If you’re a fan of TED.com, you probably remember the first time you viewed one of the company’s free 18-minute online presentations. TED Talks are truly inspiring. If you’re not yet familiar with them, you’ll find that their speakers provide jaw-dropping stories you’ll be talking about for … [Read more...] about 6 Presentation Secrets from TED Talks
articles for coaches
Program Your Own Reality Show
Reality sucks, especially on TV. Contestants are regularly voted off the island, fired from apprentice jobs and judged to be lacking in any discernible talent. In “real life,” serious disappointments are likewise bitter pills to swallow. Many of us have endured significant economic hardships — from … [Read more...] about Program Your Own Reality Show
Sales and Communications:
16 Bad Habits You Can Change
Leaders seem to forget that their human assets make or break a customer’s ownership experience.
“Interpersonal interaction, though sometimes not the top reason for making a purchase, is almost always the reason for not repurchasing.” ~ Marshall Goldsmith, Don Brown and Bill Hawkins, What Got You … [Read more...] about Sales and Communications:
16 Bad Habits You Can Change
How to Sabotage Your Success
Never let the fear of striking out get in your way. ~ George Herman “Babe” Ruth As an executive coach, I am privy to clients’ stories of success and failure. I’ve noticed over the years that they commonly share one highly destructive behavior: self-sabotage. Few of us realize how frequently … [Read more...] about How to Sabotage Your Success
How to Get the Most Out of Meetings
Meetings, like death and taxes, are an inevitable fact of business life. Many, unfortunately, turn out to be a huge waste of time. Instead of generating ideas, engagement and commitment, meetings often zap team members’ energy, replacing it with apathy and boredom. (photo courtesy … [Read more...] about How to Get the Most Out of Meetings
The End of Bad Leadership
Leaders everywhere are in disrepute. Hardly a day goes by without news of corporate ethical violations, financial fudging and CEO failures. Yet, compensation packages and bonuses continue unabated, even when disgraced leaders are sent packing. (photo courtesy freedigitalphotos.net) Harvard Business … [Read more...] about The End of Bad Leadership
Power Listening: 4 Steps to Conversation Success
I only wish I could find an institute that teaches people how to listen. Business people need to listen at least as much as they need to talk. Too many people fail to realize that real communication goes in both directions. ~ Lee Iacocca, former CEO Ford Motor Co. Listening may be the most … [Read more...] about Power Listening: 4 Steps to Conversation Success
Finding Career Satisfaction
Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. ~ Confucius At graduation, each of us has visions of what we'll accomplish. Years later, even the best and brightest from the most prestigious universities aren't immune to feelings of failure and disappointment. Many people who … [Read more...] about Finding Career Satisfaction
Why Do Leaders Deceive Themselves?
The secret of rulership is to combine a belief in one's own infallibility with the power to learn from past mistakes. ~ George Orwell As much as we’d like to believe that we’re rational human beings, we can all too easily mislead ourselves. Self-deception is a process that encourages us to justify … [Read more...] about Why Do Leaders Deceive Themselves?
The Business Case for Empathy
“The problem with business today isn’t a lack of innovation; it’s a lack of empathy.” ~ Stanford Professor Dev Patnaik, author of Wired to Care In an uncertain economy, empathy may seem like a soft business skill. It can, however, serve as a catalyst for new growth, innovation and employee … [Read more...] about The Business Case for Empathy