I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for Brené Brown . Her work is grounded in research, and she is unapologetically herself. I've been devouring her new book, Strong Ground , and as I read it, I keep connecting her insights to my work as an executive coach. We’re seeing huge shifts in political and corporate culture. With 20+ years of experience helping leaders navigate organizational change, I’ve seen one truth hold steady: how we lead determines how well we adapt

Every leader faces it—budget cuts, layoffs, canceled projects, missed targets, or strategic pivots. How  you deliver bad news often matters more than the news itself. Poor delivery erodes trust, fuels anxiety, and can derail performance for months. Most employees would rather hear bad news directly from their leader than through HR or the rumor mill. Yet too many leaders delay the conversation—or deliver it so poorly that they create more problems than they solve. Delivering