Leadership Deep Dive

Here’s a sometimes shocking concept: when someone makes a request of you, you can say “yes,” “no,” or make a “counteroffer.” That is the power of choice. And people are sometimes quite surprised by this concept. David and Margaret dive into the importance of making and accepting requests in personal and professional relationships.  They explore the [&#8230...

Michelle, Margaret, and David discussed their experiences dealing with exhaustion and depletion. It’s hard for them — and many others to balance personal responsibilities with professional leadership roles. And sometimes it feels even more challenging as one ages. David shared his recent experiences with moving, which felt exhausting and overwhelming. And both Michelle and Margaret [&#...

Ever wondered what unleashing your inner second grader could teach you about leadership? And fundraising? It turns out quite a bit! When we become adults, we want to look good and avoid looking bad. We become complex. We move away from who we were as children. But children offer raw and unfiltered perspectives. They offer […]

In this season of graduations, Margaret and Michelle “double-click” on the importance of intentional completion. They look at when a completion is intentional, as it is with a graduation. Such intentional completions offer ritual and celebration. They also have a positive impact on family members. And when we look beyond graduation, our culture kind of […]

In this episode, Margaret and David delve into handling rejection and embracing new perspectives. No one likes getting a no. Not during a fundraising ask. Not during a potential sale. And not from a request to a family member. Sometimes, after getting a run of no’s, we feel like we should be due for a […]

It was an unexpected twist. A seemingly benign LinkedIn training sent Margaret and David into a spiral to silence the inner critic. Here’s what happened. Margaret and David attended what promised to be a mundane topic: a training on how to write better posts on LinkedIn. David left the training beating himself about all he […]

Coaching for Accountability What happens when a coach holds a client’s feet to the fire? And the follow-up question might reasonably be, “Why would anyone sign up for that??” Actually, accountability — which can feel a lot like having someone hold our feet to the fire — is one of the many tools coaches use […]

Forgiveness and Self-Forgiveness Discussion Do you have a pain in your neck? Any chance it’s related to the practice of forgiveness? In this episode, David and Margaret share their insights on the practice of forgiveness. They focus particularly on self-forgiveness. Drawing from his experience managing self-criticism, David reveals how forgiveness has been a transformative practice […]

Master the Art of Coaching: Essential Skills for Leaders Leadership is no longer defined by barking orders and expecting compliance; in today’s dynamic work environments, the leaders who stand out are the ones who master the art of coaching. Coaching is a subtle yet powerful art of guiding, not directing, and helping individuals and teams […]

You’ve heard of the Parent Trap, but how about the trap of judging parenting? In this episode, David, Michelle, and Margaret kick off with a story about a questionable parenting moment: should we judge it as good (Margaret wasn’t helicoptering!) or bad (she let her son eat sand on the beach)? In our work as […]

After Margaret shows up for an early morning recording with bed head, she and David launch into a conversation about “big hair” and the 1980’s… (yes: Dune AND Joan Jett!) and, stay with them here: This really does lead to a leadership topic. It’s a fun (and funny) conversation about a decade that had a […]

Most of us set goals. Whether to finish our studies, get a promotion, meet a deadline for a project, or achieve a sales or fundraising target. But what happens when we fail to achieve what we aim for? We can sometimes feel disappointed, discouraged, and even ashamed. However, contrary to popular belief, failing to achieve […]

Margaret and David recently discussed the topic of (sometimes not so) graceful endings. You know the ones: a project ends, a marriage dissolves, or a loved one passes.  You can read more about that topic in David’s Blogpost here.  If you’re coming to the end of something in your life, feel free to reach out […]

Join Margaret and Janice as they explore the topic and the science of feeling stuck with guest Britt Frank, a clinician, educator, and trauma specialist. Most people beat themselves up when they feel stuck or unmotivated, but there is science behind our stuck-ness that might invite us into a different relationship with it. Britt offers […]

Do you create detailed plans, set goals, and schedule your days to control every aspect of your life? Do you also find that as much as you try to maintain a sense of predictability, life throws curveballs that can leave you frustrated and unfulfilled? In this episode, Margaret and David discuss a better approach: setting […]

Discover the power of Leadership Stakes in the nonprofit world.  Join Janice, David, Margaret, and Michelle in lively conversations, offering thought-provoking insights and practical demonstrations. Want to learn more? you can read our blog post about the importance of creating a stake here. We challenge our listeners to contemplate an upcoming conversation or group activity […]

David and  Michelle talk with the founder of ReD Associates, Christian Madsbjerg. Christian shares insights on seeing beyond the obvious, understanding social silences, and the power of deep observation in a world dominated by screens and opinions. You can read an excerpt of Christian’s latest book on our blog here. Get your copy of Look: How […]

Janice and Margaret chat with Homaira Kabir, a leadership coach and Founder and CEO of the Goodbye Perfect Project. They discuss her new book, Goodbye Perfect, and delve into the elements that contribute to a woman’s confidence, highlighting the distinctions between different levels and types of confidence. Homaira challenges listeners to try the SING exercise […]

The Leadership Deep Dive team interview our very own David Langiulli regarding his latest book Wisdom From the Middle Ages For Living and Leading in Modern Times. The book is a translation and modern commentary on a collection of essays written by Thomas à Kempis. David explains the process behind choosing this particular topic and […]

David and  Margaret talk with Andre Sólo, a best-selling author and co-founder of the Sensitive Refuge. They explore the true essence of being a sensitive person. During their discussion, they delve into the scientific aspects of sensitivity and also the numerous advantages and talents that accompany it. Andre encourages listeners who question whether they are […]

Janice and Michele talk with Gretchen Rubin, one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. They discuss Gretchen’s latest book Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World. Gretchen shares the inspiration behind her book and the five senses project […]

Janice and Michelle welcome Sally Helgesen, a renowned authority on women’s leadership, best-selling author, and highly sought-after international speaker. In this episode, Sally shares practical insights on fostering inclusion, drawing from her extensive experience in this field. She discusses her new book, Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace.  S...

David and Michelle talk with Anita Nowak, certified coach and founder of Purposeful Empathy by Design, about her new book Purposeful Empathy.  Anita shares the importance of purposeful empathy in creating a thriving workplace culture. She identifies five key challenges leaders commonly face and provides practical strategies for addressing them. She shares personal examples and […]

The Leadership Deep Dive Team discuss the hard lessons they have learned, or are learning, on their personal development journeys. Spoiler alert! It gets real and personal. We invite you to reflect on the lessons you continually have to learn. Our free resource today is an invitation to have a conversation with us. Please reach […]

 Margaret and David talk with Valerie Tiberius about her new book What Do You Want Out of Life? A Philosophical Guide to Figuring Out What Matters. Valerie, an author and professor of philosophy, shares why she tackled such a lofty topic for a book. We delve deeply into values, and how we need to take […]