A Conversation with Phyllis Sarkaria In this Expert Monday conversation, Mentessa founder & CEO Tina Ruseva sits down with executive coach Phyllis Sarkaria to talk about the gap every leader eventually runs into: the difference between how you intend to show up and how your team actually experiences you. Phyllis draws on more than 30 […]

A recent Fast Company article[1] argues that leaders should stop choosing between being a friend and being a boss, and just be both. It’s a feel-good idea. It’s also a problematic one. Here’s what the article gets right: leaders who show genuine care, build trust, and invest in human connection are more effective than those […]

We live and lead in a world that resists prediction. Markets shift. Teams fracture. Strategies are disrupted by unexpected events that, in hindsight, seem obvious. So why do smart, experienced leaders still get caught off guard? The Problem Isn’t the Information New research from Stanford GSB[1] offers insight into this question — and the answer […]

On Monday, I shared Stanford professor Steve Callander’s research on correlated learning: the idea that decisions – from your tiny experiments to your big initiatives – can tell you something not just about that choices you’ve made, but about the options you haven’t explored yet. Let’s dig into that topic more deeply. Most leadership decisions […]

Where are we not looking? ‘Fail forward’ is a cliché. But we use it frequent. It’s a reminder that mistakes, failures, errors happen. And that individuals and teams grow when we learn from those failures. Stanford GSB professor Steve Callander asks a question related to this that is worth pausing to consider more fully. When […]

Every experienced professional knows this moment: You’re sitting in a leadership team meeting. The strategy makes sense. The data supports it. And yet, something in the room tells you this isn’t going to land. Maybe it’s the silence from the one person whose buy-in actually matters. Maybe it’s the energy shift when a certain topic […]

Most of us spend more time than we might like in meetings that don’t get to the heart of issues. There are many ways, however, to energize those dull gatherings. One of my favorites, is a think-write-share approach to brainstorming. Typical team discussions tend to benefit the most talkative and most confident, regardless of whether […]

What does it take for women to not just survive but thrive as they break through barriers in their leadership journey? As women continue to break through barriers, rise in power, and influence positive change globally, the importance of supporting their leadership journey becomes more critical. In this conversation with the brilliant and talented Sabine […]

A recent Strategy+Business article on divestiture strategy identified five biases that can result in executives not making timely decisions to divest assets or sell business units that aren’t a fit, in spite of “a strong correlation between long-term value, as gauged by total shareholder return, and a proactive divestiture strategy.” As I read through explanations […]

Have you ever needed to ‘light a fire’ under someone? A client mentioned this desire recently with regard to short work weeks. That is, work weeks that include a holiday. Often people take additional time off, or perhaps they are working but aren’t fully engaged. The client was exasperated with a perceived lack of urgency […]

More than three years after the global pandemic sent office workers home, organizations and their leaders continue to debate the ‘right’ mix of hybrid, remote, and in-person work. Which roles can be most productive as remote roles? When do we need people meeting in person with one another? How will our leaders manage hybrid teams? […]

As an enterprise-wide business partner, I have recently heard from a clients who face pressure to implement headcount reductions. These executives understand the need for belt tightening. At the same time, they are rightly concerned about long-term productivity and profitability, as well as organizational commitment, trust, and engagement. If you find yourself in a similar situation, […]

In this conversation with Tricia Rhine and Kristal Roberts, we discuss how to step out as a leader beyond the everyday and create a clear path forward to inspire, influence and engage your team for greater results.  

Trust matters, whether you seek to strengthen relationships with patients, collaborate effectively with colleagues, or influence customer decisions. When trust is high, there is greater openness to information, confidence to take reasonable risks, and increased potential for innovation and continuous improvement. When trust is low, people are less likely to share their ideas or collaborate […]

It was a pleasure to join Amy Lynn Durham on Create Magic At Work™ (Season 2. Episode 12.) to talk about a range of topics including: Tips on how you can get courageous clarity as a leader. How the spirit of discovery opens up magic possibilities for leaders. Ways to recognize nonverbal indicators that help […]