Insights: Leadership
How Withholding Feedback Hurts Your Employees and Why It Matters
“I wish my manager had told me that the moment it came into her mind.” The more leaders I work with, the more I’m struck by how critically important it is to give clear, timely, granular feedback—and by how seldom it’s done. Recently I worked with two different leaders who failed to be promoted when […]
How to Be a More Diplomatic Executive, Part 3
Click here to view Part 1 and Part 2 in the series. 9. Choose Your Method of Communication Carefully. It’s good to put a filter on your brain that’s always asking, “What’s the best way to engage in this communication? Is it email, a phone call, a text message, a face-to-face conversation?” For example, if […]
How to Be a More Diplomatic Executive, Part 2
Today we continue the three-part series with four more ways to develop diplomacy. Click here for Part 1. 5. Suspend Judgment and Allow a More Complex Picture to Form. A close cousin to curiosity, suspending judgment means avoiding putting people or ideas into a box. One thing I’ve noticed about most people who have a […]
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 […]
Talent Acquisition and Retention in Social Enterprise
While reading the Harvard Business Review in June, I came across “3 Ways Social Entrepreneurs Can Solve Their Talent Problem,” by Rebecca Doherty and Alfonso Pulido. Here is a summary of that article; I think the author’s conclusions are useful particularly for early-stage entrepreneurs in mission-driven, socially conscious companies. *** Today’s business organizations are increasingly […]
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 […]