Brain Food: the Brain Spa of Ideas
Articles on Storytelling, Change, Culture, Leadership & Communication
Karen writes about the real challenges leaders face every day: how to tell memorable stories, how to turn data into something people actually act on, how to lead through constant change, and how to build a culture where people do their best work.
Click a topic to filter, search by keyword, or start with the complete guide on that subject for the full picture. Or scroll down for all articles.
The Complete Guides
-

-

-

-

-

Learn more →
Browse All Articles
If You See It, You Can Be It
Shape culture by telling stories about leaders and teams you want more of.
Off The Mat
Questions to help you reflect on where your time is being spent and how effective it is.
“…And The Piccolo, The Piccolo…”*
Organizational culture is constantly being shaped. Here are the things to watch for.
The Data Fix
Culture surveys are lagging indicators of culture. Monitor these real-time indicators to shape your culture.
What story should I tell?
Why the advice that there are four stories you need to tell is limited and incorrect.
The (J.C. Penney / Sears) Toy Catalog
How nostalgia can tap into people’s emotions in stories.
Everything I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten
The rules we followed in elementary school make a good foundation for how to lead.
Burn It Down
In leadership, we don’t rise to the situation, we sink to our level of understanding and training.
You Don’t Predict The Future, You Imagine It
You don’t predict the future, you imagine it.
Make Waffles Not Spaghetti: How Leaders Can Help Employees Navigate Change
How to help employees navigate change and uncertainty.
Me And My Shadow
When are you hogging the spotlight and casting a shadow on others as a leader?
Behind The Scenes At A TED Conference
I got to go to the Brain Spa at TED Women the other week.
Dear Me: A Letter From My 22 Year-Old Self
Instead of considering what you would tell a younger version of yourself, think about what that younger version of yourself would tell you now?
The "One Size Fits Most" Halloween Costume
One size fits most doesn’t apply to leadership, teaming, or development.
You Only Get Answers To Questions Asked...
Engagement surveys are limiting and only answer the questions asked, which isn’t the whole story.

