As the son of a carpenter, I have a passion for woodworking. As a psychologist, I have a passion for helping people become the best version of themselves, and otherwise training managers to do likewise in concert with their direct reports. Shaping wood to create a beautiful, finished product is much like the process of promoting staff development en route to achieving their unrealized potential...both activities require understanding of helpful versus unhelpful friction. Whether enacted by a master carpenter or world-class manager, the skillful application of abrasives is an important trade secret for achieving desired outcomes.