modern workforces. But command-and-control didn’t emerge by accident. It served a…
The Disconnect Between Public Discord & Private Apology
Whether at work, in politics, or online, conflict is inevitable. But that doesn’t mean it’s unhealthy or unwarranted. In fact, healthy conflict is a necessary component of any strong group dynamics. Without some degree of tension or disagreement, we risk falling into an echo chamber—one that can cause our work, relationships, and culture to become…
How to Disagree With Someone More Powerful Than You
Whether it’s your boss, a senior colleague, or even a parent, power dynamics can make even the most honest disagreement feel like a risk. Whether the person has more years in the industry, more sway in the room, or just a louder voice, it’s natural for you to feel anxious during contentious interactions. The thing…