Sometimes leadership lessons show up in feathers. There are baby owls up the street from my house, and lately, they’ve become the talk of the neighborhood. It started with one neighbor posting a picture and then another sharing a sighting. Pretty soon, folks were gathering under the trees, standing shoulder to shoulder in the quiet,…

Right now, there’s a subtle but rising return to more directive leadership–fewer questions, faster decisions, more top-down control. In some cases, it’s needed. But in many, it’s reactive. This is what I want leaders to ask: Where does this directive need to come from?Is it clarity—or is it control? As leaders, we’ve all been there—things…

Let’s demystify that your purpose must compare to “purpose icons” who are famous for living their purpose—people like activist Mahatma Gandhi, athlete Serena Williams, or musician Taylor Swift. True purpose isn’t just for the famous or extraordinary; it’s woven into our daily choices and interactions.  How we live our days is how we live our…

I was recently invited to speak about purpose to a classroom of MBA students at Sonoma State University. Specifically, the request was that I speak on how to find purpose or stay aligned to purpose in times of chaos or massive change.   I talked about where we leak our energy by using our precious resources…

Today, I’m thrilled to share something close to my heart. After years of nurturing and honing the Leading and Living on Purpose (LLOP) program, my coaching team has dedicated an online space for it. Our new website is called leadliveonpurpose.com. More than just a website, this space celebrates our commitment to leading and living authentically….

I love the quote by Jon Kabat-Zinn: “Emotions are like waves. Watch them come and go, without getting caught in the undertow.” This idea encourages us to acknowledge emotions rather than suppress them. Rather than simply welcoming our temporary visitors, we often buy into a common myth: When stress hits, we should just “power through”…

Spring isn’t just for tidying up our homes—it’s a chance to refresh every part of our lives. Just as we clear out clutter and clean windows to let in more light, we should do the same for our minds, relationships, workspaces, and daily routines. A messy desk can cloud your thinking, just as an overflowing…

I don’t have a single client who isn’t rearranging the deck chairs at least once a year in some way. Org charts and responsibilities change often, and we wonder if the “reorgs” will ever stop. (Hint: After twenty-five years of doing this, I think the answer is no.) The art of influencing continues to be…

People-pleasing is one of the fastest ways to lose yourself. We grow up believing that harmony is the goal—that keeping the peace means saying yes when we want to say no, softening our edges so others don’t feel uncomfortable, and putting everyone else’s needs ahead of our own. (Check out my post about navigating conflict.)…

Interpersonal conflicts in teams are inevitable. Throw together diverse personalities, competing priorities, and the stress of deadlines, and sparks are bound to fly. But here’s the thing: Conflict isn’t the problem. Avoiding it is. Consider this scenario that I’ve seen all too often: A team leader noticed that one of their team members was consistently…