Stacey's Weekly Newsletter
For people who lead people.
Every Monday, I share a perspective or reframe to help you find your footing for the week, understand the patterns you’re stuck in, and lead with more clarity and less exhaustion. If you’re ready for leadership to feel more grounded, even with people who challenge you, you’re in the right place.
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Before You Say, "Let's Go Around the Room…"
It's Monday morning. Your team gathers for the weekly meeting.You look around and say something you've probably said a hundred times.“Let's go around the room and get updates.”And off you go.One person shares what they've been working on. Someone else gives a project update. A few people ask ques...
by Stacey Larsen Ed.D. —
Oct 12, 2026
coaching
engagement
leadership
meetings
They Interviewed Beautifully. So What Happened?
I’ve been hearing versions of this story a lot lately.
The candidate was fantastic in the interview.
Experienced. Confident. Articulate. They knew exactly how to answer the questions.
Everyone walked away thinking, "This is our person!"
So you hire them.
And a few months later warning flags begin...
by Stacey Larsen Ed.D. —
Oct 05, 2026
emotional intelligence
interview questions
leadership
When You're Mad at Someone On Your Team
Sometimes people let us down.They said they’d get something done.They didn’t.They said they’d have your back in the meeting with the client.Then, when you needed them, they didn’t.You’re frustrated.Maybe you’re mad.And sometimes? That anger is warranted.But there’s another version of this worth n...
by Stacey Larsen Ed.D. —
Sep 28, 2026
accountability
difficultconversations
reframingtheleadershipdance
repair
Why Do We Put Up With Annoying Behavior for So Long?
There’s probably someone at work whose behavior has been irritating people for years.
“He shoots down every idea.” “She gets defensive about everything.” “He talks over people.” “She’s so negative.”
Everyone knows it. People warn new employees about it. They debrief after meetings about it. They ...
Sep 21, 2026
coaching
difficult conversations
feedback
habits
leadership
productive feedback
When an Opinion Starts Sounding Like a Fact
There’s a communication pattern I’ve been noticing lately.
Someone says:
“We have to do X.”
“They’re not going to go for that.”
“We don’t have time for that.”
Maybe.
But do we know that? Or is that how you see it?
There’s an important difference.
We all bring opinions, instincts, concerns, and pr...
by Stacey Larsen Ed.D. —
Sep 14, 2026
The Leadership Habit Nobody Notices
Today I want to talk about the leadership habit that nobody notices:
Checking.
Checking to see if someone replied.
Checking to see if a project is moving.
Checking to see if everything is okay.
Not because something is wrong.
Because uncertainty is uncomfortable.
When people don't know what's ex...
by Stacey Larsen —
Sep 07, 2026
#accountability
#authenticedge
#leadershipcoaching
#reframingtheleadershipdance
#teamleadership
The Question That Quietly Derails Accountability
I was sitting in on a project meeting recently.The facilitator was warm, thoughtful, and easy to work with.As the meeting wrapped up, she asked, "When do you think you can have that done?"One person suggested next Friday.
Another needed another week.Someone else mentioned vacation.The conversatio...
by Stacey Larsen —
Aug 31, 2026
#accountability
#authenticedge
#leadershipcoaching
#leadershipdevelopment
#projectmanagement
#reframingtheleadershipdance
#teamleadership
How are you teaching others to dance with you?
A leader I was talking with recently was frustrated with his younger employees."They don't take initiative.""They're always waiting for me to tell them what to do.""They just don't seem to think for themselves."He wondered if it was a generational issue. As we talked, I asked him a different ques...
by Stacey Larsen —
Aug 24, 2026
#accountability
#authenticedge
#employeeengagement
#leadershipcoaching
#ownership
#reframingtheleadershipdance
Why Great Leadership Programs Still Don't Change Behavior
One of the most common things I hear from HR and Senior leaders sounds something like this:
"We invested in leadership training. Everyone loved it…and six weeks later, nothing had really changed."
I don't think that's because leadership training doesn't work. And I definitely don't think it's bec...
by Stacey Larsen —
Aug 17, 2026
#authenticedge
#habits
#leadershipcoaching
#leadershipdevelopment
#leadershiptraining
#reframingtheleadershipdance
#workplaceculture
The Wobble
Last weekend, I watched teenagers do things that made the audience gasp.Flying through the air.Balancing on unicycles.Launching one another high above the stage.Every act required extraordinary skill.But it wasn't their talent that stayed with me.It was their relationship with the wobble.They exp...
by Stacey Larsen —
Aug 10, 2026
#authenticedge
#leadershipcoaching
#leadershipdevelopment
#psychologicalsafety
#reframingtheleadershipdance
#teamculture
#workplaceculture
When You Find Yourself Dancing Alone…Again
Leadership has a funny way of convincing us we should be able to do it alone.After all, we're the leaders. We're supposed to know what to do. Stay calm. Figure it out. Be resilient.Somewhere along the way, many of us start believing that asking for another perspective means we're struggling. I do...
by Stacey Larsen —
Aug 03, 2026
#authenticedge
#emotionalintelligence
#leadershipcoaching
#leadershipdevelopment
#reframingtheleadershipdance
The Hidden Cost of Being the Reliable One
Many reliable leaders don't realize they're overleading.
I've been thinking lately about reliable leaders.You know the ones. They're dependable, trusted, and when something important needs to happen, everyone looks to them. They're the people who catch what others miss, step in when things get m...
by Stacey Larsen —
Jul 27, 2026
#accountability
#authenticedge
#leadership
#leadershipcoaching
#leadershipdevelopment
#reframingtheleadershipdance
#teamculture
#workplaceculture