Jackhammers and Hummingbirds represent different and valuable ways of approaching the world. For years, I dreaded career conversations and personal development plans. I always felt like the only one who didn't know what I wanted to do when I "grew up," so I'd offer some half hearted plan about wanting my boss' job- mostly because I sensed that was what I was supposed to want. It never landed well for anyone, including me. Then one day, on a walk with a podcast in my ears, I s

Org charts can be negotiated. I keep seeing the same pattern with my highest achieving clients: the ones who come out of a reorg or a leadership change stronger than before are never the ones who wait to see what happens to them. They're the ones who get in front of it, prepared, clear eyed, and willing to have the conversation before the decision is made. Last week was a perfect example of it in action. One of my clients, a well respected leader in the AI space who'd recentl

Add in some fun at work. Nurturing a safe (and sometimes silly) team is what allows people to think more openly, take appropriate risks, and generate creative solutions.

Sharing my story on stage helped me remember that imperfections aren't liabilities but the very things that make us connectable as leaders and as humans.