Month: June 2025

“Why Do You Think That?”

Picture this: You’re in a team meeting, confidently outlining next steps based on what you believe everyone agreed to last week. Suddenly, a team member speaks up: “Wait, why do you think that?” or “I never said that.” The room goes quiet. You realize you’ve been operating on assumptions that nobody else shares.

This moment—awkward as it is—reveals one of leadership’s most insidious traps: the unchallenged assumption. Leaders are paid to make decisions quickly, often with incomplete information. But when we fill knowledge gaps with assumptions and treat those assumptions as facts, we create a foundation built on quicksand.

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How to Talk About Emotional Intelligence Without Sounding Like a Corporate Training Manual

The phrase “emotional intelligence” makes most people’s eyes glaze over. It sounds like something from a leadership seminar that everyone will forget by Friday. But the concept behind it—understanding yourself and working well with others—is crucial for any successful team.

The trick is discussing these skills without resorting to buzzwords that make people tune out.

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Finding Common Ground: How Leaders Reach Agreement on Difficult Issues

In leadership, disagreement is inevitable. When strong minds come together, so do diverse opinions. But great leaders distinguish themselves not by avoiding conflict, but by navigating it thoughtfully to reach agreement—even on difficult issues.

At the heart of resolution is listening. Leaders who truly hear each other—without interrupting, rushing to judgment, or defending their position—build trust and clarity. Active listening creates the space for others to feel respected and heard, which in turn encourages openness and collaboration.

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Offsetting the Loneliness of Leadership

Leadership is often portrayed as empowering and rewarding—and it is. But what’s talked about less is the isolation that can come with it. The higher up you go, the fewer people you can confide in. Decisions carry more weight, and the pressure to appear confident and in control can make vulnerability feel like a risk.

This sense of solitude isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a reality for many in senior roles. But it doesn’t have to be a permanent or paralyzing condition.

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