Many of my coaching clients come to me with a secret: they’re trying to figure out how to fit in. They say they want to develop their leadership skills, and they often want to learn strategies for navigating corporate culture. Some confide in me that they must be doing something wrong, and they want to learn what everyone else seems to know. I understand this feeling all too well, because I’ve often felt like a misfit, someone who doesn’t quite belong anywhere. I was born and

I have a confession to make: delegation doesn’t come naturally to me. For years, whether I was leading a team or managing household tasks, I was reluctant to let go. It was one of the factors that contributed to my burnout, as the work piled on and I couldn't keep up. And now, as organizations are demanding more and more of their employees, I see this resistance to let go every day while coaching high-achieving leaders and managers: they’re exhausted and overwhelmed, dealing

Has this ever happened to you? You’re in a meeting and a senior leader asks you a question. You feel the pressure of being on the spot, and you launch into a long, detailed monologue in response. When you finish, you’re met by blank looks. Maybe you have even forgotten what the question was in the first place. If this sounds familiar, then it’s time to practice bottom-lining. I first learned about bottom-lining early in my Google career and have used it to enhance my executiv

When my sons were little, people told us that boys are more challenging when they’re very young and become easier as teens. Conversely,...

It recently came to my attention (Thanks JC!) that no email notifications have been going out to subscribers when I post a new article. I...

Once upon a time, I thought I lacked strategic thinking, thanks to an early performance review at Google, where it was flagged as my “area of development,” which is corporate-speak for weakness. I found the concept of strategic thinking nebulous; what does it even mean? Being a dutiful problem solver, I sought help from someone who pointed out that instead of viewing this gap as a deficiency, I could approach strategic thinking as a buildable skill, which is how I was introdu

Last week, I went into a virtual writing retreat  with high hopes for what I would produce, but what I got out of it was far more...

Just like that, four months have passed since I left my corporate job  at Google, and if you follow my blog, you might know I’m a fan of...

School’s out and families are embarking on summer vacations, sending kids to camp, or just chilling at home. While vacations are great...

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most after leaving my corporate job a couple of months ago is the sense of joy and fulfillment I’ve found...

Managers are crucial for employee engagement, serving as coaches and mentors who share their knowledge and experiences to help employees...

I can’t believe it’s already been six weeks since I left Google for a year of exploration and experimentation ! So far, I am loving the...

Have you tried Google's NotebookLM AI tool yet? It was one of my favorite AI tools to use for learning during my last year at Google,...

A few weeks ago, my friend J.T. Erickson came over for brunch and then we recorded a conversation for his new podcast, No More Strangers...

In my current period of transition, I’m seizing the opportunity to reflect on my career and share some pivotal stories and lessons I’ve...

It’s been a week full of excitement and reflection since I departed from Google after 18 years. It was a huge decision, and I've been...

Yesterday was my last day working at Google. March 26 would have been my 18th Googleversary. I plan to share more soon about how I came...

Are you thinking about becoming a manager or new to the role? It's a challenging yet rewarding position. Last time , we explored the core...

I’ve been a manager for most of my career, and while I find it incredibly rewarding, I spent many years building proficiency and...

As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to reflect. It's important to look back on 2024 and consider not only our results, but also...