A phrase I keep hearing over and over lately was made prominent by author Brené Brown: clear is kind; unclear is unkind. The context for the phrase is leadership and the tendency to avoid tough conversation, “including giving honest, productive feedback.” Brown pinpoints that a culture of being “nice and polite” provides cover for …
In one of our coach training classes (CAM 505 The Language of Coaching), we talk about helping clients make distinctions. That is, helping a client clarify between two related, but not synonymous, words or phrases. Making a distinction unclouds confusion and often brings fresh and invigorating freedom. For example, a common distinction involves the …
As professional coaches, we are familiar with limiting beliefs – those assumptions, perceptions, thoughts, and attitudes that hold people back. We see the impact of such beliefs with our clients on a regular basis and in a variety of forms: A business owner believes her worth is found in her professional success. A salesman …
In my work with leaders and organizations, trust is a perennial topic of coaching sessions. This focus makes sense. After all, when an organization is trying to perform at a high level, trust is a necessary ingredient (perhaps THE necessary ingredient). Why? Because the need for trust is everywhere. It’s a factor in communication, …
