29 Nov

Crying with Wolves: How Leaders Can Break Free from the Negativity Trap

wolves crying on mountain in front of trees
Negativity can quietly erode team morale, productivity, and even a leader’s confidence. In this post, I share the story of Nathalie, an operations manager trapped in a cycle of workplace stress and unproductive venting—both in her team meetings and personal life. Together, we explored the psychological roots of negativity, its contagious effects, and strategies to break free. From reframing...
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22 Nov

System thinking: how wolves change rivers

How Wolves Can Teach Us About Leadership and Change Did you know that reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone National Park transformed not just the ecosystem but also the rivers themselves? This powerful example of systems thinking reveals how small, strategic changes can cascade through an interconnected system, creating profound and lasting impacts. In leadership, the same principle applies. Addressing one key area—like...
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15 Nov

DI&B is all about heart and mind

"Leading Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DI&B) effectively requires balancing empathy with strategy. In today’s VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) world, DI&B leadership isn’t just ethical—it’s essential for team resilience and innovation. This article explores my experiences and the top challenges leaders face: unconscious bias, resistance to change, and measuring impact. Offering practical guidelines, do’s and don’ts, and the role...
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08 Nov

Reflecting on the first VUCA@Work event

On November 1, we hosted our first “VUCA@Work” web event, an engaging 90-minute session aimed at helping leaders navigate Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. The event featured real-world examples, interactive discussions, and essential coping strategies, such as scenario planning, data-driven decision-making, and fostering psychological safety. Attendees left with practical tools for emotional resilience, agile decision-making, and transparent communication. This...
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01 Nov

Cooping with VUCA at Work – Web-event Recording

It’s become a trendy managerial acronym: VUCA, short for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, and a catchall for “Hey, it’s crazy out there!” (HBR). It’s also misleading: VUCA conflates four distinct types of challenges that demand four distinct types of responses. That makes it difficult to know how to approach a challenging situation and easy to use VUCA as...
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25 Oct

How I keep my coaching focused

Setting boundaries in coaching is essential for maintaining focus and ensuring progress. When clients consistently expand the coaching scope, it often stems from underlying emotions such as uncertainty or anxiety. To manage this, I set clear goals and revisit them regularly, framing the importance of staying aligned for effective results. If new topics arise, I acknowledge them while steering...
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18 Oct

The power of vulnerability

Brené Brown’s TED Talk, "The Power of Vulnerability," is a powerful exploration of human connection, courage, and the discomfort we feel when we open ourselves up to others. Brown, a research professor, is known for her work on shame, courage, and vulnerability, and this talk is perhaps her most famous. Here’s a breakdown of its key ideas and why...
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11 Oct

Where are you a local?

In today’s globalized world, effective leadership goes beyond national identity. Taiye Selasi’s concept of asking "Where are you a local?" helps leaders connect deeply with their teams by focusing on lived experiences. Understanding rituals, relationships, and restrictions fosters empathy, inclusivity, and drives stronger collaboration in diverse environments.
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04 Oct

The real reason you feel so busy (and what to do about it)

The Real Reason You Feel So Busy (And What to Do About It), In this TED talk, Dorie Clark explains that feeling perpetually busy is often a result of poor prioritization rather than a lack of time. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and saying “no” to non-essential tasks to focus on meaningful work, ultimately leading to greater...
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