Coaching Archives - Page 7 of 25

Leadership and Problem-Solving.

The Sufi philosopher Azhar Khan once said “Life is a continuous succession of problems, like waves from the ocean. They never stop.” If that is true, solving problems is a critical leadership competency. Like an accident where someone is hurt you focus on caring for the injured person, stopping the bleeding, and minimizing damage before you start analyzing what and how it happened. Over the years I have learned when faced with a problem or crisis to discipline myself by intentionally staying calm, and thinking in terms of "what can be done now," rather than how it occurred and who is to blame. There will be time to reflect on the what and how and learn from that. Below are [...]

By Bob Fashano|2022-07-07T16:18:53+00:00April 14th, 2022|Coaching, Leadership|0 Comments

How effective are your one-to-one meetings?

Most leaders meet regularly with their team members; I refer to these meetings as Performance Evaluation Plan (PEP) sessions or one-to-one time. Ask open-ended questions to understand better what your team is focusing on and how you can best support them. It can be challenging to determine whether these meetings are well-invested or an ineffective checkmark. My experience has taught me not to turn this valuable time into a training session or a long, drawn-out strategy session. Instead, use this time to identify better execution, results, and behavior change. There may be some coaching and or mentoring during the PEP, so be careful not to park there too long and not get to a commitment to action. Your team member, coachee, or mentee may [...]

By Bob Fashano|2022-03-22T18:38:18+00:00March 22nd, 2022|Coaching|0 Comments

Pay or praise?

Pay or praise? For many years I thought that money was the big motivator. Well, I learned that is not always the case. I read the following quote several years ago, and this quote alone has inspired me to lead differently, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated,” William Jones. Research suggests, “pay fairly and competitively.” However, the fundamental factors in keeping the good ones are: Challenge Growth Opportunities Flexibility Meaningful Work A leader who values them They want the (non-monetary forms listed above.) Certainly, perks are valuable; they help in the recruiting process. But, research has proven good ones won’t stay because of perks. Not everyone is motivated the same. As leaders, we need [...]

By Bob Fashano|2022-02-08T20:09:23+00:00February 8th, 2022|Coaching, Development, Leadership|0 Comments

The importance of probing questions.

As leaders, we always want to ask open-ended questions that inspire dialogue and eliminate tension. Here are some strategies to use when asking probing questions. The bridge before the question: "Help me understand." "I'm curious; please share with me...." "Could you tell me more?" The questions designed for the current situation: "What are all the possible solutions you can think of?" "What is stopping you from reaching that?" "What resources could you tap into to help you?" "Who may be affected by this decision?" The questions designed for the past: "Give me some background; how did you arrive at that?" "What have you tried?" (not have you tried A, B, or C) "What do you think went wrong or happened?" The questions designed [...]

By Bob Fashano|2023-03-08T01:49:23+00:00January 31st, 2022|Coaching, Development|0 Comments

Look for opportunities to lead from the front.

There are three types of leaders: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who scratch their heads, stare out the window, and wonder, “ What Happened?” Hopefully, we are leaders who make it happen. As a reminder, we must engage with our people often. I am not referring to anything that resembles micro-managing. However, I recommend you keep your finger on the pulse of the needs and wants of your people. That is where you will find the opportunities to lead them. As you may know, a constant awareness of what needs to do, and the energy to make it happen is essential for every leader. Remember, you cannot maintain or build a healthy culture [...]

By Bob Fashano|2022-01-25T21:03:57+00:00January 26th, 2022|Coaching, Leadership|0 Comments