We don’t remember stories for how they start.We remember them for how they change. The quiet pivot. The impossible choice. The moment someone decides that what’s next matters more than what’s been. It’s transformation and it doesn’t happen by accident.It happens because someone—often reluctantly, sometimes painfully—decides that things can’t stay the way they are. They choose to be accountable and … Read More
What No One Tells You About Performance Reviews
No one likes performance reviews.At least, most people don’t. Not the people giving them, and not the people receiving them. There are people who say they enjoy performance reviews. They’re in the minority, and usually for specific reasons: they like structured feedback, clear expectations, or the sense of closure a formal conversation can bring. That doesn’t make them wrong. It … Read More
Adaptive Leadership in Complex Environments: Lessons from the Three Block War and Clausewitz
Most leaders have a preferred leadership style—an approach that feels natural, proven, and familiar. But in complex environments, where situations are unpredictable and context constantly shifts, relying on a single style can undermine the very effectiveness adaptive leadership requires. That comfort can quickly become a liability. The challenge is, people often default to familiar behaviors without even realizing it. In … Read More
How Managers Influence Employee Motivation and Engagement at Work
Most employees aren’t unmotivated—they’re unsupported. And the person who determines whether they thrive or withers is usually their manager. In fact, research shows that managers influence employee motivation more than perks or programs ever can. When intrinsic motivation is low, it’s rarely because employees don’t care. It’s almost always because their environment — shaped primarily by their direct manager — … Read More
Managing Upwards: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge
We often hear about “managing people.” But rarely do we talk about what might be the trickiest management task of all: Managing your manager. It sounds counterintuitive. Isn’t it their job to manage you? Structurally, yes. But functionally, the best relationships work more like a partnership than a hierarchy. Because here’s the truth: even the best leaders have blind spots, … Read More
How to Deal with a Bad Boss
Let’s be real: figuring out how to deal with a toxic boss isn’t just “uncomfortable.” It can chip away at your confidence, drain your motivation, and make you question your entire career. I’ve been there — working under someone who tried to make me feel small, second-guess everything I did, and walk on eggshells every day. This isn’t going to … Read More
What to Do If You’re the Culture Problem
Let’s have an uncomfortable conversation — the kind most people avoid: What if the real culture issue at work… is you? Not the toxic boss.Not the broken system.Not “the team that just doesn’t get it.” What if the friction, the misalignment, the tension you keep feeling……isn’t coming from the culture — but through you? Sound harsh? Maybe. But stick with … Read More
What to Do When Your Career Falls Apart: A Guide for When Everything Cracks
Ideally, the time for building identity and career definition is in the quieter moments — when your world isn’t on fire, and there’s space to reflect, reassess, and move with intention. That’s when the best career changes happen. Not in panic, but in clarity. But life doesn’t always give us that luxury. So if you’re here because everything went south … Read More
Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD): Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions
Most bad decisions don’t come from stupidity.They come from fear.Not the kind that screams — the kind that whispers. We often assume that poor decisions come from a lack of intelligence, experience, or even willpower. But in reality, the root cause is far more emotional than logical. It’s not about knowing less — it’s about feeling less certain. And when … Read More
How to Make a Great First Impression (It’s Not What You Think)
You don’t get a warm-up.First impressions hit fast — and they stick.In just a few seconds, people decide two things: Do I like you? Can I trust you? Not “Are you brilliant?”Not “Are you the most qualified?” Psychologists call this the warmth + competence model — and it explains almost every reaction people have to you in the first few … Read More
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