Dr. Patty Ann

Active Listening in the Age of AI: Why the Most Human Skill Is Becoming the Most Valuable Most leaders think active listening means nodding, staying quiet, and waiting for their turn to talk. It doesn’t. In today’s workplace—where AI can summarize meetings, draft emails, and analyze sentiment in seconds—the leaders who stand out aren’t the […]

The Confidence Skill That Separates Strong Leaders Confidence is often talked about as if it’s something you either have or you don’t. In reality, confidence is built—and rebuilt—over time. It’s not loud. It’s not showy. And it’s definitely not arrogance. Confidence is the steady belief that you can handle what’s in front of you. It

Urgent vs. Important: Why So Many Leaders Stay Busy but Don’t Move Forward Most leaders don’t struggle with motivation.They struggle with focus. The day starts with a plan. Then the emails come in. Someone needs an answer. A meeting runs long. A problem pops up that can’t wait. By the end of the day, you’ve

Uncertainty Isn’t the Problem — How You Respond to It Is Uncertainty is a part of life. We don’t like it—but it’s unavoidable. And when it shows up unexpectedly, it can shake more than just our plans. It disrupts our sense of control, safety, and confidence. Whether it’s an economic shift, a personal transition, or

Why Avoiding Hard Conversations Is Costing Leaders More Than They Realize Emotional avoidance may be the most expensive leadership habit no one is talking about—and it’s quietly eroding trust, execution, and performance long before leaders realize what’s happening. There’s a leadership issue I see in nearly every organization I work with—and it rarely shows up

Why Human Judgment Will Be the Most Profitable Skill in Business in 2026 As we close out 2025, I’ve been thinking about a pattern I see again and again in my work with entrepreneurs and corporate executive teams. The leaders who are doing well aren’t the ones chasing every new tool or trend. They’re the

As leaders look toward 2026, most are focused on the obvious:faster technology, tighter margins, and increasing pressure to perform. Those things matter.But they aren’t what will cost companies the most. The biggest risk I see going into 2026 isn’t technical.It’s behavioral. Specifically—hesitation. I don’t see leaders struggling because they don’t know what to do.I see

Every few decades, business hits an inflection point.2026 is one of them. AI is advancing at a pace most leaders weren’t prepared for. Processes are faster. Information is instant. Decisions are expected now—not later. And yet, many companies are discovering something unexpected. The more technology they add, the more human issues surface. AI isn’t eliminating

Let’s clear up the biggest misconception in leadership:Most leaders don’t have a time problem.They have a prioritization problem. Time moves with or without you — but your focus is yours to direct.And how you spend it says more about your leadership than any strategy deck ever could. Your calendar is a mirror.It reflects what you truly prioritize… not what

Most leaders can read a balance sheet. Very few can read a room.         But the ones who do both — who pair business intelligence with emotional intelligence — build the kind of success that lasts. Because behind every profit margin, there’s a person.Behind every quarterly report, there’s a relationship. The Real Currency of Leadership In