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Valuing Every Voice
Have you ever seen a story like this? The Acme Software company was in crisis. A deliverable to a strategic client was critically behind, and no one saw a path to getting it back on schedule. Senior leadership and the project team came together to brainstorm options. The team debated vigorously for two hours and…
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Promises, Promises
Leaders get their job done through language. We have spent the past few weeks examining a set of language distinctions called speech acts. We are more effective leaders and humans when we master these distinctions: Today we’ll cover one final distinction – promises (commitments). We waste time and energy when we fail to manage promises…
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I Do Declare
Last week we talked about speech acts and learned the distinctions between assertions (facts) and assessments (stories). In his book, Language and the Pursuit of Happiness, Chalmers Brothers points out that with assertions, first comes the world, and then comes the word. We use language to describe the world. With declarations, the word comes first. Through our declarations,…
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Just The Facts
One key learning from my ontological coaching training is a set of distinctions called Speech Acts. These were introduced by philosopher John Searles and expanded by individuals, including Humberto Maturana and Fernando Flores. The speech acts outline a set of daily constructs we use in language, including assertions, assessments, declarations, requests, offers, and promises. Language is one…
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Face-to-Face
One silver lining to the pandemic is that it showed us how effectively we could leverage video conferencing and remote work across a much more comprehensive range of activities than we were previously willing to embrace. As a coach, I am grateful for this. Most of my coachees live nowhere near me and would not…
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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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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…
