Welcome to Leadership Insights! Each week, we curate transformative leadership insights and add our own expertise to help you lead with purpose and impact. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, you’ll find actionable wisdom in every edition.
Here’s a leadership technique that will transform how your team solves problems: Introduce a “red team” to challenge your ideas before finalizing decisions. Inspired by military strategy, a red team’s purpose is to play devil’s advocate, identify blind spots, and test assumptions—strengthening your strategy before implementation.
This week, invite a few trusted team members to serve as your red team for a key project or decision. Task them with finding weaknesses, asking tough questions, and presenting alternative perspectives. This practice fosters a culture of constructive challenge and innovation, ensuring your team feels heard and invested.
This Week’s Posts We Love
LinkedIn Spotlight by Anna Chernyshova
This week’s LinkedIn post features a powerful post from Anna Chernyshova reminding us that leadership is more about traits than titles. Empathy, integrity, humility, and accountability are just a few of the qualities that truly define great leaders. The best gift we can give (and receive) is a manager who genuinely wants us to succeed. What leadership trait has made the biggest difference in your career?
Click Here to Check Out The Full LI Post
Podcast Spotlight: “The ‘Hidden Blockers’ That Are Limiting Your Leadership Potential” from HBR on Leadership
This week’s podcast spotlight from HBR on Leadership explores the “hidden blockers” that quietly limit our leadership potential. Executive coach Muriel Wilkins shares how beliefs like “I need it done now” or “I know I’m right” can hold us —and our teams —back. True leadership growth starts with examining and reframing these assumptions. When we do, we create space for trust, collaboration, and lasting change.
Check Out the Full Episode Here
Book of the Week
Hacking Productivity: Remote Productivity Playbook by Randy Flood
This week’s recommended read for leaders is Hacking Productivity: Remote Productivity Playbook, an essential guide for thriving in the remote work environment. Packed with proven techniques like time blocking and the Eisenhower Matrix, it offers practical solutions for overcoming distractions, prioritizing tasks, and achieving a healthy work-life balance.
Must-Read Article of the Week
“What Is Workplace Communication?” by INTOO Staff Writer
We loved this article for leaders because it offers ten practical strategies for achieving successful workplace communication. Tips like active listening, being clear and concise, and choosing the right communication methods can help improve collaboration and resolve conflicts. Leaders will find value in this because it provides actionable insights that can foster a more productive and positive work environment.
From the CARE to Lead® Archives
Beyond the Comfort Zone: Choosing Between Job Change and Career Transformation
This week’s “From the Archives” post explores a question many leaders quietly ask themselves: Am I ready for a job change, or is it time for a complete career transformation? Stepping beyond the comfort zone takes courage, but it’s also where alignment, fulfillment, and growth begin. If you’ve been feeling that nudge for something more, this piece offers practical steps to help you reflect, assess, and take the right next step for you.
Closing Thoughts
Strengthening your strategy starts with inviting challenges. How will you incorporate a red team approach to elevate your decision-making? Let’s connect—find me on LinkedIn, Bluesky, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram, and share how this technique impacts your leadership.
Thank you for being part of our leadership community. We’re dedicated to helping you lead with Clarity, Authenticity, Responsibility, and Engagement. Until next week, keep raising the bar on your leadership journey!
Whenever you’re ready, here are ways to take your leadership to the next level:
- 1-Hour Executive Breakthrough Session: Get unstuck fast with a focused 1-hour breakthrough session designed to solve your most pressing challenge and create an actionable path forward. Click here to schedule your session today!
- Executive Mastery Coaching: I work privately with senior leaders on an annual, access-first basis. Bi-weekly strategy sessions plus unlimited access between sessions means you’re never leading alone. Hit reply to this email if you’d like details.
- CARE to Lead® for Teams: If your organization is ready for more innovative, future-focused conversations, let’s design a custom CARE to Lead® experience. This is where bigger questions become real results. Click here to schedule an exploratory call.
- Thinking about a career change? Start with this 2-minute quiz to see if now’s the time to explore what’s next.
