The Power of the Pen: Handwritten Notes that Lead with Heart

In this powerful season premiere of Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact, Dr. Stephanie Duguid welcomes author, speaker, and heartfelt communicator Amy Wineland to kick off Season 3 with a deeply personal and transformative conversation on the impact of handwritten notes in leadership.

What starts as a story about reconnecting on Facebook becomes a movement of kindness, appreciation, and connection. Amy shares how writing letters to 580 Facebook friends—and later to grieving families and colleagues—sparked a ripple effect across lives, workplaces, and even national television. With warmth and wisdom, she explains how these sincere, tangible notes have the power to uplift morale, retain employees, boost engagement, and elevate culture—especially in a digital world craving authentic human connection.

From a nurse who saved a CEO’s handwritten note for 20 years to a leader who writes one personal note each week to a team of 1,500, Amy and Stephanie explore how small gestures of gratitude can exponentially elevate your leadership impact. You’ll also hear how this practice aligns with science—reducing stress, boosting happiness, and bringing people together.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why personal appreciation outshines pizza parties and plaques
• How to start your own note-writing habit without pressure or perfection
• Simple systems leaders can use to recognize wins, celebrate people, and build stronger teams
• How to use sticky notes, paper plates, and even team time to inspire handwritten praise
• Why this practice is especially powerful for millennial and Gen Z teams craving genuine connection

Amy and Dr. Stephanie also reflect on the lasting legacy of their mothers, both of whom led through handwritten kindness and intentional gratitude. Whether you're a school principal, business owner, or aspiring leader, this episode offers both inspiration and a clear call to action.

Challenge for Leaders:
Write one handwritten note a week to a team member acknowledging something specific—an effort, a milestone, or just their presence.

💌 Because in leadership, the smallest notes often carry the greatest weight.

 

Guest Info:

 

Amy Wienland

Amy Weinland Daughters is a keynote speaker, letter writer, satirist, sports journalist, and the award-winning author of two books: Dear Dana: That time I went crazy and wrote all 580 of my Facebook friends a handwritten letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A true story that never happened. She is absolutely convinced that when human beings connect individually in a meaningful way that nothing can separate them.

 

Website: https://www.amydaughters.com/