Category: Personal Development
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Stop Calling It a Communication Problem
We call a lot of things “communication problems.” It’s a convenient diagnosis, especially when it points toward what someone else failed to say or hear. I’ve used it myself. But one project taught me that sometimes everyone understands exactly what’s being said, and the real problem is sitting somewhere else entirely. Read the full post:…
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Who’s Actually on Your Team
I lost my first real leadership job without much of a professional network to lean on, and with even less confidence in what I had to offer next. Then a friend called. He saw something in me I was struggling to see in myself. Looking back, his call also exposed something important I hadn’t built.…
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Nobody In The Bleachers
For nearly a year in my first real leadership job, I thought staying quiet meant I was holding steady. Then, in one uncomfortable meeting, a new owner said something that exposed what my team had likely seen for months. I wasn’t leading the way I thought I was. Understanding why took me much longer. Read…
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The Convenient Gesture
Sometimes appreciation misses because we choose what is convenient instead of what is meaningful. A simple request for “no more pizza” reminded me that recognizing hard work starts with paying attention. Celebrate what people accomplished, listen to what the work cost them, give them room to recover, then move forward together. Read the full post:…
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Knowing Enough to Ask
Many leaders believe their value comes from having the right answers. Over time, I discovered something different. Leadership isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about asking better questions, trusting others to own the work, and knowing enough to make thoughtful decisions without becoming the bottleneck. Read the full post: https://timpritchett.com/pmsz
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The Difference Between Available and Present
Why being there isn’t the same as showing up Here’s a confession that probably won’t shock you. I like to be liked. I like when people stop by my office to check in or tell me about their weekend. The problem is… I don’t always like the drop-in. This already feels like the start of…
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When Less Is the Answer
Most complexity begins with good intentions. A new approval step. Another meeting. One more check-in. Over time, those additions become the very thing slowing people down. This post explores why leaders often add structure when what they really need is greater clarity and trust, and why removing unnecessary complexity may be one of the most…
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Happiness Can Be Bought for a Buck Ninety-Nine
We often think making a difference requires a bigger platform, a bigger opportunity, or a bigger assignment. But what if we’ve been overlooking the opportunities already in front of us? A cherry Slurpee. A ride to a doctor’s appointment. A lawn mowed without being asked. The moments that shape lives are often ordinary, almost invisible,…
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Words That Move Us Forward
Praise recognizes what someone has already done. Encouragement speaks to who they are becoming. One celebrates results. The other calls out potential. Forty years after a conversation with a high school teacher, I’m still learning the difference and why leaders who learn to see growth before success leave a lasting mark on the people they…
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Language Travels
The phrases leaders repeat have a way of traveling. They move from conversations to habits, from habits to expectations, and from expectations to culture. The question isn’t whether language is shaping your organization. The question is whether you’re paying attention to the words that are doing the shaping.