Forward Thinking
Welcome to Forward Thinking, where we explore the ideas, insights, and strategies shaping the future of leadership, organizational change, and culture. This is where we share what we’re learning in the field—what’s working, what’s shifting, and what leaders need to be paying attention to. Grounded in practice and informed by research, our posts are designed to help you think more critically, act more intentionally, and lead more effectively in times of change.
Preferences vs. Expectations: Navigating the Collision Points on Close-Knit Teams
Leaders consistently overestimate how clearly they have articulated their expectations, while team members quietly rely on unvoiced assumptions. Discover why personal work preferences don't have to perfectly match team expectations, and learn how leaders can use targeted scripts to navigate these collision points and move from forced compliance to true excellence.
Strengths are Not Excuses. Your Talents Are Tools, Not a Shield.
Self-awareness is a superpower - unless it becomes an excuse. This post explores why CliftonStrengths should be used as a tool for leverage and growth rather than a way to skip out on professional baseline requirements, offering practical strategies for both individuals and supervisors to lead with intention.
The Multi-Hat Leader: Navigating the Tension of the First Team
Leaders on a first team must be able to vacillate between representing their unit and leading the broader organization. This post introduces the Hats metaphor and provides practical scripts to help leaders communicate their perspectives with clarity, honesty, and strategic alignment.
Leading Beyond the Noise
Deadlines, emails, and meetings crowd our calendars, convincing us that constant motion equals productivity. But urgency and importance are not the same thing. This post reveals the cost of living in perpetual crisis and offers a framework for breaking the cycle to lead with intentional calm and focus.