Somewhere along the way, many of us got the message that leadership is sacrifice. Not the kind of sacrifice that makes you feel proud. The kind that leaves you drained. Overextended. Quietly resentful.The kind that says: If I just give a little more… maybe it’ll finally be enough. And if Read more…
A few weeks ago, someone in a Slack community I’m part of asked a simple question: “What are you reading?” It was posted in a subgroup of nonprofit consultants—people who, like me, spend their days thinking about systems, strategy, and human-centered leadership. The question was casual, maybe even intended as Read more…
Have you ever walked through an open office space and not been greeted by a single person? How about being in a meeting when it’s clear that people are “side-chatting” over text? Maybe you’ve even side-chatted yourself? What about hearing the same generic critical feedback tossed out in group settings Read more…
On a typical Monday morning (or Tuesday after a long weekend), you might be asked, “How was your weekend? Do anything fun?” If I worked in an office and was asked this question today, I would say “Great! I went to a college hockey game. I cooked a meal for Read more…
If you speak to people who used to work on my teams over the years, I think they would tell you that I prioritized health, wellness, and family over work demands. If someone had a sick child, I encouraged them to focus on the child rather than worry about the Read more…
I am married to a person who doesn’t read. 😱 Not that he can’t read, but he doesn’t. He’ll read nonfiction books occasionally, and he consumes lots of information through other means. But he does not read fiction. I, on the other hand, read a lot of fiction. Reading fiction Read more…
Sometimes I wake up and wonder whether I am on the wrong path. Does that ever happen to you? Not on an existential level, like “am I on the wrong path in life?” But more like “Have I taken a wrong turn with a project or an aspect of my Read more…
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my 5th grade teacher, Miss Parasine. I’m pretty sure my desire to be a teacher started when I was in her class. I turned 11 that year. My brother was 4. Just old enough to sit in that little Playskool desk and be Read more…
It’s almost August and I feel like summer just kicked off. I’m trying not to panic. If you’ve kept up with your inbox this spring/summer, you know that I’ve been in the process of moving since April. We are finally nearing the end of the long process, but it’s been Read more…
I love it when a book sticks with me. I just finished reading Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Winn-Williams. For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s a memoir written by a former senior staffer at Facebook. Given my interest in toxic Read more…