Leadership coaches like to have questions handy to ask a prospective client in that first conversation. Here are a few I like to ask: If we worked together, what would you want the result to be? Why do you believe that result hasn’t happened yet? What do you believe people who have that kind of …
What should a leadership coach ask a prospective client? Read More »
Some leadership coaches who identify as “introverts” (or people who just hate selling), stare at their computer screens thinking about all those skeptical strangers they’re going to have to talk to today and start feeling a version of stage fright. Especially when they have to sell their services to so-called “powerful” leaders. What coaches love …
[This is a brief overview and some curated highlights of an article published today in “The Atlantic” by Jonathan Haidt and Eric Schmidt.] Haidt and Schmidt remind us that AI has already revolutionized the way we interact with technology, and suggest that social media platforms are no exception. In fact, they contend, with AI, social …
AI Is About to Make Social Media (MUCH) More Toxic Read More »
In Michael Singer’s Living Untethered, readers are invited to let go of their personal preferences and attachments to achieve inner peace and freedom. Singer’s book (and his whole life for that matter) draws heavily from the teachings of Eastern spiritual traditions, such as Buddhism and Taoism. This puts Living Untethered in the company of other …
“Enlightening…” Review of Michael Singer’s Living Untethered Read More »
The movie Air, the story of Nike signing Michael Jordan as its premier basketball athlete in 1984, premiered yesterday. The story is well-known: Nike was a long third globally in basketball shoes to Adidas and Converse. Sonny Vaccaro, the Nike point person for basketball athletes, convinced Phil Knight to bet their entire endorsement budget on …
Celebrating Deloris Jordan – Michael’s Loving & Visionary Mom Read More »
One of the challenges of being a leadership coach and being your own boss with no one watching over your activities, is the temptation to get pulled away from the mission and respond to everyone who wants your attention. This quote I put in my book Time Warrior is more true for coaches than anyone …
Models of human development start at the level of meeting basic needs. If all goes well this is followed by learning, growth, and fulfillment. Sometimes these models are depicted as pyramids, such as the ubiquitous Maslow Hierarchy of Needs, with the base of meeting survival needs, extending upward to the realm of ‘self-actualization.’ Generally speaking, …
A 21st Century Leader’s Trifecta: Values, Humanity, Consciousness Read More »
It has become clear to me in coaching people (including myself) that there are two fundamental principles a client must learn, practice and embrace before they can be happy and at peace on the inside, and fulfilled, engaged and flourishing on the outside. The first is “I’m upset because…” when that thought is followed by …
Pursuing a signature ‘style’ as a leader is a misplaced effort. Effective leaders care about delivering on what is needed in the moment, rather than hoping to hear, “She’s so visionary…” when being discussed among their teams. Being the leader who is required ‘now’–in real-time–distinguishes the great leader from the average. Korn Ferry’s research, drawing …
Silence can be strange, uncharted territory for both leaders and coaches. When our egos are agitated and threatened we start talking more and more, trying to fill the air with a tone of superiority and words of significance. We fear the very silence that would connect us to the people we are communicating with. I …
