I can be critical of others. That's been my strategy for staying safe. With clients and strangers, I'm usually positive and encouraging. With close friends and family, I can be negative. I don't want to get hurt again.

My negativity pushes people away, keeping them at a safe distance. It's an unhea...

If trust is low in a relationship, everything gets harder. Communication, decision-making, and even just being around each other become more tense and more complicated.

And here is what most people miss. Trust is not something you either have or do not have. It is something you build, maintain, or ...

Who in your life do you trust the most? What makes it is it easy to trust them? Who is someone you struggle to trust? What makes it hard?

How do you know when you can trust someone, and how do they know they can trust you? Here are 7 essentials to look for and model in yourself when building trust ...

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...

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: they invalidate others without realizing it.

It can be subtle, like eye rolls, sighing, interrupting, criticizing, distancing, or dismissing someone with phrases like “that’s silly” or “that’s stupid.” Over time, tho...

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...