Weekly Posts and Insights
Accountability: Discipline vs. Empathy
This post explores the delicate balance between accountability and empathy in leadership, especially in a time when staff are feeling burned out and undervalued. Drawing from Crucial Accountability and thought leader Dr. Jay Campbell, it outlines how leaders can hold people to high standards while still showing compassion. The key is moving beyond avoidance or aggression to have respectful, clear, and constructive conversations that build trust and drive results. True leadership lives in the tension between expectation and empathy—and that’s where real transformation begins.
Becoming a Yardstick of Excellence: Accountability, Quality, and the Mindset for Excellence
In this post we explore how accountability drives organizational excellence and culture, inspired by Steve Jobs' iconic quote: “Be a yardstick of quality.” Drawing from the book Crucial Accountability and real-life leadership moments, he outlines how mindset, clarity, and consistent conversations shape high-performing teams. Learn why culture is built in the everyday "moments of truth," as leadership expert Jan Carlzon emphasized, and how to raise the bar without losing your team’s trust. Perfect for executives, team leaders, and HR professionals focused on improving accountability, trust, and performance.
The Power of Silence (and Writing)
In a world of nonstop noise, true leadership sometimes requires silence. This post explores how journaling and intentional reflection—anchored in the practices of Resonant Leadership—can deepen self-awareness, build resilience, and support authentic leadership growth. Drawing from real retreat experiences and the research of James Pennebaker and Brené Brown, it offers practical tips for starting a journaling habit that heals and empowers.
Influence Starts Within: Influence is Self-Confidence in Action
Influence in leadership begins with a grounded sense of self-confidence—not arrogance, but clarity about one’s values, voice, and impact. When leaders doubt their influence, it often stems from internal narratives rather than external evidence. By exploring personal strengths, seeking honest feedback, and aligning with purpose, leaders can reclaim their presence and lead with authentic influence.
We Hire on Resumes, We Retain Through Relationships: Becoming an "Employer of Choice" on a Limited Budget
In this post, I reflect on my panel presentation where I shared practical, low-cost strategies for becoming an employer of choice through trust, leadership flexibility, and purposeful engagement. I emphasized that retention is driven by relationships—not resumes—and introduces frameworks like CAMP motivation, Greenthumb Leadership, and belief-behavior conversations.
Resilient Warrior Leader: In Review and In Action
Over the past few months, we've explored the many dimensions of the Resilient Warrior Leader—a modern leader who draws from inner strength, leads with presence, and builds endurance for both the battlefield of business and the quiet moments of reflection. Now, as we close this powerful series, we offer a final credo and a call to action for those ready to embody resilience not as a buzzword—but as a way of life.
Resilient Warrior Leader: Compassion as the Compass
In this Resilient Warrior Leader post, we explore compassion as a vital internal compass for leaders navigating uncertainty and building trust. Using the L.E.A.D. framework—Look, Empathize, Acknowledge, Decide—readers are invited to slow down, pay attention, and take meaningful action rooted in empathy. The post emphasizes that compassion isn’t soft; it’s strategic, renewable, and essential for resilient, community-centered leadership.
Hope: The Resilient Warrior Leader’s Secret Weapon
Continuing our Resilient Warrior Leader entry, we explore hope as a structured, strategic leadership tool, not just a feel-good emotion. Drawing on C.R. Snyder’s Hope Theory, Brené Brown’s insights on resilience, and Jim Collins' Stockdale Paradox, the post shows how real hope is forged in struggle and grounded in action. Ultimately, hope—paired with faith—is positioned as the courageous, necessary energy leaders need to move teams forward, especially in uncertain times.
Building Resilience Through Practice, Habits, and Daily Discipline
Practice alone isn’t enough; making practice a habit is where real transformation happens. True grit—the ability to persevere through adversity—and real resilience depends on small, repeated acts. Over time, these acts build into powerful capabilities.
Resilient Warrior Leader: The Passion to Persevere
This post explores the deep connection between leadership, passion, and perseverance, emphasizing that true passion often involves sacrifice and sustained effort. It highlights the importance of deliberate practice and renewal in avoiding burnout and achieving a state of flow. Ultimately, resilient leaders are those who pursue purpose with grit, balancing passion with intentional self-care and growth.