How to Lead Through the Misuse of “Therapy Speak” at Work Not long ago, a colleague described someone on her team as “toxic.” When I asked what she meant, she paused and said, “They make me feel bad.” That stopped me in my tracks. Because lately, I’ve noticed this pattern popping up everywhere—people using therapy or mental health language as shorthand for discomfort. “That conversation was triggering.” “They’re so toxic.” “I need to protect my peace.” Sometimes those stateme

Most of us have worked with someone whose negativity overshadows everything else. For one of my clients, this showed up in the form of her boss. Every time her phone rang and saw his name pop up, her first thought was, “Oh no, what did I do wrong this time?” The constant stream of criticism and rework of tasks she’d been doing left her feeling disempowered and drained. And yet, as we worked together, she realized an important truth: she couldn’t change her boss. What she coul

We all struggle with strong reactions that hinder progress - as parents, leaders, partners and friends. Over the years, I’ve found three simple practices that help leaders (and parents, and partners) manage their internal reactions.

Hi there, It's that time of year - tea season! And we're brewing some exciting new things that'll be ready to share soon!! So, keep your eyes out - especially on November 6th for what's next. In the meantime, I'd love to hear what you've got going on? Send me an email, tell me what you're excited for this fall (and if you're not particularly excited right now, that's fine too, I welcome you just as you are because I'm all for keepin' it real). Be well, Ariana Friedlan

I need to remind myself of this phrase every time I go out on a limb to promote my services: “Thank you soooo much.” That’s what a new client recently said, emphatically, to the person who referred me. On multiple occasions. What leaders are up against This client is a CEO. Overwhelmed. Carrying a lot. Working hard to grow a collaborative, high-performing team while also managing…everything else. She’s smart and she cares deeply. She wanted to invest in her people. But she w

Lately, I’ve been fascinated by paradoxes—the tensions between what our human wiring tells us to do and what we actually need in order to...

When Needs Are Labeled “Selfish” A friend once shared how her dad used to call her selfish for the most ordinary things. If she needed a...

Why shifting from reactivity to responsiveness is non-negotiable “My boss really needs to get better at identifying his triggers.” That’s...

I need to be reminded that life and beauty can persist in inopportune places. As a "weed" started growing in the cracks of the pavement...

Challenging the Assumptions We Make About “Being Ourselves” The other day, during a listening training I was leading, a participant...

I once had a dear friend who also happened to be my roommate. She was incredibly thoughtful - always going out of her way to cook meals,...

I’ve seen this time and time again—whether it’s working with librarians, coaching leaders, or even parenting my own daughter: who the feedback comes from can be just as important as how it’s delivered. Me playing piano at 3 years old. Take, for example, when I first led the assertiveness training for library staff. The manager wanted their team to set clearer boundaries with patrons and with each other. They wanted to avoid burnout or tense situations escalating. And while

TL;DR - Entrepreneurship's an emotionally whack journey. Our website's been refreshed . We have a new program - Giving Feedback with CARE...

"I tried being truthful about what was on my mind and it blew up in my face." That's what a client recently said to me as we were...

And How It Can Transform Team Performance One Conversation at a Time During a Leadership Fort Collins session earlier this year, a moment...

Last week, I had the privilege of supporting a bold vision in action. Facilitating collaborative gathering in Mass. Also pictured, event...

My daughter just wrapped up her favorite camp of the year: Kids Do It All Theater Camp . Taken from KDIA - the summer camp And they...

Fourteen years ago this month, I resigned from my job to start Rosabella Consulting. I actually dreamt about giving notice and could read...

Thriving in a Complex World Requires More Than Smarts—It Requires Humanity Complexity Is the New Constant We are living in one of the...

De-escalation, Boundaries, and Leadership on the Front Lines When the Frustration Isn’t Really About You After weeks of receiving...