When we talk about developing our people, it’s easy to default to the obvious. Send them to a course, give them more responsibility, maybe assign a mentor. But the truth is, effective employee development is rarely one-size-fits-all.

If we want to create leaders at every level, we need to think more broadly. That starts with shifting our mindset. Development is not about preparing someone for their next title. It is about creating the conditions for them to grow in skill, confidence, and impact right where they are.

One of the most underrated leadership skills? Concision. We often think effective communication means saying more: more detail, more background, more explanation. But as leaders, our real power comes from knowing what not to say, and how to say what matters most, with purpose and clarity. In a world overflowing with messages, meetings, and to-do lists, our teams and colleagues don’t need more noise. They need clarity.

In leadership, momentum is everything. The right pace can energize teams, drive productivity, and accelerate results, but get it wrong, and you risk burnout, confusion, or stagnation. Finding that sweet spot between urgency and sustainability is an art, and one that leaders must master to keep their teams engaged, focused, and effective.

The start of the year always brings a mix of reflection and ambition. We set big goals, envision growth, and commit to becoming better leaders. But here’s the thing: growth isn’t just about setting goals. It’s about expanding how we see the future, influence others, and lead with clarity and confidence.

Heading into the New Year, we are filled with hope and eager to set new goals. As we capitalize on this powerful energy to build a better life, career, and relationships, we have to remember it is challenging to change. A few weeks in, we’re often overwhelmed with the inevitable obstacles that come up when attempting to change. Well, you’re not alone, the art of leading through adversity isn’t for the faint of heart. But here’s a little secret that’s changed my approach and might just reshape yours too: becoming a realistic optimist.

As leaders, the concept of service often guides our professional actions and decisions. However, the true essence of leadership stretches beyond the boardroom. It permeates our community interactions and our family commitments. Building a life dedicated to service isn't just about enhancing our professional credentials; it's about nurturing a holistic approach that enriches every aspect of our lives and the lives of those around us.

October is a month of reflection and transformation, making it the perfect time to share insights from one of the most defining experiences of my life: becoming a caretaker for my mother. This journey has not only tested my resilience but has profoundly enriched my understanding of leadership.

So many of you are caretakers for family, children, friends and your community. How has it shaped your approach to leadership?

The questions you pose can unlock insights, inspire self-reflection, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. In this article, we’ll explore how to ask the right questions to drive staff development and growth, while incorporating values that align with your organization’s goals.

Do you or your team look at the calendar with dread as you see the number of meetings you’re expected to attend each day? How many have become routine status updates or just a complete waste of time? Forbes Research & Insights references that employees find less than 50% of the meetings on their calendar useful, ugh!

Every Father’s Day is a moment of reflection. Since my father’s passing in 2016, I’ve worked diligently to keep his values alive and apply them in all aspects of life, including leadership. His favorite phrase was ‘strength and honor’, likely learned from a childhood gladiator movie, but he lived those to the best of his ability.

This month marks the 2-year celebration of founding Promote Leaders! Being an entrepreneur has been a dream, with its share of difficulties. After reflecting on this milestone, the topic of self-accountability was at the top of my list. Here are my lessons so we can all turn our commitments and ambitions into realities.

Overcoming self-doubt is a challenge for everyone, but I see so many incredible and accomplished women hold themselves back that it felt appropriate to dedicate this Women’s History Month newsletter to the topic. We have enough obstacles to overcome, let’s remove the ones we place in the way ourselves and rewrite the narrative on confidence. Let's not just own the room; let's redesign it!

Many of us, myself included, default to ‘yes’ when asked to help or take on a new project. What we don’t often realize is that by saying ‘yes’ to one thing, we are saying ‘no’ to another, often a more important task. By creating clarity around your priorities, calendar, and goals you can more effectively evaluate if this new ‘ask’ is something that will enhance your areas of focus or distract from it.

You are a gift... As many of us scramble to find the perfect something this holiday season, the experiences you have with others and the time you spend with them is the real gift. Your presence is what your family, friends, charities, and even team will recall with fond memories. As you close this year and look ahead, take a moment to reflect on your true impact. Your presence is your greatest gift. What does it mean to be present?

Showing gratitude has been a core pillar of not just my leadership style, but my life. Yet, for a long time, I didn't understand the impact of receiving. Every time I deflected a compliment by explaining it away, I didn't realize I was diminishing the giver's intent. Embracing the practice of receiving has opened the door to more honest relationships, even at work, where my team brings their best ideas, collaborates more effectively, and offers thoughtful feedback.

Many of the leadership qualities we often write about and admire, like communication, agility, and vision, are ineffective without a foundation of trust. Saying ‘trust me” just isn’t enough. Why should your team follow and be coached by you?

Why did you become a people leader? Leadership, like any role, is difficult but there are tangible benefits to being a leader that are often left unarticulated in the sea of posts on the impact of poor managers. Though a real issue, this bias towards only pointing out the challenges, many emerging leaders are turning away from management or existing leaders are reconsidering their role. If you need to re-ignite your spark for leadership or are considering taking a leadership role, maybe this can serve as some inspiration.

With the end of the year quickly approaching, many leaders are asking me how to best hold their teams to a high standard, even exceed expectations, in these critical final months. What's struck me is that the answer they’re expecting is to drop being empathetic and become a hard-driving, even micro-managing, leader to simply get things done. This truly highlights the frequent tension between empathy and accountability in the leadership space. Though often misunderstood, empathy and accountability can co-exist.

It's the season for mid-year reviews, both for business performance and for your teams. But have you considered reviewing your goals too? Twice a year, I make a point to pause, reassess my priorities, and adjust my calendar in an ongoing quest for balance. This habit allows me to stay focused, live consciously, and still leave room for life's surprises.

Outstanding leaders achieve results through their people. A motivated team tends to stick around longer, forms better client relationships, and navigates challenging situations with more ease. It's no secret that dedicated, high-performing employees are a treasure, yet it's surprising how many #leaders are well-versed in every detail of a client, project, or process, yet fall short in truly understanding what motivates their team. This is an opportunity begging for attention!