The leadership framework
PRESENCE™ offers eight connected keys for how leaders show up over time.
See the PRESENCE FrameworkPEACE Emotional Reset Formula™
A steadier response in a demanding moment.
Demanding moments can narrow your choices. PEACE is a practical reset process for creating a little space between what happens and how you respond.
Work with real leadership situations: the tense email, the competing priority, and the conversation that needs both clarity and care.
Explore PEACE™ Training for Your Team(opens booking calendar in a new tab)Create space for your next response.
Pause. Engage. Affirm. Connect. Elevate. Use the sequence to notice the moment, acknowledge what matters, and choose a next step with care and clarity.
Pause
Create a brief space before reacting, so pressure does not choose your words for you.
Engage
Turn toward what is happening—the facts, the person, and your own response—rather than avoiding it.
Affirm
Acknowledge what matters: the concern, the effort, or the value you want to protect.
Connect
Re-establish enough trust and clarity to move the conversation forward together.
Elevate
Choose the next response that reflects the leader you intend to be.
A difficult email. A more intentional reply.
Illustrative scenario: an email questions your team’s decision, and your first impulse is to defend it immediately.
- Pause: Step back briefly before sending a reply. Notice your initial reaction.
- Engage: Read for the actual concern and separate the facts from your assumptions.
- Affirm: Acknowledge the issue that matters, such as the effect of the decision on someone’s workload.
- Connect: Ask a clarifying question or invite a conversation to understand the concern.
- Elevate: Choose a clear next step that reflects your leadership values while keeping responsibilities and expectations honest.
This is an example of applying the sequence, not a proprietary script. The aim is not to suppress emotion or avoid accountability; it is to respond with greater intention.
A participant’s anticipated usefulness
“Having an acronym to use in the heat of a stressful moment is going to be extremely helpful!”
For leaders navigating demanding human moments.
Designed for managers, school nutrition and district leaders, frontline supervisors, and teams whose responsibilities include difficult conversations and competing needs.
- Preparing for a tense conversation rather than reacting in the moment.
- Receiving feedback or an email that brings up frustration.
- Responding to a team member’s concern while keeping standards clear.
- Noticing stress and choosing how to communicate under pressure.
What a team experience can focus on.
Your audience’s priorities shape the experience. Participants will have opportunities to…
- Recognize personal signals that an emotional response is rising.
- Use the five-step PEACE sequence in an illustrative workplace situation.
- Practice acknowledgment and clarifying questions without abandoning accountability.
- Choose a response or follow-up action to bring into everyday leadership.
A reset within a broader leadership practice.
A facilitated workshop can make room for shared situations, reflection, and practice. PEACE may also support a keynote or broader development experience when it fits the agreed scope.
The flagship experience
The Power of Your Presence™ introduces practical leadership awareness and intentional responses.
Explore the keynoteDeeper development
Discuss coaching or team development that supports continued application.
Explore leadership developmentBring the reset into your team’s work
A facilitated workshop uses discussion and relevant situations to work through the five steps. Delivery is available nationwide and virtually; timing and materials are defined with your planning team.
Buyer questions
What does PEACE stand for?
PEACE stands for Pause, Engage, Affirm, Connect, and Elevate.
Is PEACE therapy or burnout treatment?
No. It is a practical leadership reset process, not therapy, a clinically validated treatment, or a substitute for professional care. Training does not guarantee burnout prevention.
Can our team practice together?
A facilitated workshop can explore relevant workplace situations and intentional responses. Donna and your planning team agree on the scope and learning objectives.
Can this connect to a keynote?
Yes, when it fits the audience and agreed scope. PEACE is the emotional reset formula; the keynote remains the bookable leadership experience.
How do we discuss format and availability?
Use the consultation calendar to share your audience, context, and goals. Duration, delivery, fees, and availability are discussed together.
Let’s talk about the leaders you are developing.
Start with a conversation about your audience, goals, and event.