In my work with leaders, teams, couples, and families, I’ve seen that some questions don’t create clarity at all. They create confusion. Some questions don’t move us forward—they keep us stuck. And some questions quietly protect our comfort, our ego, or our fear, while pretending to be curiosity. 

Last Christmas, we took a pottery class together as a family, and it turned out to be a great experience. There was some hesitation—and even a bit of anxiety, myself included—but by the end, everyone was glad they gave it a try. We also made struffoli, an Italian cookie, and a family favorite. 

You m...

I'm a middle child from a loud and emotionally expressive Italian family. Growing up, everyone expressed feelings - except me.

I decided at a young age to hide my emotions and live inside my head. Not a strategy I would recommend.

Between 16 and 22, I coped with stress and emotion in unhealthy wa...

Most people make one big relationship mistake, both personally and professionally. Stop this tendency and you'll improve your life plus encourage the people you care about most.

I'm referring to the bad habit of invalidating others. It can be subtle eye rolls, sighing, criticizing, distancing, and/...

Starting a meeting, whether with your team, family, or friends, can feel a bit awkward, especially when emotions or expectations are high. That's where simple icebreakers can help.

A thoughtful question or quick activity can ease tension, build connection, and set a positive tone for the entire mee...

Healthily navigating conflict is how you build trust and cohesiveness within your team and family. People who consistently avoid conflict miss out on insight, opportunties and growth in their relationships.

Avoiding difficult conversations eliminates the opportunity for learning and dialogue. A dia...

You build trust and gain understanding through asking great questions. Asking the right questions greatly influences the success of a conversation.

Powerful questions help you identify real issues you might be avoiding, and recognize solutions you might be ignoring.

When I was going through the li...

If great relationships were easy, more people would have them. Strong relationships require effort—learning how to work through conflict, practicing patience, and truly listening. Relationships that last don’t happen by accident; they’re built through intentional effort from both people.

Whether yo...

One of the most impactful things you can do—for yourself and for others—is to reach out and start a meaningful conversation.

All people crave meaningful connection, yet many hesitate to take the risk of starting a conversation. Instead, they overthink what to say or how to engage. Everyone wants ...

Many people approach interactions asking, “What’s in it for me?” But when you shift your focus to “What’s in it for them?” you create the meaningful connections you’re actually longing for. Aim to leave people feeling better about themselves than when the conversation began—and your relationships an...

Meaningful conversations have changed my life. I long for them. You can create an environment where meaningful discussions happen consistently by asking the right questions.

I bet you can connect many of the positive turning points in your life to inspiration that came from answering the right ques...

The healthiest couples share one key trait: self-awareness. They’re willing to look at themselves honestly, accept feedback, and make changes.

After more than 25 years as a family therapist, I’ve watched the same core issues quietly erode marriages when they go unaddressed.

Often, if those couples...