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 practice that can truly change the game: Start using a “Next-Level Question” framework to elevate your team’s thinking. Instead of focusing on immediate answers, ask questions that challenge assumptions and spark innovation.
Here’s how it works. When faced with a challenge or decision, ask:
- “What’s the bigger opportunity we might be missing?”
- “If we weren’t bound by current resources or limitations, what would we do differently?”
- “What’s one bold step we could take today to move closer to our goal?”
This approach doesn’t just solve problems—it encourages your team to think bigger, act with confidence, and focus on possibilities rather than roadblocks.
This Week’s Posts We Love
LinkedIn Spotlight by Nadeem Ahmad
Authenticity in leadership isn’t always easy—and this post by Nadeem Ahmad captures that perfectly. Too often, we confuse “saying whatever’s on our mind” with true authenticity. But real authenticity is about living your values, admitting when you’re wrong, and choosing trust over being liked. I had to share this one—especially since the A in CARE to Lead stands for Authenticity.
Click Here to Check Out The Full LI Post
Podcast Spotlight: “Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection” from Think Fast, Talk Smart
We’ve all had those meetings where we’re so focused on the agenda that we forget to actually connect with the people in the room. This week’s podcast spotlight, Think Fast, Talk Smart, reminds us that levity and laughter aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re powerful tools for building stronger, more creative teams. This episode shows how humor can transform communication and leadership. Give it a listen and see how lightening up can make your leadership even stronger!
Listen to the Full Episode Here
Book of the Week
The Power of Discipline: How to Use Self-Control and Mental Toughness to Achieve Your Goals by Daniel Walter
This week’s choice for leaders is The Power of Discipline, a transformative guide to mastering the skill of self-discipline to achieve your goals and unlock your full potential. This book offers practical strategies, from neuroscience insights to Navy SEAL and Zen Buddhist techniques, to help leaders stay focused, overcome obstacles, and build the habits of success. It’s an empowering read for anyone ready to break through limitations and take control of their future.
Must-Read Article of the Week
“12 Essential Qualities of Effective Leadership” from Center for Creative Leadership
This piece highlights what truly sets great leaders apart, showing that leadership isn’t just about a title—it’s about how you inspire, guide, and support the people around you. It’s a reminder that qualities like empathy, integrity, and resilience can have a bigger impact on your team than any fancy strategy. You’ll leave with a renewed sense of what really counts when it comes to leading effectively.
From the CARE to Lead® Archives
Redefining 1:1 Meetings: From Status Updates to Growth Catalysts
Too often, 1:1s slip into status updates and checklists—but they have the potential to be so much more. With the right preparation, intention, and focus on growth, these meetings can become catalysts for stronger relationships, creative problem-solving, and real development. In this week’s archive spotlight, I’m revisiting a post on how to transform your 1:1s into powerful leadership tools. A small shift in approach can completely change the impact of these conversations.
Closing Thoughts
Great leaders inspire others to think beyond the obvious. How can you use “Next-Level Questions” to challenge and elevate your team this week? Let’s stay in touch—find me on LinkedIn, Bluesky, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram, and share how this framework transforms 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:
- One-on-One Coaching: If you’re ready to explore the “Next-Level Questions” that could redefine your career, I have two openings this fall for Executive Mastery Coaching. Hit reply 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.
