Stop emailing your way through conflict! Two days ago I shared this stat: 60% of Gen Z use email to avoid conflict and anxiety at work. It’s relatable. It’s real. But if we’re not careful, it becomes a pattern that
What’s really behind the Gen Z stare? There’s been a lot of chatter about the Gen Z stare – that emotionless expression used in response to “dumb” questions from a customer. But here’s the thing: this isn’t just happening in
I asked my cat a question. Siri answered. It reminded me how just one word can completely change the way a message is received. That got me thinking…How often are we choosing words by habit, not by intention? Whether you’re
Masculine vs. feminine energy? In a recent workshop debrief, I listened as a group wrestled with the idea of “masculine vs. feminine energy” in leadership. It raised a deeper question that so many professionals, especially women, are silently navigating. This
“Colleen, I know you’re right, but it’s just easier not to.” That’s what a C-suite exec said to me mid-training… and he’s not the only one. I was training a senior executive and his leadership team on how to lead
“Just tell me what you want me to say.” I had a manager who totally missed the mark when it came to asking questions. It was clear he thought that asking any question made him a good leader. But his
It’s the one skill I’ve preached to my kids since elementary school…long before AI took over the conversation. But with AI advancing faster than ever, I now believe it even more. In a world where so much can be automated,
Have you ever received an email that caused you to feel overwhelmed? Just seeing the amount of text in an email once made me want to hit delete before I even read a single word. And I wasn’t even the
Angry email? Before you hit reply…Here’s a lesson from early in my career, when I was coaching one of my direct reports through how to handle an angry client. And while this happened years ago, I continue to hear similar
Concerned you sound selfish? Think you might appear weak? Doubt that you’ve earned the right? For years, even at my lowest points, I avoided asking for what I really needed at work. Maybe I’d seem selfish. Maybe I hadn’t “earned
They’re not just staring. They’re signaling. Earlier this week, I shared an NPR article that broke down the viral Gen Z “stare.” It’s sparking a lot of conversation, but here’s the thing: we need to go deeper than memes and
When data isn’t enough, it’s time to flip the script. As someone who spent over a decade working in data, I love digging into the details. But if you’ve ever found yourself knee-deep in research, only to feel like something’s
©2025 The Corporate Refinery. All Rights Reserved.
