How We See Shapes What We Decide
By Andrea Chilcote
What’s on my mind today? Still perspective. For those of you following my post containing a mysterious picture where I asked whether it was a sunrise, sunset, moonrise, or moonset, here is the big reveal. I took the photo from a cliff, looking southeast toward San Simeon Cove. It was shortly after sunrise. If that’s what you guessed, you were among 63% of respondents who guessed correctly. Let’s consider some of the rationale people used, and how it relates to perspective.
Three Friends for the Journey, Part 2
By Andrea Chilcote
In my last article, part one of “Three Friends for the Journey,” I reintroduced three friends: Intentionality, Perspective, and Surrender, whose states of being make them archetypes for the journey of change many are on right now. Each possesses a quality that is essential as we navigate uncertainty and move toward a life that is more in line with what makes us feel purposeful, and dare I say, even joyful. Last month, we met Intentionality. Today, I’d like you to meet Perspective.
Name It, Don’t Become It: One Honest Feeling at a Time
By Andrea Chilcote
Let’s get clear about something obvious: humans feel emotions. Emotions carry real intelligence. They signal what matters, what’s misaligned, what needs attention. They are not noise. They are information. And they must be allowed in the workplace.
Three Friends for the Journey, Part 1
By Andrea Chilcote
Thirty-five years ago, I started my business. While I don’t remember every detail from that season of life, I remember the feelings. Exhilaration and fear drove relentless focus. Every decision carried weight because I was building something out of both conviction and necessity.
Do You Need to Slow Down?
By Andrea Chilcote
Several years ago, a vacation unexpectedly revealed something important. Then, I was moving through life at a relentless pace, hurrying even when there was no real need to. Reflection at the time created a great deal of self-awareness, and looking back, I can see how my realizations shaped the way I think about presence, leadership, and my own energy.
The Story We Instantly Tell Ourselves
By Andrea Chilcote
As an observer of human behavior — sometimes as a student, sometimes as a teacher — I continue to marvel at how many simple and reliable tools exist for making relationships easier. And yet, even when we know these tools well, we often fail to use them in the moments that matter most. One is a simple mental model called positive intent.
Gravitas, Reconsidered
By Andrea Chilcote
I’ve been hearing the word “gravitas” a lot lately. Again.
For years, the term has lingered in conversations about leadership and executive presence, often shrouded in mystery. Gravitas. Presence. Influence. Confidence. The ability to command a room without demanding attention.
And now, in 2026, the conversation has become even more nuanced. In a workplace shaped by constant change,
You Have To Consider It.
By Andrea Chilcote
Much of my time is spent gathering and delivering 360-degree feedback to accomplished leaders. Receiving feedback requires as much skill as delivering it does. It doesn’t matter how tough-minded you are, or how many times you have received feedback surveys; it’s hard to hear or read critical comments about your behavior.
Control … or Peace?
By Andrea Chilcote The need for control is a behavioral trait many of us, as leaders, are gifted – or cursed with, depending on perspective. To some extent, we all have a need for control. Certainly, when directed at our own actions, control represents agency – the ability to shape one’s life with autonomy.
Leadership Growth is Not a Solo Sport
By Andrea Chilcote
The conversation with my client went something like this:
“Joel, I challenge you to do this task: Prepare the following, then meet with the people whom I interviewed and who provided feedback for your 360° assessment.”
Thank you for providing feedback. Here’s what I learned: (Very brief statement of a change you are making, or need to make…