The Leadership Posture Check

I’m working on something I’m pretty excited about.

If you’ve been here a while, you know that in addition to 1:1 coaching and workshop facilitation, I love taking the stage and delivering keynotes that unlock new ways for people to lead with intention and advance their careers.

Now, I’m developing a new keynote called “The Leadership Posture Check.”

The premise is simple: What helped you succeed may be limiting your influence now.

Maybe you’re second-guessing yourself. Maybe you know something needs to change, but you don’t know where to start. Or maybe — and this is a big one — the way you’ve learned to lead has been rewarded again and again.

That was certainly true for me.

For much of my career, my posture was to always find a way. Go above and beyond. Have the answer. Get it right. Those behaviors helped me succeed — until, eventually, they helped me burn out.

That’s the tension at the heart of The Leadership Posture Check: Sometimes the behaviors that got us here aren’t wrong. They’ve simply stopped serving us in the same way.

I’m developing a framework to help people assess, align and adjust how they lead so they can increase their influence without sacrificing who they are in the process.

I'd love your input! What’s a behavior or mindset that helped you succeed earlier in your career but eventually started holding you back? Simply reply to this email and tell me.

I can’t wait to bring The Leadership Posture Check to audiences in 2027! If you think it could resonate with the leaders in your company or association, let’s chat.

In the Spotlight

Thinking about 2027?

So am I. If 1:1 coaching is part of your professional development plans for the new year — whether you’re investing in yourself or exploring coaching for someone on your team — now is a great time to start the conversation. I’m currently talking with individuals and teams about coaching engagements beginning in Q1. Let’s connect now so you can start 2027 strong!

Brain Food

AI can help you build the deck, polish the talking points and write the email (disclosure: it helped me polish this one!). It can’t stand in the room for you, though. This Fast Company article makes the case that as AI-generated work and AI slop become ubiquitous, how well you communicate in real time may matter even more, especially when you’re answering an unexpected question. A good reminder that your ability to think, speak and respond with clarity, confidence and purpose is worth developing.

Around Town

Big thanks to those who trust me with their audiences near and far. Recently, I had the honor to speak about perfectionism, imposter syndrome and burnout — and, more importantly, strategies for moving beyond them — to a room full of women brought together by Traditional Bank. In a few weeks, I’ll bring this topic to communications professionals of all genders at PRSA ICON in Orlando.

Stand Up Straighter

Leadership posture isn’t just about how you show up on a stage or in a meeting. It’s certainly not about masking or pretending to be someone or some way you’re not.

It’s about noticing when the way you’ve always operated is no longer getting you where you want to go.

That’s a big part of the work I do with leaders and organizations: helping people recognize what’s working, what isn’t, and what small adjustment could make a meaningful difference.

Sometimes, you don’t need a complete reinvention. You just need an adjustment.

And it doesn’t hurt to have someone who’s always in your corner. 💪