If youโre feeling weary from yet another round of reorgs, RTO mandates, or shifting priorities, youโre not alone. Change fatigue has quietly become one of the most underestimated barriers to leadership effectiveness today. Neuroscience tells us that our brains are wired to protect us from uncertainty. Positive psychology reminds us that hope and meaning are the antidotes. But how do you bridge the gap when youโre leading a…
Intuition Isnโt MagicโItโs a Muscle For some leaders, โtrust your gutโ is second nature. For others, it takes practice. Intuition grows when you exercise it early and oftenโsomething many gospel singers learn young while listening, blending, and responding to the moment. I learned this firsthand under my favorite minister of music, Gaye Arbuckleโa Stellar Awardโnominee and gospel recording artistโduring seven powerful years in Concord Churchโs music ministry here…
Right now, many people are showing up to work carrying invisible weight. Economic uncertainty. Social tension. Cultural unrest. When the world doesnโt feel safe, itโs no surprise that the workplace often mirrors that unease. Psychological safety is one of the most powerful tools a leader has to shift that dynamic. Coined by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, the term refers to a shared belief that itโs safe to take…
Every leader faces moments that test them: a failed project, a missed opportunity, a layoff, or a time when expectations fell short. These moments can feel heavy, but neuroscience and positive psychology tell us something powerfulโhow you frame these experiences changes everything. When you consciously reframe a setback, your brain begins to reinforce new pathways for clarity and confidence. Positive psychology calls this post-traumatic growthโthe ability not only…
You’re probably aware that my publishers revealed the cover of my upcoming book last week, but did you know that I wrote an essay about what went into the design and even shared the artist’s name? It’s all on my Substack, and just like the audiobook that will also drop on pub day, I’m narrating. So grab your favorite pair of headsets or AirPods, a glass or cup…
Iโm thrilled to share a powerful moment on this journeyโmy publisher has officially revealed the cover of my upcoming book, Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church. This is more than a cover revealโitโs a visual declaration of the values that shape transformative leaders. When I envisioned the cover, I knew it had to reflect the core message of the book: that some of the…
In just a few weeks, a small, powerful circle of women leaders will step inside the next cohort of SOAR Womenโs Leadership Academy. This fall, Iโm capping enrollment at 10 seatsโbecause this work requires intention, depth, and trust. Hereโs whatโs new: โ Weโve added AI-powered leadership intelligence with our SOAR DISCernIQโข assessment platform. โ Weโre launching a brand-new session on AI for Strategic Leadershipโbecause your next move deserves…
Leadership isn’t about control. It’s about clarity. Grace. Courage. Episode 12 of Her Next Power Move unpacks emotional agilityโa skill too many leaders overlook, but one that neuroscience says will keep you grounded in storms. ๐ง Streaming today: lmichellesmith.substack.com
But social media sure makes some of us feel like we are. In the age of TikTok psychology, words like narcissist, gaslighter, and trauma are tossed around like confettiโoften without context, training, or accountability. Thatโs not emotional intelligence. Itโs emotional misconduct. A recent study found that over 83% of psychology-related TikToks contained misinformation or lacked context (BMJ, 2022)โand some of the loudest voices had no clinical credentials at…