Weekly Posts and Insights
Leading the Disgruntled: How to Cultivate Renewal in Your Senior Team
In our Greenthumb Leadership framework, Stage 3 is called Disgruntled. These are your seasoned professionals. They’re knowledgeable. They’ve been in the system long enough to know how it works—and sometimes, how to work around it. But they’re tired. Jaded. Resistant. These are the overgrown plants in your garden. Once full of potential, they’ve picked up weeds, disease and bugs along the way: resentment, cynicism, and detachment. The real problem with Disgruntled C-suiters? They often hold the most power, most influence and most control. And, in that respect, they can be the most dangerous.
Accountability: Discipline vs. Empathy
This post explores the delicate balance between accountability and empathy in leadership, especially in a time when staff are feeling burned out and undervalued. Drawing from Crucial Accountability and thought leader Dr. Jay Campbell, it outlines how leaders can hold people to high standards while still showing compassion. The key is moving beyond avoidance or aggression to have respectful, clear, and constructive conversations that build trust and drive results. True leadership lives in the tension between expectation and empathy—and that’s where real transformation begins.
Becoming a Yardstick of Excellence: Accountability, Quality, and the Mindset for Excellence
In this post we explore how accountability drives organizational excellence and culture, inspired by Steve Jobs' iconic quote: “Be a yardstick of quality.” Drawing from the book Crucial Accountability and real-life leadership moments, he outlines how mindset, clarity, and consistent conversations shape high-performing teams. Learn why culture is built in the everyday "moments of truth," as leadership expert Jan Carlzon emphasized, and how to raise the bar without losing your team’s trust. Perfect for executives, team leaders, and HR professionals focused on improving accountability, trust, and performance.
The Power of Silence (and Writing)
In a world of nonstop noise, true leadership sometimes requires silence. This post explores how journaling and intentional reflection—anchored in the practices of Resonant Leadership—can deepen self-awareness, build resilience, and support authentic leadership growth. Drawing from real retreat experiences and the research of James Pennebaker and Brené Brown, it offers practical tips for starting a journaling habit that heals and empowers.
Influence Starts Within: Influence is Self-Confidence in Action
Influence in leadership begins with a grounded sense of self-confidence—not arrogance, but clarity about one’s values, voice, and impact. When leaders doubt their influence, it often stems from internal narratives rather than external evidence. By exploring personal strengths, seeking honest feedback, and aligning with purpose, leaders can reclaim their presence and lead with authentic influence.
We Hire on Resumes, We Retain Through Relationships: Becoming an "Employer of Choice" on a Limited Budget
In this post, I reflect on my panel presentation where I shared practical, low-cost strategies for becoming an employer of choice through trust, leadership flexibility, and purposeful engagement. I emphasized that retention is driven by relationships—not resumes—and introduces frameworks like CAMP motivation, Greenthumb Leadership, and belief-behavior conversations.
Resilient Warrior Leader: The Passion to Persevere
This post explores the deep connection between leadership, passion, and perseverance, emphasizing that true passion often involves sacrifice and sustained effort. It highlights the importance of deliberate practice and renewal in avoiding burnout and achieving a state of flow. Ultimately, resilient leaders are those who pursue purpose with grit, balancing passion with intentional self-care and growth.
Mastering the Mind: Leadership Presence Through Mindfulness and the Johari Window
In the latest installment of the Resilient Warrior Leader series, I dive into the mental terrain of leadership—where mindfulness meets the powerful framework of the Johari Window. Too often, we push through stress and call it strength. But neuroscience tells us otherwise: chronic stress shrinks our capacity to lead with clarity, empathy, and presence.
Is Leadership Really Dead? (And Why I Still Write About It)
In a time when fear-based, authoritarian leadership styles are resurging globally, this post reflects on the enduring value of authentic, hope-driven leadership rooted in empathy, humility, and service. Despite the current climate, there is a call on leaders and educators to continue nurturing a new generation that leads with compassion, courage, and integrity.
Breaking the Superhuman Cycle: Why Great Leaders Need Rest Too
Many leaders fall into the trap of the Superhuman Syndrome, pushing themselves to exhaustion while ignoring the long-term costs to their well-being and effectiveness. This post explores how dissonant leadership and the constant chase for urgency can lead to burnout, while resonant leadership—rooted in emotional intelligence and renewal—fosters sustainable success. By embracing the Cycle of Sacrifice and Renewal, leaders can model resilience, elevate team performance, and lead with clarity and composure.