Instead of writing a “goodbye to 2025” post about everything I learned at work… I realized I want to write about something else. I want to write about the dogs.

When we’re faced with a problem — especially in fast-paced, high-stakes environments — our instinct is to move fast. Fix the thing. Solve the issue. Get to the answer. But here’s the paradox: rushing to fix often slows us down. Because in most conversations — whether with a customer, teammate, or coaching client — what looks like a problem to be solved  is often a person to be understood. That’s why the first phase of The Arc of a Conversation  is all about connection and understanding....

The goal isn’t just to fix what’s broken. It’s to help people feel heard, understood, and confident in what comes next.