Leadership Development

Leadership is getting others to believe in you and your ideas. It’s the foundation of success in every career. Find practical leadership development tips on my blog.

smiling confident leader of other leaders

From Managing People to Managing Other Leaders

When stepping into managing other leaders, most people notice that leadership starts to feel very different. Instead of managing a front line of people with less experience, you start managing other leaders who are peers or former peers. Key Takeaways for This Leadership Transition What was working before with junior personnel stops working. When leading other leaders, people feel freer to question your authority and ideas. They get offended when they feel you want to take away their autonomy. Recovering…

Read More
diverse leader looking over a balcony as an image of self-reflection in leadership

Why Experience Alone Stops Working at the Next Level of Leadership

Why self-awareness in leadership matters more as responsibility increases Self-awareness in leadership becomes increasingly important as roles get bigger, more complex, and more visible. Early in your career, experience does most of the teaching. You try things. You learn what works. You adjust. Progress feels fairly linear. But at some point — often without warning — experience alone stops delivering the same returns. The problems get more complex. The stakes get higher. And despite working harder, leaders often find themselves…

Read More
person walking on a bridge as a metaphor for moving forward from career moves leaders regret

The Career Moves That People Regret Not Making Earlier

Career Moves Leaders Regret Rarely Look Dramatic in the Moment This quiet stretch as the new year starts to ramp up is when many people start thinking differently about their careers. Not in a goal-setting way.More in a looking back way. It’s when questions surface gently: When leaders reflect honestly, the career moves they regret aren’t usually bold risks they didn’t take. They’re quieter choices—moments they let pass because it felt easier to stay put. Key Takeaways: What people most…

Read More
celebrating how to get a promotion

How to Get Promoted: 5 Traps That Hold High Performers Back

Thinking about how to get promoted often brings out our best instincts — ambition, motivation, and the desire to grow. But for high performers, it can also activate habits that quietly work against promotion. Many people assume advancement comes from working harder or speaking up more. In reality, leaders are promoted for how they make others feel: respected, trusted, aligned, and supported. If you’re aiming for your next step up, here are five promotion traps to avoid — and what…

Read More
Try empathy kindness compassion for My Gratitude Project

Preparing for Empathy: 5 Questions Before You Begin | My Gratitude Project Day 29

As you would with any other important conversation, take time to prepare for empathy. Preparing for empathy will help you improve your results. If you want to use empathy tactically to influence somone, take time to prepare. Empathy as a skill is not to be taken lightly. Here are 5 questions to prepare yourself before you try to empathize with someone else. 1. What are their motives? Consider what they are doing now and their reasons for doing this. Do…

Read More
diverse businessman thinking about executive coaching vs leadership coaching

Executive Coaching vs Leadership Coaching: Both Focus on Improving Workplace Outcomes

Executive coaching vs leadership coaching — both aim to improve workplace performance and help you grow as a leader. But what’s the difference between them, and how do you know which one you need? If you’ve started exploring the world of coaching, you’ve probably noticed how many kinds there are—executive coaching vs leadership coaching vs other types of business coaching. The terminology can be confusing, and it’s not always clear which type of coach is right for your goals. This…

Read More

Lisa D. Foster, Ph.D. ACC  is an independent coach. As an Associate Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation, Lisa honors and abides by the ICF Code of Ethics.  All coaching sessions and consultations are confidential.

Privacy Policy

Subscribe to learn more