Statistically speaking, most people touch their phone screens significantly more times per day than they will reach out and touch each other. We feel for our phones first thing in the morning; just as they are often the last touch before our heads hit the pillow.  

There are no shortage of issues working to pull us apart. Consider where you can get closer to people experiencing and impacted by those issues and see what it does for you as a result.

So, in this season of gratitude, during this long fall holiday weekend, around a table and elsewhere, I will count my blessings for you. I will practice gratitude for the gifts before me and the values worth working for. As we know, to move forward from this time, we need a willingness to work, a willingness to close divides, and a willingness to come together. Because together is the best direction to go.

AI is most powerful when used to augment and enhance human intelligence rather than replace it. While the use of AI in communication moving forward is inevitable, it is only human to have a brain, a heart, and a conscience. If you want to distinguish between real and fake, look for the human between the words.

Every day brings with it a new opportunity to take action: to say something if we see something and to act in service of people and the planet. Because if you don’t act when you see the fog rising, what can you expect other than disaster? 

The late civil rights leader Vincent Harding posed and lived a question, “Is America possible?” He wondered whether America's noble experiment in creating a multiracial democracy could work. Before he died in 2014, he was asked if he thought it was still possible to create a democracy that worked for all of us. He answered, “Yes, but only as we make it possible.” I believe we can, and the people joining us today in conversation are proving it.

When we’re faced with a barrier, it’s easy to become consumed by the barrier. Focus on looking beyond the barrier. The answer may be right beyond your current line of sight. 

Don’t let your present-day become ordinary. Be present in the present and sensitive with your time. Like a photo, there’s something worth capturing right here and now. 

When it comes to preparation, there will always be forces of distraction. Stay focused on your audience, your objective, and your preparation, and success will follow.

As if the scorching summer temperatures weren't enough, American politics have also heated up to a rolling boil this summer, with this past weekend's assassination attempt on one of our presidential candidates being considered by many a critical tipping point. Parties and politics aside, leaders at every level are being called to comment, weigh in, and do something.

So, what are you to do? What role do these weekend’s events have on you, your organization, and your community? If you think none, I suggest you think again.

Knowing when to step aside can be difficult, but it can be made easier by asking one key question: Am I prepared to let go? Knowing when to lead and when to make room for others is one of the single greatest leadership skills. Don’t wait until it’s too late to start practicing it.

Don't underestimate what is possible when you let your head and heart align. You may just find your greatest sense of purpose.

Wherever you are in life, and whatever new chapter you may be entering, may there be wonderful possibilities ahead for you.

93% of what we communicate is nonverbal, so the little things we communicate through our bodies make a big difference to our audience. Use your body, tone, and the instrument that is your voice to help convey confidence, trust, and engagement to your audience. It may never be as good as face-to-face communication, but good digital body language can do wonders to bridge physical divides.

We will all have bad days and losses that can feel hard to swallow. Those moments may discourage you, but don’t let them distract you from your values. Because when your values are clear, the impact is undeniable.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the uncertainty and chaos around us. It’s natural to feel lost. When you do, pause and take stock of the light you carry. Because in moments of chaos, you can always be the change.

Incivility at work is an intensifying reality. It can get the better of us and bring out the worst in us. This week, practice “ventilating your soul with tenderness,” and work to create spaces that foster civil conversation and muscle building. I think you’ll find the whole team gets stronger as a result.

The generation gap isn’t an excuse for disconnection and engagement—it’s an invitation to get closer. If you’re leading or managing a team, take this week’s column as a prompt to initiate conversations that can help build back the social support systems we’ve been losing in recent years.

While a “no-agenda” lunch with an old friend won’t solve the complexity of problems we face today, it is something—and something particularly important—to help counteract social isolation and build back up social networks. The real kind. Yes, it’s good to be together. And it’s due time that we take a break from our devices to make it happen.

Political polarization is real and will likely grow in the coming months. Get ahead of it in your workplace by helping your team build the skills to navigate divisive conversations while actively supporting civic engagement.