Target’s latest Halloween costume controversy shows how fragile trust becomes once it has already been damaged. Rebuilding it requires more than an apology—it takes stronger systems, diverse perspectives, psychological safety, and consistent action over time.
Leadership often comes with an expectation that you should know what you’re doing. You’ve earned the title. You’ve built experience. People look to you for direction. And if you’ve been leading for a while, you may have a track record that reinforces your confidence in how you show up. Then someone gives you feedback. Maybe…
Yesterday, I had the privilege of facilitating an Executive Briefing with leaders from across industries. As we talked about the transition into people leadership, one thing became abundantly clear: the challenge isn’t limited to first-time managers. One of the questions I asked participants was simple: What do you wish someone had prepared you for before…
It’s not a leadership development problem. It’s a leadership preparedness problem. A few weeks ago, I found myself in another coaching conversation with a manager who had been leading people for less than two years. By every measure, they were doing a great job. They were knowledgeable. They were respected. They understood the technical aspects…
Toxic workplaces can show strong financial performance, but this often comes at the expense of employee wellbeing and trust. While leaders may express empathy, actions can create psychological safety gaps. Sustainable excellence requires fostering environments where employees feel safe to communicate, innovate, and contribute without fear, impacting long-term organizational health.
The grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center offered more than a celebration of history. Through their remarks, Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama reminded us what it can look like to build a country rooted in dignity, shared responsibility, inclusion, truth, and care. At a time when many communities, organizations, and institutions are navigating…
Right now, many discussions focus on workplace culture, employee engagement, trust, retention, burnout, leadership development, and psychological safety. However, one of the most important questions organizations should ask is this: Are our managers equipped to carry the culture we want? Because whether organizations realize it or not, managers are already carrying the culture every day.…
Why Workplace Values Are Not Enough Many organizations say they want a respectful workplace. They say they value trust, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, communication, and care. The challenge is not always that people disagree with those values. More often, the challenge is that people interpret those values differently. Respect does not look the same to everyone.…
Higher education is in the middle of a shift, and not a small one. What we are seeing now goes beyond policies, court decisions, or changes in campus programs. It’s about access, visibility, support, and the learning environment that colleges create. While many start the discussion with affirmative action, the real concern is about access.…
The organizations still moving forward are showing us something important. When inclusion is part of how a company works, it can withstand pressure better. This is more effective than when inclusion just exists in a statement, committee, or moment. Over the past year, we’ve watched organizations make different choices. They responded to the political, legal,…