In the heart of the Palmer House Hilton, I discovered the complex dance of loyalty and insecurity that shapes leadership. This workplace was a crucible where power dynamics revealed themselves under pressure. It taught me the crucial balance between collaboration and competition, paving the way for my own growth.
Tag Archives: #leadership
The Promises We Keep, and the Cycles We Break
If you’ve ever set a goal, moved a boundary, and blamed yourself when it didn’t stick, this reflection will feel uncomfortably familiar.
Not All Superpowers Require Capes, Some Just Manage Time, Emotions, and Chaos
Which executive superpower drives you, and which one’s holding you back?Sharpen what empowers. Soften what constrains. The six executive functions behind every leadership move. The Final Chapter of Our Executive Buzzword Series This is the last article in our three-part Executive Buzzword Series, a leadership reset disguised as a vocabulary lesson. We started with ExecutiveContinue reading “Not All Superpowers Require Capes, Some Just Manage Time, Emotions, and Chaos”
Emotional Intelligence. Do You Have It?
The Executive Buzzword Series: Emotional Intelligence vs. Emotional Quotient — What’s the Difference? Do You Have It? by Jewel Quackenbush, MCC — Quackenbush Coaching There I was, sitting across from a senior leader who couldn’t understand why his team was disengaged.He had the credentials, the confidence, and the corner office. On paper, he had itContinue reading “Emotional Intelligence. Do You Have It?”
The Masked Brag
Why Fake Humility Turns People Off I was reading another brilliant piece by Travis Bradberry, the author of Emotional Intelligence, titled 10 Things You Do That Make You Less Likable. One of the behaviors he highlighted was what he called the humble brag. As I read it, I was transported back to an experience IContinue reading “The Masked Brag”
Missing the Boat: How We Overlook Life’s Biggest Clues
“Waiting for the Sign” and What Happens When You Miss It You’ve probably heard the story. There’s a man stranded on a rooftop during a flood. He prays, “God, please save me.” Soon, a neighbor offers him a ride in a rowboat. He declines. “No thanks, God’s going to save me.” A rescue team comesContinue reading “Missing the Boat: How We Overlook Life’s Biggest Clues”
Our Differences Make Us Stronger: Embracing What We Often Avoid
When we surround ourselves only with people who think like us, we shrink. True leadership and personal growth require us to get uncomfortable, challenge our assumptions, and welcome difference. Here’s how to know when you’re unconsciously shutting out the very thing that could elevate your next breakthrough. The Discomfort of Difference Let’s be honest withContinue reading “Our Differences Make Us Stronger: Embracing What We Often Avoid”
When the Brain Takes the Wheel: Coaching Through a Leadership Trigger
By Jewel Quackenbush | Quackenbush Coaching LLC She was brilliant, respected, highly analytical—and a neurologist. After a high-stakes meeting where everything spiraled, she pulled me aside and said, “I went in clear. I came out shaking. I don’t even know what happened.” She studies the brain for a living. But in that moment, it wasn’tContinue reading “When the Brain Takes the Wheel: Coaching Through a Leadership Trigger”
“Not Every Villain Is a Narcissist: Reclaiming the Meaning of Words We’ve Watered Down”
By Jewel Quackenbush, MCC | Quackenbush Coaching There’s a strange thing happening in today’s conversations. Psychological buzzwords like “narcissist” and “gaslighting” are being tossed around with little regard for what they actually mean. They’re showing up in arguments, captions, and TikTok diagnoses like confetti. But here’s the problem—when we misuse powerful language, we strip itContinue reading ““Not Every Villain Is a Narcissist: Reclaiming the Meaning of Words We’ve Watered Down””
“The Motherhood Manual Never Came But We Wrote It Anyway”
By Jewel Quackenbush Twenty-seven years ago, I became a mother. I didn’t know it then, but in that single, holy moment, my heart permanently relocated to someone else’s body. I was young, ambitious, unsure. I was still trying to figure out how to care for myself let alone a whole new life that would oneContinue reading ““The Motherhood Manual Never Came But We Wrote It Anyway””
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