professional coaching advice: good enough for Olympians, but not for you? →

August 23, 2016 julie wales

Usain Bolt and Mo Farah celebrate their Olympic victory. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Comparisons between the world of sport and business are commonplace. But while the coolest sportsman in the world espouses the virtues of his coach, why does coaching still meet such resistance in the professional arena?

I still feel disappointed by the level of embarrassment that often accompanies having a professional coach. To some extent, this comes from the assumption that employing support may be a sign of weakness, or a broader suspicion of what professional coaches actually do.

Although the David Brent parodies of professional development seem to hold less sway as coaches have raised their game, a negative stigma still seems to remain about the role of the professional coach. While for some it would never be their choice, for others it can be transformative.

Tailor your presentation to fit the culture →

April 26, 2016 julie wales

Professor Erin Meyer offers some food for thought about inductive and deductive reasoning, and why they are so important to the way we structure our presentations...

How the best leaders build trust

February 15, 2016 julie wales

According to Stephen Covey, when trust is low, in a company or in a relationship, it places a hidden tax on every transaction: every communication, every interaction, every strategy, every decision is taxed, bringing speed down and sending costs up. He believes that significant distrust doubles the cost of doing business and triples the time it takes to get things done...

The science of sounding smart

October 15, 2015 julie wales

Schroeder & Epley’s research findings with MBA students endorse what many of us already know – that those who don't read from scripts to present their ideas are judged far more positively, in terms of their competence, thoughtfulness, intelligence and likeability, than those who do…

What makes a leader?

April 15, 2015 julie wales

If you need to be convinced about the importance of 'emotional intelligence' to successful leaders, consider what the author of the term, Daniel Goleman, has to say on the subject for the Harvard Business Review.

After studying over 200 large global companies, Goleman found a direct correlation between so-called 'soft' skills and measurable business results.

According to his research, while effective leaders needed to display vision, intelligence, toughness and determination, these qualities on their own were apparently not enough. Truly great leaders were also distinguished by their high degree of emotional intelligence and social skills founded on self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation and empathy.

read on...

Source: https://hbr.org/2004/01/what-makes-a-leade...