One of the hidden benefits of being a coach is that as we help others grow through their detours and bumps, we start questioning our own thought patterns and behaviours. Of course, during the coaching session, it’s important for me to turn the volume down on my own experience as I focus on my client, …
Is It Time to Get Off The Merry-Go-Round? Find Your Blind Spots First Read More »
It started with a commanding tone requesting her presence. Her previous manager had usually asked her when she would be available that week or that day to meet with him. Maybe the new boss was simply more direct, or she was too sensitive. The feeling of discomfort stayed. Next came requirements that were impossible to …
3 Key Elements to Setting Boundaries With a Difficult Boss Read More »
The beginning of a New Year brings hope for a fresh start. It’s the time to step into your vision with fervor! Indeed, the temptation is great to set either lofty, or numerous resolutions, or both! “I would love to speak a third language fluently by June”. But is that in line with my true …
We worked in tandem: my client was the communicator in the corridors, the tireless weaver of goodwill holding the organization together. I was their group facilitator and coach who opened the space for genuine conversations, and ensured it stayed open whenever the teams met. The organization itself was at a crossroads. Due to changes in …
How to Build Trust After the Upheaval: One Conversation at a Time Read More »
There are a few names coaches give to this human phenomenon: the gremlins, the internal saboteurs, negative chatter. I affectionately call it the backseat driver. Have you experienced the frustration of a backseat driver? They may be well meaning, but…. “I think you should turn left here. Why didn’t you turn left?” “You’re driving too …
Note to your backseat driver: “I’ll handle the driving, thank you!” Read More »
“I’m just telling you this for your own good”: The danger of making feedback personal Is the feedback you receive or give, thought out or off the cuff? Is it supportive, or does it cut you or someone else down? A client was sharing with me the death by a thousand cuts she was experiencing …
When enough is enough: 3 ways to look at conflict with new eyes The third time that participant shot down an idea, my client’s blood started to boil. She was chairing a committee meeting, trying to facilitate it while getting feedback on a key presentation developed for senior management. She had listened patiently… until …
Resistance is Futile. Or is it? Yet, we resist with all our might. We won’t sell the house, despite the financial burden. We still don’t exercise, in spite of the health scare. We refuse to consult this team member who now sits at a higher level. There have been plenty times in my life …
Some of my clients are twenty-something. They call me on their smart phones as they wait in line for their mochaccino with soy milk. Their need is invariably urgent! And when I can, I indulge in ‘laser’ coaching sessions of 15 minutes to fit their youthful attention span (smile). Sometimes it’s a series of 15 …