“Empathy” is a word that’s discussed often as a coveted leadership skill, and yet there’s still uncertainty – and some skepticism – about how much empathy matters in the workplace today. For some, empathy feels like a soft skill that may be difficult or impractical to apply, particularly when you’re leading a large team that […]

When I reflect on the most successful leaders I’ve worked with over the years, they all possess a variety of outstanding communication skills. Yet one skill consistently stands apart – the leader’s ability to clearly set expectations for their teams. Leaders who are crystal clear – not only about what they expect from their teams […]

We’ve all been there. Lost in the grip of a great story, we fast forward to the next episode of our favorite show, repeatedly flip the pages of a gripping novel from a beloved author, or get swept away in the details of a friend’s dramatic event. This is the power of the art and […]

The best leaders are exceptional communicators. That’s always been true and even more critical now, at a time when employees and other stakeholders are bombarded with information and often look to their leaders for what’s most important. Leaders who earn the trust and support of their team get there because they believe in the power […]

My entire career has been spent helping leaders communicate better. In working with leaders from a wide variety of industries over the years, our team has identified common traits that the best communicators possess. Not surprisingly, many of what defined greatness two decades ago still apply, and yet some skills have become even more relevant […]

The highly polarized 2024 election climate challenges business leaders and communicators facing the enormous task of communicating to a divided group of employees, customers, and other stakeholders wanting to feel respected and heard. Given just how intense the political environment has become, leaders surely have their hands full. That was abundantly clear at a recent […]

Amid all the constant changes in business today, signs of burnout are everywhere in the workforce. As the economy continues to rebound and employee mobility grows, burnout is a double-edged sword wreaking havoc for organizations, with many employees feeling checked out or looking to leave their jobs. Those who remain are left with picking up […]

There’s a reason the phrase “change fatigue” has become so common among employees and leaders today. The complexities of the business environment mean change is one thing most employees can expect, whether they like it not. Changes in strategy, restructuring, layoffs, the prevalence of mergers and acquisitions, people, and workplace culture issues – the list […]

There are so many new descriptions for how employees feel about work these days that it’s hard to keep up. Sadly, many workforce experts, polling firms, and other leaders define the current mood as unfavorable. Burnout, languishing, hopelessness, and quiet quitting have been highlighted, depending on where you look. It’s as if we’ve all agreed […]

The way many people work has changed dramatically in recent years, with so many more employees working online or adopting more flexible schedules. What’s often lost in the discussion of this dramatic workforce shift is the fact that workers in the manufacturing industry – a sizable part of the U.S. workforce – still feel left […]