The Arcana Blog

Ideas on leadership, communication, and the work of leading well.

By Suada Cerkezi — PhD, journalist, career coach. Published several times a week.

Suada Cerkezi
Leadership Featured

What Journalism Taught Me About Leadership That Business Schools Never Will

A journalist learns to walk into any room cold, read it in seconds, and ask the one question everyone else is afraid to ask. I spent a decade doing that in North Macedonia. Here's what it taught me about how leaders actually earn trust — and why most management frameworks miss the point entirely.

Read the full post →
All Posts
Suada Cerkezi
Communication

The Communication Mistake That Costs Leaders Their Credibility

Most leaders assume communication is about delivery. It's not. It's about what you choose to say nothing about — and why that silence speaks louder than your words.

Read more →
Suada Cerkezi
Courage

Why Smart Leaders Stay Silent When They Should Speak Up

The courage deficit in leadership isn't about fear. It's about what happens when intelligence becomes a sophisticated system for avoiding discomfort.

Read more →
Coming Soon
Character

The Moment You Know Someone Is a Real Leader

It's rarely the big decisions. It's a specific kind of moment — small, pressured, and fully observed by everyone in the room.

Coming soon
Coming Soon
Courage

On Playing It Safe and What It Actually Costs You

The comfortable choice has a price. It just comes due later, and it's larger than the courageous choice ever would have been.

Coming soon
Coming Soon
Communication

The Three Sentences Every Leader Should Be Able to Say

I was wrong. I don't know. I need your help. Most leaders struggle with at least one. Here's why each one matters — and how to say them well.

Coming soon
Coming Soon
Inner Standard

Stop Leading for the Approval of People Who Aren't in the Room

Most of the decisions that are holding you back are made for an audience that doesn't exist in the present moment. Here's how to notice it — and stop.

Coming soon