Communication

Feedback seems to be as abundant as bad weather sometimes and what we are not doing well seems to stay on the “to do” list. Why does it always provoke a reaction? What is that trigger? Stone and Heen offer in their book, Thanks for the Feedback, three triggers to watch for and reflect upon.…

While I was planning for a recent birthday club event, I was reminded how important it is to use language that clearly communicates your intent. Although I hosted the affair, the person who coordinates these events sent out the email with all the details for the party. As I was finalizing the food preparations, I…

Developing our skills as leadership coaches allows us the privilege of focusing attention on our colleagues during our many conversations we have during the year. As we join with our colleagues, we focus light and attention on the topics of the day. This spotlight lends itself to shining a light on their good intentions, reflecting…

My coaching clients often want to talk with me about an important, or stressful, conversation they are preparing to have with someone. They often begin by discussing the message they want to deliver. Instead, I ask them to start by thinking about how they want to “show up.” What values and characteristics are important for…

This is the time of year when the “doldrums” can set in. It is a time when the have-to’s begin to take center stage in our work. You know what I am talking about — those things we have to do — organizing testing of students, preparing for teacher negotiations, completing teacher evaluations. These are…

As a volunteer for a charitable organization, I find myself working for a leader who operates like a deductive mentor; she micro manages, fault finds, and blames others. Her concept of leadership is “you do it my way or get out of the way.” Since I am a volunteer, it would be easy to simply…