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  The most powerful thing at ATD this year wasn’t on any slide. It was in the space between people. I had a problem at the International Association for Talent Development Conference last month. A …

  The most powerful…

  The most powerful thing at ATD this year wasn’t on any slide. It was in the space between people. I had a problem at the International Association for Talent Development Conference last month. A good one. I couldn’t get people to stop playing. In my session on using games for career development, participants dug into each Exercise with an intensity I genuinely didn’t anticipate. Pulling them back for debrief felt almost rude — the conversations were that alive. One attendee actually interrupted the session to share that every game, he said, would work across his entire organization …

First impressions apply to organizations as well as individuals.  If you’ve ever hired someone, you know that employers have a short window during which to capture the hearts and minds of a new emp…

First impressions ap…

First impressions apply to organizations as well as individuals.  If you’ve ever hired someone, you know that employers have a short window during which to capture the hearts and minds of a new employee. Unfortunately, too frequently the window closes… about the same time that a door opens and the disappointed, disillusioned employee walks out! We’ve all had that new employee experience. What drew you in?  What pushed you away?  What did your introduction to the job telegraph to you?  And what long-term effect did these early messages have on how you felt about the work? The job? You…

Every month, the Leadership Development Digest brings together smart, practical insights from some of the brightest voices in leadership and development—and we’re grateful that you keep showing up…

Every month, the Lea…

Every month, the Leadership Development Digest brings together smart, practical insights from some of the brightest voices in leadership and development—and we’re grateful that you keep showing up to read, reflect, and engage. If these ideas have been helping you think differently, lead more intentionally, or support growth in your organization, consider this your gentle nudge to go a little deeper. Many of our regular contributors are doing incredible work beyond these pages—through books, podcasts, workshops, and resources designed to help leaders move from insight to action. For insta…

I’ll admit it: my guilty pleasure this month has been watching Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat on Prime Video. There’s something captivating about seeing a perfectly orchestrated workplace dra…

I’ll admit it: my …

I’ll admit it: my guilty pleasure this month has been watching Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat on Prime Video. There’s something captivating about seeing a perfectly orchestrated workplace drama unfold — especially when only one person doesn’t know it’s happening. But somewhere between the team-building exercises and the boardroom maneuvering, I found myself pausing the show for a different reason. Yes, to laugh. But also, to think. Because tucked inside this elaborate comedy are some surprisingly rich leadership lessons. If you’ve not seen the show, here’s what you need to k…

Over the past few years, leaders have been bracing for flight risk. Now, in many organizations, the opposite concern has emerged: people aren’t leaving. At first glance, that sounds like stability. …

Over the past few ye…

Over the past few years, leaders have been bracing for flight risk. Now, in many organizations, the opposite concern has emerged: people aren’t leaving. At first glance, that sounds like stability. But look closer, and you may see something more fragile beneath the surface — employees staying not because they’re inspired or engaged, but because they’re uncertain, cautious, even fearful. Why Staying Isn’t Always Stability Economic volatility, layoffs across sectors, and accelerating automation have reshaped the psychological contract at work. When external mobility feels risky, intern…

What does leadership require right now? Not in theory. Not in calmer times. But in a moment defined by AI disruption, economic strain, Burnout, and eroding trust. This edition of the Leadership Develo…

What does leadership…

What does leadership require right now? Not in theory. Not in calmer times. But in a moment defined by AI disruption, economic strain, burnout, and eroding trust. This edition of the Leadership Development Digest features more than 20 thoughtful contributors wrestle with that very question. And here’s what emerges: Leadership must be both strategic and deeply human Results matter—but so do hope and trust Uncertainty isn’t going away—so resilience must be intentional AI may change how we work—but character still defines how we lead This issue doesn’t offer platitudes. It offers pr…

The beginning of the new calendar year frequently corresponds with the start of a new performance period. As a result, managers and leaders everywhere are preparing for those annual conversations desi…

The beginning of the…

The beginning of the new calendar year frequently corresponds with the start of a new performance period. As a result, managers and leaders everywhere are preparing for those annual conversations designed to establish the goal-setting objectives that employees will work toward for the next twelve months. Today, few managers make the overt mistakes that characterized goal-setting in the past. Leaders typically know better than to simply roll their own objectives down, assigning them to the next level via one-way communication. They appreciate the value of dialogue, Clarity, and even negotiation…

The beginning of the new calendar year frequently corresponds with the start of a new performance period. As a result, managers and leaders everywhere are preparing for those annual conversations desi…

The beginning of the…

The beginning of the new calendar year frequently corresponds with the start of a new performance period. As a result, managers and leaders everywhere are preparing for those annual conversations designed to establish the goal-setting objectives that employees will work toward for the next twelve months. Today, few managers make the overt mistakes that characterized goal-setting in the past. Leaders typically know better than to simply roll their own objectives down, assigning them to the next level via one-way communication. They appreciate the value of dialogue, clarity, and even negotiation…

As a new year begins, leaders everywhere are looking for clarity: what actually mattered last year, and what’s worth carrying forward. This inaugural edition of the Leadership Development Digest (fo…

As a new year begins…

As a new year begins, leaders everywhere are looking for clarity: what actually mattered last year, and what’s worth carrying forward. This inaugural edition of the Leadership Development Digest (formerly Leadership Development Carnival) offers exactly that—a curated collection of the most thoughtful, practical insights from 2025, selected to help leaders strengthen their impact and support others’ growth in the year ahead. Inside, you’ll find 18 standout articles that challenged assumptions, sparked meaningful reflection, and translated big ideas into real-world leadership practice. C…

The holiday season is upon us again.  A chance to spend quality time with Family and friends. A chance to punctuate key Relationships with specially-selected gifts. A chance to end the quarter/year s…

The holiday season i…

The holiday season is upon us again.  A chance to spend quality time with family and friends. A chance to punctuate key relationships with specially-selected gifts. A chance to end the quarter/year strong. But also, a chance to become completely overwhelmed and enjoy none of it! And that’s because too frequently we get swept up in the frenzy and hypnotized by the advertising and hype, unconsciously playing out old scripts that are no longer relevant today. So, this holiday season, take control. Be more deliberate. Choreograph a sense of ease that will shine more beautifully than the brighte…

Paddleboarding is my favorite summer pastime. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a cross between kayaking and surfing that involves standing on a long board and using an oar to maneuver around a…

Paddleboarding is my…

Paddleboarding is my favorite summer pastime. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a cross between kayaking and surfing that involves standing on a long board and using an oar to maneuver around a body of water. Easy, right? Not always. As paddleboarding season in Southern California will soon be over, I’m trying to get out as much as I can. Last weekend, the weather conditions were a little challenging. I’m not a fan of cold water and was determined not to fall into the ocean. So, I focused squarely on the three most critical factors: the waves, the wind, and the wake of other vessel…

When I signed up for an intro aerial Yoga class last weekend, I imagined gentle stretches, maybe a deeper warrior pose supported by the hammock… and most of all, a blissful final resting pose cocoon…

When I signed up for…

When I signed up for an intro aerial yoga class last weekend, I imagined gentle stretches, maybe a deeper warrior pose supported by the hammock… and most of all, a blissful final resting pose cocooned peacefully in fabric. The only accurate word in that vision? Aerial. What I got was more Cirque du Soleil than restorative yoga—complete with ceiling-mounted fabric, movements that required serious upper body strength, and seven young women (including my daughter) who moved like trapeze artists and had zero fear of flipping upside down and all around. I, on the other hand, had… reservations…