The Humor Habit
The Humor HabitThe overlooked leadership skill that builds trust & connection by Abbey Johnston | September 2026 Humor was something I picked up young. As someone who was frequently bullied as a child, it was a defense mechanism I learned. It helped deflect the painful comments. Plus, I figured out pretty quickly that people like to be...
Windows of Possibility
Windows of PossibilityWhat neuroscience is revealing about how people actually change by Greg Mutch | July 2026 This might surprise some people, but I’ve not been a big fan of the On Being podcast. Krista has amazing guests, and she really does a good job of interviewing, but there’s something about it that gets under my skin a bit. But in small...
AGC’s Top 10 Leadership Tips
AGC’s Top 10 Leadership TipsThe human guide to leading humans 1. Lead with curiosity Notice the stories you make up about others and choose curiosity over assumption. It opens space for real connection and better decision‑making. 2. Build authentic connection Trust is built in micro-moments. Show up genuinely, invest in...
The Confidence Myth
The Confidence MythWhy confidence isn't something you're born with, but something you build by Abbey Johnston | April 2026 For a lot of my life, confidence felt like something other people had. Growing up, I didn’t think of myself as a confident person at all. I was incredibly self-conscious. I assumed people were paying attention to everything I...
What’s Your Next 30?
What's Your Next 30?A reflection on habits, courage, and momentum by Greg Mutch | February 2026 It’s February. Quite likely the month most known for Valentine’s day and canceled gym memberships. It’s starting to feel like people are more and more hesitant to make New Year’s resolutions because they are more known for being broken than for...
Three Key Elements of Authentic Leadership
Three Key Elements of Authentic LeadershipSimple, human-centered practices for leading well in uncertain times by Abbey Johnston & Greg Mutch | January 2026 We teach what we need. In leadership, the most valuable lessons often come from what we ourselves need to learn. Right now, with so much uncertainty in the world—shifting markets,...
The Feedback Shift
The Feedback ShiftMoving from Judgment to Curiosity by Abbey Johnston | October 21, 2025 Last month on the blog, Greg talked about “The Story I Make Up” - how our brains are constantly creating narratives to make sense of the world around us. It is so easy to fill in the gaps about other people’s actions: maybe a colleague missed a...
The Story I Make Up
The Story I Make UpWhen Our Brains Become Unreliable Narrators by Greg Mutch | September 2025 Two scenarios. Same brain. Last Tuesday, I sent a text to my business partner Abbey about rescheduling our weekly check-in. Her response? "Ok." That's it. Just "Ok." Immediately, my brain went to work: She's annoyed. I'm being flaky again. She...
Circle Magic
Circle MagicThe Power of Turning Toward One Another by Kari Bergman | August 2025 I fell in love with our work while sitting in a circle. In 2013, I attended a training called Coaching for Transformation. When I walked into the hotel conference room with wildly patterned carpet (you know the type), it was set up in a huge circle of chairs....
I Spy With My Little Eye…Bias
I Spy With My Little Eye... BiasHow cognitive biases shape what we see (and what we miss) about the people around us by Kat Schulte | July 2025 Recently I was at breakfast with my youngest son Emmet and our little 6-year-old friend EJ. We were having an el fresco breakfast at a lovely tropical vacation spot, and I was already soaking up the view...
We All Think We’re Good Listeners (We’re Probably Not)
We All Think We're Good Listeners (We're Probably Not)Why better listening might be the leadership superpower you’re overlooking Here at AGC we use Gallup’s Strengths assessment in a lot of work we do. One of my top 5 strengths is communication (which will surprise absolutely no one in my life, including every teacher I had throughout my...
Connection Over Perfection
Connection Over PerfectionWhy being seen — not being flawless — is the real leadership superpower. I may be a full grown adult but I love the children’s book The Velveteen Rabbit. I always have. I think it’s because it tackles this idea of becoming "real". Real is about being deeply loved and seen — even when it means becoming worn or imperfect....
Terrible Poker Players Make the Best Team Players
Terrible Poker Players Make the Best Team PlayersHow Honest Conversations Can Unlock Innovation, Trust, and Deeper Connectionsby Greg Mutch | April 2025 My inspiration is Phil Dunphy from Modern Family. In an episode we watched last night, Phil was trying to fire his brother-in-law Mitch (lawyer), and every time he tried to have a direct,...
Meetings Made Better
Meetings Made Better3 Keys to Run an Effective Team Meetingby Kari Bergman | March 2025 What if you could transmute that meeting you dread every week into a time that had both form and function …and maybe even a little fun? We have written blogs on how to rock the check-in, how to create meaningful connection, and key conversations to have...
Wellbeing at Work
Wellbeing at WorkInvesting in People for Lasting Impactby Greg Mutch | February 2025 As we were moving through the pandemic, new attention and awareness were being given to mental health and wellbeing at work. Adam Grant (I’m a fanboy) wrote an article for The New York Times that went viral – Feeling Blah During The Pandemic? It’s Called...
Building Meaningful Relationships at Work
Building Meaningful Relationships at WorkFive ways to dial up connection in the workplaceby Becca Zaagman | January 2025 Imagine walking into your parent's funeral, and seeing your entire work team there to support you. This was the reality for a member of our team in 2024, and as I sat in the pews that day I knew that this was something so...
Leading with Intention
Leading with IntentionReflections on Manage Like A Bossby KJ Tucker | November 2024Attending the Manage Like a Boss (MLAB) workshop was a transformative experience. As a leader in the nonprofit sector, I’ve always valued collaboration, but having multiple nonprofits in the same room was a unique opportunity to foster connections and share...
3 Practices to Mindfully Manage a Busy Week
3 Practices to Mindfully Manage a Busy WeekTake control of your schedule, master your tasks, and find your power zonesby Mark VanDellen | October 2024In today’s fast-paced world, the demands on our time and attention are relentless. We often find ourselves drowning in a sea of tasks, deadlines, and distractions, leaving us overwhelmed and...