My 40th Birthday, Lisbon, The Food Temple and Rediscovering Purpose and Passion in Leadership
I just celebrated my 40th birthday with a group of close friends in Lisbon, and it was all the things I had hoped it would be (and...
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Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 305 min
Why You Need to Stop Hiding Behind Modesty and Embrace Your Superpowers
We’ve all been there—caught in that uncomfortable space between wanting to showcase our talents and not wanting to come off as arrogant. ...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 237 min
How to Lead Effectively Across Cultures: Lessons in Power Distance and Directness
When a Chinese-American coachee recently shared her experience with the communication style differences between herself and her new...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 96 min
Investing in Your Own Growth: The Best Decision You'll Ever Make as a Leader
Remember when we were kids? We'd fearlessly dive into new adventures—whether crafting a messy art project, learning an instrument, or...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 25 min
Getting Comfortable with Rejection: Rethinking the Power of “No”
With my birthday just around the corner, I’ve been planning a getaway to Lisbon, one of my favorite cities, with a few close friends....
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Aug 195 min
How to Manage an Employee Out: A Leader’s Guide to Compassionate and Professional Transition
Last week, during a coaching session with one of my coachees, we covered a topic that most leaders dread — managing an employee out. My...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Aug 115 min
The 10 Toxic Boss Types and How They Hurt Your Business
During a leadership workshop I led last week, the conversation turned to toxic bosses—a topic many of us, unfortunately, know all too...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 294 min
Performance vs. Authenticity: Can They Co-Exist?
One of my long-time coachees, let's call him Mike, recently faced a common leadership dilemma: Can you be humble and honest while also...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 245 min
Leadership Lessons from the Pool: Nature vs. Nurture
In a recent pool adventure, I watched my daughter and her friends navigating their colorful world with a level of leadership that was...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 24 min
The Law of Crappy People, Management Debt, and the Peter Principle: Insights from "The Hard Thing About Hard Things"
As leaders, we strive to build high-performing teams and create environments where excellence thrives. However, this journey is filled...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 286 min
The End of the 9-5: Embracing a Flexible Work Future
The traditional 9-5, five-days-a-week corporate office environment is a relic of the past, and I, for one, am never going back. This...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 206 min
Thoughts on Effective Communication: The Balance Between Confrontation and Avoidance, Radical Candor, and Non-Violent Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful relationships, both personal and professional. However, finding the right...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 133 min
Conquering Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs): Strategies for a Positive Mindset
In the landscape of our minds, there's a constant battle between positive affirmations and negative intrusions, the latter often referred...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 305 min
From Dread to Delight: Reframing Negotiations for Today's Leaders
One of my clients scheduled an additional coaching session last week because she was struggling to wrap her head around an upcoming...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 235 min
Why I Love People Management
I work closely with a diverse group of people managers, ranging from those just stepping into their first leadership role to seasoned...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 85 min
On Grit: How Leaders can Cultivate High-Performing Teams
One of my coachees, who comes from a stringent corporate environment and is now leading their own startup, recently reflected during our...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 305 min
Embracing the Learner Mindset: Lessons from my First time Skiing
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're the novice among experts? That's exactly how I felt on my recent family ski...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 177 min
Peacock vs. Crane: Redefining Success Beyond Visibility at the Workplace
Roughly a dozen years ago, my then-manager complimented my work but noted my career advancement hinged on improving my "visibility."...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 95 min
The Silent Career Killer: How to Spot and Stop Workplace Gaslighting
Gaslighting at work is a sneaky, under-the-radar kind of manipulation that can mess with your head big time, affecting everything from...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 35 min
Embracing Our Natural Talents: The Shift to Strengths-Based Leadership
Back in the day, we all pretty much followed the same playbook when our kids hit a snag in school: hire a tutor for whatever subject was...
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