In a couple of my recent posts I’ve talked about managers using coach-like skills in their conversations with direct reports. Doing this often makes conversations more impactful and effective. But there are times when using a coaching style is not appropriate—when, in fact, it can be counterproductive and cause the other person to become frustrated. First…
Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Each of these one-word questions can push organizational leaders and their team members toward the clarity they need to achieve success. In this post I’d like to focus on who and what. When leaders set clear expectations, outcomes are much more likely to hit the mark. And it’s just…
Because I have been in the coaching profession for so long, I am often asked for advice about becoming a coach, both as a full-time profession and as an additional skill set. In the case of leaders as well as learning and development professionals, it does seem like an awfully good skill set to have…
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…
My son was an intern at The Ken Blanchard Companies last summer when he asked me “What do you think is the best book on leadership?” I was stumped, because there are so many wonderful books on leadership—by not only business leaders but also many other types of leaders, past and present. Let’s give a…
Most coaches work one on one with clients, but at times coaches are also hired to facilitate team performance when people come together to accomplish shared goals, make decisions, or learn new skills. Having a coach who is pulling for the good of not only the team but also each team member can help keep…
This Blanchard guest post is by Certified Professional Coach Antonio Estrada. I once conducted interview-based 360-degree assessments with three executives in the automotive industry. Coming in as a third party consultant, I perceived a cautious skepticism from the leaders under review. I decided, right at the onset, to create an environment conducive to their learning from…
Leaders work with coaches to take purposeful action in the advancement of their goals and in the interest of their organizations. But how does this really occur? Certainly not with the coach standing there, bullhorn in hand, yelling at the leader to stay on task. Instead, the coach listens carefully to what really matters to…
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…
More and more organizations are leveraging coaching internally. Whether it’s a manager coaching for performance, an HR business partner coaching for development, or a designated coach in the organization working with a variety of people, coaching helps people perform at their best. To be effective, coaches at every level need to follow five principles. Failure…