Why It’s Critical to Develop Good Leaders (Yes, Now!)
The majority of my professional life has been spent deeply invested in some aspect of leadership development. Whether it be talent strategy, succession planning, high potential development, leadership consulting or executive coaching, there has been one fixed point – developing strong, value-based leaders. It inspired the named of my coaching company, True North. I […]
Fix Your Focus, Stop The Spin
Flood the zone. Shock. Awe. Overwhelm. Information overload. These are all terms I’ve heard used recently to describe the general climate of the world – particularly the United States – over the last month. The mood that’s been created can be quite dizzying, if you allow yourself to get caught in the spin. Because […]
Intention
Recently, as I was wrapping up a coaching engagement with a senior leader, we discussed his biggest takeaways from executive coaching. After some thought, he shared it was, without a doubt, learning to “be intentional.” He expanded that it was intentionality in all areas of his life, not just work. To understand how interconnected all […]
Honor Your Grief During the Holidays
As an executive coach, I try not to offer my advice too often. I make an exception when it comes to grief. Why? Because I have more personal experience in this space than I would like, and have learned a lot of good, hard lessons along the journey. Also, because traditional Western societies are terrible […]
Curate Kindness to Cultivate Compassion
“Neurologists suggest that each time you choose not to act on your anger, you’re rewiring your brain to become calmer and more compassionate.” Here in the United States, we finally crossed the finish line after a very divisive election season. No matter how you feel about the results, it is time to breathe a […]
If Not Now, Then When? If Not You, Then Who?
The above questions have been rolling around in my head non-stop for the last two weeks, ever since an image of wall graffiti with these same questions caught my attention. It moved me to my core. “Why is this so powerful?” I wondered, until the following day when I heard myself ask these same questions […]
Gratitude In Grief
The next few weeks are packed with various flavors of grief milestones in my personal life – the death of my sister, the birthday of my son who tragically passed away two years later, the official bleak diagnosis of my Multiple Sclerosis, the end of summer and my 12-year-old returning to middle school. To honor, […]
Thoughtful. Inquisitive. Decisive Leadership
Recently I asked a client to name the top leadership qualities she admired in her current role model, who also happens to be the new leader of her company. Without hesitation she replied, “They are thoughtful, inquisitive, and decisive. That’s something I haven’t seen in senior leadership in quite some time.” She went on […]
Own Your Playbook
Have you ever been promoted or hired into a role previously held by a much beloved former leader? Perhaps a person who had shaped the role, team, projects and processes to fit their unique style? In this situation, what was your first instinct? To try to replicate and adopt their playbook? If so, how […]
The Importance of Teachability
Teachability is the ability to learn by instruction or being willing to be taught. It’s more than just studying for a test, and involves being humble, moldable, and willing in all situations. Teachability is a soft skill that can make or break an effective leader. It can help people embrace the unknown, as that’s where […]