Top of Mind
Lori's Latest Articles
"What you said was so powerful, I wish I’d written it down…!"
How many times have you said that to someone?
Here Lori shares an excerpt from the latest thoughts she doesn’t want you to lose.
Part Two: The Magic in Between
On trust, timing, and what’s truly meant for us “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.” — Rainer Maria Rilke Maybe the point isn’t about making the shot at all. Maybe it’s about showing up, fully awake and open-hearted, willing...
Part One: Taking the Shot
On courage, creativity, and saying yes before you’re ready “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky Lately, this quote has been finding me. It’s shown up in client conversations, in quiet moments of journaling, even while sketching ideas for what’s next. It’s one of those...
The Inner Alchemy of Reflection
How transformation happens from the inside out Each moment of reflection is an act of quiet transmutation. Fear becomes humility. Confusion becomes curiosity. Grief becomes grace. Over time, these small shifts lead us toward what mystics call spiritual mastery. It’s not about perfection—it’s about the capacity to live awake, aware,...
Tips for Your 2024 Thanksgiving Table
People have been asking me for tips on how they can best handle conversations over the holidays with family and friends who voted differently than they did in the presidential election. It’s been exhausting for literally everyone I’ve talked with, before and after. And the potential for conversations to go...
The Potter’s Wheel & Anne Lamott
Parallels to Leadership One of my favorite essayists is Anne Lamott. If you don’t know her work, let me introduce you to her here. Transparent, witty and wise, she puts into writing truths about life that come straight from my heart. She’s inspired me in many ways, including with my...
The Jolt – Harsh AND Effective
Last week I was working with a senior management team. Their executive VP made an appearance mid-way through our session to get an update on key initiatives. The team provided concise summaries. And then the VP stood to make her observations and comments. She delivered what I call “The Jolt”...
Assuming Positive Intent: Or Not
If you believe someone has ill intent towards you, you’re right. Everything you see them do, every decision, glance, form of communication, or lack of communication, will confirm this expectation. Everything filters through this lens. Actions and interactions become evidence of the other person’s negative motivations further justifying the conclusions...
Vertical Development: Feedback at The Achiever Stage
As leaders gain the experience of building and moving teams toward greater and greater heights, they naturally gain the maturity to move from the Expert stage to that of the Achiever. Leaders with this mindset are primarily focused on results and have learned to access the talents and skills of...
Vertical Development: Feedback & The Expert Stage
Within the progression of vertical development there are several distinct stages (sometimes referred to as mindsets or worldviews) that describe how we relate to and navigate the world around us. The Expert stage is the most prevalent within organizations. And with good reason: this is the stage where our professional...
Vertical Development: Leaders as Pioneers
I’ve been working with vertical development since the mid-90s when I studied adult stage development in grad school. I learned it as a framework for understanding individual growth and development. I quickly realized, however, that its principles apply to groups, teams and organizations, and I’ve been using it in my...
Announcing: On Leading
It’s been almost a year since launching Lori On Leadership. It’s been a joy to bring leaders who are exemplars of transformative capacity into the spotlight! Finding a way to bring the crucial importance of leading beyond right/wrong, dualistic thinking has never been more urgent. So this Substack and podcast...
5 Fears of Mid-Level Leaders — Fear of Exposure
“Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you: I’m successful. But am I really adding enough value to the organization? I think about the teams that I’m responsible for—the vast array of output and all that they are capable of, and my job is somehow to hold it all together. If I...
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