Most leadership conflicts are not about right and wrong. They are about perspective. In this Viewpoint, I explore the discipline of stepping into the other side of an argument and understanding what is truly being protected. When leaders become attached to being right, they often stop trying to understand. This article is about challenging that instinct, lowering tension, and building clarity by learning to see situations through a different lens before trying to resolve them.

What if leadership felt a little less complicated? In this Viewpoint, I share a simple but powerful idea I use with teams called the Easy Button. It is not about lowering standards or avoiding hard conversations. It is about recognizing that many of the challenges we face as leaders are self created through assumptions, overthinking, or lack of clarity. When we pause, simplify, and focus on what actually matters, better decisions become easier and teams move forward with more confidence and alignment.

The pandemic changed everything for private clubs, but the real challenge is what comes next. In this Viewpoint, I explore the tension that emerges after success. Demand is high, finances are strong, and confidence has returned, yet that is often when discipline begins to slip. Governance lines can blur, expectations continue to rise, and the urgency that once drove clarity starts to fade. This article is about understanding that shift and why sustaining excellence in times of prosperity requires just as much intention as navigating a crisis..