• Lead Into It: The Case for Courageous Conversations

    by Michelle Cummings

    Most leaders don’t set out to avoid hard conversations. But when tension rises, it’s easy to sidestep the uncomfortable. Maybe we convince ourselves it’s not the right time. Maybe we worry about how someone will react. Or maybe we hope the issue will just fade on its own. But the truth is, avoidance is a choice – and it has a cost.

    Every delayed decision, unspoken truth, or postponed conversation creates residue. What feels like short-term peace often leads to long-term strain. The small misalignment becomes a bigger disconnect. The minor performance issue becomes a culture problem. What we avoid doesn’t disappear. It compounds.

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  • The Backbone of Leadership: Speaking Up When It Counts

    by Michelle Cummings

    Every leader faces moments where silence feels safer. A meeting where the dominant opinion goes unchallenged. A decision that doesn’t align with the team’s values. A behavior that crosses a line. In those moments, speaking up is not easy – but it’s essential. That’s the heart of managerial courage: choosing principle over popularity, clarity over comfort.

    Managerial courage is not about being loud, reactive, or confrontational. It’s about being steady, clear, and values-driven. It’s about knowing what matters most, and having the discipline to act even when the outcome feels uncertain. True courage is not the absence of fear. It’s moving forward despite it.

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