What happened when I stopped pretending to listen—and what it taught me about being present. Last night, my friend Maya was talking to me about a difficult conversation she needs to have with someone on her team. It’s one of those situations where emotions,...
I recently spoke in a group where people come together to share their personal journeys. That morning, I found myself opening up about the chronic body pain I’ve been navigating for several years now. It’s the kind of pain that doesn’t just hurt physically—it limits,...
I don’t think most leaders realize how quickly obligation distorts presence. It took a $70 networking ticket for me to see it happen in real time—in myself. A colleague invited me to an event. At the time, I didn’t realize he had personally paid the guest fee. Before...
If you’re leading significant change and facing resistance, this may be the most important question you ask yourself this year: Are you tightening strategy—or tightening control? The difference determines whether trust expands or erodes. An executive I work with...
Not long ago, I was standing in an office building with two people who are deeply connected to a leadership initiative I co-lead—L3, a free monthly lunch where local leaders gather to learn from and support each other. As we stood there chatting about which businesses...
A few days ago, I set out walking toward a part of town where I knew there were businesses. It was a Sunday afternoon, so most places were closed. That’s why, when I noticed one garage door open at a pool company, I perked up. My first thought: the only person...
