By: Priya Deshmukh

The Conversation Leaders Have Been Avoiding

For years, Debbie Forcier Lynn has listened to the way leaders talk. She has heard the polished phrases, the polite exchanges, the careful avoidance of anything that might feel uncomfortable. And she has watched teams struggle not because they disagreed, but because no one ever reached the heart of the matter.

This is where Debbie’s idea of Breakthrough Communication began. In her view, real communication does not happen when everyone smiles and nods. It happens when people finally stop performing and start being present. Breakthrough moments emerge when leaders choose truth over comfort, clarity over politeness, and connection over caution.

Debbie describes these moments as the turning point where alignment becomes real. Instead of trying to manage impressions, leaders learn to speak with honesty and emotional responsibility. When that shift happens, trust has the potential to grow. Conversations can shape culture, not distract from it. Breakthrough Communication is more than a method. It is a way of leading with courage.

Leadership That Does, Not Just Says

Throughout The Expansion Factor, Debbie challenges the idea that leadership is defined by position or seniority. She believes leadership is defined by action. She calls this approach Action-Based Leadership, and she describes it as a living practice built from consistency, presence, and accountability.

According to Debbie, traditional models focus on authority and status. They reward people for holding titles, not for following through. Action-Based Leadership flips this idea on its head. It asks leaders to become responsible for the energy they bring into a room and for the effect their choices have on others. It asks them to stand with their teams, not above them.

Debbie describes it as a magnetic way of leading. People are drawn to leaders who keep their word, who hold themselves accountable, and who show up the same way in every setting. In a world filled with burnout and rapid changes, this steadiness becomes a source of comfort. It creates cultures where people stay because they feel seen and supported.

The Blocks Leaders Pretend Not to Have

One theme Debbie refuses to soften is the reality that every leader carries blind spots. Many avoid them. Some pretend they do not exist. Debbie teaches that the avoidance itself becomes a block.

Her book offers tools that help leaders understand their patterns and reactions. She encourages them to pay attention to their emotional triggers. These moments, often dismissed as inconvenient or embarrassing, are to Debbie rich with information. They reveal beliefs that shape behavior. They highlight fears that influence leadership choices. They uncover what she calls unconscious scripts, the quiet stories running in the background.

Debbie’s strategies include the Expansion Audit, breathwork, Thought Shifters, and a four-step process she names Recognize, Redefine, Release, Replace. These practices help leaders move from reaction to awareness, which then shifts how they communicate, how they follow through, and how they connect with others. She believes that genuine expansion begins when leaders stop sabotaging themselves.

Turning Principles Into Cultural Change

Debbie’s ideas are not theoretical. Through her company, Cultural Alignment Solutions, she works directly with organizations that want to build healthier cultures. She brings the principles of The Expansion Factor into leadership programs, team development sessions, and executive coaching environments.

Her focus is on what she calls Whole Self Leadership. Leaders learn to understand their emotional landscape, their nervous system responses, and their internal energy. They also learn how these elements influence every decision they make. Debbie believes that when leaders regulate themselves, they build teams that trust their environment. Stability is felt. Alignment becomes a habit.

Her goal is to help organizations move away from short-term fixes and toward leadership that is sustainable. She wants people to leave her programs not with a checklist, but with a way of leading that transforms their culture from within.

Where Real Accountability Begins

When leaders ask her where they should begin, Debbie always starts with presence. Leadership begins in the moment. It begins with how someone listens, how they respond, and how they hold themselves accountable.

She encourages leaders to strengthen three habits: action, accountability, and follow-up. One-on-one conversations are a key part of this practice. Debbie teaches leaders to turn these meetings into opportunities to build ownership, not simply discuss tasks.

Her signature line often catches people by surprise. If you are not seeing accountability in your team, consider where you might not be fully accountable yourself. For those ready for an even deeper truth, she adds that a struggling team is often a mirror reflecting a struggling leader. Debbie stresses that this insight is not meant to shame anyone. It is meant to empower them. Because the moment a leader takes ownership is the moment transformation becomes possible.

A Book for Leaders Ready to Grow in New Ways

The Expansion Factor does not follow the path of typical leadership books. It is less about strategies and more about self-awareness. It does not offer shortcuts. It offers honesty. Debbie invites leaders to examine what they believe, how they behave, and how they show up for the people depending on them.

Her message is simple. Leaders expand when they understand themselves. Teams expand when they trust their leaders. Cultures expand when communication becomes authentic and accountability becomes consistent.

Debbie believes that every leader carries the ability to grow in ways that ripple far beyond their title. Her work gives them the clarity to begin that growth with intention and confidence.

Discover The Expansion Factor and explore its insights. You can find your copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.