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measure up sf

Sympathy, Empathy and Compassion

Let’s agree that our ability to effectively convey our personal feelings at the right time and place is important for building relationships and influencing others. Consider your current level of interpersonal skills.

How would you rate your ability to convey or express sympathy, empathy and compassion?

Max Klein

Remembering My First Mentor

My Best from HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Leadership – The Crucibles of Leadership –
This section, written by Warren Bennis and Robert J. Thomas, recounts mentoring relationships. The story that struck me featured entrepreneur Michael Klein.

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Rule Book

Revisiting: Just Because You CAN Doesn’t Mean You SHOULD

In January of 2014 I published Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should.  Now that I’m four years older and wiser, I’ve discovered the depth of these 8 simple words. I’m compelled to share more insight into this simple phrase. You can apply this to the decisions that you make. And to guide the folks you lead in making theirs.

Motherly Advice

Revisiting The Sticks and Stones Age

Think back to your childhood. How many times did you complain to your mother that someone called you an unflattering name? And what was your mother’s response? Sticks and stones will break your bones. But names will never harm me you. According to Wikipedia, that rhyme dates back to 1830. It was a way that our elders delivered a very empowering lesson. We have the ability to choose our attitude. Words can only harm you if you allow them. You get to decide whether or not you’re affected.

Detail Orientation

How Detail Orientated Are You?

It seems that detail orientation is a requirement for nearly EVERY job.  And, nearly every job candidate claims or believes that they qualify as a detail orientated person.  I believe that both of these assumptions are more often FALSE than they’re true.

Pause Button

Your Pause Button

With Smart Devices immersed in our routines, we’re presented with pause options for: DVRs YouTube Videos Music Apps Gaming Devices With

Self Awareness

How Self-Aware are You?

The Self-Awareness Buzz: I’m hearing the term Self Aware more frequently.  The more I hear it, the more I wonder if it is gaining buzz word status. If you’re getting ready to start bragging to others about your own self awareness, proceed with caution.  You’re likely about to write a check that your actions won’t be able to cash.  So proceed with caution and an open mind. Why is self proclamation of self awareness such a slippery slope?

Guy CoughingLG mso

What are People Catching from You?

You’re More Contagious than You Think – Coughing, sniffling and sneezing are obvious signals to both ourselves and others that we’re potentially infecting others. As a leader, your attitudes are just as infectious. What are people catching from you?

Meekness - Arrogance Continuum

Executive Presence: What’s Your Attitude?

“You Need to Gain More Executive Presence” – This is becoming a more common suggestion – especially to high potential leaders. Have you heard it yet?  Have you said it yet?   In some circles, Executive Presence has become a buzz phrase. All too often buzz words and phrases are tossed it out in a feeble attempt to sound relevant.  But when your audience doesn’t really understand your meaning any better than you do, you can look really shallow.

Finger Point

Accountability Conversations

Accountability conversations are potentially confrontational and unpleasant.  So we avoid and procrastinate in favor of more comfortable tasks  When such avoidance occurs, critical things don’t get done. And who’s really good at having critical conversations? How skilled are you?

Swept Under

What’s Under Your Rug?

However you choose to describe your form of procrastination, there’s a good chance you’re putting off some important, yet unpleasant tasks.  When you remove that unpleasantness from sight, there’s always a day when it rears its ugly head.

clarity lenses

Your Critical Pursuit of Clarity

Clarity is the 1st of my 3 C’s for success. Why is clarity important? Here’s some Clarity Categories to help clarify & improve your self leadership skills.

3 Little Words

Three Little Words for Leading Effective Team Performance

I once had a coaching client whose career was suddenly jeopardized by a series of team performance mishaps. Several wheels had fallen off. Top management now noticed the adverse effects and knew just who to blame.

Future Sign

Futuristic Thinking – What’s Your Approach?

Futuristic Thinking is a sought after, essential, leadership skill.  Why? If effective leadership is about creating a better future, it might be a good idea to give the future some serious thought. How do you develop your futuristic thinking?

Masking Behavior

Understanding Your Adapted Behaviors

But just when it seems that you have people pegged, they can surprise you.  Why?  Our behaviors and styles and the behaviors of others can be situational.  To understand how this occurs with others, you first need to understand how it might occur with you.  

Driving Forces

What Drives You To Perform?

Enhancing Your Motivation Awareness: We all inherently take actions that move us toward things that fulfill us. Often we don’t realize what’s happening. What if you were more aware of how this happens to you? We all do things our own reasons. While our reasons are unique to us, there are similarities that can be captured and characterized. Armed with that insight, it’s easier look inside and capture your insightful answers to questions like:
What are your passions?
How do you pursue them?
What if you could gain more focused sense of what drives you to perform?

Chicago Executive Coaching Logo

The Logo Saga- Adventures in Crowd Sourcing

I’ve worked to develop the Chicago Executive Coaching brand since 2006. Kinda.
I say “kinda” because I was really giving Lip Service to the effort. I once successfully led the re-building of a consumer product company in the late 90’s. I regularly collaborated with graphic designers on product packaging and catalogs for the product line. Some of our packaging received design award nominations. It helped us to gain valuable shelf space at major retail chains. Despite that knowledge and expertise, 2017 marked my 11th year without a legit logo. I was aware of the missing piece. I habitually ignored the issue. But then. came the wake-up call.

Miscommunication

Miscommunication is at the Root of All Dysfunction

In my travels to different corporate cultures in over 60 different industries, the most common truth I find is: Miscommunication is at the root of all dysfunction. What’s a leader to do?

Eureka

Leading Innovation: The Role of Creativity

We can agree that innovation is a critical component for building a competitive edge and solving problems and challenges along the way.

As we pursue innovation, we seek attributes like creativity and thinking outside-the-box. If only leading innovation was as simple as gathering groups of creatives and letting them brainstorm. The reality is that working with creatives and outside the box thinkers can be like herding cats.

Gold

How to Get Better at Almost Anything

Too Good to be True? Our three most scarce resources are time, money and talent. When we believe we don’t have enough of these to spare, we typically opt out. Here’s something universally powerful that requires very little of these scarce resources. Yet, the opt-out rate is surprisingly high.

Call for help

Why Don’t We Ask for Help?

How many times have you found yourself in need of help from others in a difficult time and help didn’t show up? how diligent are you about asking for help? Learn 5 paralyzing reasons that we neglect to request help in our times of need.

Exec Woman 9

What’s Your Listener Rating?

How would you rate yourself as an effective listener? If we asked people who know you well, how would you rate? Take this simple 3- question quiz to get your first clues.

Pen & Paper

The Power of Pen and Paper

While there are a costs and trade offs to using pen and paper, the opportunities you capture are potentially priceless.

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