Managing during stressful times can be very challenging. Most managers will experience major change several times throughout their career. This may include a company merger, downsizing, a new senior leadership team, or new job responsibilities. Managers must cope with their own emotions and uncertainties along with those of their direct reports. Wondering what people want…
According to the 2016 Global Coaching Study by the International Coach Federation and PricewaterhouseCoopers, almost all coach practitioners (99%) reported receiving some form of coach-specific training, with a large majority (89%) receiving training that was accredited or approved by a professional coaching organization. As the availability of coach training programs has increased, so has the…
As I regularly partner with company sponsors, clients, and coaches from various cultures, I’ve realized that people from different country cultures and even organizational cultures can have different expectations of coaching. A client’s belief system and cultural perspective greatly impacts how they not only interact with their coach but also achieve goals. As a result,…
The holiday season is in full swing! In addition to preparing for holiday activities, many of us are focusing on completing year-end tasks before taking time off from work. December can be a festive, high pressure, and emotional time of the year. For example, based on an emotional reaction, a client of mine recently responded…
Looking in the mirror to see your true self can be scary. You may see behaviors that are not serving you as a leader. And once you are aware of these behaviors, there is always the big question: What are you going to do about it? A leader’s role, while serving as a role model…
I have been hearing the word grit a lot lately. It started when I purchased Angela Duckworth’s book GRIT (Scribner, 2016) in an airport bookstore this summer. In it, Angela writes “Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it.” She elaborates on the two…
A plant can be limited by a pot that’s too small. In the same way, self-imposed limiting beliefs can restrict your growth and development. People need a big container—a mind that is open—to grow. A small container—limited thinking—inhibits the ability to receive and learn new information. In order to succeed, you must develop the right…
I recently attended a presentation by consultant and business author Andy Crowe, who shared information from a survey he conducted. The survey results identified the core traits that differentiate top project managers from their peers. Crowe shared data from 860 project managers who had completed a 360-degree assessment on eight dimensions. I was surprised to…
What does it mean to be fully present with others? I am sure everyone has experienced talking to someone who was not present. Conversations with a spouse or partner come to mind. I know at times I have shared something with my spouse that I was really excited about or thought was very important and…
Change is inevitable for most organizations—especially in today’s dynamic business environment. For individuals, change may result in new responsibilities, new roles, or new leaders. When coaching clients through organizational change, we see many concerns surface due to people’s feelings of uncertainty as well as the added stress brought about by the change process. So what…