Posts by Sarah Dahlk
The Story We Tell About Ourselves
Years ago, I was venting to my manager about a colleague. I was frustrated with his unique ability to kill an idea, even really good ones. He was so negative. My manager listened. Then he asked one question: “And what happens if he’s right?” It gave me pause. It was clear that I hadn’t been curious about…
Read MoreSmall Steps forward: Finding Motivation after the Thrill is Gone
Small Steps forward: Finding Motivation after the Thrill is Gone We’ve likely all experienced the disappointment that sets in when you fail to meet the goal you made on New Year’s and decide to give up altogether. It is so universal that it’s managed to secure its own day of the year on the second Friday of January: National Quitter’s…
Read MorePssst… Your Best Managers Aren’t Burning Out Because They Can’t Handle the Job
How to Release Trapped Organizational Capacity: The 34% of Payroll Walking Out the Door Gallup research shows disengaged employees cost $3,400 for every $10,000 in salary; that’s 34% of your payroll walking out the door. Not because people lack skills, but because invisible barriers trap their potential, creating what we call trapped organizational capacity. Here’s…
Read MorePssst… Your Most Influential People Have Cracked the Code to Innovation
Listen closely to the hallways of any established company, and you’ll hear it: “We tried that before.” “That’s not how we do things here.” “Our customers won’t accept that.” These phrases aren’t just casual dismissals—they’re symptoms of a powerful organizational immune system at work. One that can kill innovation as effectively as any competitor. Understanding…
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