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The Distinction Leaders Must Master Before Performance Season: The Distinction Leaders Must Master Before Performance Season Every year, as performance reviews approach, leaders all around the world sit with the same question. What is the real story behind each person’s performance this year? Most leaders go straight to skills, outputs, and results.They look at capacity . But the most effective leaders look at something deeper.They look at readiness . Capacity and readiness

Emotional intelligence is a must-have leadership skill. Daniel Goleman was one of the first to articulate it so clearly. He explained that successful leaders distinguish themselves through self awareness, self regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. Years later, this remains one of the simplest and most accurate explanations of what truly shapes leadership. We often talk about strategy, transformation, innovation and results. Yet behind every sustainable achieveme

by Pinar Koyuncu Oktar When you move to a new country, something shifts inside your leadership as well. I have done it twice and both times I felt the transformation immediately. The way I speak, connect, decide, and carry myself becomes new. I still know exactly who I am, yet the environment around me has changed so much that my familiar ways of leading no longer land in the same way. What happens is a soft reset that I never asked for but eventually grew grateful for. This

A personal motto is a simple sentence that carries the weight of your story. HLP: GRIT MADE, GROWTH READY It reflects your values, your journey, and the direction you want to move toward. It is often mixed with a slogan or a catchy phrase but it is a grounding statement that helps you return to your centre whenever life becomes noisy or demanding. I often see women reach a point where they want a deeper anchor. Something simple that reminds them of who they are when everythi

In leadership, we often forget that what feels like a setback for us may be the very opening someone else needs to rise. A budget cut that frustrates you might be the moment a team member shows creativity. A project you lose may become someone else’s breakthrough. A door that closes for you might be exactly what pushes your team to grow. In psychology, this is known as cognitive reframing. It is the ability to reinterpret a situation and view a challenge from a different ang

by Pinar Koyuncu Oktar Most of us have been there. You sit across from someone who challenges your patience, questions your ideas, or simply rubs you the wrong way. Or cross your boundaries and never apologize. Yet you still need to collaborate, share goals, and make progress together. The truth is, you don’t need to like everyone you work with to do great work. What you need is trust, respect, and clarity . Liking someone is emotional. Respecting someone is intentional.Resea

by Pınar Koyuncu-Oktar Every leader wants to succeed . Yet it is rare to realize that it is not the big failures that stop us. It is the daily habits that slowly erode trust, focus, and growth . Success rarely collapses overnight. It fades when we stop paying attention to the small things that matter. Here are the real enemies of leadership success and what to do about them. I have worked with many managers and leaders over the years, and while they all share similar strength

by Pinar Koyuncu Oktar Every company loves to talk about culture. It is described as the invisible glue that holds people together, the DNA that makes the organization unique. Leaders proudly announce values like collaboration, equality, or agility. Offices are decorated with posters. New joiners are introduced to the culture handbook on day one. But once you operate in multiple countries, you quickly learn an uncomfortable truth: culture does not travel as easily as products

by Pınar Koyuncu Oktar There is something special about new beginnings. The excitement of possibilities. The quiet doubts behind polite smiles. Every new team starts with both hope and hesitation. I have been reflecting on this a lot lately, as I am about to join a new team. I want each person to be successful in their own way. I want us to build something that grows stronger with every conversation, every challenge, and every win. I have built teams from scratch more than on

A few days ago, a friend sent me a video titled “One of the most powerful and influential speeches you will ever hear.” It was Mohammed...

Today, I want to share the story of Can , an entrepreneur I met during my time in Bangkok. His journey deeply impressed me and all of the...

In Türkiye there is a series called Modern Women .  In one episode there is a celebration at the office for a project won under the...

AI is everywhere these days. It shapes what we buy, how we learn, and even how we work. But here is a question I get asked often: can AI...

We live in a world that is full of advice. Scroll through any feed and you will see quick fixes, step by step formulas, and gurus...

This toolkit is designed to help leaders like you build practical, values-driven strategies that balance business performance with...

When people think about international assignments, they often imagine the adventure of being at new countries, exciting travel, career...

Sustainable sourcing may sound like a buzzword but it’s a real responsibility for our world. And for me, it’s also something I care...

In today’s hypercompetitive landscape, commercial leaders are facing a dual mandate: deliver value to customers while reducing...

After spending more than seven years in Thailand as an expat with a global company, I thought I had seen and learned it all. But moving...

What makes a good leader in a world that refuses to stand still? That question has been at the center of my leadership journey for years,...