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The People Playbook
Strategies for Leaders that Know People Power Profits
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Beginning the Year with Discernment: Leadership Lessons in Restraint and Renewal
A new year has a way of inviting clarity. Not the kind that arrives with fireworks or declarations, but the quieter clarity that asks us to reflect before we rush forward. January 1 st is a threshold; a moment to consider what we carry with us and what we choose to leave behind. As this year begins, recent headlines about the withdrawal of the National Guard from several major U.S. cities serve as a reminder of something leaders at every level eventually learn which is that
Joanne Walters
Dec 313 min read


When Stillness Becomes Strength
This time of year brings a different kind of quiet. The kind of quiet that invites you inward. The world slows in its own way, even if your mind doesn’t. The pace shifts. Deadlines soften. The calendar thins. Though, for many leaders, stillness feels unfamiliar. Especially if the year has asked you to stretch, sprint, pivot, or carry more than you planned. But stillness is not a void; it is a teacher and like all good teachers, it's just waiting for you to listen. Over time,
Joanne Walters
Nov 26, 20253 min read


Navigating the Tech Tides ~ Leadership Lessons from the AI Lawsuit
In my last blog post I wrote about embracing uncertainty and locating calm when chaos arrives, and using that moment to lead consciously. Today, a different kind of disruption is unfolding but this time not in the streets. This time in boardrooms. According to recent reporting from Reuters, the U.S. federal judge ruled that Apple and OpenAI must face a lawsuit filed by X Corp alleging monopolistic behavior in smartphones and AI chatbots. For many small and mid-sized business
Joanne Walters
Nov 26, 20253 min read


Leadership in Motion ~ Lessons in Scaling from a Movement of Millions
In my last blog post, I wrote about finding your calm in chaos by using uncertainty as an opportunity to ground yourself in your values. Then the No Kings rallies attracted over 7 million protesters in the United States and another 2600 worldwide. This was the largest coordinated public demonstration in America. And because leadership lessons are all around us, we can see moments like this as a teacher of some powerful lessons on human behavior, mobilization, and what leaders
Joanne Walters
Oct 19, 20253 min read


Grounds for Greatness ~ Brewing Bold Growth in Shifting Times
When a household name like Starbucks announces sweeping changes, it’s easy for small business owners to wonder, What does this mean for...
Joanne Walters
Sep 25, 20252 min read


Finding Calm in the Storm ~ Leading Through Chaos with Clarity and Conscience
Every morning, the headlines seem louder. More conflict. More division. More noise. For small and mid-sized business leaders, it feels...
Joanne Walters
Sep 16, 20253 min read


AI, Leadership, and the Future of Work: Leading Through the Next Transformation
The world of work is shifting faster than ever. Artificial intelligence (AI) hasn't been a buzzword floating around tech conferences for...
Joanne Walters
Sep 8, 20253 min read


Liminal Leadership ~Leading Between Fire and Stillness
Leadership is not theory scribbled on a whiteboard. It is alive and shaped by the stories we carry, the identities we inhabit, and the...
Joanne Walters
Sep 3, 20252 min read


When Tariffs Strike Home ~ Small Businesses, Brazil, and the Weight of History
Uncertainty. Disruption. Resilience. Headlines about tariffs and retaliation can feel far away, until we pause and remember the people...
Joanne Walters
Aug 28, 20253 min read


Uncertainty. Ambiguity. Discomfort. Doing Business in the Liminal.
Small businesses employ nearly half of all private sector workers. There’s nothing “small” about that. Some companies are born from...
Joanne Walters
Aug 21, 20251 min read


PEOPLE Power profits
The New Edge in Business Today’s small business landscape, rewards those who connect the deepest. Products can be copied, prices can be...
Joanne Walters
Aug 15, 20252 min read


How Small Businesses Can Leverage HR for Growth and Differentiation
In a landscape filled with competition, small businesses often struggle to stand out among larger corporations with vast resources....
Joanne Walters
Aug 12, 20253 min read


Transforming Employee Experience: The Secret to Building a Thriving Culture in Remote and Hybrid Workplaces
As small businesses embrace remote-first and hybrid models, employee experience becomes critical for building a positive workplace...
Joanne Walters
Aug 10, 20253 min read
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