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We like to think our words are doing the heavy lifting in communication. But often… they’re not. Recently, a client was walking me through a situation. As she spoke, something stood out immediately—her tone. Not the words. Not the story. The tone. It was obvious to me…and completely invisible to her. And it was working against her, the relationship, and the outcome she wanted. I asked if I could reflect something back. She said yes. I said, “It sounds like you’re pleading. W

Last week, I drove to Indianapolis for a conference…one I wasn’t attending—I was speaking at it. Originally, I was scheduled for two afternoon workshops. Then a call came in the week prior: Their plenary speaker had an emergency. Could I step in? I paused for less than half a second. “Absolutely, yes.” Three sessions. One day. 4.5 hours of speaking. My kind of day. The afternoon workshops focused on: Strengthening Communication Skills Reframing Your Thoughts to Unlock Possib

Every three years, I renew my coaching certification with the International Coaching Federation. Not all coaches do this, but I make it a priority to keep my skills sharp and to ensure I’m delivering the highest-quality coaching for my clients. As part of my 40 continuing education hours this round, I attended a workshop on coachability . By definition, coachability is an individual’s willingness and ability to seek out, be receptive to, and act on constructive feedback to dr

I’ve had several conversations lately about upgrading a team or organization’s culture. Oof. When a work environment isn’t healthy, productivity, fulfillment, and overall team spirit suffer…badly. And over time, it becomes the kind of place where good people quietly start looking for the exit. What many leaders don’t realize is how much responsibility they carry in birthing a healthier culture into existence. Psssst… it takes consistency. Here are a few practical ways to star

How to Prepare for a Coaching Session I finally did something I’ve wanted to do for a long time! After 9 years working as a coach, I’ve noticed a few common obstacles that keep people from getting the most out of a coaching session: Unfamiliarity with the structure of a coaching session. It’s often assumed that coaching is similar to therapy. Though coaching can be therapeutic, it’s not a place to just vent. Coaching is a conversation with a purpose, guided by a framework to

Usually, growth isn’t fun. There, I said it. If it were, we’d all be walking around enlightened, boundary-holding, well-rested unicorns. But instead, growth often looks like sitting in your car for an extra minute before walking into that meeting…or rereading an email for the fifth time because you know a harder conversation is coming. Who we become after growth? That part is amazing. The clarity. The confidence. The fresh perspective. The tools that actually work. But the