Welcome to Misti's Insights

Most leaders don’t wake up asking whether they’re abusing power. They ask something quieter and more practical: Is how I’m using my position creating trust—or tension? Am I creating clarity—or compliance? Capacity—or control? Commitment—or quiet withdrawal? One way to...

Most leaders believe resistance is a behavioral problem. What they often miss is that resistance is frequently a physiological one. People don’t resist authority because they’re difficult. They resist—or more accurately, withdraw—when authority isn’t relationally...

Our first experience of hierarchy doesn’t happen in the workplace.  It happens in our families. Long before we understand leadership, titles, or organizational charts, we learn what authority feels like. Does it protect us? Control us? Require compliance in exchange...

This morning, I had an experience that left me stung—literally and figuratively. It was a swim that turned into a lesson about trust, fear, and listening to the signals our bodies give us. Here’s what happened and what I learned. The Swim That Stung I swim at Savannah...

Recently, I found myself behind the wheel of a Mercedes, a car often associated with wealth, success, and prestige. It’s a vehicle that turns heads, sparks whispers, and carries with it an unspoken set of expectations about who the driver must be. Yet, as much as it...

Yvette and I were at a busy restaurant recently when we finally got the chance to connect with Sean and his wife — new friends we’d been looking forward to getting to know. It felt like one of those rare moments where schedules aligned and conversation could unfold...

“People are having trouble knowing where to spend their time.” I heard this at a recent networking event, and it struck a chord—not just with me, but with everyone in the room. We live in a world overflowing with opportunities, demands, and distractions, leaving many...

What if the secret to stronger relationships, smoother conversations, and fewer misunderstandings was closer than we imagined? Listening might sound simple, yet it’s one of the most overlooked and poorly practiced tools for connection. At its heart, effective...

This week, I had an experience that surprised me—and then taught me something important about leadership. Claire, a woman who generously offered support with the details of the Lewes Leadership Lunch (L3), stepped in to help in a few very practical ways. Initially,...

I remember sitting at my desk, staring at a social media post that had just gone live. It wasn’t just a little off; it completely missed the mark for my brand. Irritation surged through me as I started weaving stories about why this happened. Every reason I created...

Giving an apology can be one of the toughest things we do as leaders, especially when our actions or words have caused someone else frustration or hurt. Yet, the ability to apologize effectively is also one of the most powerful ways to build trust, repair...

Fear has a way of showing up when you least expect it — like standing on the edge of a five-mile swim in five-foot swells. The water churned beneath me, cold and uninviting. I had only learned to swim a year before. Standing there in my wetsuit, I remember thinking:...

What is hope, if not the possibility of a resentment? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately—how hope can lift us, yes, but also how it can betray us when it’s pinned to outcomes we cannot control. When we place it outside ourselves. When it depends on someone...

One of the most profound lessons I've learned as a leader is that tension often arises not from what people do, but from what we expect them to do. This gap between expectations and reality can create frustration, miscommunication, and missed opportunities—not because...

Performance reviews can often feel like formalities or, worse, dreaded evaluations we simply have to endure. But what if you could flip the script and turn your review into a golden opportunity for growth and clarity? One of my clients, Theresa, recently did just...

What does it mean to live your greatness? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself, not as a lofty idea, but as a real, tangible challenge. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on what it takes to align with your gifts, face fears, and take meaningful steps...

Yesterday, I was watching an NFL documentary when something Kirk Cousins said stopped me in my tracks. Reflecting on a challenging season, he shared: “When I try to make things happen, it doesn’t work.” It struck me — not because I’ve ever played professional football...