My sister took this picture of our son, Owen, at his first cross country meet this fall. 

I love this picture because you can see & feel the sheer determination, grit, and intrinsic motivation bursting through every muscle and cell of his being.

And it's exciting....because it wasn't always like this with Owen.

When he was in 3rd grade, Owen participated in a community event called The...

One of the most influential books I have ever read is called, "The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self" by Deepak Chopra, Debbie Ford, and Marianne Williamson. I read it during one of the darkest periods of my life, and it was pivotal to the transformational process that I underwent to change myself from a caterpillar to a butterfly. 

Some of...

I don't know about you, but myself and everyone in my spheres of life are reporting that they are feeling the heat and the pressure right now. The microcosm pressures of the uncertainty of this school year, which is impacting home and work life, the emotional heat of being in close quarters with family members for so long, the unknown associated with financial pressures, and the straight up...

“Crisis” is what happens when we see red flags in our people and our systems and we address the symptoms, but not the root cause of the problem. 

The events that have taken place thus far in 2020 have been a long time coming, and like it or not, we are now being forced to shift. While challenging and forcing us to grow, my perspective is that ultimately these disruptions will...

This has been a time of chaos and swirl for all of us.

There is nothing easy about what we are witnessing and experiencing. It's complex for all of us.

Most everyone has been triggered by something and is struggling with the degree of uncertainty that we are met with going forward. 

So what is needed from leadership at a time like this? 

One word: listening. 

Less talking, more ...

Troubled times are where we really get to see what our leaders are made of. Now, more than ever, the world, and the state of education, is crying out for leaders who "get it."   

The ones who "get it" know that what their people really want and value is the sense that they are seen, that they are heard, that they are valued, that they are trusted, and that they matter. ...

Conflict inherently has a negative connotation for many of us... 

It's something to be avoided. 

Or rushed through. 

Or avoided in the moment only to be rehashed with a safe sounding board afterwards.  

One of the most impactful lessons I've learned as I began to focus on my personal development was what a gift conflict really can be.  In the past, I...

Principle #1: People Support What They Help To Create

This principle may seem obvious to you, but stop and think about whether or not you truly employ it for a moment. 

• As a leader, when you roll out a new initiative, idea, or procedure with your staff, what is your process for doing so?  
• Do you hold listening sessions or have conversations with key people who will be...

I believe so. Or at least, I hope so. And no, I’m not just talking about my face. It’s just that a face like mine represents what’s possible when each one of us as individuals chooses to live our lives differently.

And I believe that it will be women like myself…sensitive, dreamers, big-hearted, smart, passionate women, willing to take risks, to speak up, to rise up,...