Next Generation Leadership

Photo by ThisIsEngineering

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood

What Role Will You Play in Creating Our Desired Future? Leadership in today’s world requires more than navigating systems or addressing crises—it calls for shaping cultures that prioritize care and connection. You have the ability to help people around you become better versions of themselves because of their interaction with you. That’s transformation. Transformative leadership focuses on...

Photo by Yan Krukau In my 30+ years of working with organizations and their leaders, the topic that surfaces more than any other is trust (followed closely by “communication”). Workplace culture isn’t just a "nice-to-have"—it’s the foundation that allows us to imagine possibilities together, take risks, engage with belief that others around us will support, not punish our learning or small...

I've been feeling stuck lately—really stuck. My mind feels foggy, focus is fleeting, and staying on task is an uphill battle. I start something with the best intentions, only to get pulled away by breaking news alerts or the endless pings of my phone. My energy? Flat. My motivation? Distant. And from the conversations I’ve had with colleagues and friends, I know I’m not alone.

If you’ve ever been a manager, you might relate to the lyrics of the 1972 song “Stuck in the Middle with You” by Stealers Wheel. The song—written about a chaotic industry dinner—has a chorus that feels eerily familiar to those in management:

“94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important to business success.” -Deloitte

My First Cup of Coffee

Much of the work managers and leaders do involves shifting focus from what we don't want, to envisioning the outcomes we do want. A useful way to think about this is transforming vicious cycles into virtuous ones.

Last night I watched Life is Beautiful, a movie about a Jewish Italian family who became victims of the Holocaust. I have no idea how I missed this back in 1997–it’s breathtaking and, of course, heartbreaking. A film is one thing, but it’s so tough when the whole world feels heartbreaking. It can become overwhelming. Overwhelming is exactly the problem. The idea of doing anything is overpowered...