Rahm Emmanuel, former mayor Chicago, once said “Never let a serious crisis go to waste… it’s an opportunity to do things you could not do before”.  The Covid 19 crisis is currently providing the chance to test that hypothesis. As businesses struggle to adjust to the new normal that is developing due to this pandemic, […] The post Stop Doing Something to Create the New Normal appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

182 countries are currently struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. We are on well into the “Shelter in Place” order and another to wear masks in public that our Governor instituted for the state of Illinois. The medical necessity for controlling or “bending the curve” of the spread of the coronavirus seems to be very clear. […] The post On Belonging: Fulfilling Our Need to Connect With Others appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

How often have you left a meeting where a serious discussion resulted in a decision that, upon reflection, had you second-guessing whether or not the team made the very best choice? This often happens when there are two competing options and the decision-maker selects either option A or option B. Such an Either / Or […] The post The Tyranny of Either/Or Thinking (And Moving to Both/And) appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

Since Thanksgiving is the time for giving thanks, it was very predictable that I saw quite a few articles and posts about the importance of expressing gratitude. One author talked about the benefits of doing a “gratitude journal”, and how it made him connect better to all the wonderful people, places, and things he had […] The post The Benefits of Gratitude (And Reflecting on 2019) appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

When you are having a conversation, could you clearly state what the purpose of that discussion is? That’s a simple question but it is one that gets glossed over frequently in the normal rush of today’s work world. This post is a follow-up to my previous post which discussed the first general type of discussion which […] The post Why Do You Listen? (Part 2 – Developing Insights) appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

When you listen to others, do you know what the intended purpose of the discussion is? This question is for both you and the person you’re chatting with. This seems like a simple question, but you can miss a lot if you don’t identify the type of dialogue the situation calls for. I’ve been working […] The post Why Do You Listen? (Part 1 – Solving Problems) appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

Happy New Year. I hope that the holidays were all you wished for and that 2019 is starting out strong for you personally and professionally. Traditionally this is the time that we develop resolutions for the year. People are usually very excited about the prospects that fulfilling these resolutions may mean for them in their […] The post Measure What Matters in 2019: The OKR Model appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

I recently began my 23rd year making a living as an executive coach. My stated goal with each client is to help them get better results by becoming a better leader. I ply my “trade” by listening deeply to what they have to say to ensure I understand their challenges.  I assist them by opening […] The post 9 Ways to Listen That Will Help You Become a Better Leader appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

Jack Welch is the former CEO of General Electric and is respected widely not only for his stewardship of this preeminent company but also for his consistent support for the development of leaders at GE and in business in general. I saw a recent article about him in Business Insider where he mentions the following: Over […] The post The Most Important Development Question for Any Leader appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more

Years ago, I had a thirtysomething client who was promoted to a very important and influential role. She had a fantastic work ethic, was well-versed in her area of specialty, managed external relationships well for the firm and remains genuinely a very nice person. Part of my coaching with her in this new role was […] The post What is Executive Presence and How Do I Get Some? appeared first on Executive Coaching Concepts ..read more