Virtually every organization I work with wants their leaders to be good coaches. Gone are the days where self-oriented, command and control leaders rule the roost. The most effective leaders today understand that their success, and that of the organization, is inextricably tied to the success of their people. Leadership is an others-oriented approach, where…
If someone asks my opinion about their organization making a shift to a coaching culture, I won’t say “think again, my friend”—but I will say “let’s think this through before you go spending a lot of money on consultants and a lot of time and energy rallying the troops.” Who am I to say anything?…
Dear Madeleine, I started my career in marketing and had some great jobs, but I really became interested in the people side of things after being trained in communication and working in teams. My graduate studies were in Organizational Development. I am still at the first job I was offered—in HR as a trainer—but I…
I like how mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness. He says, “There is nothing particularly unusual or mystical about being mindful. All it involves is paying attention to your experience from moment to moment.” For the leaders I coach, much of their workday moments are spent in email, in meetings, or tap, tap, tapping on…
All over the world, leaders are using coaching to gain a competitive edge. But does coaching solve every problem one might encounter in the workplace? “No. It’s not a panacea,” says coaching expert Patricia Overland in an article for Chief Learning Officer. “Determining when coaching is a good investment can be challenging.” Overland shares a…
In a recent interview, Scott Blanchard, principal and executive vice president with The Ken Blanchard Companies identified two key competencies missing from most leadership development curriculum. “Managers need to know how to set clear goals, diagnose development levels, and determine the correct leadership style to bring out the best in people. That’s a foundational management framework,” Blanchard…
I am often asked what books I would recommend for someone who is just starting on their coaching journey. Because I am always refining my list, I asked a select group of coaches their picks for the best books for coaches—books not only about coaching but also about leadership and coaching in organizations. Below is…
A lack of self awareness is one of the biggest challenges leaders face as they step into increasingly higher management roles. “As a leader, you need to be on your best behavior all of the time,” says coaching expert Madeleine Blanchard. “What’s unfortunate is that just when a leader needs increased self awareness, the quality…
“Think about your best boss,” asks coaching expert Madeleine Blanchard. “Your best boss is a person who helped you to deliver phenomenal performance, but they also helped you to really grow and develop yourself.” In a short video interview Blanchard explains that, “Managers who have no idea how to use coaching skills, or use a…
Regular communication using coaching skills is essential for bringing out the best in people. A new eBook just published by The Ken Blanchard Companies identifies coaching as the single most important managerial competency that separates highly effective managers from average ones. When leaders coach their people it has significant positive effects on employee development, performance,…