Insights: CEO Coaching
Measuring Corporate Sustainability: The Wild West
Over a year ago, I decided to find out what it takes to lead a successful company that has a strong social or environmental purpose baked into its business activities. Interest in this area has surged in recent years, and many organizations are embracing the pursuit of impactful change. But understanding the full picture of […]
Managing Status in the Medical Community
I once attended a gathering to celebrate the opening of a new, expensive university facility. Since I had been affiliated with the organization for several years, I decided to introduce myself to one of the senior leaders whom I had not met. We spoke briefly, but the moment he realized I was not a wealthy […]
Four Elements of a Great Presentation
The longer I’m in the coaching business, the more I realize how helpful it can be to break a skill or behavior down into its component parts. There’s something about knowing what the ingredients are—the recipe, if you will—that makes it easier to learn or improve a behavior. Several years ago a colleague and I […]
Know Your Audience
I once worked with a pharmaceutical CEO who had been presenting effectively for decades. He had passion and flair—a great salesman and engaging communicator. But for the scientific regulatory audience he was preparing to speak to, his tone was a bit too commercial. He was skilled presenting to investors and many other audiences, but he […]
Don’t Climb Alone
I recently wrote about an experience I had trekking in Nepal and how its lessons apply to leadership. Another powerful lesson came to me when I was sick, scared and alone in a remote village in the foothills of Mt. Everest. Ask for help The village of Namche Bazaar is one of the most unusual places I’ve […]
What An Old Man In Nepal Taught Me About Focus
Some years ago, I was fortunate enough to spend four weeks in Nepal, three of those weeks exploring the foothills of Mount Everest. Some memories from that time recently came into my mind, and I thought I would share a few. The power of steady focus. One of my vivid memories from Nepal is of […]
The One Universal Rule of Time Management
Most leaders wish they had more time. In this post, I share the one piece of “universal” advice I most frequently give executives to help them better manage their time and boost their productivity. Are you ready? Spend a few minutes each day planning your day, and spend an hour each week planning your week. […]
Feedback: A Recipe for Improvement
I doubt most leaders fully understand the incredible power of giving feedback, or the suffering that can result from withholding it. I’m talking about situations where a manager has important concerns about a direct report’s performance and doesn’t share them–or doesn’t share them well. Leaders worry that giving tough feedback will hurt motivation, damage relationships, […]
Habits of the Mind
We all know there are simple things we can do to have a more healthy body, like eat well, rest and exercise. But it only dawned on me recently that there is an equivalent sort of hygiene for the mind. Here are three powerful “habits of the mind” that I believe contribute powerfully to long-term […]