June 2026 Leadership Development Digest
Drum roll, please! This month’s Leadership Development Digest features a record number of offerings – 26 thought leaders share their wisdom on a range of topics: Performance and Results (5 contributors); Growth & Development, Resilience, Well-Being, & Burnout Prevention, and AI & Technology (4 contributors each/12 total); Culture, Coaching and Communication (2 contributors each/six total); and, Engagement & Motivation, Emotional Intelligence, and Change & Innovation (1 contributor each/three total). We’ll be highlighting the individual categories and the thought leaders who shared their insights throughout the month on LinkedIn.
For now, a huge thank you to all 26: Priscilla Archangel, Marcella Bremer, Sara Canaday, Katie O’Brien Ceccarinaci, Randy Conley, S. Chris Edmonds, David Grossman, Sean Glaze, Susan Heaton-Wright, Angela Hummel, Susan Inouye, Braden Kelley, Michael Lee Stallard, Robyn McLeod, Susan Mazza, Art Petty, John Spence, John Stoker, Frank Sonnenberg, Bill Treasurer, Dana Theus, Jon Verbeck, Ann Van Eron, one new contributor Kelby Kupersmid, and LDD facilitators Julie Winkle Giulioni and yours truly.
Speaking of the LDD co-facilitators and hostesses, Julie and me, June marks our first six months in this fun and fulfilling role. Working with each of you has been a gift. It’s time to share the love, so commencing next month and each month through October, we have guest hosts. Spoiler alert – July will be none other than Sean Glaze. Julie and I will round out the year – she will host in November, and I in December.
On behalf of the Leadership Development Team, we thank all of our dedicated readers and invite you to reach out directly to the contributors to continue the learning. To our contributors, we are grateful for the knowledge you share.
Let It Go…Just Let It Go – Frank Sonnenberg
Holding grudges, reliving disappointments, or regretting past mistakes is destructive, debilitating, and harmful to your well-being. Connect with Frank on LinkedIn.
Why Your Leadership Development Workshop is Not Working And What to Do Instead to Grow Your Team – Sean Glaze
Only 19% of organizations believe they are “very effective” at developing leaders across all levels (according to Deloitte). So what is going wrong?
The answer is not that leadership development does not work. It is that most leadership development is working on the wrong problem. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn.
The Moment You Knew You Were Doing Too Much – Susan Mazza
It’s 11pm. You open your laptop again. There’s a sentence you say to yourself right before you keep going. This is about catching that moment — the one where you actually hear yourself say “I’m doing too much” — and the practice that turns it into a moment of choice instead. Connect with Susan on LinkedIn.
The Micro-Enterprise Explosion – Braden Kelley
In this new landscape, AI doesn’t just automate tasks; it democratizes the infrastructure of the corporation. This is the Micro-Enterprise Explosion. It is a future where the “Human Premium” is applied at the smallest possible scale, allowing individuals to operate as high-output firms capable of delivering what once required an entire floor of a skyscraper. Connect with Braden on LinkedIn.
The Leadership Crisis We Face Requires Service, Clarity, and Courage – S. Chris Edmonds
What’s really behind today’s leadership crisis—and, during these deeply divisive times, what responsibility do leaders carry to keep our workplaces focused on what matters most?
Drawing on decades of experience, recent global events, and themes surfaced by past guests, business partner Mark Babbitt and I reflect on how leadership has drifted away from servant purpose, accountability, and courage. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.
The Invisible Contract – Julie Winkle Giulioni
Most organizations focus on the visible contract of work: compensation, responsibilities, and performance expectations. But the real driver of commitment lives beneath the surface in the unspoken agreement between leaders and employees about meaning, recognition, ownership, and trust. This article explores the “invisible contract” that ultimately determines how much people choose to care, contribute, and lead. Connect with Julie on LinkedIn.
The Leadership Tip Most New Leaders Forget to Negotiate – Susan Inouye
Read my latest newsletter and discover the most important thing you must negotiate before you step into that new leadership role. (Hint: most people forget this!). Connect with Susan on LinkedIn.
The Five-Year Silence – Bill Treasurer
Some leadership problems don’t begin with conflict. They begin with silence. Over the years, I’ve coached countless leaders who quietly carried unmet expectations for far too long, only to discover that the conversation they avoided was the very thing that could have changed everything. This is one of those lessons that sounds simple — until you realize how often we fail to do it. Connect with Bill on LinkedIn.
Leading Through the Fog: How Human-Centered Leadership Creates Clarity – Randy Conley
Today’s workplace can feel like a dense fog bank—constant change, competing priorities, and nonstop information make it hard for people to see where they’re headed. In this article, Randy Conley explores how human-centered leaders cut through the haze by first getting clear on their own purpose, values, and direction. When leaders know who they are and why they lead, they become a steady guide for others navigating uncertainty. Connect with Randy on LinkedIn.
When the Same Issue Keeps Returning, Change Something – Robyn McLeod
In the post, When the same issue keeps returning, change something, Robyn McLeod of Thoughtful Leaders Blog shares tips for choosing what to change instead of staying frustrated and upset and venting. We all get frustrated. There are things we don’t like. In ourselves, in the people around us, in situations, in the world. We can forget that we often have the power to change some of these things. Connect with Robyn on LinkedIn.
Creating Meaning in Uncertain Times – Ann Van Eron
So many people today are asking, silently or aloud: “What’s it all about?” Research consistently shows that a large majority of employees worldwide feel disengaged. But this is not only a workplace issue. Many people feel disconnected from life itself, going through the motions while carrying an inner sense of emptiness, exhaustion, or lack of purpose. Connect with Ann on LinkedIn.
Reduce friction. Reducing Friction: Why Working Harder Isn’t Always the Answer – Jon Verbeck
Leadership teams are evaluating where they stand now versus the goals they set in January. When results start slipping behind expectations, leaders often respond in the same way:
Push harder. Work longer. Add more initiatives. Move faster. But in many businesses, the issue isn’t effort; it’s friction. Connect with Jon on LinkedIn.
Lead the Change, Keep the Team – Priscilla Archangel
Navigating change is never easy. But leaders who bring their people along, who make the case compellingly, address the human dimensions honestly, and create space for the team to co-design the future are the ones who go the farthest. Connect with Priscilla on LinkedIn.
Asking the Right Questions is a Leadership Superpower – Susan Heaton-Wright
As a leader, you can’t know everything or know everything your team is doing. When preparing for a meeting, preparing what questions you want to ask and listen to is so effective. I share how and why this is such an important leadership skill. Connect with Susan on LinkedIn.
The High Achiever’s Trap: Turning Mountains Into Molehills – Kelby Kupersmid
Exploring how setting excessively high standards leads to over-polishing, procrastination, and a sophisticated form of avoidance that stalls progress. Chasing perfectionism creates an overwhelming “mountain” that burns energy and serves as a safe way to avoid the risks of failure or rejection. To overcome this, a three-step personal practice is outlined: name what is being avoided, break it down into the simplest immediate next step to turn the mountain into a molehill, and take action before feeling entirely ready. Connect with Kelby on LinkedIn.
Competition + Human Connection = Extraordinary Performance – Michael Lee Stallard
What if the way most of us understand competition is fundamentally wrong? In this article published by SmartBrief on Leadership, Michael Stallard shares key takeaways from Jeff Moore’s new book “Striving Together: Achieve Beyond Expectations in a Results-Driven World,” how they relate to the Connection Culture model, and other examples of famous leaders who share this view of what it means to compete. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.
The Thin Line Between Criticism & Feedback – Katie O’Brien Ceccarini
There’s a fine line between criticism and feedback. One can be a thorn in your side, the other enables your growth. And yet, far too many leaders can be guilty of criticizing when their intention is to give feedback. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn.
How Adaptive Is Your Company? – Marcella Bremer
Strategy, Culture, and AI readiness determine your company’s adaptability. The weakest one limits the other two. If your culture can’t absorb change and learning, your AI adoption falls behind. A quick assessment shows your company’s adaptability to thrive in an uncertain, AI-accelerated future. Connect with Marcella on LinkedIn.
Leading in a World of AI: Protecting Judgement, Skill, and Connection – Sara Canaday
AI is helping teams move faster, but faster doesn’t always mean better. As AI becomes part of everyday work, leaders need to watch the habits forming around it. The risk isn’t AI use. It’s passive AI use that weakens judgment, skill, critical thinking, and connection. This piece highlights four risks to watch, plus practical ways to protect the human capabilities that effective work still depends on. Connect with Sara on LinkedIn.
Quiet Failure: Your AI Strategy Has a Leadership Problem – David Grossman
The biggest threat to your AI ROI might not be your tech stack – recent studies reveal it’s whether your employees feel heard, valued, and like they have a future. Find out what your employees might be too afraid to tell you. Connect with David on LinkedIn.
Executive Job Search Strategies 2026: A Guide for Senior Leaders – Dana Theus
In case you blinked, the new landscape of executive job search strategies in 2026 has shifted thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Despite the confusion, one thing is clear: you are now competing in an AI-heavy job market. For senior leaders, mastering these new AI job search strategies is no longer optional—it’s the key to accessing the “Hidden Job Market.” Let’s look at what’s new and what hasn’t changed, and advice to help avoid the AI slop of today’s job search. Connect with Dana on LinkedIn.
What Most Leaders Never Think to Explain – John Spence
I recently coached a CEO whose executive team had misread him for months. When he looked away during discussions, they assumed he was disengaged. When he delayed decisions, they called it indecisiveness. When he floated ideas, they treated them as instructions. None of their interpretations was correct. In this week’s blog, I share what was actually happening and a simple document I use with coaching clients that most leaders have never considered. Connect with John on LinkedIn.
The Complexity of Nonprofit Leadership: Serving Many, Leading Well – Diana Peterson-More
Nonprofit leadership is some of the most complex leadership work there is. Leaders must balance the needs of boards, donors, staff, community partners, and clients while staying grounded in the mission that drives the organization forward. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn.
Employee Engagement Isn’t About a Lifetime Reservation – Angela Hummel
What if we’ve confused employee engagement with employee retention? Great leaders focus less on whether people will stay forever and more on helping them thrive while they’re there. When leaders invest in growth, meaningful work, and positive experiences, loyalty often becomes the outcome rather than the objective. Connect with Angela on LinkedIn.
Why Are Some People Always Angry? – John Stoker
Many people let their frustration or emotions get the best of them. When we become emotional, that becomes the cue that we need to slow down and understand ourselves if we ever expect to regulate our emotions more efficiently. This short piece will provide some insight into what may be going on with others and ourselves. Connect with John on LinkedIn.
Why Gutting Management Layers is the Wrong Response to AI – Art Petty
We’ve seen this movie before. A shock hits the broader system, and organizations decide to ‘delayer,’ focusing the brunt of their efforts on middle management. This time, AI is the excuse. Yet the real opportunity and need here is to redefine the role of manager, not eliminate it. Connect with Art on LinkedIn.
