Recent Content
As we enter 2025, the dynamics of leadership and organizational success continue to shift under the weight of complex global challenges and transformative trends. Today’s business landscape demands …
As we enter 2025, th…
As we enter 2025, the dynamics of leadership and organizational success continue to shift under the weight of complex global challenges and transformative trends. Today’s business landscape demands that leaders adopt bold strategies to navigate uncertainty, engage their teams meaningfully, and drive sustainable growth. Three interconnected priorities stand out as essential for 2025: scaling, aligning expectations, and redefining development. Scaling: A Year to Amplify What Works The mantra for 2025 might well be “scale or stagnate.” Organizations face mounting pressure to magnify the imp…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
December 20, 2024 
The modern workplace is undergoing a dramatic transformation. With roles constantly evolving, new ways of working emerging, and organizations increasingly focused on skills-based hiring, employees are…
The modern workplace…
The modern workplace is undergoing a dramatic transformation. With roles constantly evolving, new ways of working emerging, and organizations increasingly focused on skills-based hiring, employees are finding it harder than ever to keep their careers on course. According to Mercer, 60% of employees feel physically and emotionally drained at the end of each day, making it clear that the old tools we’ve relied on for career development may no longer suffice. How to Embrace Your Career Compass In my latest article for ATD, I discuss how today’s professionals can embrace a new kind of career c…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
December 4, 2024 
Effort, not just time, is often the biggest hurdle when it comes to professional development. In today’s fast-paced work environment, both leaders and employees can feel overwhelmed by the thought o…
Effort, not just tim…
Effort, not just time, is often the biggest hurdle when it comes to professional development. In today’s fast-paced work environment, both leaders and employees can feel overwhelmed by the thought of adding more to their plates. But what if development didn’t have to be a heavy lift? What if we could integrate it into the work we’re already doing, making growth feel natural and effortless? The reality is that development doesn’t require extraordinary effort or hours of focus. In fact, some of the most powerful growth happens in small, manageable moments that are embedded in everyday ta…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
October 23, 2024 
Each July, I look forward to analyzing the past six months of data collected as part of our Multidimensional Career research project. Since 2022, we’ve had 13,000+ people complete the survey, offeri…
Each July, I look fo…
Each July, I look forward to analyzing the past six months of data collected as part of our Multidimensional Career research project. Since 2022, we’ve had 13,000+ people complete the survey, offering us valuable data, and offering them valuable insights into how they most want to develop and engage with their work through the dimensions of:Contribution: Making a difference, being of service, or aligning with purpose Competence: Building critical capabilities, skills, abilities, and expertise Connection: Cultivating Relationships, deepening networks, elevating visibility Confidence: Enhanc…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
August 9, 2024 
As a former teacher, August is always a reminder to turn my attention to matters of learning. So, I’m delighted to host this month’s Leadership Development Carnival featuring the Wisdom of 25 frie…
As a former teacher,…
As a former teacher, August is always a reminder to turn my attention to matters of learning. So, I’m delighted to host this month’s Leadership Development Carnival featuring the wisdom of 25 friends and thought leaders. Here you’ll find rich resources and insightful reads on communication, creativity, productivity, ethics, and my personal favorite, development. Development is particularly top of mind for me this month as I prepare to launch the 3rd edition of my international bestseller, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Organizations Need and Employees Still Want on…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
August 6, 2024 
“Symbols can be so beautiful, sometimes.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut, “Breakfast of Champions” Sandra described the past week of headaches associated with a systems conversion that took place in the …
“Symbols can b…
“Symbols can be so beautiful, sometimes.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut, “Breakfast of Champions” Sandra described the past week of headaches associated with a systems conversion that took place in the call center in which she works as a customer service representative. She outlined the many hiccups and problems they encountered, the way data dropped out of fields, and calls that were habitually misdirected. She described the 14-hour days that would likely go on for another week or so, the intensity of the customers’ expectations, and management’s scrutiny. When I responded empathetically ab…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
June 27, 2024 
The frustration was palpable within a group of leaders with whom I recently worked. They were in a tough spot. Competition was emerging from unexpected sources. Revenue was not tracking to meet expect…
The frustration was …
The frustration was palpable within a group of leaders with whom I recently worked. They were in a tough spot. Competition was emerging from unexpected sources. Revenue was not tracking to meet expectations. The organization was responding with significant structural change. And these leaders had been told by executives that if the business was to survive, they had to improve their Coaching ability and results.One leader, unable to contain his urgency and angst, blurted out, “Just tell us the four or five steps we have to take to become better coaches.” Another jumped in with, “Certain…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
May 22, 2024 
Everywhere we turn—conferences, leadership forums, executive meetings—employee happiness (or the lack thereof) is a hot topic. And it makes sense. Research from BambooHR and others tells us employ…
Everywhere we turn…
Everywhere we turn—conferences, leadership forums, executive meetings—employee happiness (or the lack thereof) is a hot topic. And it makes sense. Research from BambooHR and others tells us employee happiness is at a historical low. The past few years—with all its upheaval—have inspired many to re-evaluate their relationship with work. And a lot of employees have discovered that relationship is falling short of what they want and need. The once-standard career trajectory and traditional trappings of success don’t have the same power they once did. Now, people are measuring success di…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
April 30, 2024 
“We’re living in a time of unprecedented change.” If I had a dime for every time I heard that phrase over the past few years, I’d be a wealthy woman. But it’s undeniably true. Rapidly advanc…
“We’re living in…
“We’re living in a time of unprecedented change.” If I had a dime for every time I heard that phrase over the past few years, I’d be a wealthy woman. But it’s undeniably true. Rapidly advancing Technology, the proliferation of AI, shifting demographics, changing global markets, organizational realignments, and more continue to transform the workplace in profound ways and at a profound pace. It’s easy, as a leader, to focus on the mechanics of what must happen, and the action steps and milestones required to reach the future state. In the process, we can forget that change is fundam…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
March 27, 2024 
As the workplace and the workforce continue to morph, understanding what people are looking for in and from their work has taken on greater significance. When we understand interests and motivations,…
As the workplace and…
As the workplace and the workforce continue to morph, understanding what people are looking for in and from their work has taken on greater significance. When we understand interests and motivations, we’re able to offer an employee experience that generates engagement, taps discretionary effort, promotes productivity, and ensures the retention of top talent. Our third annual report, Career Development Today: What People Really Want, sheds much-needed light upon what employees prioritized last year and offers organizations and leaders important insights to drive talent-centric strategies and…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
February 21, 2024 
As 2024 begins, it’s seductive to make declarations about how things (including ourselves) will be different in the coming year.Daily Exercise Kind words to the crotchety co-worker No sugarThe l…
As 2024 begins, it…
As 2024 begins, it’s seductive to make declarations about how things (including ourselves) will be different in the coming year.Daily exercise Kind words to the crotchety co-worker No sugarThe list goes on. The problem is that too frequently we jump to these resolutions prematurely. They end up operating in a vacuum and without context… more like challenges than congruent, integrated intentions. They capture our intention for a few weeks, but they fail to capture our imaginations and hearts sufficiently to carry them further. And it’s all because we skip an important step: we look fo…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
January 9, 2024 
The talent development strategy of mentorship is getting a lot of attention these days. From books to boardrooms, everyone is trying to crack the code and tap its potential and power. Mentors have the…
The talent developme…
The talent development strategy of mentorship is getting a lot of attention these days. From books to boardrooms, everyone is trying to crack the code and tap its potential and power. Mentors have the ability to accelerate the growth of others through their generous sharing of their perspectives, time, insights, coaching, and experience. Is this a selfless act of service? Not even remotely. Savvy mentors stand to gain as much from the experience as do the protégés they guide… and frequently a lot more. Are you on the fence about becoming a mentor? Consider these 6 ways you can personally b…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
December 19, 2023 
As the year draws to a close, I’m thrilled to be able to compile and share this month’s Leadership Development Carnival. In this ‘Best of 2023’ edition, you’ll be treated to the most impactf…
As the year draws to…
As the year draws to a close, I’m thrilled to be able to compile and share this month’s Leadership Development Carnival. In this ‘Best of 2023’ edition, you’ll be treated to the most impactful insights of 21 thought leaders as they offer their favorite articles from the year. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader, these pages promise to be an invaluable companion on your path to personal and professional growth. And you’ll want to dive in immediately… not just for the wisdom, but also for the free gifts that many contributors are offering. This is just a sma…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
December 5, 2023 
Despite high-profile examples of organizations requiring employees to return to the office, the reality is that plenty of leaders continue to find themselves in the position of managing employees who …
Despite high-profile…
Despite high-profile examples of organizations requiring employees to return to the office, the reality is that plenty of leaders continue to find themselves in the position of managing employees who don’t routinely share the same working space. Many organizations have made the commitment to continue to tap a wider talent pool, to allow for the autonomy and work-life balance that employees desire, and to take advantage of the agility that a distributed workforce is uniquely positioned to deliver. And yet, despite advances in technology and several years of experience and experimentation, cha…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
October 25, 2023 
Women in leadership get a lot of advice, most of it unhelpful. The first step in finding our way is to recognize and reject poor direction, so let’s take a look at three main types of advice served …
Women in leadership …
Women in leadership get a lot of advice, most of it unhelpful. The first step in finding our way is to recognize and reject poor direction, so let’s take a look at three main types of advice served up to women by career gurus:Lean in Aim to please Walk the tightrope1. Lean in. Sheryl Sandberg’s book of this name is the best-known in a large collection of similar guides that urge women to be more assured and direct—to “sit at the table,” as Sandberg puts it, rather than in a side chair. Some of these advisers take a kindly big-sister tone: be confident, don’t sell yourself s…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
September 27, 2023 
In Promotions Are SO Yesterday, I introduced the idea of the Multidimensional Career and a framework that expands the definition of career development. Rather than conflating growth with the tradition…
In Promotions Are SO…
In Promotions Are SO Yesterday, I introduced the idea of the Multidimensional Career and a framework that expands the definition of career development. Rather than conflating growth with the traditional upward trajectory of promotions, positions, and move, this framework offers seven alternate ways employees can grow – right within the context of their own careers. They include:Contribution: Making a difference, being of service, or aligning with purpose Competence: Building critical capabilities, skills, abilities, and expertise Connection: Cultivating relationships, deepening networks, e…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
August 30, 2023 
I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much as I dressed in pink and headed off with the family to see Barbie last weekend. Without spoiling the plot for those of you who have yet to see it, this m…
I have to admit that…
I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much as I dressed in pink and headed off with the family to see Barbie last weekend. Without spoiling the plot for those of you who have yet to see it, this movie offers a surprising commentary on such things as Aging, the patriarchy, development, and even the workplace. I never would have guessed that a plastic doll would inspire such interesting discussions in social media and real life. One particularly rich LinkedIn conversation was started by Jessica Segal with a post likening Ken to real human employees who are happy doing what they do and have n…
Julie Winkle Giulioni
August 8, 2023 
Experiencing stumbles and setbacks can teach us a lot about ourselves – a lot about being a leader. I was reflecting on a stage production of Circus 1903 I attended several years ago. It was a varie…
Experiencing stumble…
Experiencing stumbles and setbacks can teach us a lot about ourselves – a lot about being a leader. I was reflecting on a stage production of Circus 1903 I attended several years ago. It was a variety show featuring turn-of-the-century circus acts. The audience enjoyed heart-stopping performances from high-wire artists, aerialists, contortionists, and acrobats from around the world. (While this isn’t intended to be a review, I can highly recommend the show!) Even a few years later, I remember that each act was an impressive display of a lifetime (sometimes generations) of muscle and skill …
Julie Winkle Giulioni
July 26, 2023 
