We're holding space for you, let's change the world together.

Generative leadership focuses on creating an innovative, collaborative, and positive environment within an organization that inspires and empowers people to work together to achieve a shared vision for the future.

helping you learn how to “hit pause” in difficult conversations

As leaders, many of us are afraid to make mistakes. We worry that any error on our part will suggest we are not suited to lead others. Instead, we should recognize that no one is perfect and we all make mistakes. As risky as it might feel sometimes, being willing to acknowledge our mistakes isn’t a sign of weakness but a strength. We need to learn to “hit pause” and bravely explore how we can improve.

“Being a good person is not a state of being but a practice, requiring us to stay in touch with our imperfection.”

Jay Smooth

No one is perfect. We must practice being the best versions of ourselves. And when fail to live up to our standards, we must recommit every day to doing the best we can with what we have. Will that imperfection be acceptable to others? Maybe not. But that does not excuse us from getting back up on the horse even after we’ve been thrown across the yard.

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Hitting Pause on DEI?

admin February 15, 2025 No Comments

In recent months, we’ve seen some voices in the media arguing that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are outdated or unnecessary. In the current political climate, some even suggest that businesses should “move on” from these concepts, dismissing them as divisive or irrelevant to modern success. But if we pause and take a closer look, we quickly realize that what’s being criticized—our focus on embracing differences—is actually one of the strongest assets any organization can have. The truth is, diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences are key to building more innovative, authentic, and inclusive leaders who will thrive in today’s world. Diversity is not just a buzzword. It’s an essential driver of creativity and innovation. When people from different cultures, identities, and experiences come together, they bring fresh ideas, new solutions, and unique ways of thinking that would never emerge in a homogenous group. Consider the impact of diversity

identity cards

Who we are impacts how we experience the world on a daily basis whether we recognize it or not. Our personal identity is comprised of a unique combination of social group affiliations and, like a card game, many of these identities are assigned to us randomly. In order to help people to visualize these affiliations, I have created a tool that allows them to imagine their personal identity as a hand in a card game. This allows them to explore how membership in certain social groups impacts “game play” or their capacity to be personally successful. Check out the short video below to see the identity cards in action.

who I am

Brian's Strengths

Brian has over 20 years of experience specializing in helping clients maximize their leadership potential and support diversity through the development of inclusive leadership skills, multicultural competency, and social justice education. As a Clifton Strengths educator, Brian strives to apply the discovery and development of an individual’s natural talents to empower others to become catalysts for positive change in their organizations. He is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and is able to provide valuable coaching, cross-cultural teambuilding, and program evaluation related to intercultural competency development. His workshops are highly interactive as well as informative, encouraging participants to discover how their personal experiences contribute to the collective learning of the group: as he likes to say, “…the wisdom is centered in the room, not at the front of the room.”

advise

Need help navigating a tricky interaction with a direct report or wondering how to build a more inclusive team?

speak

Are you looking for a dynamic keynote that who can teach as well as entertain?

teach

Do you want effective and engaging instructor-led training for twenty or two hundred?

why choose me

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intercambio

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universityofdenver

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If you’d like to learn more about how I can support your efforts to “hit pause” and engage in meaningful dialogue, I’d be very happy to discuss how we can change the world together. Please complete this form and I’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Location

5527 Valentia Street
Denver, CO 80238, USA

Email

brian@hitting-pause.com

Phone

+1.303.717.1537

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