Thoughts. Reflections. Intentions.

When you talk about a “career,” you probably have a rigid definition in mind: the long-term pursuit of a certain job within a structured and hierarchical framework. A career is usually seen as a linear progression, starting from an entry-level position and gradually climbing the company ladder. It often involves specialization in a specific field or industry. It typically represents stability and security, and success is measured by external markers like job title, salary, and even the organization’s prestige. All these characterizations of career may be true in the traditional sense. But sometimes, they come together in a dangerous way, Read more.

As the year comes to a close, it’s natural to reflect. And as a team, we started down that path a few weeks ago. We talked about what happened this year and what we should prepare for next year. We looked back on the challenges our clients have faced and what we can do to help them navigate the future. And then Laurie said something that stopped us all in our tracks: “We don’t spend enough time in the present moment.” It’s true, we realized. We spend so much time ruminating on the past and anticipating the future that we Read more.

Let’s be honest for a moment: Things are hard … and constantly getting harder. In the space of just three years, we’ve experienced multiple shocks. A global pandemic. A war. An escalating climate crisis. The pervading presence of AI. Another war. Usually, these shocks come one or two at a time. We’re currently under immense pressure with multiple. Read more.

Last week, I talked with a client who expressed a common frustration: she’s so busy putting out daily fires that she has no time to focus on long-term goals or more strategic work. It’s an example of a paradox that occurs in every organization. Managing the day-to-day and planning for the future are both critical. Other universal paradoxes? Tending to the tried and true while pursuing creativity and innovation. Managing localized needs while creating global standardization. Upholding sustainability commitments while delivering shareholder value. Leaders struggle daily with contradictory pressures. You may view these strategic paradoxes—or polarities—as “either/or” problems. But what Read more.

Imagine the last time you felt uncomfortable. Was it in a meeting where you were asked to share your take on a tough topic? Was it when a team member asked you a question you didn’t have an answer for? Maybe it was in the throes of a (real or perceived) conflict with a co-worker. Read more.

Learning and development are two very different things, especially when you examine them through the lenses of adult learning theory and adult development theory. Read more.

Over the past decade or more, emotional intelligence has gained traction as a must-have trait, particularly for leaders. But the term is used so freely and frequently that few of us can really articulate what it means. Is it composure? Is it flexibility? Is it empathy?

Emotional intelligence can encompass all these traits, but more specifically, it’s defined as your capacity for awareness and effective management of your emotions. Those with high EQ are more likely to be aware of, control, and express their emotions.

Nearly everyone has the capacity for emotional intelligence, but tapping into it is often easier said than done. It becomes especially challenging in stressful circumstances, when your nervous system is triggered and sets off a tsunami of feelings that are difficult to get a grip on. Read more.

I consider myself to be fiercely independent and outrageously resourceful. From a young age, I was programmed to solve my own problems, move my own barriers, and work through my own obstacles. Help? I don’t need it. Support? I can take it or leave it. This mindset has had its advantages in life and my career. It’s made me strong, capable, and resilient. But it’s also had some disadvantages. I can appear distrustful or distant. I’ve turned down opportunities for teamwork or collaboration that would have expanded my learning and growth. It wasn’t until started working with Transitions Coaching that Read more.

As leaders today, our capability to lead change is constantly being tested. At the same time, we’re stretching our teams’ capacity to absorb change. Read more.

The tension in my shoulders. The quickening of my pulse. The clenching of my jaw. The tightness in my chest. It wasn’t a physical threat triggering my fight or flight response—it was an annual performance review. Read more.