Authentic Leadership

Change is all around us, shaping the way we live, work, and lead. Technology is advancing at breakneck speed, teams are reinventing themselves, and our conversations about purpose, performance, and meaning continue to evolve. It’s a challenging time to be a leader.

Growing up in western Pennsylvania, in Dormont, a borough adjacent to Pittsburgh, a city legendary for big steel and heavy industry, I relished the fall evenings my then-bachelor uncle would chariot my Mom, Grandma, and me to a gravel lot in Connellsville that was hastily arranged each season for sales of farm-fresh produce. There were Seckel pears, squashes of every variety, rutabagas, and apples. My special feelings for those moments are evident in what I learned from my Grandma at those farm-stand fall apple markets.

Employee engagement just hit its lowest point since COVID, dropping from 23% to 21% globally according to Gallup's latest data. While most leaders scramble for quick fixes, the real issue might be closer to home than we think.