Coaching for Leaders

Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed Bonni is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, Dean of Teaching and Learning and Professor of Business and Management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, she was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. Bonni is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*. Key Points Rachel asked about how to balance performance and people. Mike asked about getting the employees to communicate, engage and work together as a team. Pierre asked about how to prevent the distortion of storytelling. Rasmus asked a follow-up question from a previous episode on our motivation for continuing to move forward. Resources Mentioned Leadership Dilemmas-Grid Solutions* by Robert Blake and Anne McCanse Managerial Grid Model Bonni recommended the author Debra Tannen Radical Hope: A Teaching Manifesto by Kevin Gannon Related Library Episodes The Four Critical Stories Leaders Need For Influence, with David Hutchens (episode 148) How to Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, with Mark Barden (episode 207) How to Succeed with Leadership and Management, with John Kotter (episode 249) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Bob Frisch and Cary Greene: Simple Sabotage For over 30 years, Bob Frisch has worked with Senior Executive Teams and Boards on their most vital strategic and organizational challenges, both as a consultant and a corporate executive. Cary Greene has over 20 years’ experience working with senior executives and boards on challenging and complex strategic issues. They are co-authors with Robert Galford of the book Simple Sabotage: A Modern Field Guide for Detecting and Rooting Out Everyday Behaviors That Undermine Your Workplace*. Key Points When creating a book on how to sabotage an occupying enemy’s industry, the OSS (precursor to the CIA) recommended a list of organizational sabotage techniques. Ironically, these techniques look very similar to common actions we see in our organizations today. Committees Make sure a committee is appropriate for the task. What is the purpose of a committee? Who actually needs to be on a committee? Make sure committees are structured and have an agenda. Make it clear what authority the leader of the committee has. Is the committee being asked to make a recommendation or asked to make a decision? Emails Overusing the CC function in emails creates an overwhelming and unnecessary amount of communication. Remember that sometimes it’s best to just pick up the phone or walk down the hall to communicate with someone. Use the email subject line effectively. Resources Mentioned Simple Sabotage Field Manual (1944) Simple Sabotage: A Modern Field Guide for Detecting and Rooting Out Everyday Behaviors That Undermine Your Workplace* by Robert Galford, Bob Frisch, and Cary Greene Related Library Episodes Communication in a Family Business, with JoAnne Norton (episode 74) How We Do Things Around Here for Results, with Kent Rhodes (episode 144) How to Tame Workplace Incivility, with Sharone Bar-David (episode 210) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Scott Anthony Barlow: Happen to Your Career Scott Anthony Barlow is the Founder of Happen to Your Career. He’s been featured on CNBC, Yahoo, CareerBuilder, Fast Company and Huffington Post and various colleges and universities as a top expert on career happiness. He's held roles executive roles in human resources, business development, and career coaching. Scott is the host of the Happen to Your Career podcast, featuring the career stories of many successful professionals. His team and him have worked with over 25,000 people to help them stop settling, find their signature strengths, and start doing meaningful work they are enamored with. In this conversation, Scott and I explore common career misconceptions, how framing your career around your strengths is key, and tools and assessments like StrengthsFinder that will support you. Key Points Common career misperceptions: You need to have it all figured out at the start You should focus on getting better at the things you’re not good at It takes a ton of experience to move into the job you want Framing a career around your strengths is key. If you had to work extremely hard to get good at something, it’s probably not a true strength. There are exercises and assessments like StrengthsFinder (also known as CliftonStrengths) that you can participate in to help you gain clarity on the above. Resources Mentioned Finding the Career That Fits You (Scott’s FREE 8-Day Video Course)* The Ultimate Guide to Using Your Strengths to Get Hired* How To Become a Career Coach* Scott interviewing Dave on why your career is not a straight line StrengthsFinder training for individuals and teams* (use code CFL10 for a 10% tuition discount) StrengthsFinder 2.0 Related Episodes The Value of the StrengthsFinder Assessment, with Steve Dosier (episode 89) How to Interpret Your StrengthsFinder and CliftonStrengths Results, with Steve Dosier (episode 90) The Secret To Happiness (episode 134) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Brian Robertson: Holacracy Brian Robertson is the primary developer of Holacracy, which allows leaders to release the reins of personal power and persuasion into a trustworthy and explicit governance process. He co-founded HolacracyOne to support Holacracy’s growth, and he fills and loves a broad variety of the company’s roles. Brian is the author of the book Holacracy: The New Management System for a Rapidly Changing World*. Key Points Holocracy functions like a city; everybody knows the parameters, and they go about their business without constantly having to consult a leader. It replaces the functions of managers with a set of processes. It holds meetings to decide who has authority and is responsible for each project, but not to decide how to do a project. Resources Mentioned Holacracy: The New Management System for a Rapidly Changing World* by Brian Robertson Related Library Episodes The Surprising Truth About Influencing Others, with Daniel Pink (episode 84) How to Delegate Work Effectively (episode 117) New Practices in Organizational Leadership, with David Burkus (episode 253) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Tom Henschel: The Look & Sound of Leadership Tom Henschel of Essential Communications grooms senior leaders and executive teams. An internationally recognized expert in the field of workplace communications and self-presentation, he has helped thousands of leaders achieve excellence through his work as an executive coach and his top-rated podcast, The Look & Sound of Leadership. Key Points There is a certain amount of fear involved in a promotion over peers. The situation has feelings attached to it. People’s reactions will be based on a bell curve, with most people not caring, but with a few being either really happy or really unhappy. What group will you focus on? Don’t take things personally. Have intentional conversations with your former peers to acknowledge that feelings are there and to listen to how they feel. Resources Mentioned The First 90 Days* by Michael Watkins Self-Esteem at Work* by Nathaniel Branden The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem* by Nathaniel Branden The Look & Sound of Leadership podcast Related Episodes Three Steps to Soliciting Feedback, with Tom Henschel (episode 107) How to Handle a Boss Who’s a Jerk, with Tom Henschel (episode 164) How to Improve Your Coaching Skills, with Tom Henschel (episode 190) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed Bonni is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, Dean of Teaching and Learning and Professor of Business and Management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, she was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. Bonni is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*. Key Points Phan asked about how to best identify a business partner. Ruben asked for recommendations on 360 assessments. Jaimee asked about how to educate herself on becoming a leader of leaders. Phillip asked how leaders can themselves find the next opportunity, especially without the right experience. Resources Mentioned The Leadership Challenge* by James Kouzes and Barry Posner Leadership Practices Inventory Human Synergistics 42 Rules for Your New Leadership Role* by Pam Fox Rollin Your First 100 Days In a New Executive Job* by Robert Hargrove Related Episodes Five Rules For Your New Leadership Role, with Pam Fox Rollin (episode 98) Promote Yourself Through Intrapreneurship, with Dan Schwabel (episode 163) How to Get Value From Associations, with John Corcoran (episode 209) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Therese Huston: How Women Decide Therese Huston is looking to change the conversation about women as decision-makers. Her book, How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not, and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices*, debunks popular negative stereotypes about women as decision-makers. She is also the Founding Director for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Seattle University. Key Points When a female leader makes a mistake in a job traditionally held by men, people are much more critical. When women are collaborative, they’re seen as less decisive. Don’t be fooled by someone’s confidence—it could just be a sign they don’t know all the facts. Use the Loopback strategy - think about your situation a year from now, and project what you wish you would have done differently. Strategies to help women in the workplace: Make sure nobody is interrupted when speaking in a meeting. Take designated turns for speaking in meetings. Make it clear that negotiations are expected when discussing salary, office setups, etc. Resources Mentioned Research: We Are Way Harder on Female Leaders Who Make Bad Calls by Therese Huston Thinking, Fast and Slow* by Daniel Kahneman Therese Huston's website Related Episodes Personality Preferences and Decision-Making (episode 46) How to Tap Into Wisdom, with Barry Schwartz (episode 92) Start With Why, with Simon Sinek (episode 223) How to Tame Your Inner Critic, with Tara Mohr (episode 232) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Dacher Keltner: The Power Paradox Dacher shows us how to use power for good and the most important ways we can gain and lose influence. Quotes We need to rethink what power is … it’s not necessarily a dirty word. —Dacher Keltner If you can just stay interested in other people and know where their minds are, you will rise in power … and you will keep your power because people will respect you. —Dacher Keltner In today’s collaborative workplace, our power rests critically upon the good work of other people. —Dacher Keltner One of the things that accompanies leadership and power is the privilege of enhancing the lives of other people. —Dacher Keltner I really see power as having an enormous force for good. —Dacher Keltner Resources The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence* by Dacher Keltner The Secret to Being a Better Leader: See and Hear Others by Dacher Keltner Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

David Burkus: Under New Management David is the author of Under New Management: How Leading Organizations Are Upending Business as Usual*. In this conversation, David teaches us how leading organizations are now using new management techniques. Quotes If you’re not embarrassed by your work from five years ago, then you’re not growing fast enough. —David Burkus You need to be a great place to be from, not just a great place to be at. —David Burkus Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Bonni is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, Dean of Teaching and Learning and Professor of Business and Management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, she was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. Bonni is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*. Question from Chase I’m wondering about coaching someone who has inherited a job that pushes them beyond their skill set. Specifically, someone who was focused solely on a job specifically training tellers. That function moved from HR to ops. HR retained the former teller trainer for a corporate trainer role. The employee’s wheelhouse is black and white training, ops and compliance focused. Now the employee’s focus is on more ambiguous training around developing staff on a variety of skill sets. It's challenging for her. I struggle coaching her because her natural drive and skill is very ops focused. Any advice on some coaching on this topic would be much appreciated! Question from Diana I have an MSC in environment and sustainable development, and although I do some studies and recommendations on sustainable cities, the reality is that most developers don't care about the environment, and sometimes I feel I am missing my ideals. Other team members agree with me. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable, because of my beliefs and the developers expectations. I know I can only know how much I can stand of this incongruity, but is it something usual in the workplace? Is it common that you find that you don't agree with the position of the company you work with? Sometimes this position might only be recognized once you are working within the company. How To Get Buy-In For A New Initiative, with Christina Kull Martens (episode 96) Audio Question from Charlie Analyzing Performance Problems by Robert Mager and Peter Pipe Audio Question from Rasmus Teaching in Higher Ed Audio Question from Joe The Lean Startup* by Eric Ries Originals* by Adam Grant How to Be a Non-Conformist, with Adam Grant (episode 238) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.