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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Advice from a Life Coach

March 18, 2026 The Power of Community

It’s a different world from 2013, when I published my book, The Ten-Minute Leadership Challenge. The workplace has changed substantially in some ways, but in other ways it has remained relatively unchanged. Amazingly, the core messages of many of my chapters have remained the same (having clarity, no excuses, being present). This signals to me that they will remain relevant, even if our world—and the work landscape—shifts dramatically again. One of those key concepts is building community.

Community is essential, both within and outside of the workplace. It’s about supporting others, cheering them on, and making sure their needs are met on multiple levels (from the base of Maslow’s pyramid to the top). An article by Psychology Today says that community is “especially important for people who’ve experienced trauma or loss, or who are feeling isolated, marginalized, bullied, or alone.” That’s true, but it’s also worth noting that community is important for all people, no matter what they are going through. Research supports the fact that community helps us to be physically healthier, mentally sharper, more productive, and more confident. The World Health Organization (WHO) found that, “Social connection can protect health across the lifespan. It can reduce inflammation, lower the risk of serious health problems, foster mental health, and prevent early death. It can also strengthen the social fabric, contributing to making communities healthier, safer and more prosperous.”

Because of the absolutely vital nature of community, it is important to actively foster it. In your personal life, you might make an effort to get to know your neighbors, join a community club, or participate in an online community group or chat. In the workplace, you could take the time to reach out, ask thoughtful questions, and get to know your team members on a deeper level. This should all come from a place of genuine caring—a desire to lift others up and be part of a positive ecosystem.

I fully acknowledge that reaching out and intentionally attempting to build community can be uncomfortable or boundary-pushing. If you’re accustomed to breezing through your day without much focus on those around you, this people-centric approach can feel unnatural at first. I suggest starting small and continuing to build at a sustainable pace. Check in with others, pledge to get to know one person a little better this week, or make a list of community-oriented groups to potentially join. You could even start smaller by simply greeting the cashier in the checkout line or waving hello to a neighbor.

Even tiny actions can help make your community a more welcoming, warm place. What one thing (or two!) can you do today to build a stronger community, either in your professional or personal life?

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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February 18, 2026 Small Actions Matter

It is easy to feel small—a little fish in the big, wide ocean. It is easy to feel like your work, your actions, and your words don’t matter. But they do. In fact, small actions are the foundation of major change.

Minor, everyday actions are important in all aspects of life—in work, personal life, and society. We never know how a kind word or meaningful gesture might land. We don’t know how a donation or volunteer stint might improve someone else’s life. These things have ripple effects. The compliment you give someone at the grocery store could brighten that person’s day, which might lead them to give a server an extra tip, which could make it easier for that person to pay rent that month. The point is to try—to intentionally and continually make choices that could potentially have a positive impact.

If we think on a broad scale too often, we might feel overwhelmed or helpless. It can be difficult to see how your actions and words make a difference when you’re up against a large or complex problem, but if you shrink your thinking just a little, it can be easier to fathom how you’re moving the needle. And when many people work together, that needle can be moved even faster and more assertively. There is power in numbers—we see it in mass protests, boycotts, and other actions of solidarity. One example: thirty years ago, smoking was widely accepted, and many establishments catered to smokers. The number of smokers plummeted, however, due to many factors (anti-smoking campaigns, informed consumers, smoking bans, etc.). But the plummeting number of smokers was made possible by individual decisions—one person choosing to quit here, another person choosing to quit there. Together, these individual decisions created meaningful change. They created a movement.

Another example that comes to mind when I think of meaningful change has to do with the workplace. When I was a manager at 3M, I used to compose handwritten thank you cards to my team members when they did outstanding or “above and beyond” work. One time, I was riding along with a sales rep when I noticed my thank you card tucked into his visor. When I asked him about it, he told me he would glance at it whenever he needed a reminder that he was skilled at this work and could make the sale, even when his confidence was lacking. I had no idea my message to him would resonate so deeply, and this was an excellent reminder of the power of small gestures.

Next time you’re feeling small, helpless, or overwhelmed, I suggest reminding yourself that you can only do what is within your power. You can affect your personal, professional, or societal sphere in small, but meaningful, ways. It’s difficult to know what your actions might achieve, but I encourage you to try anyway. Positive change is only possible when we choose to act—to do whatever we can. Your small actions matter, and they can add up to something great.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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February 4, 2026 Empathy As a Superpower

Empathy is a term that is used frequently and not always in a positive manner. It is sometimes viewed as weak or wishy-washy. And some people even see it as political. In truth, empathy is not a sign of weakness but of strength. And it isn’t political, or religious, or only meant for a certain segment of the population. Rather, it is deeply human and more necessary than ever.

It’s important to note that empathy is not the same as sympathy. Sympathy relates to feeling sorry for another, or even pitying them. Empathy is more about understanding. It’s about expanding your horizons to see another’s perspective. It’s about being curious and open enough to want to understand. This innate curiosity helps people of all backgrounds and beliefs work together, live side by side, and cooperate.

Because no two people are alike, empathy can, indeed, be a superpower. It’s a way to reach others, negotiate, and have productive dialogues. When there’s a need for creativity or brainstorming solutions, it’s a way of gathering different ideas and making sense of them. That’s because empathy goes hand-in-hand with solution seeking. It is essentially the opposite of combativeness or stubbornness.

In my experience, empathetic leaders are often skilled at bringing out the best in their teams. These individuals understand the importance of truly listening—soaking in both what someone is saying and the context or subtext related to what is being said. For example, if a team member is adamant about gearing a product toward working parents, an empathetic leader might think about what they know about that team member. Maybe they are a single mother who faces numerous everyday challenges. As such, their passion makes sense, and the empathetic leader will know they are speaking from experience. Likely, this person is not the only one who is facing similar struggles, and it is probably smart to consider their perspective when developing products or solutions.

Empathy is useful in all different contexts, both within and outside of the workplace. It’s a simple fact that everyone wants to be understood and listened to. Because of this, an empathetic person makes a good conversation partner by giving others the space to express themselves and explain their perspective. That doesn’t mean being a pushover, and it doesn’t mean an empathetic person doesn’t have their own opinions and beliefs. It simply means that they are open to listening and understanding.

In a world where things are often portrayed as black and white, empathy is a courageous but necessary choice. Without it, we would constantly be at loggerheads with others, stuck in a single perspective. That’s not productive, and it only creates animosity and hard feelings. Rather, let’s make an effort to choose empathy and start really listening to what others have to say. That can make all the difference.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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