Leading with Empathy: The Power Behind Results and Relationships
Leaders, When was the last time someone on your team felt safe enough to challenge you? And how did you respond? Do your people feel heard, or just managed? Are you leading with empathy, or just expecting it from others? In a fast-paced, results-driven world, empathy might seem optional; nice to have but secondary to performance metrics. Yet, research shows that it is one of the most powerful tools leaders have. Empathy directly drives results and shapes the quality of workplace relationships. Empathy means understanding what others are going through, and responding with care and clarity. For leaders, it means more than just being kind or considerate. It is the capacity to recognize what others are experiencing emotionally and mentally, and to respond in a way that respects that perspective, without losing sight of goals and accountability. According to a 2021 study by Catalyst, leaders who demonstrate empathy are perceived as [...]
Integrity: The Non-Negotiable Leadership Standard
Leaders, Acting with integrity is often simple in theory, but very difficult in real-world leadership because it demands courage under pressure, self-awareness under stress, and long-term thinking in a short-term world. Let’s explore why acting with integrity can be truly challenging in organizations. To be clear: Integrity is not a bonus trait for leaders. It is the foundation, the bedrock, if you will, of any organization that wants to survive, let alone thrive, in today’s world. Yet, it is also one of the first things many leaders quietly compromise. It rarely happens all at once. Integrity doesn’t explode, it erodes. It starts with small betrayals: avoiding conflict to stay "liked by others“, withholding honest feedback to avoid discomfort, or staying silent when values are under attack. Each time a leader ducks a hard moment, they trade trust for short-term safety. Over time, those small trades destroy the very teams they were trying to protect. One of the most dangerous [...]
The House of Change: Balancing AI and Humanity in Leadership
Leaders, As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms our workplaces, you and your organizations face a unique challenge: how to embrace AI’s efficiency without losing the human essence that defines great teams and organizations. Let me introduce the "House of Change" model, rooted in change management psychology, to you. It offers a powerful framework to navigate this evolving landscape. The House of Change consists of four rooms: Contentment, Denial, Confusion, and Renewal. You and your teams move through these rooms during any significant transformation. Everyone at their own pace and in their own time. Understanding this journey can help you balance innovation with empathy, strategy with soul.  1. Contentment: Overcoming Complacency with AI Many teams start here, where comfort with current processes can create a blind spot. In the context of AI, this might look like over-reliance on the status quo or skepticism about AI’s potential. As a leader, gently challenge this space: spark [...]
Positive Intelligence™: Overcoming Self-Sabotage and Building Powerful Habits for a (more) Positive Mind
“Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” Voltaire (1694 – 1778) Leaders, We all self-sabotage from time to time, and it can be so automatic that we don't even realize it. However, when this rather destructive thinking continues, it causes us to flounder and draws us further into negativity and self-defeat. If at some point it hits you full force, the concept of Positive Intelligence™ might be helpful. I am delighted to introduce it to you. You will see that it is quite easy to reprogram your brains and strengthen our positivity.  What is Positive Intelligence™? Positive Intelligence™ (PQ) describes how our mind acts in our best interest. In his book, “Positive Intelligence™: Why only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve their True Potential”, Shirzad Chamine explains that PQ is an indicator of the control you have over your own mind. The [...]
Beware of Emotional Vampires
Leaders, You do not need to be an expert in vampirism to know that there are people in your work and personal life who can suck the energy out of you. They are experts at pushing your buttons in many shapes or forms. It isn’t that they are intentionally mean to you, or are utterly evil; there is just something about them that rubs you the wrong way. At the very start, some radiant, seductive quality can distract you from the rest. For instance, psychopaths, like vampires, can be charming as hell. You easily laugh, swoon, and otherwise go weak in their presence. Until you realize that s/he robbed you of your power and drained your confidence. If you work with someone who makes you feel awful even when you have absolutely no idea why, you might be up against an emotional vampire: a person whose psych issue is couched [...]
Emotional Intelligence: Everything you always wanted to know about EQ
Leaders, We all have different personalities, different wants and needs, and different ways of showing our emotions. Navigating through this all takes awareness, tact and cleverness – especially as we want to succeed in our lives. This is where emotional intelligence becomes important. We probably all know people who are masters at managing their emotions. They are really good listeners, excellent decision makers and unflappable crisis managers who have the complete trust of their staff. No matter what kind of situation they are in, they always seem to know just what to say – and how to say it – so that no one gets offended or upset. They look at themselves honestly, and do not only have a great sense of who they are but are also able to sense the emotional needs of others.  What is emotional intelligence (EQ)? Emotional intelligence is commonly defined by four attributes: [...]