Granting Grace in a Reactive World
In today’s fast-paced, uncertain, high-stakes environment, emotions are running hotter than ever. The smallest trigger – a delayed email, a differing opinion – can ignite impatience and reactivity, turning colleagues, teams, and communities into emotional powder kegs. Whether you’re in customer service, leading or working in teams, you’re on the front lines of this tension, […]
Cultivating Trust: The Invisible Foundation of Thriving Communities and Organizations
The tightness in my chest began long before we reached the cave entrance in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. The word claustrophobia – a condition I had struggled with all my life – was clamoring in my head. Yet there I stood, about to descend into the darkness, with my daughters at my side. I […]
Authenticity: The Uncomfortable Truth About Being Real
That which we are most capable of teaching to others is what we are most in need of developing within ourselves. Since downsizing last year and letting go of our beautiful acreage, we have moved into a world with less financial stress and more simplicity and freedom. The past eighteen months have been a mix […]
Authentic Leadership 2026: Leading with Courage, Connection and Core Values in an AI World
AI is now part of everyday life for most of us. My daughter just bought an AI-powered washing machine that has sensors and algorithms to detect fabric types, load weight, soil levels, and softness, then automatically adjusts water usage, detergent amounts, cycle times, and temperatures for optimal cleaning. AI is an intriguing development and can […]
Men’s Saturday Circle
As part of Men’s Shed Cochrane, every Saturday morning, a group of us meet. The group is turning into a true community that gives men a safe space to talk openly about our well-being and mental health. It’s not about fixing everything. It’s about listening, sharing experiences, and realizing you’re not alone. These conversations help […]
Life in Transition: Facing Adversity Through the Hero’s Journey
Midway on our life’s journey, I found myself In dark woods, the right road lost… – From THE INFERNO OF DANTE, Robert Pinsky, trans. When Barry’s life shifted overnight—a downsized job, the sudden, unexpected end of a twenty-five year marriage, a son being admitted to a treatment centre for addiction (all within a period of […]
Lenny and I continue to walk together every morning.
Lenny and I continue to walk together every morning. He’s aging. Like so many of us, he’s struggling with his hips and joints. His muscle mass is decreasing. He walks more s-l-o-w-l-y. We don’t go as far as we used to. As a constant companion, he reminds me that the aging process is a persistent […]
Wall Of Influence
For those who know my work, I often speak of my Wall Of Influence – the pictures of the 25 most influential people who have helped shape me and make me who I am. The collage of influential people in my life hangs in my office. Following a recent leadership program I facilitated, one of […]
Navigating Political and Social Polarization in the Workplace: The Role of Leadership as Unifiers
On March 18, 1956, Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermon at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, entitled “When Peace Becomes Obnoxious,” started with a story: “A few weeks ago, a Federal Judge handed down an edict which stated in substance that the University of Alabama could no longer deny admission to persons because […]
Accountability With Heart: Igniting Engagement Through Trust and Ownership
When Brenda took over as the Executive Director of a community outreach, nonprofit organization, she walked into a team that had lost its spark. People were burned out. Staff meetings were tense. Deadlines constantly slipped and a sense of defensiveness hung in the air. At first, Brenda responded the way many leaders do under pressure—by […]
