Early in my career, I worked in a department where the office manager kept track of our vacation time. Every month, she’d send out a...

From the sidelines of a weekend soccer game, you can often hear the “joysticking” parent or coach—calling out a continuous stream of instructions to the players on the field. “Pass it! Stay wide! Shoot! Get back!” The player glances over nervously. Instead of reacting to the game, they freeze, unsure of their next move because every decision is being dictated. Their goal shifts from playing the game to avoiding mistakes. In the process, they become passive, waiting for instru

You’ve been preparing for an important presentation. You’ve written out your remarks and rehearsed them over and over. By the time the big day arrives, you feel confident—after all, you’ve said the same thing a dozen times already. Then, something unexpected happens. Maybe the technology falters, or the audience asks a question that throws off your timing. Suddenly, the steady flow of your presentation gets disrupted, and you find yourself scrambling to get back on track. You

Intrapersonal communication is more than just a stream of consciousness; it is the foundation of our self-awareness and emotional regulation

Two seeds were buried side by side in a field. The seeds—Amara and Brio—lay dormant, dreaming of the sky. One day, a gentle rain whispered promises of growth. Amara felt the call of the world above and thought, “It may be time to sprout. But what if the sun is too harsh, or the rain too scarce? What if I emerge too soon?” Fearful, Amara decided to wait. Beside Amara, Brio also heard the rain’s song. Excited, Brio thought, “What wonders await above! Yes, there might be storms

“One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time.” – Carl Sagan When I was eight years old my reading ability fell below grade level, so my parents asked one of my teachers to tutor me during the summer before fourth grade. Mrs. Fergeson had a large collection of children’s books in her living room, and each week she let me pick any book I wanted to read aloud to her. At the beg

I once had an acquaintance who was really smart and fun to hang out with, but he had a really bad habit. He told elaborate lies. Research suggests most people lie, on average, one or two times a day. However, this individual’s habit of lying verged on compulsive. Much of what he said was more than exaggerations or misleading; he routinely communicated messages that were deliberately deceiving. He lied with ease and only in hindsight did I recognize his signs of deception. Som

Leaders motivate the actions of others. Parenting isn’t much different. In both roles we want to give those looking to us for guidance...