When I started the “Likeable Badass” series back in September, I didn’t expect it to follow me around as much as it has. Every month, one of Allison Fragale’s ideas has found its way into a meeting, a conversation, or a moment where I’m trying to decide how to show up as a leader. This […]
I have been spending time with Allison Fragale’s work from her book, “Likeable Badass,” which explores how competence, warmth, and relational influence manifest in leadership. Her insights about status and power have been resonating with me lately because they appear in almost every workplace situation I have ever been a part of. Once you start
Status or Power: Which One Are You Using Today? Read More »
I have been loving Allison Fragale’s Likable Badass framework, and this week’s theme, building allies and advocates, is one that shows up constantly in real workplace dynamics. If there is one thing I have learned working inside government agencies, universities, and national associations, it is this: you can be smart and strategic and deeply committed
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Have you ever realized that someone else’s version of your story got told before you had the chance to tell it yourself? Maybe a colleague described your role in a way that missed the mark, or a manager explained your decision without knowing the full context. Even well-intentioned summaries can shape how others see you.
Tell Your Story (Before Someone Else Does) Read More »
In the workplace, it’s easy to think we have to choose between being nice or being direct. But the truth is, the people who communicate most effectively usually do both. We show that we value the person and the relationship when we lead with warmth. When we follow with assertiveness, we show that we value
The Power of Warmth & Assertiveness Read More »
In my last post, I shared how the Japanese concept of ikigai, your reason for being, often reveals itself in the small, everyday moments of work. I ended by promising to explore one of those moments more closely: flow. Flow is that state when you’re so immersed in what you’re doing that you lose track
Flow at Work: Noticing the Moments That Pull You In Read More »
Reflections on meaning, purpose, and why we keep showing up Over the weekend I read Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles (thanks to Donna Buehler for the recommendation!), and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. The book explores the Japanese concept of ikigai (your
Where’s Your Ikigai Whispering? Read More »
In my last post, I shared how volunteering in professional associations has shaped my career in unexpected ways. This week, I want to reflect on a quieter but equally meaningful lesson about the value of simply showing up. Last week, I attended the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution’s Arbitration Institute in Denver. I’m not an
Why I Showed Up: Leadership, Presence, and Supporting Our Dispute Resolution Community Read More »
It started with a committee. A small project. A “sure, I’ll help with that.” Looking back, I can see how those small yeses became something much bigger. They shaped not only my career, but also my confidence, skills, and sense of purpose. One of my earliest volunteer roles was with the ABA Law Student Division
More Than a Job: How Volunteering in Professional Associations Can Transform Your Career Read More »
Brené Brown, a leading researcher on vulnerability and shame, defines these concepts through grounded theory—building definitions based on real-life experiences. This sounds pretty straight forward, but what happens when we’re actually in the thick of it? My Story: Returning to Work After Maternity Leave In February of last year, I had my son, Harry, and
Vulnerability, Resilience, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves Read More »