Welcome to the May edition of The Wingdale Harbors Leadership Brief. This month, we are diving deep into the themes that define high-performing leadership in 2026: the courage to serve, the discipline to adapt, and the vision to build something that outlasts you.
I have been writing extensively this spring about the intersection of leadership, inclusion, and organizational effectiveness. If you have not visited the blog recently, there is a wealth of new content waiting for you—each piece drawing from the frameworks in my six books and connecting them to the challenges you are facing right now.
Here are the highlights I am most excited to share with you this month.
🎯 Featured: Servant Leadership Reimagined
If you read only one article this month, make it this one. Servant Leadership Is the Most Misunderstood—and Most Effective—Leadership Model tackles one of the biggest misconceptions in leadership development. Servant leadership is not about being passive or self-sacrificing. It is about building organizations where people do their best work because their leaders have cleared the path. I unpack the five commitments of servant leaders and connect them to the LEADERSHIP model from New-School Leadership.
🧠 On Leadership & Teams
Psychological Safety Is Not About Being Nice—It Is About Being Brave
Google’s Project Aristotle identified psychological safety as the number one factor in high-performing teams. But most leaders misunderstand what it actually requires. This piece explores the difference between comfortable environments and courageous ones—and offers a practical playbook for building both.
Emotional Intelligence: The Leadership Edge No One Talks About
In a world obsessed with AI and hard skills, emotional intelligence remains the most reliable predictor of leadership effectiveness. I explore why EQ matters more than ever and how to develop it deliberately.
Board Governance in the Modern Era: Why Diverse Boards Are Better Boards
The evidence is overwhelming: diverse boards make better decisions and create more long-term value. I examine why progress has stalled and offer a practical framework for governance committees ready to act.
🌍 On Inclusion & Organizational Culture
DEI in the Age of AI: What Leaders Must Know to Avoid a New Kind of Bias
AI is transforming how we hire, promote, and evaluate talent. Without deliberate intervention, it will also automate our biases at unprecedented scale. A must-read for any leader deploying AI in people processes.
Mentorship vs. Sponsorship: The Distinction That Can Make or Break Diverse Talent
Everyone talks about mentorship. But sponsorship—using your power to create opportunities for others—is what actually changes careers. I break down the critical difference and explain how to build a sponsorship culture.
Hybrid Work and the Inclusion Imperative
Hybrid work promised the best of both worlds. Without intentional design, it risks creating a two-tier workforce. This article examines proximity bias and offers strategies for equitable flexible work.
Beyond the Dashboard: What DEI Metrics Actually Matter
Most organizations measure DEI activity, not impact. I share the six metrics that matter most and how to build real accountability around them.
🚀 On Career & Personal Growth
Resilience Is Not Enough: Why Adaptability Is the Real Leadership Superpower
We celebrate bouncing back. But the leaders who thrive in constant disruption have mastered something different: bouncing forward. I introduce the five dimensions of adaptability and how to develop each one.
The Executive’s Guide to Personal Branding
Your personal brand already exists in the minds of everyone you have worked with. The question is whether you are managing it deliberately. A practical framework for clarity, consistency, and courage.
Career Reinvention After 40
If you are feeling restless, underutilized, or wondering whether your best professional chapter is behind you—it probably is not. This article draws from Make It Happen to offer a roadmap for meaningful reinvention.
Building a Legacy: The Leadership That Outlasts You
The true measure of leadership is not what happens while you are in charge. It is what happens after you leave. Three practices you can start today to build leadership that endures.
🏢 For Association Leaders
Rethinking Member Engagement in a Digital Age
The traditional value proposition of associations is under siege. I share five strategies for reinventing engagement—from personalization to community-building—that forward-thinking association leaders are using right now.
Digital Transformation for Associations: A Survival Guide
If your association has not begun its digital transformation, you are already behind. This survival guide covers the four pillars of digital readiness and how to build organizational buy-in.
📚 From My Bookshelf to Yours
Every article I write draws from the frameworks in my six books. If a particular piece resonated with you, here is where to go deeper:
- On the Big Six Formula for DEI: Diversity & Inclusion: The Big Six Formula for Success and The Inclusion Solution
- On the LEADERSHIP model: New-School Leadership: Making a Difference in the 21st Century
- On career reinvention: Make It Happen: 12 Steps to Reimagining Success
- On purpose and building blocks: Where Is Your Why?: A Formula of Building Blocks to Attain Success
- On association management: Association Management Excellence
All six are available on Amazon.
🌐 Work With Me
If any of this month’s content sparked ideas for your organization, there are several ways we can work together:
- Online Courses — Self-paced learning on leadership, DEI, and career development
- Corporate Training — Customized programs for your leadership team
- Executive Advisory — One-on-one strategic guidance for senior leaders
- Keynote Speaking — Inspire your next conference, retreat, or leadership summit
Until next month—keep leading with purpose.
D.A. Abrams