Feedback is one of those words that can quietly change the energy in a room.

Even strong, capable leaders often feel it in their bodies the moment someone says, “I have some feedback.” Shoulders tense. Breathing shifts. Curiosity gives way to self-protection…

When leaders feel stuck, it is rarely because they lack goals. Most have well‑articulated objectives, KPIs, and strategic plans. The challenge is often cognitive and emotional overload. Every decision feels heavy. Every choice carries consequences. Momentum slows not from inaction, but from overthinking.

One of the first practices I introduce in these situations is deceptively simple: choosing a defining word.

This December did not start off as planned.

On paper, it looked beautiful. I had a color-coded calendar, end-of-year projects mapped out, and quiet space reserved for writing, reflection, and planning for 2026.

Then my husband’s shoulder surgery landed right in the middle of it.

My carefully shaped December suddenly looked like a puzzle with pieces scattered across the table. Some things had to move. Some had to be postponed. A few simply needed to be released.

Recently, on the way to Converge, we stopped to hike Convict Lake in Mammoth. A footbridge had washed out, and the only way forward was across unstable logs. Strangers quickly became a team: we formed a human chain and passed a nature-made walking stick from person to person to steady each step. Because we connected, literally, we reached the other side and the beauty beyond. That is “human harder” in action: quick trust, shared problem-solving, and progress none of us could have made alone.

The arrival of fall brings a shift in perspective. Long summer days fade, the air turns crisp, and the landscape glows gold, red, and orange. What might look like the “end” of summer is also the beginning of something new, a season with its own beauty and lessons.

Our 90-day alignment sprint is the commitment, and the weekly huddle is the consistency. September is a reset: ninety days to focus, make faster decisions, and stop work that does not serve your outcomes. Quiet the noise, build momentum, and finish Q4 strong by December 31.

During one of my discussions in 2016 with leaders at a multinational company (listed soon thereafter in the Forbes Global 2000 World's Best Employers list), a manager shared a story that struck me. He described the rush of pride he felt walking through an airport and seeing a giant advertisement for his company: “Our products don’t just look cool, they actually are cool.”What stood out was not that he designed or built those products; in fact, he had never even touched one. His pride came from knowing that his work, though behind the scenes, mattered.

Early in my career, I had a boss who once shouted at our team, “I am a good listener! I value what people have to say!” The irony was not lost on us. We glanced at each other in disbelief, suppressing nervous laughter at the absurdity of his outburst. Far from feeling heard, we quickly learned that bringing up challenges, whether technical breakdowns, communication issues, or bookkeeping mistakes, was risky. His yelling only deepened our silence. Instead of fostering openness, it created fear and avoidance.

Too often, workplace well-being is misunderstood as something “soft” or secondary to results. But research and practice tell a different story. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that depression and anxiety contribute to the loss of approximately 12 billion working days each year, resulting in a global economic cost of around US $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. In the U.S., the University of Massachusetts Lowell reports that job stress costs American employers more than US $300 billion annually, due to health care spending, absenteeism, and reduced performance.

Welcoming my newborn granddaughter into the world has been a heartwarming and humbling experience. Holding her, watching her tiny gestures, and marveling at her instinctive ways of engaging with the world reminded me that leadership lessons can emerge from the most unexpected places.