Attention and focus shape leadership behaviour — how the stories leaders tell themselves (and each other) influence decision-making, energy, and outcomes. There is a powerful neurological reason why leaders who remain locked on problems feel depleted, while those who clarify what they are moving toward lead with greater steadiness and effectiveness.

It’s easy to believe that the world is unraveling because there is so much conflict. Everywhere we look, there are opposing sides, hardened positions, and conversations that seem to collapse before they even begin. Conflict spills forward, feeding more conflict, until it feels as though tension itself has become the dominant language of our time.

And yet, in the natural world, difference is not something to eliminate—it is something to tend.

For many, Christmas arrives wrapped in twinkling lights, warm gatherings, and a sense of anticipation. But beneath the glow, there’s often a quieter, heavier reality that doesn’t make it onto greeting cards. This season has a way of magnifying both joy and pain. It brings reminders of what we have—and what we’ve lost.

If you’ve ever felt a twinge of dread when the holidays approach, you’re far from alone.

In the season ahead, there are so many opportunities for meaningful conversation. Sometimes we come to a conversation ready to judge, to criticize, to compare….

What if each of us took the time to set aside those harsh responses and choose to listen well and acknowledge the person in front of you for who they are, for the challenges they face and for the way they make a difference, (even if it’s not your way)…..?

It is often easy to forget the quiet power of acknowledgment.