Self-Study Library

I'm writing this from 30,000 feet on my way home from Vegas, where I just experienced something magical—watching The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. If you haven't heard about it, imagine the entire 1939 classic wrapping around you on a 160,000 square-foot screen while wind swirls during the tornado scene and snow falls during the poppy field. It's breathtaking.

But here's what struck me most: I've loved this story since childhood (yes, I've always been Team Wicked Witch—but that's another post). And sitting there, completely immersed in Dorothy's journey, I realized we've had the roadmap to effective leadership since 1939. We just haven't been paying attention.

"I’m sorry, I know we should be discussing vision and strategy, but..."

This is how many of my senior leadership coaching sessions begin. Leaders apologize before admitting where their time actually goes.

Behind closed doors, they share their leadership guilt and frame it as failing because they're not being "strategic enough."

What if the work leaders feel guilty about focusing on is actually the most sophisticated, strategic, and impactful part of their roles?

As leaders, we bring our whole selves to work—including parts shaped by difficult experiences we may or may not fully recognize. The reality is the lingering effects of trauma don't disappear when we enter the office; without awareness they silently influence aspects of our leadership like how we trust our teams, react to challenges, make decisions, and foster connection..

As leaders, we often find ourselves stuck in a paradox: the very competence that earned us our leadership position can keep us tethered to tactical work. The shift from manager to executive isn't just about title or compensation – it's about fundamentally reimagining your relationship with both your time and your energy.