Some of the best leadership conversations happen around a BBQ With National BBQ Day coming up, I was thinking about how often people open up when there’s no formal agenda, no pressure, and no meeting invite attached to the conversation. Standing around a BBQ has a way of leveling things out. People relax. Stories come out. You learn what’s actually going on in someone’s world. Over the years, I’ve learned some of the most valuable leadership moments happen in the in-between s

Energy returns unevenly — strong leaders notice the difference By mid-April, most teams have settled into the longer days. The clocks have changed. The mornings are a little brighter. There’s a sense — at least on the surface — that energy is coming back. But not for everyone. Some people are still dragging themselves out of bed before sunrise. Still adjusting. Still carrying the weight of a long winter, a heavy Q1, or simply a full plate outside of work. From a leadership st

A little lightness goes a long way in building strong teams April Fool’s Day is a big deal in our house. Over the years, the girls and I have built up a bit of a tradition. Frozen cereal. Toothpaste in the middle of Oreo cookies. The occasional early-morning wake-up courtesy of a Bluetooth speaker and… questionable sound effects. Nothing over the top. Just enough to catch each other off guard and start the day laughing. What I’ve come to appreciate is that those small moments