The Center For Leadership Excellence

10/20/2026

Myth #3: Being Liked Makes You a Weak Leader

Giving tough feedback. Making unpopular decisions. Holding people accountable. Does being a good leader mean accepting that people won't like you?

Actually, no.

The latest installment in Actually, No.: Rethinking the Rules of Leadership directly goes against the idea that kindness gets in the way of strong leadership.

Because you can have high standards, honest conversations, and meaningful relationships. One doesn't have to come at the expense of the others.

👉 Read the latest blog:
https://cleindy.com/being-liked-as-a-leader/

Think being liked makes you a leadership pushover? Not so fast. Discover why kindness, accountability, and a backbone belong together.

10/15/2026

More responsibilities. Same paycheck. Is it time for a conversation?

Taking on more at work can be a sign that your organization trusts you. But when your role keeps growing, and your compensation doesn’t, it may be time to speak up.

In her newest blog, Patty Bowen Prosser shares practical advice on how to make your case for a raise, demonstrate your value, and navigate the conversation with confidence.

Because advocating for yourself isn’t about asking for more just because you’re doing more. It’s about making sure your compensation reflects the role you’re actually performing.

👉 Read the latest blog:
https://cleindy.com/good-leadership-asking-for-a-raise/

Your job keeps growing, but has your paycheck kept up? Discover how to turn added responsibilities into a compelling case for a raise.

10/12/2026

Get the promotion, update your email signature, and p**f! You're a leader. Right? 😉

Somewhere along the way, we started treating job titles like leadership credentials.

But what about the people who earn trust, influence their teams, and get things moving without a single direct report? And what happens when someone has an impressive title but can't get anyone to follow their lead?

Turns out, leadership isn't reserved for the corner office.

Our second installment of Actually, No.: Rethinking the Rules of Leadership explores why influence, trust, and initiative matter a whole lot more than what's printed on your business card.

Because a title might make you the boss, but it doesn't automatically make you a leader. That part is up to you.

👉 Read the latest here: https://cleindy.com/leadership-without-a-title/

10/07/2026

There are a lot of things we're told about leadership.

Be confident. Have a vision. Know what you're doing. Always have the answer.

But who made these rules?

And more importantly…are they actually true?

We're launching a new blog series: Actually, No.: Rethinking the Rules of Leadership.

Each installment takes on a familiar leadership assumption and gives it a little more scrutiny.

First up:
Myth #1: Leaders Always Have the Right Answers

Because sometimes, being the person with the answer isn't the most useful thing you can be. Sometimes it's asking a better question, listening to a different perspective, or admitting you don't know yet.

👉 Read the first installment:
https://cleindy.com/great-leaders-always-have-the-answers/

What if “I don't know” isn't a weakness? We’re taking on one of leadership’s most persistent myths in the first installment of Actually, No.

10/01/2026

AI can write the email. Summarize the meeting. Analyze the data.

But can it tell when “just circling back” actually means “this is my third follow-up”?

Manage the Machine: How to Harness Human-AI Collaboration at Work by Paula Goldman explores what happens when AI takes on more of the work, and where humans still need to take the lead.

The opportunity isn’t just to make work faster. It’s to make more room for creativity, connection, leadership, and all the wonderfully complicated things that make work human.

Because the goal isn’t to automate the humanity out of work.

👉 Read the full book review:
https://cleindy.com/manage-the-machine-book-review/

09/30/2026

So…you have a new boss. Now what? 👀

Getting a new boss can be exciting. It can also leave you wondering, “Okay… how do I navigate this?”

Every boss has their own communication style, expectations, and way of doing things. The good news? A new boss can also be a new opportunity.

In our latest Good Leadership blog, Patty Bowen Prosser is sharing a few tips for getting the relationship off on the right foot - from understanding their leadership style and clarifying expectations to building trust and knowing when to bring solutions instead of just problems.

👉 Read the full blog here!
https://cleindy.com/navigating-a-new-boss/

09/24/2026

There are a lot of things we do at work simply because, well… we do them at work.

Certain phrases. Certain habits. Certain little rituals that have been repeated so many times that questioning them almost feels stranger than doing them.

That’s what inspired my newest blog, “Things We’ve Somehow Decided Are Normal at Work.” It’s a slightly different look at workplace culture; somewhere between the things that make us laugh, the things we’ve stopped noticing, and the things that might actually be worth reconsidering.

The more we pay attention to the small things that shape our workplaces, the more we can see how they influence communication, culture, and the way people work together.

Read the entire blog below! Be sure to subscribe to receive all content updates.

https://cleindy.com/what-we-pretend-is-normal-at-work/

We all recognize them: the habits, language, and unwritten rules that become normal at work. But what happens when we question them?

09/14/2026

Eight Years After I Got Lost, Here’s What I Know About Finding Career Clarity

What happens when you achieve the career goal you spent years chasing—and then lose your direction? Eight years after getting lost in my own career, I’ve learned that career clarity isn’t about knowing exactly where you’ll end up. It’s about knowing enough about what you’re building to recognize which next decisions belong—and which ones don’t....

https://cleindy.com/finding-career-clarity/

I spent years working toward my dream job. I got it—and eventually lost my direction anyway. Eight years later, I understand career clarity very differently. It isn't about knowing exactly where your career will end. It's about understanding what you're building well enough to know which opportuni...

08/31/2026

Your Career is Giving You Data. Are You Paying Attention?

Career clarity does not come from reacting to every feeling or forcing one big decision. It comes from noticing the patterns your work and life are already showing you and learning how to interpret them with honesty and curiosity....

https://cleindy.com/career-clarity-data/

Your career is already giving you data. The question is whether you are paying attention. In Part 5 of the Career Clarity Series, Jessica Gendron explores how energy, resentment, avoidance, momentum, and repeated patterns can help reveal what is working, what is not, and what may need to change.

08/27/2026

What happens when your boss becomes the biggest problem at work?

In her newest blog, Patty Bowen Prosser tackles a difficult, and increasingly common, leadership challenge: what to do when your boss is a bully.

Bullying can show up as constant criticism, intimidation, unreasonable demands, exclusion, or threats. Over time, it can affect confidence, performance, well-being, and trust in the organization.

Patty explores what employees can do when they find themselves dealing with this behavior, along with what organizations can do to recognize it, address it, and hold leaders accountable. Because the way a leader treats people isn’t separate from performance - it’s part of it.

📖 Read the blog here:
https://cleindy.com/my-boss-is-a-bully-what-can-i-do/

Dealing with a bullying boss? Learn how to recognize workplace bullying, respond strategically, and protect your confidence and career.