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Blog with Linnea
LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS THAT ACTUALLY WORK
Real Talk About the Challenges You're Facing
Every week, I share practical leadership insights for the real challenges you're dealing with, at work and in life. No fluff. No theory. Just honest, actionable wisdom from someone who's been there.
Whether you're a new supervisor navigating your first difficult conversation, a mid-level manager building your team, or a seasoned executive shaping culture, you'll find insights here that help you lead better.
The Negative Self-Talk That Feeds Imposter Syndrome (And How to Stop It)
Last week we talked about imposter syndrome, that nagging feeling that sneaks into your brain at the most inconvenient times. Today I want to go one layer deeper, because imposter syndrome doesn't show up out of nowhere. It's fed by something. It's fed by the self-doubt underneath it, the negative self-talk running in the background of everything we do.
I can tell you with absolute certainty this is true, because I lived it this week.
linnearader
1 minute ago6 min read
Imposter Syndrome Doesn't Go Away, You Just Get Faster at Catching It
Last week I walked into a room full of finance and human resources professionals. Smart people. Experienced people. The kind of room where you'd think, after 21 years in this field, I'd walk in and simply belong.
Instead, I felt that familiar flash. Quick, sudden, gone almost as fast as it arrived, but it still landed. A pang that told me everyone else in that room already had more of what it takes than I did. Not a long drawn out thought. Just a flicker of doubt, there and
linnearader
Aug 195 min read
Understanding Your Team's Personality Types (No Workshop Required)
Last week I had the opportunity to work with several teams across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Two of the sessions were Real Colors workshops. And every time I mention Real Colors, I get the same question: what in the heck is that?
Real Colors is a personality workshop. If you've heard of Myers Briggs, DiSC, or any of the other tools out there, it's similar. It's a way to explore how people think, how they act, how they communicate, and what things mean to them.
This is
linnearader
Aug 125 min read
Adapting to Change at Work: What Public Works Taught Me About Plans That Fall Apart
You make the plan. You walk out the door ready to execute it. And within an hour, something happens that throws the whole thing off course.
If that sentence made you nod, you have probably worked in public works. But honestly, it doesn't matter what field you're in. Plans falling apart is not a public works problem. It's a work problem. It's a life problem. The only difference is how often you have to face it and how quickly you have to adjust.
linnearader
Aug 55 min read
Learning from Other Leaders' Experience: Why You Don't Have to Test Everything Yourself
Last December, I sat through a conference presentation on permitting and solar farms. I'm not in the permit department. I'm not in engineering. At the time, that presentation meant absolutely nothing to me.
But the people presenting had lived it. They'd hit every wall you can hit, chased down every regulation, and dealt with every frustrated landowner and township board along the way. They were generous enough to share what they'd learned, mistakes included. So I listened an
linnearader
Jul 295 min read
How Clutter Steals Your Focus (and 4 Ways to Take It Back)
Clutter is just a lot of things out of place. That's it. But don't let the simple definition fool you. Clutter can surround us at home, at work, in our car, in our lives, and in our minds. If we aren't careful, it creeps into every corner we have, including the corners where our leadership lives.
That's because clutter accumulates slowly, and it looks the same whether it's in my office or my home. Something comes in, and I set it down. The first piece of paper. The first boo
linnearader
Jul 226 min read
Write Down Your Goals: Why It Actually Works
Over the last few weeks, I lost my focus. Not entirely, but when you've got a lot going on and like to make progress on a bunch of different projects, even a small sidestep in focus makes a big difference.
If you write it down and put it somewhere you see it regularly, guess what happens? It actually happens. You still have to put in the effort, don't get me wrong. But seeing it, right there in front of you, helps. It reminds you of your goals, your focus, your priorities.
linnearader
Jul 154 min read
Why Tone Matters More Than Words in Communication
We watched the whole thing unfold. Let's be honest, watching is a generous word. It was closer to staring.
From the back of the boat, someone called out, “We must be something to watch.” I called back, “You really are!”
What I missed in that moment was tone. A second after I said it, I caught myself and asked someone else who was clearly watching whether I'd misread the situation. I had. Her body language said it all. She was not enjoying being the center of attention.
linnearader
Jul 84 min read
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