Author Archives: Amy Kay Watson

An Essential Checklist for Crucial Accountability

Accountability conversations often come with high stakes and emotions, making them hard to navigate. The following checklist, inspired by Crucial Accountability by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler, will help you stay on track when holding others accountable. Use it before, during, and after conversations to ensure effective results. Checklist 1: Before

An Essential Checklist for Effective Crucial Conversations

Have you ever found yourself struggling to apply the lessons from Crucial Conversations to real-life situations? High-stakes discussions can be daunting, and bridging the gap between theory and practice isn’t always easy. To help you navigate these challenging moments, I’ve developed a practical, three-part checklist inspired by Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are

Use AI to plan your professional development in a changing world

depicts a futuristic representation of artificial intelligence and human cognition. It shows a human head with a brain visualized as a complex network of circuits or neural pathways, symbolizing the integration of AI and human thought. To the left, the circuits branch out, connected to nodes glowing with purple lights, symbolizing the flow of information. To the right, streams of data seem to be converging into the brain. The background is a starry, cosmic space, suggesting a vast, interconnected universe of knowledge and technology.

In a world where change is the only constant, professionals across industries must stay ahead of evolving trends to remain relevant and competitive. Used well, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be your secret weapon for navigating these changes! In this article I’ll show you how you can use Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity,

Tara Mohr’s PLAYING BIG Should Be Your Next Read

The image shows the book Playing Big by Tara Mohr resting on a wooden surface with a plant partially visible in the lower right corner. Sunlight casts a diagonal shadow across the book, highlighting its cover. The subtitle reads, "Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead."

If you’re a woman in leadership or aspiring to take on a bigger role in your professional life, Tara Mohr’s Playing Big is the book you didn’t know you needed. I’ve recommended this book to countless women, both in coaching sessions and in personal conversations, because it strikes at the heart of a common struggle:

Leaders Can Manage Stress by Orienting to Purpose

The image shows five colored blocks arranged in an upward diagonal line on a black background. Each block has an arrow pointing upwards. The colors of the blocks, from left to right, are black, red, orange, yellow, and green. The arrows and the progression of colors suggest a visual representation of growth or progress.

Have you ever felt that crushing weight of stress, the kind that sneaks up on you and suddenly feels overwhelming? For some corporate leaders, this stress isn’t just an occasional visitor—it’s a constant companion. High expectations, both of yourself and those around you, can turn into a relentless cycle of criticism and pressure. What if

The Five C’s of Effective Communication

Have you ever felt overlooked in meetings or struggled to articulate your needs during conversations? Most of my clients’ conflicts stem from poor communication, which often leaves many feeling undervalued and misunderstood. At work, where we spend the majority of our waking hours, feeling unheard can foster significant frustration, precipitate hasty judgments, and lead to

Recommitting to Your Professional Growth: A Journey of Transformation

Read Sheila’s story, a testament to the power of self-reflection, targeted skill development, and the courage to embrace change in our professional lives. It’s not about seeking external validation but about investing in ourselves and our careers for long-term satisfaction and growth.