leadership dots

leadership dot #5016: transformation

July 28, 2026July 27, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

One of the most impressive parts of my Detroit visit was The Station at Michigan Central. The former railroad station building had been abandoned for 30 years and was subjected to vandalism, theft, weather destruction, and sheer neglect. In 2009, the City of Detroit wanted it demolished, but they did not have the funds to do it. How fortunate!

Ford Motor Company purchased the building and has spent a billion dollars on its renovation to make it a center of innovation for the region. They have restored the lobby area to its former glory through application of money and mettle. (One example: to replicate one of the damaged, grand outdoor pillars, the contractor tracked down the original limestone quarry to get matching materials. The quarry had been closed for three decades, so Ford bought it, reopened it, and mined the necessary limestone!) They have infused restoration with modern techniques, such as recreating the gilded chandeliers through 3-D printing and utilizing LED lighting throughout the building. They preserved what was salvageable and recreated the rest using photographs and pieces of the building that were returned during their “amnesty period,” when stolen artifacts were welcomed back without penalty. (Example: a tiny piece of the main wooden clock was returned and allowed the engineers to determine the exact scale of the original, 10-foot clock).

The Station is a testament to what vision (ok, and money) can achieve. I can’t imagine who had the eyes to see what could be with this graffiti-laden, waterlogged shell of a structure, but someone was able to see the possibilities and realize them. I’m sure they were met with choruses of naysayers and realists who pushed back against the idea, but fortunately, they persisted in moving ahead.

If you need inspiration to keep moving forward on an idea that feels too big to accomplish, let The Station provide it. Look at these before-and-after pictures and realize that the seemingly impossible is possible.

Photo credit: Stephen McGee/Michigan Central

leadership dot #5015: misperceptions

July 27, 2026July 26, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Last week, about 20,000 people from all over the country rode their bicycles for 391 miles as part of RAGBRAI ([Des Moines] Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). They ended in our town, dipping the front wheel of their tire in the Mississippi River, after having dipped their tire in the Missouri River to start the ride.

What comments did we hear from riders? “Iowa is so hilly. I thought it was flat, but there were so many hills.” It’s a common misperception from people who think they know, but haven’t experienced it for themselves.

I was guilty of a similar false pre-judgment when I visited Detroit this summer. I lived there 25+ years ago and wasn’t anxious to go back, but went with my sister to check another MLB stadium off her quest. The city was amazing! We were so impressed with the cleanliness, free attractions, world-class art museum, beautiful miles-long riverbank, and innovative spirit. It was not the Detroit I knew before.

Information from others can be slanted or outdated and, consequently, very inaccurate. Before you make up your mind about something, try to experience it directly.

leadership dot #5014: in-between

July 24, 2026July 19, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

We fritter away so much time on our own, but when others make us wait, it seems like a travesty. Organizations have tried all kinds of tricks to reduce the psychological burden of waiting, including artwork, interactive displays, and winding paths to the destination. Delivery services let us track our merchandise every step of the way, so we know when that pizza or package will arrive at our door instead of constantly checking for it.

Logan Airport in Boston found a novel way to help passengers forget the wait for their luggage by installing a free nostalgic arcade in baggage claim. The hours flew by when my brother and I were in heated Pac-Man battles in the 1980s, and it is presumed that the same suspension of time would occur while waiting for the carousel to start rotating.

If you know that your audience will have to wait — whether for an appointment, entertainment, or their luggage — consider the wait time as an integral part of the overall customer experience. The smoother you can make the in-between, the better people’s overall perception of your organization will be.

Thanks, Meg!

leadership dot #5013: unsaid

July 23, 2026July 22, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

The Radical Candor company conducted a study that codified what we all intuitively know: “direct and respectful feedback is not the norm.” Even though leaders say they want honest communication, employees do not feel safe giving it. As a result, too much goes unsaid that could be helpful to the individual and the organization.

In addition to a culture that lacks psychological safety, people don’t have the skills to provide actionable feedback in ways that can actually be heard and absorbed by the recipient. Too often, people use mitigating language that downplays their meaning; they send a mixed message by sandwiching the correction between positives, or they are so vague that the listener doesn’t understand what needs to change.

In all my classes, from undergraduate to graduate, whether about culture, business, interpersonal communication, organizational communication, or stakeholder engagement, I always have a module on giving feedback. It is a necessary skill to deliver course corrections, and the ability to do it persuasively and with grace will help people succeed.

Feedback is not the “f-word.” It’s a data point that can help align expectations and deliver desired outcomes that benefit everyone. Practice giving clear feedback in low-stakes situations to build your confidence and proficiency for when it truly counts.

leadership dot #5012: contraditions

July 22, 2026July 21, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I’m fascinated by the seemingly contradictory passions around AI and data centers.

On one hand, the media is full of articles and predictions about the use of AI. It is the hottest topic, with endless coverage about how to use it, why it’s the next big thing, its many benefits, and how everyone needs to be prepared for AI to change how they do their work.

Next to these urgings are stories and protests about data centers. Municipalities are writing moratoriums preventing their construction in their towns. Neighbors are complaining about the noise, environmental impact, excessive use of water, and devaluation of their property.

But you can’t have it both ways. AI can’t permeate businesses, schools, and households without the infrastructure to support it, and that means data centers.

People did not (do not) want prisons, transitional housing, wastewater treatment plants, or transmission cables in their backyards either, yet concessions were made to create them and provide services that benefit the overall community. I suspect similar sacrifices will occur as municipalities wrestle with how to address the growing demand for the many facets of AI models and preserve the community’s culture and environment.

The AI genie is out of the bottle and putting it back is not an option. Now it’s time for human intelligence to create responsible guidelines for the next phase of generation and use.

leadership dot #5011: skeptical

July 21, 2026July 20, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I received an offer in the mail for a 4-night hotel stay in Orlando for $299. It’s even in my own private villa and with a $100 gift card to the Planet Hollywood restaurant.

I also received an email from someone offering to help me write and publish my book because he “genuinely sees something special in my content and career.”

I’m reminded of that old Memorex commercial where they played a song recorded on their audio tape and asked: “Is it real, or is it Memorex?” I ask myself the same question when I receive unsolicited offers that pique my interest. Maybe it’s because I have been conditioned to be skeptical, but I’m hesitant to commit to something that seems suspiciously good.

I’m not the only one filled with doubt while reading your messages. Especially in an election year, when politicians are prone to promise without any regard to the truth, it’s important that you provide sources, a way to follow up, and explanations for any claims.

It sounds good to be working on a book while poolside, but how to know whether either offer is legit.

leadership dot #5010: getting by

July 20, 2026July 19, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It’s harder to do things when you don’t fully commit to them.

People who hate shaving don’t want to pay for premium razors, so they hate it even more when they try to shave with a cheap blade.

DIYers give up when they run into challenges trying to do projects with only basic tools.

Artists have a hard time creating professional work with cheap brushes or only free software.

Budding cooks are frustrated by recipes that require processes that could be easily done with a specialized appliance but are hard to do by hand.

Golfers who use basic clubs will likely not improve their score until they upgrade their equipment.

When you want to do something regularly, it pays to invest in the tools to do it well. What you spend in money, you will recoup in time and quality. Stop just getting by.

leadership dot #5009: no consolation

July 17, 2026July 16, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

France and England both had spectacular football (soccer) seasons. They won eight World Cup matches to reach the semi-finals, making them two of the top four teams in the sport. Unfortunately, they both lost in the semis, which is depressing enough, but now they must play another match to determine third and fourth place. This means one of the top teams in the world will end its season with two consecutive losses.

What is to be gained — other than money — by having a consolation match? Does it really matter if you are third or fourth in the world? For me, nothing about that game outweighs the sad ending of a brilliant season for the team that loses.

We think so much about the start of things, but not always about the ending. How do you help teams — not just in sports, but project teams, work groups, classes, or any prolonged effort — conclude their work gracefully? Not everyone can be in first place, but everyone can be a winner if it’s managed well.

leadership dot #5008: stay open

July 16, 2026July 15, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I have watched with great interest the road construction happening near me this summer. The crews are installing a roundabout on the main thoroughfare and have managed to keep both directions open while they do it. I’m sure that’s no small feat — or small expense — as they had to lay a temporary road to expand the shoulder for traffic, then dig it up when it was time to construct the permanent road and do it again on the other side. But the extra efforts have paid off, and the inconvenience has been minor given the scope of the project.

I think there is a parallel to communication. It’s important to keep the lanes open, even when it’s challenging to do so. Yes, it’s easier to close off any input streams and make the decision yourself, but keeping the lines of communication open is worth the effort. You may have to backtrack or create new ways of sharing your message, but it’s much better than closing off the flow entirely.

It would be easier for the workers to fully close the road and do the construction, just as it would be easier to ignore a conflict with someone and close the communication channels. But you want to keep the exchange flowing, even when it’s messy or difficult to sustain that forward motion. Do the work to keep things open.

leadership dot #5007: give support

July 15, 2026July 14, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

One of my colleagues astutely pointed out that it is easier to get riled up against something than it is to speak out for something. If things are going well, people tend to say, “Of course, I support it,” and think that showing up to demonstrate that support is unnecessary or obvious, thus giving the loud voices more air. It’s true for public meetings and organizational ones as well.

Better that we give explicit support to the ideas and issues that we believe are good, even if those are the ones in place now. Small pockets of dissent start to feel like a majority view when there is no counterbalancing narrative.

It is unfair to rely on others to be our voice and unwise to let the opposition dominate. Don’t wait until it is a heated debate to make your views known.

Thanks, Felicia!