Leadership Archives | The Calming Coach

Stop Being a Nice Boss. Start Being a Kind Leader.

April 15, 2026April 15, 2026 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

We often use the words "nice" and "kind" as if they mean the exact same thing. Someone holds the door open? They are nice. A coworker brings donuts to the morning meeting? They are kind. But when you step into a leadership role, treating these two concepts as identical…

Unplug Your Assumptions: A Next-Gen Guide to Critical Thinking for Maximum Impact

November 24, 2025 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

As a leader in the nonprofit and service space, your day is a constant stream of decisions. From managing budgets and motivating teams to designing programs and engaging stakeholders, your choices have a direct impact on the mission you serve. But are you using the mental tools you truly need…

Acknowledging, Pivoting, and Validating

August 15, 2022November 21, 2022 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

ACKNOWLEDGING I believe in acknowledging others when I've been lukewarm or resistant to an idea. PIVOTING When I pivoted my coaching practice, I thought my target audience was formerly successful and revered Baby Boomers angry at being pushed out of their jobs. I also thought I was running a B2C…

How Financially Stable People Can Make Life More Equitable

April 5, 2022April 5, 2022 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

I am a voracious reader. I love learning new things. I value making life more equitable for as many people as possible. As I was scrolling through LinkedIn, I learned a new thing about equity in this article. I learned a term I had never heard of - “Higher-Income Solipsism…

Is Your Sprint Getting in the Way?

January 30, 2022March 12, 2022 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

Is your sprint getting in the way of your self-care? Many of us who are working for the betterment of the planet, our communities, or our families are burnt out. We sometimes think if we take time off something bad will happen. We sometimes think... *We'll let someone down. *No…

Are you a survivor or a victim?

September 8, 2021September 15, 2025 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

So, are you a survivor or victim of your circumstances? When it comes down to it, it's all about mindset. Do you have a fixed mindset - that of a victim? Or do you have a growth mindset - that of a survivor? Wanna know how you can tell the…

Elon Musk – My New Hero

May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

I saw the ads announcing Elon Musk as host of Saturday Night Live for this past Mother's Day Weekend. Little did I know that, today, I would view him as a champion for diversity and inclusion. ELON MUSK IS MY NEW HERO! The Quirky Hero On Saturday night. I really…

On Being a Jazzy Leader

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

Rhyme, Rhythm, and Reason Ella Fitzgerald embodies GWC's 3Rs of Leadership - Rhyme, Rhythm, and Reason. We call her a Jazzy Leader. Have you heard the rhyme of "A-Tisket, A-Tasket"? Who can forget the rhythm of her scatting like as heard here? And do you know the REASON she began scatting?…

Let’s Cancel Cancel Culture

December 5, 2020December 4, 2020 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

Let's cancel Cancel Culture with respect, love, and compassion for those who differ from us. Professor Loretta J. Ross to the Rescue I'm so glad that Professor Loretta J. Ross is teaching a course on canceling Cancel Culture at Smith College! In case you might not know "calling out" is…

Leading through Life’s Bittersweet Times

November 30, 2020November 30, 2020 by Lori Gibson-Washington

Lori Gibson-Washington

Life is bittersweet. As a leader, it's important to have empathy for your staff, especially this time of year. Some folk have issues, you might even have issues. There are many ways to lead through the bitter to get to the sweet of camaraderie and commerce. For a complimentary…

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