Incite To Leadership

12/03/2025

If you're taking the time out to meet in person for a team offsite, make it fun!

Do things you can't do on Zoom or other virtual platform.

Last week, I joined a gathering that included singing (yes, really), walking through a museum, and getting inspired in ways virtual meetings just can’t replicate.

I'm not saying you all need to break out into song or arrange a flash mob.

But if you're bringing people together, make it meaningful, creative, and energizing.

And if you want support designing an unforgettable offsite, I’m here to help.

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🔷 I help fast-growth companies maintain momentum and competitive advantage by maximizing executive team performance.
👉 Follow me Jo Ilfeld, PhD for leadership insights.

11/13/2025

Last week, I was across the country to work with a leadership team that wanted to get better at how they collaborate.

And right off the bat, I shared a tip with them that they thought will revolutionize their team meetings.

There's a good chance you have come across this before, so if you have, this is your reminder to bring it back into play.

What I did was grab a big Post-it, stuck it on the wall and wrote “Parking Lot” at the top.

The idea is simple — whenever someone brings up a topic unrelated to the meeting’s purpose, you add it to the parking lot to revisit later. This single move keeps discussions focused and prevents tangents from hijacking the agenda.

For this team, it completely changed how they handled distractions and side conversations.

✅ And make sure to watch the video until the end to learn one thing you MUST do at the end of the meeting if you want the Parking Lot idea to work in future meetings.

09/30/2025

Have you ever wondered if there is any small change I could make to my schedule that would make a monumental difference?

The chances are yes.

Two clients recently worked with me on simple changes that made a huge difference: one added Pilates on Monday mornings to beat the “Monday blahs,” and another gave herself a 15-minute cushion before her first meeting after racing back home after school drop-off.

Neither change was big—but the impact was.

Sometimes, it’s not about overhauling your schedule; it’s about nudging it.

My question for you this week is:

👉👉 What small tweak could make your week feel lighter and more energizing?

09/27/2025

Ever notice how teenagers often mistake curiosity for distrust?

(Ask my kids—they’ll tell you!)

At work, the same thing happens: what we intend as care or support can come across as micromanaging, dismissive, or even condescending.

As an executive coach, I know that striking the right balance between support and autonomy, feedback and kindness, is one of the hardest leadership challenges.

In my latest Forbes article, I share five ways leaders can show genuine care without crossing that line.

👉 Please click through and tell me which one of the five tips resonates with you the most.

Read the Forbes Coaches Council article here ⤵️

Here are five methods that have consistently helped my clients navigate the complexity of work relationships while showing that they care.

09/10/2025

Have you ever wondered, is there any small change I could make to my schedule that would make a monumental difference?

The truth is, it often can.

Recently, two of my clients shared simple adjustments that completely shifted their day-to-day experience.

One client realized Mondays always felt blah. Instead of pushing through, she added a Pilates class on Monday mornings. That single shift brightened up her Mondays, turning them from sluggish to energized.

Another client recognized the stress of rushing back from school drop-off and sliding straight into her first meeting. She gave herself a 15-minute cushion before starting work. That small change reduced her stress, created a buffer, and set a better tone for the entire day.

👉 👉The lesson here is powerful: small changes, big impact.

You don’t always need to redesign your life to feel better. Start by noticing the irritants—the moments that consistently feel draining. Then, try shifting just one thing. Maybe it’s moving a meeting, scheduling a walk, or protecting a 10-minute pause.

💥 So ask yourself: What’s one small change you could make to brighten your week? The ripple effect might surprise you.

READ MORE HERE
https://www.incitetoleadership.com/small-shifts-big-impact/

09/05/2025

Career success isn’t always a straight climb up the ladder.

Maybe you thought you were heading in one direction and suddenly for whatever reason, things go off course. Maybe it's a layoff, a family situation that needs your attention, or maybe it's a new opportunity you didn't even anticipate.

When this happens, it's a good time to reassess and redefine what success looks like for you.

I was recently talking with a friend who moved from management into an individual contributor role—and she’s thriving, because the role aligns with what matters to her now.

My index of success is focused on learning:

Am I still learning? Is it still pushing me? Is it still challenging me?

For you, it might be lifestyle, location, or something else entirely.

👉 What are you prioritizing in your career now that you didn’t in your 20s or 30s?

08/20/2025

🏵️Thank you Forbes Councils for including my latest piece in the Editor's Choice article collection for August. I'm honored.

🫵 If you are responsible for any strategic planning, decision-making or creative endeavors, you need to venture into dark unknown places, and not continue to look where the light is simply because it's the easier option.

As a high-performing leader, it's essential to develop regular practices of strategic exploration—stepping away from what you know to make room for something new.

🔵 READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE 🔵
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2025/07/21/the-dark-side-of-productivity-why-stepping-away-from-your-calendar-could-be-your-best-strategic-move/

07/31/2025

Is Playing It Safe Holding You Back?

As leaders, we often wrestle with one key question: When do I trust experience, and when should I experiment?

These days, I’m seeing a lot of resistance show up around AI.

It’s easy to dismiss the new based on what used to be true.

But if we always play it safe, we risk falling behind.

🗣️"It's better to experiment prove yourself right again rather than just keep

going with the same old tried-and-true wisdom that might no longer fit."

Are you still open to experimenting? ⬇️

READ MORE
https://www.incitetoleadership.com/experiment-or-stay-safe/

07/16/2025

Most leaders can tell when they’re feeling “bad.” But can you tell if it’s disappointment… or resentment? Frustration… or fatigue?

That’s emotional literacy—the ability to accurately identify and name your emotions—and it’s a game-changer for anyone leading teams in high-stress, high-stakes environments.

Research shows that when we expand our emotional vocabulary, we don’t just feel better—we communicate better, navigate conflict more skillfully, and lead more effectively.

And what's more...naming our difficult emotions actually decreases distress.

✨ One practical way to build your emotional literacy? Try pausing 2–4 times a day to check in with a tool like the Feelings Wheel. Over time, you’ll start noticing subtle patterns, and that awareness becomes one of your most powerful leadership tools.

What emotion have you been naming more precisely lately?

READ MORE HERE 🔽
https://www.fastcompany.com/91217125/what-is-emotional-regulation

07/15/2025

When it comes to giving leadership feedback, how often do we ask ourselves: Am I making this better or just making it different?

A client of mine recent shared this question, and I had to share.

I love the distinction because sure, we all have our own ideas.

We can all make things different. And yes, maybe we personally would prefer them, but is it actually going to make the project meaningfully better?

That impulse to jump in and edit or revise your team’s work—not because it’s wrong, but because it’s not exactly how you would have done it is natural. But it can inadvertently slow down progress and undermine your team’s confidence.

The smarter approach? Before weighing in, pause and ask:

🔷 Will this feedback meaningfully improve the result?

🔷 Or am I just inserting my voice for preference’s sake?

If it’s the former, by all means, offer your input—especially if it will enhance clarity or help gain buy-in from key stakeholders.

But just to get your voice in there so that you make sure that your fingerprint is on it is not a good use of your time, and furthermore, it’s incredibly disempowering for your team.

🔽READ MORE HERE 🔽

https://www.incitetoleadership.com/the-leadership-feedback-filter-that-builds-trust-and-saves-time/

07/03/2025

Uncertainty isn’t going away.

From economic shifts to personal stressors, today’s leaders are navigating turbulent conditions—and so are their teams.

In a recent Executive Forum I led, senior leaders shared how they’re keeping their teams grounded and engaged. The biggest takeaway? If you want to build resilient teams, it starts with how you show up.

👀 Watch for 3 actionable practices you can put into place today.

06/26/2025

☝️Have you ever tweaked a team member’s work just to make it more “you”?

In a recent coaching session, a client shared a brilliant filter before giving feedback: “Am I making this different, or actually making it better?”

It's a great distinction that I am compelled to share as it helps leaders avoid unnecessary micromanagement and empower their teams to take ownership.

In addition, this mindset shift is a time-saver for you.

It's a win-win.

Your turn: how often do you feel the urge to add something to put your stamp on it?