February 2026 Leadership Development Digest
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart,” declared Eleanor Roosevelt, which is the opener to Robyn McLeod’s offering this month. It captures the spirit of Valentine’s Day and underscores the need in the workplace for more compassion and empathy in these turbulent times. To enable important thinking on this topic, we added a few categories for the month: “Leading from the Heart, with four offerings, “The Aim of Leadership, with two, and “Compassion” and “Courage,” with one submission each.
Among the 21 contributors, we welcome two new leadership thinkers and are pleased that some former contributors have reengaged with meaningful submissions. A huge shoutout to all who expanded the reach of the January issue, which was the Leadership Development Digest’s inaugural offering by reposting the Digest in full, commenting on posts that were particularly meaningful to them, and sharing them all with colleagues and clients: Randy Conley, David Dye, Angela Hummel, Karin Hurt, Jennifer V. Miller, Dana Theus and Ann Von Eron. (My apologies to anyone I neglected to mention.) We encourage you to create the space to read the 21 posts and to share them with your communities so we can build a larger community of learning and sharing. And we wish all of you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Diana Peterson-More and Julie Winkle Giulioni
Transforming Leadership: 90 Days of Faith Centered Principles – Priscilla Archangel
As a leader, you may or may not consider yourself to be a person of faith, but as you begin the year, here’s an opportunity to consider whether faith may strengthen your leadership capabilities and results. Connect with Priscilla on LinkedIn.
“Lead by example” is Familiar Advice, but its Importance has Never Been Greater – David Grossman
As organizations navigate ongoing change, employees look to leaders’ actions – not just their words – for clarity and direction. This piece examines the meaning of leading by example, why it plays such a critical role during change, and what leaders can learn from research, real examples, and themes explored in my new book, The Heart Work of Modern Leadership. Connect with David on LinkedIn.
Leading from the Heart Doesn’t Make Leadership Soft – Susan Mazza
Leading from the Heart Doesn’t Make Leadership Soft — It Makes Who You Are Visible. The courage to lead from the heart brings clarity, conviction, and compassion in uncertain times. Connect with Susan on LinkedIn.
You Need Your Head and Your Heart to Lead – Robyn McLeod
Robyn McLeod of Thoughtful Leaders™ Blog presents You need your head and your heart to lead where she shares that both are necessary for managing ourselves and guiding others. It’s important to make sure we’re paying close attention to what we’re doing and why we may be doing it – our head – and be open to genuine connection, allowing others to feel welcome and accepted by us – our heart. Connect with Robyn on LinkedIn.
The Heart of Leadership – Diana Peterson-More
Embracing the spirit of Valentine’s Day, why not bring more heart into the workplace? As the world has seemingly shifted on its axis, so has the working world. Norms and expectations have changed, and it’s a clear call for leaders to step up. For better or worse, politics has seeped into the workplace, adding another troubling dimension to the turbulent times in which we live. A disturbing number of employees no longer feel safe. Time for more heart in the workplace? Read more. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn.
Moral Authority Is Earned – Frank Sonnenberg
Those who wield moral influence inspire others to follow not through coercion but through example. It’s the essence of genuine leadership, where integrity and principles hold sway over mere compliance. Connect with Frank on LinkedIn.
Why Compassionate Leadership Matters More than Ever – Ann Van Eron
In today’s rapidly evolving world, organizations face unprecedented challenges that demand more than technical expertise from their leaders. The ability to lead with compassion, demonstrating genuine care and understanding for others, is a critical differentiator that fuels engagement, retention, and innovation. Connect with Ann on LinkedIn.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Risks – Bill Treasurer
We tend to associate meaningful risk with headline-makers and edge-of-the-map adventurers. But the most important risks—the ones that shape character, purpose, and pride—are usually taken by ordinary people in everyday moments. This post explores how lessons from extraordinary courage can guide us toward taking the Right Risks that make our own lives matter. Connect with Bill on LinkedIn.
How to Build a Strategic Relationship Plan – Jennifer Nash
Three strategies to build a simple, smart networking plan that helps you build powerful relationships with purpose and grow your career with intention. Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn.
To Know More, Notice More – Eileen McDargh
Discover how using a single word or image, unrelated to the event, can evoke amazing results. Connect with Eileen on LinkedIn.
Sharpen Your Critical Thinking to Boost Your Team’s Readiness – Jon Lokhorst
Critical thinking skills are often cited by managers as lacking among early-career workers, although both groups can gain from practicing better critical thinking. Follow this framework to strengthen your critical-thinking skills and unlock your team’s full potential. Connect with Jon on LinkedIn.
Living with Intention Means Living in Tension – Nate Regier
This year, when you resolve to live with intention, anticipate the tension that will come with it. Through the inevitable conflict ahead, the more you choose effectiveness over justification, the more successful you will be on your journey to what matters most. Connect with Nate on LinkedIn.
My Advice for 2026 – John Spence
At the end of every year, I reflect on my work with clients around the world and identify patterns of what’s working and what needs attention. I look at leadership behaviors that drive effectiveness, building cultures of engagement and accountability, and how to think about AI as it touches every part of your business. This is practical guidance that will help you prioritize what matters most for your organization in the coming year. Connect with John on LinkedIn.
Cash is Not a Number. It’s a System. – Jon Verbeck
Most owners treat cash like a scoreboard. They glance at the bank balance. If it’s up, they relax; if it’s down, they tense up. Then they return to running their business, and before long, they say, “Cash is tight, and I can’t quite explain why.” Connect with Jon on LinkedIn.
Job Hugging: The Trend L&D Can’t Ignore – Julie Winkle Giulioni
Imagine reaching out for a hug… and no one hugs back. That’s the quiet heartbreak unfolding in today’s workplaces—and in Julie’s latest Training Industry Magazine column, she explores how leaders and learning professionals can respond to the job-hugging trend by “hugging back” with growth that re-engages, reassures, and rebuilds trust. Connect with Julie on LinkedIn.
The Subtle Difference That Separates Teams is APP TPW – Sean Glaze
As a leadership speaker now, I share with teams that every workplace has two kinds of contributors sitting in the same meetings, using the same tools, and holding the same titles. One group arrives just to go through the motions, protect their lane, and check boxes. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn.
Why Love Is the Heart of Effective Leadership – Michael Lee Stallard
Stallard argues that love — defined as genuine care, connection, and commitment — is essential to effective leadership because it builds trust, inspires performance, and strengthens resilience in teams. He explains that showing employees they matter doesn’t make organizations soft. Instead, the best leaders combine love with high standards, resulting in enhanced engagement, collaboration, and organizational success. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.
Prioritize Peers: The Habit that Turns Good Colleagues into True Teammates – Karin Hurt and David Dye
In this article (and video), you’ll find practical advice and easy teambuilding activities to prioritize peer relationships and strengthen teamwork. Connect with Karin and David on LinkedIn.
Why Your Strategy is Doomed (and How to Save it) – Dana Theus
Most strategic plans fail because they are treated as rigid, intellectual blueprints rather than adaptable, human-centered guides. To succeed, leaders must replace strict rules with flexible “dynamic incompleteness,” proactively seek out internal resistance to identify planning flaws, and carefully curate their team’s energy by saying “no” to distractions. Connect with Dana on LinkedIn.
