Mentoring/Coaching

4 better queries than ‘How are you?’

January 10, 2019
Writing for Forbes, Jim Ludema and Amber Johnson point out that the only reason most of us ask this question is because it would appear impolite not to ask. They offer a list of alternative questions.

Desperate times call for desperate mediations

September 13, 2018
Q. Two people who work for me have an extreme personality conflict going back a couple of years. I think it’s irreparable. Separating them is impractical; they represent the entirety of their division. What should I do?

Helping women rise: Supporting women through sponsorship, allies and mentors

May 18, 2018
If you’re afraid your female employees aren’t ready for the challenges ahead of them, here are some things that you can do right now to close that gap.

A dad demonstrates how you support a go-getter

August 3, 2017
As a teenager, IBM executive Patrick Tambor and his band mates practiced at his house. Overhearing them discussing whether they should forgo college and pursue their music, Tambor’s father decided to get involved.

Handle employee blunders with grace

July 27, 2017
In the 1970s, David Rockefeller ran Chase Manhattan Bank. His longtime public affairs aide, Fraser Seitel, helped draft the CEO’s speeches. In the nearly 50 years that Seitel worked for Rockefeller, he only ticked off his boss once.

Mentors can spot what you miss

April 10, 2017
“The lesson is you have to find people that you trust who will guide you.”

Avoid coaching burnout with frank talk

December 5, 2016
You enter into a coaching relationship with enthusiasm. But over time, the fire can go out—and you dread what you initially enjoyed.

Ditch advice to move your stars around

November 30, 2016
Q: I have a budding star who I’m grooming for a senior role here. I keep hearing I should move him around to different jobs, exposing him to new challenges. But he loves his current job, and he’s outperforming everybody. Why change what works so well?

Coaching’s 3 critical steps

October 10, 2016
When coaching someone to improve, improvising rarely works to your advantage. It’s better to rely on a proven system to guide your actions.

Focus on lifting the 70 percent

August 15, 2016
When it comes to motivating employees, most would-be leaders do their best to excite everyone. But you cannot motivate everyone no matter how hard you try.