The Imperfect Leader

Most new leaders who come to us for support have the weight of perfection on their shoulders. I’ve seen so many aspiring leaders frozen in their careers by the perceived expectation of achieving flawless execution, easy and productive feedback conversations, and a team who will not only rally for them but also like them on … Read more

Will you join me in a push for civility?

Dear Fringe Community, In a normal year, January would be the time that I talk about being a badass goal-setter and treasuring your mistakes.  But this year — as I sit in our now highly militarized capital city on the eve of Inauguration Day — it seems more appropriate to reflect on how we Americans engage with each other as … Read more

5 Reasons Upward Feedback Sucks — And How to Fix It

Managing upward feedback for success

Companies spend considerable time and lose up to $35 million each year trying to get feedback on their leaders’ performance and management behaviors. For some, this is part of identifying management issues, improving employee engagement, minimizing turnover rates, or correcting lackluster productivity. For others, it is a proactive effort to deliver feedback for professional development … Read more

Supporting Each Other From Six Feet Apart

In case you missed it, the world is a really f*ing stressful place right now.  Collectively we’re dealing with a global pandemic, social upheaval, systemic racial violence, an economic downturn, and unrelenting uncertainty about the future. Individually there are also the pains and pressures of personal trauma, sickness, job loss, and canceled celebrations. I imagine … Read more

When Sorry’s Not Sorry

American politics has given us many examples of inauthentic nonapologies in recent years. Yet Rep. Ted Yoho’s cringe-worthy attempt to apologize to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez offers a fresh reminder of what not to do after calling your co-worker “crazy” and “f—ing bitch” — namely, go through the motions of an apology without an ounce of … Read more

Turning Uncertainty into Action

Coaching as a Path Forward

You may have thought it was Siri or Alexa, but it’s actually the human brain that wins the top spot for its ability to see and anticipate patterns. Yet like any good algorithm-generator, the accuracy of the brain’s predictions depends heavily on the accuracy of the underlying data.  The powerhouse that is human decision-making becomes … Read more

Walking The Talk Of Unconscious Bias Training

Article originally published in Forbes, December 2019 As a communications coach, I’m a staunch supporter of companies having a robust professional development curriculum. Yet even I will agree that corporate training on inclusivity and unconscious bias have their pitfalls and limitations if employees don’t — and aren’t expected to — practice what they learn when their decisions … Read more

Reflections on Our First Year in Business

With every new year we see a world of opportunities. We wake up on January 1st with what seems like a limitless and expansive calendar to accomplish our many goals, aspirations, and dreams. I often wonder, why wait for January 1, or a birthday, or any significant date? Well, over here at Fringe, some exciting … Read more