Hi Reader, Over the past few weeks, we've been looking at what happens before a difficult conversation ever begins. We recognize the emotion. We question the story. We create space before we respond. And then we have the conversation based on what we actually know. That last part is where leadership gets practical. Imagine saying to an employee, “You don't care about your work.” You may feel that way. But you can't actually know what's happening inside their head. Now consider saying, “The...

Hi Reader, Last week, we talked about recognizing the emotion before reacting to it. The next step is just as important: question the story. Here's a simple question: How do you make toast? It sounds obvious. But if you ask several people to write instructions for making toast, you may get very different answers. Some people might assume you know what kind of bread to use. Others might explain how to set the toaster. Someone else might focus on what the finished toast should look like. The...

Leading across generations isn't about changing people—it's about changing how we lead. Hi Reader, Have you ever noticed that one employee wants constant feedback, while another just wants to be left alone to do their job? It’s easy to assume it’s a personality difference, but often it’s something else: different generations bring different expectations, communication styles, and experiences into the workplace. The challenge isn’t having a multigenerational workforce.The challenge is leading...