Development

The renowned author and anthropologist Ashley Montagu once said, “In teaching, it is the method, not the content, that conveys the message—it’s about drawing out, not pouring in.” Over the years, I’ve realized the truth of this statement: nothing can replace face-to-face, one-on-one coaching. Properly preparing for these sessions ensures a successful and meaningful outcome. Here are a few suggestions you may find helpful in your preparation. Before your meeting, take a few minutes and do the following. Review prior coaching sessions. What did you see? What did you learn? What were the action steps? Write down open-ended questions. Use active listening and inquiry. Identify the purpose of the meeting. Remind yourself to do less talking and more inquiry. See yourself as [...]

The quote, "Comparison is the thief of joy," is from Eleanor Roosevelt. When I read this many years ago, it really hit home. Like most of you, I consider myself somewhat competitive. I like to win just like the next person. As a result, I naturally tended to compare myself or my company to others. In business, I was part of a large distribution network with over 100+ organizations like mine from all over the country. The parent company would publish monthly standings based on sales. Our location was Buffalo N.Y. We would appear in the publication with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, etc. We couldn't compete with the volume of business they were doing. At times, quite frankly, [...]