What You Stop Hearing When You Start Succeeding
At a certain level, the feedback doesn’t stop. It just stops reaching you. I recently worked with a leader who had risen steadily through the ranks of his organization. With each promotion, something unexpected happened. The feedback stopped. Not officially. Not all at once. But gradually, the honest, candid observations that had once helped him […]
See! I Told You So! (And Other Ways Confirmation Bias Can Trip You Up)
Have you ever caught yourself saying those words — even just in your head? See? I knew it. I was right all along. There is something deeply satisfying about being right. And that satisfaction is exactly what makes confirmation bias so tricky to spot, especially when you are the one in charge. What Is Confirmation […]
The Danger of Dismissing Feedback
Not long ago, I was brought in to work with an executive who had a problem he couldn’t see clearly, though everyone around him could. I almost declined. When coaching is assigned rather than chosen, resistance usually follows, and resistance rarely leads to real change. This individual, though, understood something important: doing the work wasn’t […]
Did You Do Your Best? How One Question Can Reframe Regret and Build Resilience
When we were kids, the adults around us often asked, “Did you do your best?” As children, the question was simple: Did you try your hardest? As adults, though, I think we underestimate the power of that question for ourselves because the answer has grown more layered. Doing your best now takes into account not […]
What’s Going to Get in Your Way? How to Spot Obstacles Before They Stop You
You have a clear, compelling vision. You know exactly where you’re headed. So why aren’t you there yet? Here’s what most ambitious professionals miss: a vision, on its own, isn’t enough. Neither is willpower. The moment you get clear about what you want, obstacles appear…almost as if on cue. Clarity of intention doesn’t clear your […]
The Duck Paddling Syndrome: When Success Looks Seamless But Feels Exhausting
So many of the professionals I work with make every effort to make their success look seamless. The problem is, in reality, they are like the duck: frantically paddling away to make it all work. Another way to think about it is the circus performer who is running from pole to pole trying to keep […]
When Success Stops Feeling Like Success
You’ve done everything right. The promotions came. The salary increased. Your LinkedIn profile looks impressive. And yet there’s this quiet, persistent feeling that something’s off. That you’re running hard but not toward anything that truly matters to you. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most of us were handed a definition of ambition early […]
You Don’t Need a Permission Slip
What does waiting for a permission slip look like? It’s keeping your ideas to yourself in a meeting because you weren’t asked to share them, or because you worry they won’t be received well. It’s expecting your boss to know that you are interested in the promotion or the stretch assignment. It’s staying quiet when […]
Are You Living a Life Aligned with Your Values? Here’s How to Find Out
I often hear from leaders who feel frustrated, stuck, or stretched too thin — only to discover the real issue isn’t workload or circumstance, but a misalignment between how they’re living and what they truly value. Sometimes, they don’t even realize it. And many believe there’s nothing they can do. Take Cameron, for example. When […]
Why Follow-Up Matters: Lessons from Our 60-Day Check-In
This morning, I wrapped up a 60-day follow-up call with a recent cohort from one of the programs I facilitate, and what struck me most wasn’t just the progress participants have made; it was the clarity and insight they gained along the way. Four themes emerged from our conversation that I think are worth sharing: […]
