In IT and R&D, where innovation makes the world go round and deadlines loom, strategic communication is often an afterthought. But here’s the thing: even the best strategies and tech stacks can fail to deliver results if your message doesn’t resonate. As leaders, you’re not just managing projects—we’re building trust, aligning teams, and driving action. […]
Coach Shawn
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Beyond Burnout: Sustainable Leadership Practices in High-Pressure Tech Environments
By Shawn
You already know that the rate of change is growing exponentially. Companies are scrambling to adopt AI, AI is coding and even creating more AI, and of course the economy is in turmoil and putting more pressure on companies to cut costs. All this change results in pressure and that pressure takes a toll on […]
Beyond Servant Leader: Host Leader
By Shawn
“His words were a hammer to the team’s morale.” A strong metaphor can change how someone sees a situation, bringing a new perspective, focus, and depth of understanding—assuming everyone involved interprets the metaphor the same way. What does this have to do with leadership? As a leader, you will often have to convey many complex […]
Agile is Dead (Again). But Here’s the Truth Every Leader Needs to Hear
By Shawn
Agile is Dead (Again). But Here’s the Truth Every Leader Needs to Hear. Every few years, headlines declare ‘Agile is dead.’ Well, it’s 2025 and here we go again. It’s funny. I wrote this article in Nov 2019 when there was a flood of “Agile is dead” posts going on. And between 2019 and now, […]
The Agile Manifesto: Understanding Its Core Values and Questions
By Shawn
https://youtu.be/wovX0IB1gfc In this video, I dive into the four core values of the Agile Manifesto, offering a practical perspective on what they mean, the problems they aim to solve, and how to find balance between their extremes.
Spring Cleaning for Your Leadership Style
By Shawn
Spring Cleaning for Your Leadership Style: Declutter, Refresh, and Grow As the days grow longer and the air fills with the bunnies, chicks and the smell of chocolate eggs, many of us turn to the tradition of spring cleaning—clearing out the clutter in our homes to make space for a fresh start. I wonder, could […]
Empathy Meets Innovation: Leadership in the Age of AI
By Shawn
The Rise of Empathetic Leadership in the Age of AI Last week, I shared a quick LinkedIn post about how leaders don’t need to have all the answers. One comment stood out to me—it suggested that instead of answering every question, leaders could point their teams toward using AI to find solutions. That idea stuck […]
From Willpower to Systems: Transforming Leadership for Sustainable Success
By Shawn
From Willpower to Systems: Transforming Leadership for Sustainable Success As a leader, do you ever feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Have you seen Disney’s Encanto? (If not, you really should—it’s a great movie with awesome music!). Many leaders, both new and veteran, can feel like Luisa, carrying the […]
Managing Stakeholders who miss commitments
By Shawn
https://youtu.be/p5O1LuPeG0w I helped a leader go from frustrated with a stakeholder who was missing commitments to having their most product meeting ever. Check out these 3 tips to see if they can help you too!
Coaching Platform Overview
By Shawn
https://youtu.be/KNgQ9XyiUjU Get an overview of the coaching platform we use to make coaching more than just a conversation.