Why Feedback Feels Like Criticism for Leaders
Why feedback feels like criticism for leaders isn’t a mystery once you understand what’s actually happening underneath it. I get it. I’ve sat across the table from someone delivering feedback I knew, intellectually, was meant to help me, and felt my whole body brace like I was under attack. The words were measured. The intent […]
The Leadership Blind Spot That Costs More Than Any Other
You already know self-awareness matters. That’s not the problem. Early in my career, I thought I was just being honest. Direct. Efficient. I said what I meant, I got to the point, and I didn’t waste time softening things that didn’t need to be softened. What I didn’t realize – what took me an embarrassingly […]
The Brain Break That High-Performing Leaders Actually Use
I bought “Peak Mind” by Dr. Amishi Jha because I thought I was going to learn something to teach Scott. That’s honestly how it started. I read her article in Harvard Business Review about attention training and her research with military personnel, and I thought: He needs this. What I didn’t realize was how valuable […]
Here’s the Thing About Neurofeedback – Your Body Knows Before You Do
My husband Scott was already working with Gabi, a neurofeedback practitioner, for his own reasons. At some point he told her what I was going through with adrenal fatigue. Her response was direct: she thought she could help. That’s how it started. Not with me deciding to try something new. With Scott advocating for me […]
What’s Really Running Your Team’s Performance: It’s What Nobody’s Saying
I have worked in environments where my voice mattered, and ones where I learned, quietly and quickly, not to use it. Here’s the part nobody says out loud: the same leader can create both, and the difference between them is what psychological safety and team performance research is now measuring at scale. For most of […]
Why High Achievers Don’t See Burnout Coming. Until Their Body Makes Them Stop.
High achiever burnout signs don’t look the way you’d expect. You’re not curled up in bed, unable to get dressed. You’re at your desk. Your calendar is full. Your output is strong. You’re leading meetings, hitting deadlines, and holding it together. Because that’s what you do. And then your body makes you stop. That’s exactly […]
Here’s the Thing About the Drama Triangle
Here’s a number that stopped me cold: mentions of “misalignment” in employee reviews surged 149% last year. Not a slow creep – a surge. Right alongside it, words like “distrust,” “disconnect,” and “miscommunication” climbed 24–26%. That’s from Glassdoor’s Worklife Trends 2026 report – and it’s not a small signal. Reactive leadership patterns are showing up […]
First Responder Leadership: What 30 Years in Emergency Services Teaches You About Leading People
I’ve been trying to write this post for a while now. Not because I don’t know what to say about Scott Richardson. Quite the opposite. It’s because the man I’m about to introduce to you would be deeply uncomfortable with every word of it. He doesn’t talk about himself. Leading with his resume isn’t his […]
From Reactive to Creative: The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything
The shift from reactive to creative leadership is one most leaders don’t see coming – until the burnout, the conflict, or the disengagement makes it impossible to ignore. Here’s something I hear constantly, in almost exactly these words: “I know I’m reacting. I just can’t seem to stop.” And honestly? That’s one of the most […]
The Human Side of Feedback (Part 3): Why Mastering Feedback Changes Everything (For You & Your Culture)
Why Does Feedback Culture Matter So Much Right Now? We’ve talked about how to give feedback well and how to receive it without your walls shutting the conversation down. Now here’s the part nobody says out loud: none of those individual skills add up to a feedback culture unless the leader is actively building one. […]