Want to be highly effective as a leader? Be coachable
When moving up the corporate ladder, many leaders lose the ability to be coached. Seniority, both in level and age, impacts the level of coachability negatively. Despite having plenty of experience, this paradox makes it difficult for them to adjust and learn new things. They develop blind spots. And yet coachability is key for any leader, regardless of age or level, to be an effective leader. In fact, research by Zenger and Folkman,...
Be a storyteller
The very first book we wrote was a business novel called ‘The Team Formula – A Leadership Tale of a Team Who Found Their Way’. We chose this format because we feel so strongly about the power of storytelling. And the impact was staggering – we have lost count of how many people have told us “you could have been talking about us, I recognised so many of those situations!” And that’s the beauty of stories, they make theories and ideas...
‘Always on’ cultures are outdated and inefficient
You may not see yourself as occasionally biased, but the truth is we all have unconscious biases; it’s part of having a brain. The brain’s job is to help us be more efficient by noticing patterns and helping us make decisions. But that also means that we sometimes are too quick to make assumptions and draw conclusions based on incomplete and/or biased information.Yes, some biases are to be expected, BUT that doesn’t mean we can’t...
Lead with freedom
In the late 90's we eagerly studied companies that were outstanding at creating employee engagement, which led to customer loyalty and to financial payback – which could be invested back into employees. High on that list were companies like the Ritz-Carlton hotel group and the low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines, to mention a few. A lot can be said about companies that have been successful at this. One common denominator that it often...
Three steps to relationship mastery
No one can succeed alone. Our ability to connect with and collaborate with others has been and continues to be a major factor in our species' survival over time.Yes, building strong, collaborative, creatively challenging, and trustful relationships could be the most important thing you ever focus on.And the commitment to creating those relationships starts in your head; how you think about the people you work with will impact the...
9 winning tactics for GOLD medal teamwork
The Olympic Games are here! This is a good time to reflect on the teamwork that makes an Olympian successful. Teamwork is crucial to both team and individual success. No one is an island: behind most successful individuals stands a great team. An athlete will have a team of coaches, physiotherapists, dietitians and many more. Together, they work towards a goal – the gold medal goal. And it’s exactly the same at work. Every...
