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Practical guidance on leadership development, written by L&D professionals with 20+ years of real-world experience.
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Our latest piece is handpicked for managers navigating today's hardest moments.
Leadership Development
Manager Burnout: Why Leaders Are Struggling and What Organizations Can Do
There is a strange irony at the center of most companies right now. The people responsible for protecting employees from burnout are themselves burning out, often faster than the teams they manage.
Christi Doporto
|Aug 13, 2026|13 min
All articles
Leadership Development
Manager Burnout: Why Leaders Are Struggling and What Organizations Can Do
There is a strange irony at the center of most companies right now. The people responsible for protecting employees from burnout are themselves burning out, often faster than the teams they manage.
Christi Doporto
|Aug 13, 2026|13 min
Future of Leadership
What I Learned at Opal’s Palm Springs Summit: Four Leadership and L&D Ideas Worth Taking Home
I went to Opal six weeks ago expecting to come back with a few useful ideas. What I did not expect was to sit through sessions and feel like each one was naming something I had been circling around in my own work but hadn’t found the right words for
Jonathan Fuentes
|Jul 27, 2026|6 min
Leadership
Independence Day 2026: More Than a Declaration
This year’s 4th of July celebration is truly special, as it commemorates 250 years of our country’s freedom. As we reflect on where we have been, where we are, and where we want to go, it may be helpful to relive the events surrounding this historic day so many years ago. We are celebrating so much more than just a single day or document.
Shawn Snyder
|Jun 24, 2026|4 min
Leadership
What Is Psychological Safety at Work and Why Every Manager Needs to Understand It
Learn what psychological safety at work really means, why it matters for team performance, and how managers can build it, backed by real research and data.
Shawn Snyder
|Jun 23, 2026|12 min
Cross-Cultural Leadership
5 Signs Your Team Has a Cross-Cultural Communication Problem
Five patterns that look like personality clashes but are actually cross-cultural communication problems — and what to do about each one.
Shawn Snyder
|Apr 30, 2026|12 min
Emotional Intelligence
7 Signs of Low Emotional Intelligence in a Manager (And How to Address Each One)
Think back to the last time someone on your team went quiet in a meeting. Maybe they stopped volunteering ideas. Maybe a strong performer started arriving later and leaving earlier with no obvious reason.
Shawn Snyder
|Apr 2, 2026|11 min
Announcement
LEAP 2026: A One-Day Phoenix Leadership Workshop Supporting March of Dimes
Leadership development programs usually focus on building better managers and stronger decision-makers. But sometimes, they aim for something more: connecting professional growth with a larger purpose. That’s the idea behind LEAP 2026, a Phoenix-based leadership cohort created through a partnership between the nonprofit March of Dimes and Leadership Edge Live.
Shawn Snyder
|Mar 12, 2026|4 min
Leadership Development
Virtual vs In-Person Leadership Training: What Works Best for Modern Managers?
Picture this: you are a new manager leading a hybrid team spread across time zones. You need to learn how to motivate people you rarely see face-to-face, balance strategy with empathy, and keep projects moving under pressure. Where do you go to build those skills—in a classroom or online?
Josh Hoganson
|Oct 3, 2025|4 min
Leadership Style
Servant Leadership in 2025: Definition, Benefits, Examples, and How to Practice It
The way people experience leadership is changing. Employees want managers who listen, support, and invest in their growth rather than simply giving orders. In boardrooms, HR reports, and even start-up cultures, one leadership style is being mentioned more often: servant leadership.
Shawn Snyder
|Oct 3, 2025|5 min
Leadership Development
Why Online Leadership Training Is Becoming Essential for the Future of Work
Think about how much the workplace has changed in just the last few years. Teams are spread across different time zones, collaboration is happening on screens more than in meeting rooms, and younger generations are stepping into roles with very different expectations of their leaders. In this new reality, strong leadership is not a bonus, it is the backbone of successful organizations.
Josh Hoganson
|Oct 3, 2025|4 min
Leadership Development
11 Best Succession Planning Practices to Future-Proof Your Organization
In 2025, effective succession planning requires a proactive, skills-based approach that prepares leaders at every level. For HR and business leaders, the challenge is clear: how do you ensure your leadership pipeline is strong enough to meet future needs? Below are 11 succession planning practices that leading organizations are using to future-proof themselves.
Christi Doporto
|Oct 2, 2025|4 min
Communication and Conflict
How to Resolve Conflict in Remote Teams
Remote work brings flexibility and efficiency, but it also changes how people communicate and collaborate. Without those day-to-day hallway conversations or quick clarifications after a meeting, small issues can grow bigger than they should. For leaders, being able to handle conflict in this new environment is essential.
Josh Hoganson
|Sep 11, 2025|5 min
Strategy and Decision-Making
How to Navigate Organizational Politics Without Losing Your Integrity
Organizational politics often carry a negative reputation, but the reality is more nuanced. Whether you’re stepping into a leadership role or managing across teams, you are already operating within a network of influence and unspoken norms. The question, therefore, is not whether you should engage with politics. Rather, the question should be how to do so in a way that feels authentic, ethical, and effective.
Shawn Snyder
|Sep 11, 2025|3 min
Strategy and Decision-Making
How Analytical Thinking Improves Decision-Making at Every Leadership Level
Imagine this: A project stalls, a client escalates an issue, employee turnover skyrockets, or your team’s results dip unexpectedly. In each of these moments, the difference between a quick reaction and a thoughtful response comes down to one critical skill: analytical thinking.
Jonathan Fuentes
|Sep 10, 2025|5 min
Leadership
How to Influence Without Authority and Lead with Impact
Imagine this: You see a better way to reduce errors or boost team morale. You are clear on the problem and you have a solution in mind. You just don’t have the power to mandate change. You’re not the boss, but you want to lead anyway.
Shawn Snyder
|Jul 31, 2025|9 min
Leadership Development
How to Build a Growth Mindset at Work That Actually Sticks
Building a growth mindset at work isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about creating a workplace where people feel empowered to improve, adapt, and take ownership of their development. Whether you’re managing a team or looking to improve how your company handles change, the ability to foster a true growth mindset can have a lasting impact on culture and performance.
Colleen James
|Jul 31, 2025|7 min
Remote Leadership
The Ultimate Guide to Leading Remote Teams Effectively
Leading remote teams has evolved from an operational adjustment into a long-term leadership capability. While technology makes remote work possible, it’s the mindset and methods of the leader that make it successful. This entails building trust, driving performance, and creating a culture that keeps distributed teams engaged, productive, and connected.
Josh Hoganson
|Jul 14, 2025|4 min
Cross-Cultural Leadership
Mastering Cross-Cultural Leadership in a Global Workplace
As teams become more global, effective leadership no longer depends solely on technical knowledge or business experience. The ability to understand and manage cultural differences is now a defining leadership skill. From managing meetings across time zones to motivating team members with different communication styles, cross-cultural leadership is essential for organizational success.
Shawn Snyder
|Jul 13, 2025|4 min
Leadership Development
Measuring ROI: Proving the Business Impact of Leadership Training
Leadership training is not a “nice-to-have”. It is a strategic investment. But with training budgets under scrutiny and stakeholders demanding measurable results, HR and L&D professionals are under pressure to prove that leadership development delivers real business impact. The key? A focused, realistic approach to measuring return on investment (ROI).
Josh Hoganson
|Jul 13, 2025|4 min
Leadership Development
How to Design a High-Impact Leadership Development Program
Leadership development isn’t just about grooming top performers. More than that, it is a strategic initiative that influences culture, improves retention, and builds a stronger talent pipeline. HR or L&D leaders know that simply checking the training box isn’t enough. To drive real business outcomes, the program needs to be structured, relevant, and directly applicable to leaders’ day-to-day challenges.
Christi Doporto
|Jul 13, 2025|4 min
Leadership Development
From Technical Expert to Team Leader: How to Succeed in a New Leadership Role
Stepping into leadership for the first time can feel like trading in your toolkit for a compass. As a technical expert, your success likely came from precision, problem-solving, and hands-on expertise. But now, as a team leader, your focus shifts to guiding others, setting direction, and making strategic decisions that affect more than just your own work.
Jonathan Fuentes
|Jul 13, 2025|5 min
Future of Leadership
How AI Is Changing Leadership and What Smart Leaders Can Do About It
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future possibility. It is already influencing how decisions are made, how teams are managed, and how businesses operate across industries. And as technology continues to integrate deeper into the workplace, the role of a leader is being reshaped in ways that go beyond digital fluency.
Shawn Snyder
|Jul 1, 2025|4 min
Cross-Cultural Leadership
How Cross-Cultural Leadership Transformed the Way I Lead Industrial Teams
Hi, I’m Daniel. I’ve been in industrial operations for over a decade, leading projects in mining, manufacturing, and logistics across the U.S. and internationally. In my world, leadership often revolves around productivity, precision, and safety. But what no one told me early on was just how critical cultural understanding would become to getting the job done right.
Shawn Snyder
|Jul 1, 2025|4 min
Cross-Cultural Leadership
Mastering Cross-Cultural Leadership: Strategies for Today’s Global Leaders
In a globalized business environment, leaders are expected to manage and inspire teams that span continents, languages, and cultures. Cross-cultural leadership is no longer a niche skill, it’s a vital competency for any leader navigating international markets, virtual teams, and multicultural workplaces.
Shawn Snyder
|Jun 30, 2025|4 min
Leadership
Gen Z and the Shift Away from Traditional Leadership Roles
Leadership is evolving as Generation Z enters the workforce in ever-growing numbers, bringing fresh ideas about what leadership should look like. Unlike earlier cohorts that saw management as the ultimate prize, many Gen Z professionals question the traditional climb and chart alternative paths.
Colleen James
|Jun 20, 2025|4 min
Leadership Style
The 6 Most Common Leadership Styles and How to Find Yours
Leadership can take many forms, and the most effective leaders are those who understand their natural tendencies and are willing to adapt. Whether you’re managing a tight-knit team on a production floor or leading a large workforce across mining sites, knowing your leadership style helps you build trust, improve communication, and achieve better outcomes.
Shawn Snyder
|Jun 20, 2025|5 min
Strategy and Decision-Making
How to Use SOAR Analysis to Grow Your Business
When it comes to shaping the future of your business, most leaders focus on fixing weaknesses and addressing threats. However, one of the most effective frameworks for strategic planning takes a different approach. It focuses on what your business can achieve by building on its strengths and exploring new opportunities. That’s where SOAR Analysis comes in.
Shawn Snyder
|Jun 20, 2025|5 min
Emotional Intelligence
How Emotional Intelligence Impacts Leadership
Emotional Intelligence (EI) stands as one of the most vital qualities for effective leadership, yet it’s often overlooked in many traditional leadership training programs. While intellectual abilities and critical thinking are essential for problem-solving, it’s emotional intelligence that enables leaders to build meaningful connections with their teams, manage conflicts, inspire others, and foster an environment where people can thrive.
Shawn Snyder
|Jun 3, 2025|5 min
Leadership
Top Leadership Skills You Need to Succeed in 2025
Being placed in a leadership role is one thing, but truly excelling in it requires more than just authority. It takes a set of key leadership skills that help you inspire, guide, and support your team. Whether you’ve been in management for years or are just stepping into a leadership position, leadership development is essential for success.
Shawn Snyder
|Jun 3, 2025|5 min
Emotional Intelligence
Why Emotional and Cognitive Empathy Are Key Leadership Skills in 2025
Leadership is no longer just about making decisions and driving results. As we move into 2025, effective leadership hinges on one critical skill—empathy. Empathy is a key driver of emotional intelligence, and its role in leadership has never been more important.
Christi Doporto
|Apr 1, 2025|7 min
Leadership
Top Project Management Skills to Succeed in Today’s Workplace
Project management plays a pivotal role in modern workplaces by ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the desired quality. In today’s fast-paced industries, skilled project managers are highly sought after to lead teams, manage resources, and achieve organizational goals effectively.
Jonathan Fuentes
|Mar 25, 2025|6 min
Communication and Conflict
Conflict Resolution Training: Essential Skills for a Harmonious Workplace
Conflicts are inevitable. Whether it’s due to differing opinions, miscommunication, or stress, unresolved conflicts can significantly impact productivity, employee morale, and overall team dynamics. When left unaddressed, these conflicts can escalate, leading to a toxic work environment.
Josh Hoganson
|Mar 22, 2025|8 min
Leadership Style
Collaborative Leadership: Building Stronger Teams and Driving Success
In today’s fast-changing workplaces, leadership styles need to adapt to encourage teamwork and shared success. Collaborative leadership focuses on bringing people together, valuing their input, and solving problems as a team. Unlike traditional leadership that often relies on giving orders, this approach builds trust and encourages everyone to contribute.
Colleen James
|Mar 19, 2025|6 min
Communication and Conflict
Effective Communication at the Workplace: Tips to Boost Collaboration and Productivity
Effective communication at the workplace is one of the most critical factors that contribute to a company’s success. It influences how teams collaborate, the speed of decision-making, and overall productivity. When communication flows seamlessly between colleagues, it creates an environment where ideas are shared openly, problems are resolved quickly, and employees are more satisfied with their roles.
Colleen James
|Feb 21, 2025|7 min
Leadership Style
Strengths-Based Leadership: A Practical Guide to Building High-Performing Teams
Traditional leadership models often focus on identifying and addressing weaknesses. While this approach has its place, an emerging perspective known as strengths-based leadership is proving to be far more effective in building productive teams. This leadership style emphasizes the importance of recognizing and leveraging individual strengths to drive team success.
Shawn Snyder
|Feb 12, 2025|9 min
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