This past year has been, without question, one of the hardest seasons of my life — and also one of the most transformative. As someone who spends my days helping managers grow into better leaders, I've come to believe that the lessons that shape us most rarely show up in the ways we would expect. They show up in the messy, uncomfortable, real parts of life. Here's what this season taught me — and why I think every manager needs to hear it too.

Free snacks. A ping pong table. A "fun" messaging channel. When people talk about workplace culture, these are often the first things that come to mind. But if you're a manager trying to build a team that actually performs — and stays — those perks aren't the point.

Workplace complaints and investigations are often talked about in terms of process, risk, and compliance—but what doesn’t get talked about enough is the human side of it all. Here’s what to do (and what not to do) during a workplace complaint…