blueprint

Leading change isn’t just about new plans or structures. It’s about what happens when leaders feel pressure to act like they have all the answers, even when uncertain. In today’s Leadership Ready Room Chats, Tom and I talk about: • Communicating clearly what’s changing, why it’s changing, and what’s not • Admitting what you don’t…

You know that feeling when small things start to feel heavier than they should? You get frustrated by things that normally wouldn’t frustrate you. Little decisions take more energy than they should. For me, that’s usually the tell. Not that the team is the problem. But that I don’t actually know the best next step…

There’s a kind of uncertainty that feels familiar to me. I spent 22 years flying helicopters in the Navy. One of the biggest shifts wasn’t learning the controls. It was learning to fly when it wasn’t clear. Instrument flying is what you trust when your body is telling you one thing and reality is telling…

There’s a pattern I keep running into. A lot of the paths we’re on weren’t really chosen. They were inherited. Encouraged. Rewarded. Modeled. And for a long time, they work. You’re productive. Capable. Even successful. Until there’s a quiet moment where something feels…off. Not wrong. Just unexamined. This clip captures how I’ve been thinking about…

I’ve been thinking about something after a conversation with my coach this week. We talked about AI, content, and efficiency. And then we talked about what actually creates connection. AI can create the image of a fire. It just can’t warm the room. That comes from something else. Passion. Meaning. Presence. It reminded me that…

One of the easiest leadership traps to fall into is this: • You see the situation. • You’ve done something similar before. • You know how you would handle it now. So you tell your teammate what to do. It feels efficient. Helpful, even. But there’s a cost most leaders don’t notice until later. When…

The beliefs that limit you the most don’t sound negative. They sound responsible. They show up as thoughts like: “I can’t afford to mess this up.” “I need to handle this myself.” “This isn’t the time to take a risk.” And because they feel protective, they rarely get questioned. But when you slow down enough…

Before next year starts asking more of you, it’s worth noticing what this year already changed. Not in terms of titles or accomplishments. But in how you experience your role. For many leaders I work with, this is the year where: • the work felt heavier than expected • decisions took more energy than they…

The pressure isn’t from not knowing what to do. It’s from believing you should. When you carry that expectation, you start doing everything yourself: • You protect your image • You avoid asking for help • You convince yourself you “should” know • You shut out perspectives that would make you better And it’s costing…

Most leaders don’t come to coaching because things are falling apart. They come because even though things are working, they’re not working as well as they could. They’re competent. Trusted. Respected. And still, something feels off. Not urgent. Not dramatic. Just persistent. • The role feels heavier than expected • Decisions take more energy than…

A common belief I hear from leaders: “I don’t have time.” On the surface, it feels true. • Their responsibilities have grown. • Their calendars are packed. • Their teams rely on them. But here’s what I see underneath that belief: The things that would help them lead with more clarity… • reflection • growth…

Consistency grows faster when you’re not doing it alone. High performers don’t struggle with discipline. They struggle with doing everything alone. When motivation dips and the days get heavy, even the strongest leaders need another human in the loop. Someone they respect. Someone who’s walking a similar road. Someone who cares about their success. Not…