The challenges of being a rising leader are unique.
The Leadership Arena is a newsletter created especially for Millennial & Gen Z leaders who want to take charge of their own growth and advancement opportunities. It's also a powerful resource for Founders who want to scale leadership throughout their company. Each week, we'll address new topics that are essential to leadership growth, confidence, agency, and trust. This isn't just a theory—it's immediately useful to apply in real-time, every week of the year!
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I was following rules that weren't actually there.
Reader, The other day, I noticed a sudden urgency to get more done faster. Nothing had changed. There was no looming deadline. Yet with important priorities weighing on me, it felt like doing more would produce more. So, I made a massive list of everything on my plate, and planned to complete it all in one week. It didn't work. Why? Because more is often less. When more is less. Have you ever: Tried to change every habit you dislike about yourself—simultaneously? Given a child a long list of...
READ POSTThe surprising reason ideas don't get traction
Reader, Ever been here? You really want to succeed in your job—and you know what it takes. You notice your organization is neglecting something that really matters. You prepare to present your thoughts, hoping it will make a difference. But it doesn’t. Instead, your boss replies: "Thanks… but we need to be focused on something else right now." Why advocating rarely works. Let's imagine you're advocating for the customer. The organization should care about the customer, right? This should be a...
READ POSTThe hidden habit (we all have) that erodes teamwork
Reader, Does it ever feel easier to do it yourself? To work alone? If so, you're in good company. Most leaders feel this pull at times. If you've been developing yourself as a leader for a while, you know yourself—so you know what you need to do to succeed. You are unique and your individual contribution is valuable. Why is it so important to be unique? The US is one of the most individualistic cultures in the world—and it influences us more than we realize. Wherever you live, you’ll see this...
READ POSTMissed goals and bad behaviors? Change this first.
Reader, Ever been here? A team member is behaving badly. The frequent bad attitude and incomplete work is making everyone crazy—but the individual seems completely unaware of how they’re showing up. Your team starts pointing it out, wondering—are you going to do something about this? Tensions are running hot. In this email, we're diving deep below the surface to explore why behaviors happen—and how to shift them. The winter I’ll never forget. One winter, my family decided to ski every week,...
READ POSTWhen power dynamics go wrong (and a better way)
Reader, Positional power and authority is one of those topics that can trip up leaders at any level and age. In this email, we’re diving into four types of dysfunctional power dynamics:Overbearing Power, Distrusting Power, Unacknowledged Power, and Insecure Power. And, I'll offer a simple perspective to help you relate to power—yours and others—in a healthy way. Some roles come with authority. In most companies, certain roles carry authority and power that match their level of responsibility....
READ POSTWhy I haven’t asked—yet
Reader, Lately, I've been hearing questions like: "I noticed your emails don't have a call to action." "What's your goal with the content you're writing?" "Why haven't you asked for anything yet?" The short answer? I haven't been ready to ask. The longer answer tells the story of who I've decided to serve—and why. So, in addition to my regular newsletter this week, I'd love to tell you a story. Who I'm building this for. When it comes to leadership and team development, I believe two...
READ POSTGenerate better ideas in just 2 minutes
Reader, Have you ever sat around a table with your team—virtual or in person—trying to solve a really big problem? You know the kind of meeting: The team lays out the options. Everyone weighs in. There’s a debate, then finally, a decision.Then the team springs into action to make it work. But real innovation doesn’t happen like this. In this email, I’m sharing my favorite way to solve problems fast with your team. The best part? It’s so simple you can try it today. The inventor approach....
READ POSTAre you measuring commitment—or something else entirely?
Reader, One question I asked myself in every leadership role: Is my team committed? Like a hawk, I watched for signs, trying to gauge the answer—and reacted to what I saw. But over time, I realized I was asking the wrong question. What are you really asking? When leaders wonder about their team’s commitment, there’s often an underlying mix of fear, stress, or frustration. Why? Because a team’s level of commitment directly affects your quality of life. If your team isn’t committed: The brunt...
READ POSTWhat if thinking is your real job?
Reader, Ever have one of those wake-up-call moments—the kind that stops you in your tracks? These moments often grow us the most. In my first executive-level position, I was used to getting things done, but leading? That was new territory. Racing through the moments. In the weeks leading up to our big program, I was anything but calm—racing from one thing to the next as if my pants were on fire. I arrived at my weekly check-in so frantic I barely noticed my surroundings. The pressure was on,...
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