A creative leadership lesson from parenting a teen, and managing adults Teen boys are a masterclass in paradox. Developmentally, they’re wired to push for autonomy: “I need space. Please go now.” And at the same time, secure attachment (feeling safe, seen, understood) remains a protective buffer for mental health and risk-taking. So you also get: “Nobody gets me. You don’t get me.” It’s a seemingly impossible dynamic: “Don’t come closer… and don’t you dare leave me” I started

Leadership today carries a lot of complexity . This one is rarely named out loud. Especially in small organizations, family-business cultures, tight-knit communities, or purpose-driven teams, leaders often face an invisible emotional field, a quiet expectation to become more than a manager. Leaders tell me: “Some people want me to be their parent .” “It feels like they want a therapist, not a leader.” “If I don’t provide constant emotional attunement, I’m accused of not cari

For thousands of years, cultures around the globe have told a version of the same story: the hero leaves home, faces trials, slays the dragons, and returns with treasure that saves the community. Joseph Campbell called this the Hero’s Journey, and it has shaped our imagination of what leadership should look like. Even today, we unconsciously expect ourselves as leaders to embody this myth. We look up to that elusive notion of a heroic solver of all problems, the one who leave

A few days ago, driving my son home from basketball practice, I decided to share something I’d been reflecting on from Joseph Nguyen’s...

It’s Friday afternoon. You’ve worked hard all week, but instead of feeling accomplished, you feel wrung out. It’s not the workload that...

Today, the conversation in front of me felt particularly difficult because of the CliftonStrengths dynamics at play. It was, in essence,...

We don’t like defiance. Not in teenagers, not in colleagues, not in ourselves. It disrupts. Refuses. Challenges the norm. And yet, defiance might be one of the most essential leadership qualities we never talk about.  Especially when it comes to leading our own lives. Defiance isn’t just rebellion for its own sake. It’s the refusal to shrink into expectations that don’t fit. It’s a boundary line that says: not this . In psychological terms, defiance often emerges as a protec

“When you do not seek or need external approval, you are at your most powerful.” — Caroline Myss Most women don’t need a seminar on “reading the room.” Years of social conditioning mean we pick up on micro-moods and rush to smooth them over. Studies show women often score higher than men on empathy and perspective-taking , but when motivation is equalized, the gap nearly disappears. What that means is that we practice empathy because we were taught it matters. That invisible

You’ve felt it before, that moment where everything in you wants to speak up, but something holds you back. Maybe it’s fear of conflict,...

Have you ever noticed how being constantly available to others ends up hurting you? We say yes out of habit, reply instantly, stay...

We all long for freedom. Not just political or physical freedom, but the kind that lives quietly inside us. But what is  freedom, really?...

Whether we speak or remain silent, show up or withdraw, every action, or inaction, sends a message. Communication isn’t just about what we say; it’s also about what we don’t say. Silence, hesitation, and avoidance are just as communicative as words. And in leadership, these unspoken messages often speak the loudest. “One cannot not communicate.”  — Paul Watzlawick Avoiding hard conversations erodes trust. When we sidestep giving feedback, delay naming tension, or choose silen

Trust defines relationships. It is the invisible thread that holds society together, shaping our interactions, decisions, and...

What if setting boundaries in a clear and compassionate way was not only possible but also empowering? Imagine feeling confident ,...

If you’ve experienced burnout yourself, you know that true recovery requires a new way of living rather than just pushing through obstacles.

"Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind." – Brené Brown What Does This Mean? At first glance, Brené Brown’s statement may seem simple, yet its...

If I were to begin and end my blogging journey with just one article, it would be this one. Believing in ourselves is the most important...

As a coach, I see the hidden opportunities in conflict every day. Many clients come to me saying, “I have a situation I need help with.”...

The holiday season can feel like a test of endurance. There is pressure from so many directions: family expectations, social invitations, cultural or religious assumptions, financial strain, and the endless comparison machine of social media. It all can feel like a sociological experiment in how much pressure a human nervous system can absorb. Surveys consistently show that a majority of people report heightened anxiety, depression, and financial stress at this time of year,