Executive Presence Series: The Power of Conviction
Executive presence is not necessarily about being the loudest in the room (*caveat below). I think we all know loud people who do not make the right impression, just how we can all think of quieter, yet compelling leaders. Different people can still have executive...
Beware the trap of “all-or-nothing” thinking
Sarah is a star performer, by all objective measures. In the past 4 years, she has been promoted twice, the last time to manage a team of 50 people. And yet, when she came to me, Sarah revealed her deep insecurities about not being good enough. Because Sarah was...
Why listening is deceptively simple and surprisingly powerful
A few years ago a client of mine came into a coaching session and pretty much talked nonstop for a full hour. I interjected very little, except to really give him my full attention and ask one or two questions. At the end he got up from his chair exclaiming: "Thank...
You might want to reconsider your stance on positive feedback
“My boss is not really the type to tell me what I do well. He’s more in the camp of ‘no news is good news’”—a client told me last week. If you find yourself in the description of this boss, you might want to reconsider your approach.
You might want to reconsider your stance on positive feedback
“My boss is not really the type to tell me what I do well. He’s more in the camp of ‘no news is good news’”—a client told me last week. If you find yourself in the description of this boss, you might want to reconsider your approach.
Bridging the Gap: Jennifer Lynch on Relational Creativity
In my “Bridging the Gap” articles, I will interview people in academia who are researching leadership and organizational psychology, so that, as practitioners, we can learn from and apply their insights. Jennifer Lynch is a former McKinsey consultant who now...
When your strength becomes a liability
Tina is an excellent lawyer: smart, technically competent, and empathetic; clients love working with her. However, her tendency to put herself in the shoes of her juniors also means that she avoids providing tough feedback to them because it makes them feel...
Executive Presence Series: Connect with your audience
A couple of weeks ago I took a two-day class: it was one of those rare occurrences which, in a small yet important way, changed my life. The workshop—on “finding your voice”—was offered by the business arm of The Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts (RADA) and it was...