Ronda Colavito

Years ago, I worked for a leader who used shame and blame on a regular basis, putting immense amounts of pressure on everyone around her. I recognized the impact it was having on one of my direct reports and shared that with our leader. “It’s worked well for me for years,” this leader told me. I tried to reason with her, sharing how distressed the employee was and that I didn’t want to lose her – she was conscientious, hard-working, and had incredible presence in her interactions with...

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. Today, as we...

After more than two decades in corporate communications and leadership development , I’ve coached leaders at every level—from executives guiding large-scale change to managers navigating difficult one-on-one conversations. What separates effective leaders from exceptional ones isn’t what they say when things are going well—it’s how they communicate when things get hard. Whether it’s announcing a budget cut, realigning a team, or delivering feedback that stings, these moments reveal your...