Coaching

We are well aware how critical communication is, in particular verbal communication. Words are powerful and carry plenty of weight. The weight is heavier when you are the leader. Tony Robbins stated, "To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others." Verbal communication is about being clear in what you say when speaking to groups and/or individuals. Effective communication involves not just talking, but also carefully listening. Here are some tips to follow to improve your verbal communication: Make an effort to put yourself in the other person’s role and anticipate how your communication is likely to be received. [...]

“Leadership is going somewhere -- if you and your people don’t know where you are going, your leadership doesn’t matter.” Alice learned this lesson in Alice in Wonderland.  She was searching for a way out of Wonderland when she came to a fork in the road. She confronted the Cheshire Cat and asked “Would you please tell me which way I ought to go from here?”  The cat responded, “That depends on where you want to go.”  Alice replied that she really didn’t care much.  The smiling cat told her, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” We need to be careful when our vision statement is in a file or on a wall for declaration.  It should be [...]

Let me ask you a question, "Did you get here alone?  Are you really self-made?"  Probably not. Am I right?  Whatever we have accomplished up to this point in life, it’s likely the result of someone helping guide you. It may have been a coach, a boss, a co-worker, teacher or a parent -- and maybe several people. As leaders, we make investments and decisions on a daily basis. When we decide to invest our time in mentoring someone, we expand the enterprise, we help move it forward.  In the book, “The Leadership Challenge,” authors Kouzes and Pozner state “Leaders are pioneers; they guide us to new and often unfamiliar destinations.  Leaders move us forward.” The positive result of mentoring [...]

Steven R. Covey the late author of, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People noted, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." I believe it is true that  individuals and companies with too many priorities have no priorities and are at risk of spinning their wheels. In turn, laser -focusing everyone on a single priority--today, this week, this month, quarter, etc. creates the clarity and power throughout the organization. As leaders, one of our responsibilities is to obtain from team members alignment on what is the priority. For example, "If we could do only one thing this week, month, quarter what would that be?" Get agreement, get commitment and start the plan. We all spend plenty of [...]