Author: Latoya Dixon, Ph.D.

If our social media footprints became our legacy, what story would they tell about who we were — and how we loved?

I’ve had something on my mind lately that I am having difficulty articulating. However, I will use this blog post as an attempt to do just that. For some reason, I keep thinking about the story our presence on social media would tell if we were not here to share our lives with others. As society spends more time sharing thoughts, perspectives, and opinions on social media than they do connecting with others in person, will what we post, like, and comment on be more of our legacy than our actual lives? If so, what does that mean for many of us? I’m not sure what prompted this thought, but it’s been weighing heavily on my mind.

We all know it – including the irony of me posting my blog here and sharing it on social media channels – the algorithm creates an echo chamber that face-to-face interactions aren’t as easily subjected to. There is no “feed” for real life, you don’t get to pick what vendors you see when you go to a retail shop, you see them all, even if you only visit some. In person, liking and commenting are complemented by facial expressions, body language, and eye contact, which are essential nonverbal communication signals. So, if we spend more time expressing our values and beliefs via social media (posting, liking, commenting), what does that mean for our impact on others and the legacy we will leave when we depart this precious life?

I also keep thinking about the ratio of time spent on social media versus time spent with other people discussing the things that interest us, our most important values, and demonstrating what we say we believe. In some ways, it seems that social media makes it easy to take a stance, but living life requires you to prove it. There’s an old saying, “I can show you better than I can tell you,” that I think is worthy of considering at a time such as this. What are we showing the world, and what are our lives, digital or otherwise, telling the world about who we are as human beings?

Our legacies are no longer restricted to our friendships and acts of service. They will now also include our digital presence, whether our commentary or posts age well or not.

For me, these wonderings aren’t a call to abandon social media or even a judgment of those who use it to share their opinions and perspectives. However, it is a signal to me that I grow to be a better person when I spend more time connecting with others in real life. While digital connections have their place and purpose, it is eye-to-eye conversations that feed my heart and soul.

I pray that I never lose sight of that, so that my legacy lives louder and deeper in the hearts of others in its most authentic form, instead of just being another tick in some echo chamber algorithm.

If you read this far, thanks for reading.

Latoya

Dear Leaders,

For years, I’ve joked with my sisters that I live by a “minimum energy standard.” Translation: if it’s after 9:00 PM, I’m either asleep or deep into my wind-down routine. I guard my bedtime closely and often miss out on late-night conversations or shows—but I’ve learned that managing my energy is one of the most important parts of showing up as my best self each day. On rare occasions, I’ll stretch past 9:30 PM, but it’s never my norm. Leadership requires energy, and I’ve discovered that being intentional about how I protect and replenish mine makes all the difference.

So how can leaders manage their energy more effectively?

• Know your energy givers and drainers. Pay attention to which tasks, people, or environments refuel you—and which deplete you. Before you step into situations that demand a lot of energy, plan to walk in with a full tank. Build in time afterward to recharge.
• Create a routine that sustains you. My rhythm includes a 9:30 PM bedtime and a 5:30 AM wake-up. This gives me time to center myself, fit in a workout if I choose (always an energy booster), and ease into the day without rushing. Routines create consistency—and consistency fuels energy.
• Don’t overlook nutrition. Many leaders lean on coffee to jump-start the day. For years, I did too—until I stopped abruptly last April. Now, I start with sparkling water, and I’ve noticed it energizes me without the mid-afternoon crash. Small changes can shift your energy in big ways.

The energy we bring to our work is contagious. Whether it’s high or low, positive or negative, it shapes the climate around us. As leaders, we owe it to those we serve to bring our best energy—sometimes even at the cost of missing a late-night football game or show. Presence tomorrow matters more than entertainment today.

This week, pay attention to your energy. Identify what replenishes you, name what depletes you, and adjust with intention. Self-awareness in this area doesn’t just make us better leaders—it makes us better people. And as always, remember to lead with courage, heart, soul, and from the inside out.

Yours in Leadership,

Dr. Latoya Dixon

Dear Leaders,

One of the most crucial aspects of leadership is the ability to unite people around a shared purpose. Leaders break down silos, encourage collaboration, and create conditions that promote unity and togetherness. During difficult times—when it feels easier to pick sides than to find common ground—it becomes even more vital for leaders to act as bridge builders. Inspiring as it sounds, bringing people together is rarely simple. So, how do we approach the difficult work of uniting others?

• Focus on shared purpose. Instead of highlighting differences, lift up common goals. Phrases like “I think we’d both agree…” shift the tone of a conversation and remind people of what connects them rather than what divides them.
• Seek to understand, not override. Emphasizing shared purpose does not mean ignoring strong opinions. Authentic listening shows respect and ensures others don’t feel dismissed. Approach every perspective with curiosity, not defensiveness.
• Let emotions inform, not control. Emotions are natural responses—whether joy, frustration, or stress. Effective leaders use them as data points, not directives. By responding rather than reacting, we set the tone for steady, thoughtful decision-making.

Bringing people together to solve complex challenges isn’t easy, but it’s essential. Leaders who create the conditions for productive conversations, respectful debate, and collaborative problem-solving set a powerful example. They don’t choose sides or alienate groups. Instead, they remind everyone that we are one team, pursuing the same mission, and that our strength lies in collective wisdom and effort.

This week, I encourage you to practice being a bridge builder. Create spaces for dialogue, collaboration, and shared problem-solving. Show your team that unity—not individualism—is the true strength of leadership. And as always, lead with courage, heart, soul, and from the inside out.

Yours in Leadership,

Dr. Latoya Dixon

P.S. Need help planning for a bridge-building conversation? Check out my free Bridge Building tool under Resources!

Dear Leaders,

We’ve all experienced moments where a word of encouragement changed everything, moments when someone’s belief in us helped us push past doubt, try again, or take a leap we weren’t sure we were ready for. Encouragement is one of the most powerful tools we have as leaders, and yet, in the urgency of solving problems or achieving results, it’s easy to underestimate its importance. Recently, I reflected on the differences between encouragement and admonishment and reached this conclusion: Encouragement fosters progress. Admonishment points out problems. In our daily work to get things done, it’s easy to focus on completing our to-do list and overlook the opportunities we have to encourage others. As leaders, one of our main responsibilities is to build capacity in others, and encouragement can serve as the foundation for that. So why should leaders focus on encouraging others?

1. Encouragement builds trust. When people feel encouraged, they are more likely to take risks, admit mistakes, and try again. A simple, “You can do this,” can send a powerful message of belief in someone’s abilities. Encouragement strengthens effort, progress, and potential. When leaders genuinely encourage others, they focus on what is going well, which boosts inner motivation. This approach is key to inspiring others to persist through difficult tasks.
2. Encouragement builds a positive culture. When leaders center their communication around what’s possible rather than what can’t be done, they create a culture where others focus on success rather than complaints. Leaders who model encouragement help build a culture that centers on growth and mutual support, all while making others feel seen, valued, and heard, but also energized.
3. Encouragement recognizes the person, not just the problem. While admonishment highlights what’s wrong, encouragement emphasizes what can be done to move from problem to solution. It’s action-oriented and gives people space to learn without being defined by mistakes.

Leading with encouragement doesn’t mean neglecting challenges or avoiding essential feedback. How we deliver feedback is vital. When we emphasize encouragement, we create a culture where people are more inclined to take ownership, are receptive to growth, and feel connected to their work and each other.

This week, I encourage you to pause and notice someone’s effort, not just their results. Offer words that lift, not just correct. You might be surprised by how far this kind of leadership can go. Most importantly, ensure your encouragement is genuine and heartfelt, and remember to lead with courage, heart, soul, and from within.

Yours in Leadership,

Dr. Latoya Dixon

It’s been a very long time since I’ve written a blog. I’m not sure why that’s the case. I could point to being busy with work and life, but that would be an excuse. For whatever reason, I’ve been in a place of pause -thinking, reflecting, praying, and searching within to reach a place of personal peace and spiritual calm, and I think I’m finally there. I’m not wondering or trying to figure anything out at all. I’m present, and that’s a good feeling.

I’ve got some work to do to get back in shape-and I’m working on that with better nutrition, a soon 30 day detox, and renewing my exercise routine. While my body work is in progress, my mind, heart, and spiritual work is in a good place. I’m glad about that, especially given how unsettled the world feels right now for many of us.

Searching within to renew and reaffirm my sense of purpose and promise has given me a sense of peace that could not be found any other way. It’s been an interesting process. I’ve had to learn to listen within and clear outside noise and distraction. It’s made me grateful for the way my Momma raised us: to think for ourselves and make our own decisions, consulting God, for ultimate guidance and wisdom. My courage has grown and I’ve had to exercise bravery to make some decisions about what’s best for me right now, and not allow myself to be influenced by the perspective of others. I’m actually proud of myself for not giving in to what felt like pressure from a variety of people for a variety of reasons. I’m thankful for being strong enough to listen to my gut, and moreover, trust myself more than any outside influences.

This process has been long and challenging but my sense of purpose remains unchanged, to give this world my best in order to build hope and help others -personally and professionally. I promised myself to always think for myself at a very young age in the throws of my teenage years and it’s a promise I’ve kept in spite of how challenging it has been from time to time. Make no mistake, no matter how old or experienced we are, balancing what others think or might think with what we believe is best for ourselves can be a lifelong challenge that many of us struggle with along our journey. And I make no judgement about those who have succumbed to the pressure to meet the expectations of others or what some may perceive to be right for you. I understand how challenging that can be, even as an adult.

But for me, I have determined that my purpose will never require me to compromise my promise to always make my own decisions in consultation with God. Where my purpose and promise align, is where I pray I will always be. The best is yet to come!

Until next time, be you, be true, and be a hope builder!

Latoya

In the middle of my workout yesterday, I had this thought pop into my mind: Persistence is the ability to stay with the pursuit of a goal without losing optimism and the belief that one can be successful. It requires endurance, resilience, discipline, and commitment. Learn how to persists no matter what, and you can accomplish anything.

I immediately had the urge to stop and write it down, but I didn’t need to interrupt my workout. As I continued to ponder this thought, I had so many life experiences cross my mind, particularly those where I could easily apply this concept: growing up in poverty, earning my college degrees, working as an educator, and losing weight and becoming more fit. It hit me that too often folks miscalculate what separates those who experience success and accomplish their goals versus those who do not. To me, it’s quite simple: they give up too soon. Staying with something, especially something that is challenging, is more difficult than it sounds. We’ve all heard it: Never give up. But I’m not so sure that’s the only reason for folks not making their dreams come true. Instead, I’m convinced that far too many of us are quick to give in, and by that I mean we give in to the opinions of others, the idea that because something has never happened, it can’t happen for us, to the ideas that others might have for our lives instead of our own, to temporary feelings of exhaustion, despair, and sadness. Giving in and giving up are not the same. Giving up requires a conscious willingness to acknowledge you no longer wish to pursue your goals. Giving in is more like a distraction. You allow other things to take precedent over what’s most important to you, you lose your way because you lose your focus, and before you know it, that thing you said you wanted is somewhere in the distant background.

Our attention is a masterful tool that can help us bring our desires to fruition. How we spend our time, what we choose to focus on and think about, who we select to spend time with and what we choose to spend energy on, are all very important predictors of our ability to persist. To live with intention is a goal I have for myself, one that I feel certain will require continuous work. Redirecting our attention to the things that matter to and for us as individuals can help us persist. For the past few years, I’ve practiced a 90 day social media detox, usually beginning in October and ending in December. I’ve done this for many reasons, but one that stands out to me is the amout of time I can easily spend engrossed in other people’s posts, comments, and likes, and how that time could be spent on the things that matter most to me, the goals I’ve set for myself, or the dreams I still want to make true.

It seems the older I get, the more important this becomes to me. I want to make sure I’m doing the things that matter the most, spending my time on and with the people who are important to my life, and on the things that bring me joy. I want to practice this kind of persistence because it can help me stay optimistic and productive. I can reduce the probability of regret and resentment, and most of all I can match my life with my intentions.

That’s the ultimate goal: to live with purpose on purpose and for a purpose that matters to me.

Y’all be easy,

Latoya

I remember the day I met Dr. Rose Wilder vividly. I was sitting in the State Superintendent’s Office for a meeting with her. We wanted to ask her if she would be interested in coming out of retirement and doing some work for us in places where we knew experience, wisdom, and help was needed. She had a poised demeanor, and a confident but comforting tone to her voice. She could hold a gaze and her smile made me smile too. As they chatted, I listened, and inserted myself in the conversation as invited. I recognized that she was the one we needed and I hoped she would say yes. I was thrilled when she agreed to serve as superintendent in one of the state’s take over districts.

Upon beginning our work there, I traveled to Williamsburg routinely to check in and on the progress of things we were working to rectify. It wasn’t long before I figured out I wasn’t the one doing the teaching. Instead, I was being educated by Dr. Rose H. Wilder. As the state superintendent’s liaison, I had responsibilities and tasks that I had to make sure were completed. Turns out Dr.Wilder didn’t need my help. She was wise, experienced, and had a heart for the work. She was led by the need to serve-not anything else. After a few months, I couldn’t soak up enough of her knowledge, her wisdom, her wit, or her leadership. Every time I was with her for a visit, I took notes-either mentally or physically, because I wanted to make sure I never forgot what she was teaching me.

To be clear, I’ve had other folks to invest in my growth and development-many of whom I have reported to and who evaluated me, but Dr. Wilder was different. When she told me she believed in me and my abilities, I believed her. When I looked at her and listened to her, I saw that I could do what she said I could do. I saw someone who looked like me, had battled the things that make my heart the heaviest, and she was victorious. She understood me. She didn’t need to be convinced that what I faced was my reality, and she had experiences that I could connect to and learn from.

I found myself routinely in awe of her. I remember visiting one time and as we chatted, I learned we were members of the same sorority (Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.). At some point in my asking her as many questions as I could fit in a single visit, she shared with me that she was the first African-American female superintendent in South Carolina, named in 1994, and the only one for seven years thereafter. I remember asking her how she felt about that and how she survived what had to come with that, and her responses will forever be something I treasure. She made it clear. The work we do is for children-not adults. Keep the students in focus and you will be able to do what needs to be done.

Each time I visited, we would share a meal. It was a standard part of our time together. In between the work, we ate, and I shared stories of my Momma and her rearing, my family, and my battles. She shared stories of her daughter, her grandson, and husband. She was proud of her family and I was proud of mine. We talked about being natural, our hair care, and how much she loved her sister locs. In her I could see what’s possible, and I knew I always had someone to call for guidance, direction, encouragement, support, and correction-without judgement. She never hesitated to set me straight if it was needed, but I always knew it was from a place of love, and I listened to her because of that.

Dr. Wilder transitioned to heaven on Tuesday morning. I sat quietly in my office and wept. I thought about how much I would miss her, how blessed I was to have had the opportunity to know her, and how very much I loved her and hoped she knew it. I told her often-over phone, email, and text, but there would be no more of those. Her race has been run, and very well so. Her legacy will remain in the many lives she touched, mine included, and I hope I will do her proud.

I was texting with my Momma once I learned of her death, and my mothers’s message gave me the comfort I needed. I share a portion of it here for your reading: “So sorry to hear that. God saw fit for her be in your life for a season. I know she did everything that God wanted her to do for you. You can take it from here. She gave you the foundation to get your start. She will be looking down on you and feeling very proud.” I can remember her always telling me that she would tell others to give her their hearts when they seemed to lose focus, get stuck in a rut of complaining , or get lost in the real reason we do what we do.

Dr. Wilder-My heart is yours. I promise to make you proud. Rest well and in eternal peace.

I absolutely love you.

Latoya

I have high hopes that the title of this blog intrigued you enough to have you click on the post and read it. I hate to do this, but I need to confess something right now. If you decided to read this because you thought I might actually offer some philosophical wisdom that would blow your mind, you need to know this is not that blog. There really isn’t some magical secret to success. In fact, what I have to offer here is incredibly simple in logic, but challenging for so many to execute.

Success isn’t about personality, popularity, or your ability to “play the game.” It has nothing to do with being most liked, admired, or even dressing the part. It’s my opinion that too many folks have the wrong perception of leadership, attaching things like charisma, charm, and the ability to schmooze with the right folks to it. Leadership is not an act. It is who you are, what you believe and stand for, how you behave and treat others, and what you are not willing to accept. It’s about having a standard of expectation for yourself, no matter who your boss is, where you work, or what you do. It starts and ends with you.

Highly successful leaders get the simple things right and they do so consistently. Here’s my list of things that I believe make the biggest difference in how we succeed in anything we do, personally or professionally:

1. Work hard. Take pride in what you do because it is a reflection of you, your character, and your values. Be diligent, conscientious, and proactive. Most of all be consistent in your performance. Excellence isn’t a sometime thing.

2. Deliver high quality work. Never confuse getting something done with doing something well. Speed is not a factor in success unless you are on a track running a race in which you must sprint. In leadership, delivering quality work is far more important than showing that you can do something quickly. Every time you produce something, assess it for quality. Make sure the quality meets the standard of excellence that you want associated with your professional reputation.

3. Be consistent. When you work hard and deliver high quality work over and over again, you cement an expectation from others that you can be trusted to not only do the work, but to do it well. That’s what sets some people apart from others. While some individuals treat their work like a list of tasks to check off, others see quality as much more important than compliance. Doing it well, whatever it is, matters more to them than getting it done, and because of that they work to do their very best on a consistent basis.

4. Go above and beyond what is expected of you. Successful people don’t obsess over the minimum requirements for anything. They live their lives in a way that exceeding the baseline is their standard. They live and work above average, going beyond what is required of them because they value doing their best. Let me be clear. They do not benchmark their performance against others. They are only in competition with themselves. Their goal is to draw out the very best of themselves. Their only competition is the person looking back at them in the mirror!

5. They are positive. I’ve yet to meet a successful leader who complains about everything, or can turn a joyous occasion into a miserable one with negative energy and commentary. They understand that optimism is a key to being successful. They seek out joy and find the bright side even in a challenging situations. This isn’t because they are into toxic positivity. It’s because they know and understand that negativity-in attitude, mindset, energy, or behavior, has never resulted in something great and powerful happening for an organization. Grouchy and grumpy people don’t make anything better or anyone feel better. It’s really that simple.

So that’s it. That’s the secret in my opinion. As simple as those things sound, they are incredibly challenging to execute on a consistent basis. My challenge to you, and me, is to show up and nail 1-5 every day. If we can do that, success will meet us at the top of our potential! I’ll see you there!

Until next time-be you, be true, be a hope builder!

Latoya