During coaching conversations leaders often wonder: “How can I encourage my people to be more accountable?” You may feel that it’s simply a communication issue – once you learn to communicate better, problem solved. However, as we unravel the concerns around accountability, it becomes abundantly clear that trust – your lack of trust in yourself […]
Social Skills – The Human Factor at Work
Reflecting on and writing about customer service experiences has brought up the question – what is the employment experience like for those individuals who are responsible for or provide such poor service? Do they feel like valued employees? Do they even know what it feels like to be a valued employee? Do they believe that […]
What Happens when Teams Avoid Conflict?
Working with executives and their teams is my privilege and honor. I’ve observed the best of courageous leaders who lean into conflict within their teams and experience amazing breakthroughs. I’ve also witnessed good leaders who avoid conflict and let the issues fester underground. Those issues are either pushed aside, leaving the team in ambiguity and […]
7 Trends in Employee Engagement
I have been thinking about Employee Engagement a lot lately because of the conversations that I have had with prospective clients regarding the disengaged state of their teams and their employees. These leaders are genuinely nice and caring people who feel overloaded and stressed. They want to serve their people but don’t know how. Many […]
Is the Face of Employee Engagement Changing?
At times, employee engagement can seem like a state that is elusive yet is desired. With all of the press, information and activity regarding employee engagement do you ever wonder why your efforts are not more effective? Over the next few weeks we will focus on the different facets of employee engagement. We will tease […]
Executive Coaching : The Imperative
It takes courage to lead effectively. It requires a level of vulnerability that many of us are not comfortable with, yet it has become a necessity. By helping me fully claim where I am strong, using the Strengths Strategy model has led me to be more confident in naming, being open to and vulnerable in […]
The 3rd Promise: Process and Execution
During a call this morning with several Strength Strategy coaches we were discussing what makes the Strengths Strategy model so effective and unique. One coach said, “Strengths Intelligence is a universal language” and I thought, “That’s it!” For me, there is something about diving in deep with the Strengths Strategy model that is like coming […]
Engage All Stakeholders : The second promise of effective leaders
There is much written about the importance of feeling that there is meaning and purpose in our work. For those of you who have the Belief and/or Connectedness Strengths (like myself, whose Strengths are clustered in the Influencing and Relational domains) meaning, purpose and contribution to the greater good is a necessity in your life’s […]
Effective leaders have a vision: Where are we going? For the sake of what are we doing this?
Fully embracing both the challenge and opportunity to lead with your eyes wide open takes courage. No one feels fully prepared for the breath of responsibilities and skills that are needed to successfully lead people and serve the organization simultaneously — I’ve learned this in my work with talented leaders. There is an art and […]
Motivate Without Over-Managing
Over the past few weeks we have examined self-motivation. Now, what about motivating others? Could there be an overlap between what sparks self-motivation and motivation in others? What has changed in motivating others? Is this yet another area where change is needed to produce better results? How does Strengths Intelligence fit into motivating others? Many […]