Development

The header of today's blog is one by Stephen Covey's, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. In other words, before jumping to solutions, always strive to make sure are you are focusing on the right issue. By mastering the art of effective questioning, we can become problem solvers, coaches, and leaders. As a quick reminder, here are a few rules to follow: Avoid questions that will result in a yes or no response Avoid questions with hidden solutions Avoid multiple choice questions Ask open-ended questions: What is your desired outcome? What you have you already tried? Why is this important to you? What would this mean to you? What are you willing to commit to? As a leader, there exists [...]

In every organization the leader is faced with the challenge of delegating. It could be a task, managing a project, executing a large initiative, but it's not always the leader who is involved. In fact, in my cases the leader most likely is not the best person for the job. When considering whether a team member is the right fit for a possible task, here are a few things to ask yourself: Do they have the time? Is this something they’ve expressed interest in? Do they have the skills needed to complete the task effectively? How much coaching, if any, is required? Do they typically meet deadlines? Will they work well with others? It is critically important that you clarify [...]