Does High Performer = Leader? “Congratulations… and good luck.”- the typical sendoff you might hear as you embark on your promotion. You’re a top performer—high sales numbers, great relationships, self-motivated. Success all around. The recognition? A promotion to Director. On Monday, you’ll start leading a team of 12, managing performance and budgets, and collaborating with other organizational leaders on strategic alignment. You may be doomed to fail. Here’s the truth: far too often,...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Reader I’m pressing pause on my writing for a bit to soak up the last few weeks of summer with my family—but I’ll be back soon! In the meantime, if you’re craving a little leadership inspiration, my website is packed with over 200 Weekly Wisdom's just waiting for you to explore. Or… maybe just join me in slowing down, recharging, and savoring the season. You’ve earned it. Cheers, Shandy
3 months ago • 1 min read
What part of your leadership are you hiding?What accomplishments deserve more visibility?I’m continually impressed by all that you’ve achieved. But let me ask—do you even remember it all? I ask you that because most of us don’t. You are missing an opportunity that deserves light.The daily grind has a way of keeping our heads down. We check boxes, move through meetings, solve problems, and keep going—without stopping to celebrate or reflect. And that’s where so much of our power quietly slips...
4 months ago • 2 min read
(Reminder: I’m switching things up—alternating Weekly Wisdom with a question meant to challenge your thinking.) Consider this... What are you tolerating in your culture or team that quietly contradicts your leadership philosophy? What might support alignment?
4 months ago • 1 min read
5 months ago • 1 min read
Mission Five years ago, I started writing the Weekly Wisdom with one goal in mind: to elevate leadership. I wanted to offer practical insights, fresh perspectives, and access to brilliant minds across our community. This is for those of you who are serious about challenging your thinking, open to new approaches, and committed to growing your leadership impact. Vision My hope is that these insights become more than just a read—that you share them, discuss them, and apply them in real-time with...
5 months ago • 1 min read
I recently attended an Expert Chat with Dave Stahoviak and Tom Henschel. (If you want to interface with phenomenal experts in the leadership field, I urge you to join The Coaching for Leaders Academy.) During this discussion, Tom led a conversation about how to deal with a narcissist. Not only did I acquire some great insights, but I was also amazed at how many of us are familiar with and often struggle to navigate this type of personality. To begin with, I want to level set. An accurate...
9 months ago • 3 min read
Strategies to Lead Amidst Chaos I was recently introduced to Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922), an Antarctic explorer who, in 1914, led 27 men on a sailing expedition that culminated with crossing Antarctica. The exploration became a testament to great leadership, steadfast determination, and an unyielding vision of survival. After 10 months at sea, Shackleton's ship became trapped in the ice and was eventually crushed, leaving the crew stranded. Forced to camp on the ice through the harsh...
9 months ago • 1 min read
The Unexpected Power of Assessments Acknowledging Strengths in Leadership Everyone has unique strengths, and aligning these strengths with their work creates the "sweet spot.” This is where individuals thrive and organizations succeed. However, traditional job descriptions often dictate tasks without fully accounting for, or adapting to, individual talents. For leaders, striking the right balance is essential. It means assembling a team to meet specific organizational needs while...
10 months ago • 4 min read
