Blogs
Are You a Pleaser or Rescuer? Yes, They Are Different
Summary: Most people who’ve worked with me know that I often trace workplace behavior back to family dynamics. It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness, recognizing how the lessons we learned at home subtly influence our leadership, communication, and relationships. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I always thought I was, like most women, a pleaser. I was…
Why So Many People Drink Too Much at Work Offsites and Holiday Parties: And What It Really Says About Culture
Summary: In my work studying patterns of behavior, I’ve learned that culture isn’t built in Executive Leadership meetings; it’s revealed by what happens after hours. Offsites don’t just show how we celebrate; they show what we avoid. Here are some thoughts to consider as we prepare for the holiday season. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am…
Listen for the Glimmers: Go Past Burnout and Resentment by Offering Ways to Reconnect Head, Heart, and Gut
Summary: Resentment and burnout are not simply emotional states; they are physiological signals that a person has been living in chronic misalignment. The brain spins with overanalysis (head), the heart closes off in self-protection (heart), and the gut tightens, warning that something feels “off” (gut). This disconnection often results from prolonged stress, people-pleasing, or purpose…
The Ugly Middle: When Conflict Gets Messy (and What to Do About It)
Summary: Every leader wants conflict resolution to occur as quickly as possible. Few are prepared for the ugly middle, where things get confusing. Here’s how to stay grounded when you feel frustrated and hopeless. Dear Dr. Sylvia, The entire world seems to be fighting all the time. There is no middle ground. I often feel…
How Seasoned Leaders Can Help Emerging Leaders Become Their Best
Summary: If you’ve led for a long time, you eventually realize leadership isn’t about staying in front; it’s about walking alongside. The most incredible legacy any long-standing leader can leave is not a list of accomplishments, but a new generation of leaders who’ve learned how to think, decide, and lead well because of your influence.…
How GLIMMERS Illuminate The Leader’s Path to Success
Summary: We live in a world full of noise, deadlines, and distractions that pull us away from ourselves. But glimmers are stubborn little messengers of hope. They sneak in anyway. For example, they arrive in a stranger’s smile, the smell of brownies baking in the oven, the sound of wind threading through trees. These signs…
Breaking Boundaries: The Leader’s Guide to Doing It Right
Summary: Family, culture, and tradition: our loyalty to them shapes who we are. But sometimes it cages us. Leaders must know the difference. Most leaders don’t fail because of competition; they fail because of the boundaries they refuse to challenge. Breaking boundaries isn’t about chaos. It’s about progress with purpose. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I am…
The Spark Leaders Don’t Know They Need
Summary: Leadership is often painted as a game of strategy, data, and grit. But ask the best leaders what guided them at critical crossroads, and the answer is rarely found in a spreadsheet. They’ll say, “I just knew,” or “something told me,” or “it clicked in my gut.” Here is why GLIMMERS are so crucial…
A Different View of Leadership in Today’s Polarized World
Summary: Leadership today isn’t just about titles, strategies, or skills. It’s about you, and you, and me. It’s about how we each bring our voices forward, no matter our role. Today is about the courage to speak out, ask questions, and yes, to listen. We are at an inflection point, where we can either make…
Stop Arguing, Start Listening: The Giants of Dialogue Show Why Their Work Matters More Than Ever
Summary: What do you answer when someone starts a conversation with “How are you? “Most of us say the typical knee-jerk “Fine, Thanks.” Also, do you enter a debate with boxing gloves on, ready to win rather than lose? Neither way works in the long term. Here’s what makes a difference. Dear Dr. Sylvia, I…
Conversation, Debate, or Dialogue? The Path That Truly Transforms
Summary: It’s easy to confuse talking with connecting. But not all talking is created equal. There are three very different forms of verbal exchange: conversation, debate, and dialogue. And the one that can change the future, at work, at home, and in the community, is the one we practice the least: dialogue. Dear Dr. Sylvia,…
When Polarization Becomes the Norm: Here’s What to Do
Summary: Let’s face it: these days it feels like the world is split into “us” and “them” about… well, everything: politics, workplace policies, parenting styles. Polarization has become the default setting. And when being “right” matters more than being in a relationship, the cost is steep: broken teams, broken families, broken trust. The question is:…
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