Insights: Communication
How to Be a More Diplomatic Executive, Part 1
I’m often asked to work with leaders who need to improve their ability to collaborate. Sometimes they are great at execution or great technically, but their very direct approach to communication has damaged key relationships. Other times, they may be pushing very aggressively for their own department without much awareness or concern for the success […]
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 […]
The Communication Toolbox
We all grow up with our own unique communication style. Some people by nature are very direct. They come right to the point. They tell it like it is. They don’t mince words. Other people are more diplomatic, more indirect, more subtle in their communication. Indeed, there are a variety of communication styles—quiet, loud, forceful, […]
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 […]
The Art of Receiving Feedback
Recently I wrote about the importance of giving feedback to your direct reports and others—openly, candidly and in a way that’s actionable for them. I think 50% of the feedback equation rests on the side of managers, who have to be willing and skilled in giving it. Today I want to share a few tips […]
Saving Your Job
Sometimes I coach leaders who are afraid they are at risk of being fired. They may have good evidence to support this. For example, they may have just been transferred to a different department or moved to a more junior position; or they may have gotten direct feedback from their boss, HR, or others that […]
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, […]