Latest Blog Article: Culture Transformation for High Performing Teams with Brenda Dysinger, CHRO

Struggling to Influence Difficult Colleagues (or Family Members)?

influence manage emotions struggle Dec 10, 2025

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this too, but during the holidays (or anytime stress runs unusually high) some people can become more difficult than usual. Emotions get bigger. Patience gets thinner. Small frustrations can escalate quickly.

And whether the tension comes from a colleague, a leader, or even a family member you love dearly… it can feel incredibly draining.

If you’re feeling like you’re losing energy or losing ground influencing those who are important for your year to end strong, here's a few simple, proven ways to prevent these moments from spiraling... and, in many cases, to de-escalate them before they even begin.

Step 1: Acknowledge and Validate (Without Agreeing)

When someone is frustrated or reactive, the fastest way to lower defensiveness is to name what you see and express understanding.

This does not mean you agree with their perspective.

You might say:

“It seems like you're upset about missing our numbers. I understand why that would feel stressful.”
“It sounds lik...

Struggle with the Juggle - an Interview with Laura Butler, Chief People Officer, TTEC

career culture overwhelm struggle Sep 03, 2025

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Laura Butler, Chief People Officer at TTEC, about the realities of leadership, balancing competing priorities, and the evolving role of HR in shaping organizational success.

Laura shared how her parents deeply influenced her path—her father, who instilled the importance of working in service of others, and her mother, who created memorable experiences while raising six children. These lessons inspired Laura’s unique approach of combining business impact with human connection.

Her career journey was far from linear. Laura once swore she’d never work in HR, yet she discovered that technology without people fails to deliver results. That realization sparked her passion for HR as an enabling, strategic function—one that aligns culture, trust, and leadership practices with business outcomes.

We also explored Laura’s concept of the “Struggle of the Juggle”—the constant pressure of managing work, famil...

Podcast Episode #52: "Empowering Women and Girls in Tech to Dream Big" - an Interview with Kim Emerson

dream big gifts growth mindset struggle Jun 30, 2020

Empowering Women and Girls in Tech to Dream Big

I had the honor of interviewing angel investor, marketing strategist, Founder, House of Thor and a champion of women and girls, Kim Emerson. Kim was inspired at a young age by her grandfather who pushed her to do well in school. After graduating from Cornell as one of 20 women in a class of 200 in the Electrical Engineering Department, Kim soon became an international influencer in the tech industry. She is also a firm supporter of the Everyone Matters Ministries (www.everyonemattersministries.com) and Girls in Tech (www.girlsintech.org).

Here are a couple of the main take-aways from our impactful conversation: