Phil Jackson’s 10 Principles of Mindful Leadership I have to admit that I am not a basketball fan but was intrigued by the principles Phil Jackson (considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the US National Basketball Association), uses to achieve sporting success with his teams. They support the idea that a… Read More
We all know no one posts the best jobs. The really juicy positions usually get handed around like a treasured prize within social networks. Maybe you’ll see a notice on LinkedIn, or a posting on your alumni listserv — but probably not. The most exciting jobs have an infinite number of aspirants, so unless you’ve… Read More
According to famed developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, as we grow older, hunger for meaning animates us, making us more alive. His theory explains that each healthy human passes through eight stages of development from infancy to adulthood. The seventh stage of development typically takes places between the ages 40-64 and centres around generativity, a period… Read More
If you’re like most successful leaders, you were, in the early stages of your career, given plenty of guidance and support. You were closely monitored, coached, and mentored. But as you moved up the ladder, the sources of honest and useful feedback became fewer, and after a certain point, you were pretty much on your… Read More
(taken from an article by John Whitmore) We can’t avoid the challenge of change even if we want to. Global instability will be with us for a lifetime anyway, so what are our roles and our goals as coaches? In the immediate term there are fewer clients in the market for most of us, and… Read More
What skills should a great leader have? Stephen Fry’s Duke of Wellington was once posed the question in an episode of Blackadder. “The ability to shout. Shouting, shouting and yet more SHOUTING,” bellows the uncompromising military commander, to hilarious effect. We’ve all had bosses who seem to style themselves on military leaders, however treating the… Read More
As the boss, you have to know it all and always be in the right. Wrong. Try these simple, yet powerful words to build trust and lead with integrity We all make mistakes, say the wrong things, and misjudge a situation from time to time. But not everyone will admit their errors, especially in a… Read More
At the International Coach Federation European Conference in Italy, Robert Dilts ran a seminal session titled ‘From Coach to Awakener’. He stated that coaching is the process of helping another person perform at the peak of his or her abilities. It doesn’t presuppose that people are broken – on the contrary, it helps them identify… Read More
March 20, 2013, marks the first ever International Day of Happiness. This was decreed last year by the United Nations following a meeting on well-being attended by government officials, economists, scholars, and business and spiritual leaders from around the world. It was hosted by Bhutan, a small but visionary country which famously uses Gross National… Read More
When you delegate work to the member of the team, your job is to clearly frame success and describe the objectives. Delegation of work can be as simple as scrubbing the feature list or as complex as asking someone to take on a group-wide stretch assignment. No matter what the scale of delegation, getting out… Read More
1. I wish I hadn’t taken the job for the money. By far the biggest regret of all came from those who opted into high-paying but ultimately dissatisfying careers. Classic research proves that compensation is a “hygiene” factor, not a true motivator. What was surprising, though, were the feelings of helplessness these individuals were facing…. Read More
But is there a better way to understand the whole idea of feedback? Some new research has insights into its value and shows that many people want to hear about what they’re doing wrong. Giving feedback can be an awkward experience. Those who give it out — employers, parents, teachers — can fear the reaction… Read More
Another great example of the difference between Management and Leadership from an article by John Kotter. In more than four decades of studying businesses and consulting to organisations on how to implement new strategies, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people use the words “leadership” and “management” synonymously, and it drives me… Read More
As we spring into March, we are busy putting the final touches to our latest ILM Level 7 Open Programme in Executive Coaching & Mentoring taking place this May in Leeds. Whether you are a Senior Manager or HD/OD professional looking to develop your expertise & credibility in these fields, or want to establish coaching… Read More
The Queen, Home Secretary Theresa May and Santander bank boss Ana Botin have been declared the UK’s top three most powerful women in a BBC survey.A panel of judges compiled a list of the country’s 100 most influential females for Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. I read with keen interest yesterday, when this list was… Read More
I came across this great blog by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman and thought it expressed very neatly, why Executive Coaching and Mentoring is such a vital tool across all business sectors. So today we’re thinking of ourselves as not just Executive Coaches and Mentors, but as spot changers! We have many ways to describe… Read More
Coaching can often take unexpected turns. For many executives, a coaching session can be the first opportunity in their working lives to sit back and reflect on who they are and what they have become. It can be a powerful moment when light shines into unexpected corners. While younger managers have grown up in more… Read More