One step requires you to identify your cognitive distortions. I talk about it on the current episode of Her Next Power Move, but you may not know that this topic is also an intrigal part of one of my keynote messages as well as a workshop. Here is a snippet from a video where I was teaching women leaders from across the country about the most popular cognitive…
Coaching isn’t about sprinkling magic on your challenges. It’s about using science-backed strategies to guide you toward your own solutions. At NSC Coaching, our approach is rooted in both positive psychology and neuroscience. We believe that leaders already have the answers—they just need the right questions to unlock them. 
For Current NSC Coaching Members: The weather is still mild, so it’s the perfect time to explore our…
Leaders, it’s time to talk about peace. Not the kind that happens when everything’s perfect—but the kind you create within, even when the world around you is anything but calm. Next Thursday, join me for a Peace & Productivity Masterclass where we’ll discuss how to cultivate a calm mind during change. We’ll dive into the neuroscience behind mindfulness and why it’s more than just a wellness buzzword—it’s a…
“Just be grateful.” “Everything happens for a reason.” “It could be worse.” Maybe you’ve said it. Maybe you’ve heard it. But here’s the truth: Positivity, when used to silence pain, becomes a barrier to growth. In the latest episode of Her Next Power Move, I explore the trap of toxic positivity and how it disguises itself as motivation—while denying us the space to feel, grieve, and grow. Based…
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is get your hopes up. When everything around us feels uncertain—when crisis hits or change comes too fast—it’s easy to believe that staying guarded is smarter. But research tells a different story. Hope Theory, grounded in positive psychology, shows that hope isn’t naive—it’s strategic. It fuels resilience. It builds pathways where none seem to exist. It keeps us moving when the…
Since March, I’ve been moving at a pace that only purpose can justify. And it’s been powerful. Here’s just a glimpse of the journey: 
I submitted the full manuscript for my fourth book, Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church—a love letter to cultural leadership, steeped in science and soul I spoke at and moderated multiple impactful leadership events I offered a…
Tomorrow’s episode is for anyone leading in uncertain times and wondering if they’re built for it. Here’s your reminder: You are—and neuroscience agrees. We’re talking resilience—not as something you’re born with, but something your brain can build. Let me be the voice on your shoulder reminding you: You’re not broken. You’re becoming. Subscribe: lmichellesmith.substack.com
Some days, we hold it together with one deep breath and a quiet prayer. Grief comes in waves, not always from loss of life—but from the fading of dreams, jobs, roles we once found meaning in. And yet, beneath the ache, there’s a whisper: You are still becoming. There’s beauty in the breaking. There’s strength in the pieces. In the newest episode of Her Next Power Move, we’re…
What is the one thing that is missing from your decision making? Hint: It is something that will make your conclusion stronger, removing doubts and making it far more satisfyingly decisive. If you want to make a decision and sleep even better after, watch today’s video to find out more, and as always, there’s some science to it. I practice this with my high-ranking senior leaders. Eventually, it…
I get asked about negative emotions often. At one of my book signings in DC, a leader told me that he was driven by the anger that resulted from his boss undermining him at work. I asked him if that was sustainable? What could be the cost? Another community member here on IG said that his anxiety had been driving him more than any positive emotion could. Well……