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More of What You Love
“You are going to spend one-third of your life working. Make sure you are doing something you love.” – Harry Dietrich. I am a firm believer in the power of playing to your strengths. This week I invite you to complete a simple exercise, building upon my post on discovering our strengths. The Exercise If you are…
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Your 360 Feedback
360 feedback is an excellent tool for getting honest, candid feedback from your colleagues. I conduct 360 feedback interviews for every organizational coaching engagement to gain insights into the coachee’s superpowers and their kryptonite. This process is richer than one issued by the organization because the interviewees know that the only person who sees the…
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Zen and the Art of Feedback
Last week we examined how to create an environment that encourages feedback. Leading by example paves the way for you to give feedback more effectively to your colleagues. Today we’ll discuss the art of crafting and delivering feedback. Plan Your Feedback If you’ve delivered 10,000 hours of feedback and achieved “Feedback Mastery,” you may be able…
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Feedback is a Gift
One of the most effective leadership tools available to us is feedback. The old saying is, “It is better to give than to receive.” When it comes to feedback, I recommend we turn this adage on its head. By encouraging and gracefully receiving feedback, we create an environment that will make it easier for us…
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Taking Initiative
My previous blog posts on delegating effectively (links at the end of this post) were popular enough that they have evolved into a training offering. Today I offer another tip that can help both leaders looking to delegate more effectively and individual contributors looking to increase their level of autonomy and initiative in their role. Levels…
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Cut Me Some Slack
I’ve taught my Personal Productivity class a dozen times this year – it is my most popular training offering. The course’s primary focus is email management, which invariably leads to discussions about instant messaging platforms such as Slack. Today I’ll share some thoughts about how to use them effectively. I’ll refer to Slack for simplicity’s sake. However,…
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Onstage and Backstage
Building on the Go On Tour blog’s theme from two weeks ago, I’m exploring the difference between being “Onstage” and “Backstage.” Onstage in a Business Context Most of us can intuitively connect with the notion of Onstage. Maybe it conjures up memories of a childhood performance in a play, a talent show competition, or presenting at an…
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On the Path
One of the things I don’t think I do well is taking the time to celebrate my achievements. Over the weekend, I received some fantastic news, so I’m setting aside the blog I had planned and celebrating. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to join me, and I hope this inspires you to celebrate…
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Go on Tour
Throughout my leadership career, one of my staples was regularly connecting with the people I worked with, whether my boss, my direct reports, or my peers across the organization. Years later, I read Scott Eblin’s The Next Level, and he described this technique beautifully when he talked about going on a listening tour. Today we’ll talk…
