Coaching Conversations in 2025

Send us a textConversations are hard. The cool thing about what's happening in the training and development and talent world is that leaders and organizations are finally realizing coaching is not just something we'd like to do if we had time. It is now moved into an arena of, We Must Coach Our Employees. This requires leaders to have conversational ability, the ability to ask questions, to truly listen, to actively listen, and to cooperate in a process where somebody feels like somebody is invested in them. Now, this sounds easy on the surface yet it requires practice. Think about sales people, a longstanding profession for decades. Sales people have been taught how to ask open-ended questions. Yet, if you ask a customer, what's the one thing they dislike about sales people? They typically say they talk too much. Think about that decades of training and a whole industry, still battles what leaders now have to gravitate from. Coaching is asking questions of what people can or cannot do. Ultimately. leaders facilitate participating in scheduled sessions where skill and behavioral improvement is sought. This is not easy as conversations need to be open ended with active listening and not thinking about what we want to say while somebody is talking. This is much more difficult than people think. It's okay not to be a great conversationalist. It's not okay to not practice and work on this craft.Checkout Our New Digital Publication The Talent Times : Click here to get on the waiting list: https://form.jotform.com/220913443091045Welcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textRecently, I was conducting a workshop and one of my participants was an ex-bartender. She never hesitated to participate or offer her thoughts or converse with people or dare I say, role play. She's quick on her feet and really listens well during the workshop. I asked her where those skill sets came from. She said, I bartended for 15 years. As I thought about her response, I thought what a wonderful experience to be able to wait on people, not knowing what they're gonna say, not knowing what they're gonna do, not knowing what their behaviors are, not knowing if they have a jaded attitude or a positive mentality. You have to be on your feet ready to go or you know, you won't make tips. The same skillset is needed in leadership today. Having conversations fluently and thoughtfully, navigating waters of conflict and negative attitudes and coaching people who wanna be promoted, but yet are not ready, and coaching those people who are performing really well so they don't get complacent. All of these require foundational conversational skills. How does one go about developing such skills, practice, practice, practice! Bartenders, and wait staff, a special breed of people working their butts off, always on the spot, always on the stage, always having to be on, always having to have the ability to converse and create a great experience so they can earn money. These are the same attributes leaders have an opportunity to possess through practice and repetition.Get on Our mailing List for Our NEW Digital Publication: The Talent Times: https://form.jotform.com/220913443091045Welcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textYou often hear the concept that feedback is a gift, and it truly is yet we cannot use that approach as some reactive way to facilitate a positive relationship with feedback when so often it is perceived as negative. A positive cadence of feedback structured by the recipient is the secret sauce. There is such a simple concept called WIIFT, what is in it for them.Recently I was teaching this concept to a bunch of individual contributors at a client of ours. I said think about feedback as something that you need to structure and receive before somebody needs to provide you feedback. After making this statement people looked at me very puzzled. I said think about your childhood when you knew you were going to get in trouble, but you went and told your parents before they could even get angry about it. After this comment people started to nod. I said how many of you know what your strengths are and have those been validated by your manager? Everybody in the room started to shake their head. I then asked how many of you know areas where your manager feels you need to improve through some feedback you have received? All the people started to nod. Therein lies the problem.Welcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textThere are 5 actions of feedback a leader can use and this episode also teaches how to teach employees to get feedback on their terms. Feedback is a loaded issue and if carefully crafted from both end of delivery and reception workplace cultures and team will dramatically improve. Join Our LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/coaching-conversations-6886642999321862144/Welcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textI think we have it wrong when it comes to developing leaders within our organizations. If leaders make up let's say 15% of the organization and we have 85% of the organization who needs to receive that leadership we need to cultivate the mindset and the reception of that 85% so the 15% can be heard and accepted.  People go through high school and college never attending classes on how to seek and accept feedback thoughtfully and professionally. People go through high school and college never attending classes and what it means to be a fantastic teammate once they reach the workplace. We inherit people who for eight to 10 years have no idea of what it's like to accept feedback or what it's like to be great teammate within a workplace organization. This ultimately creates discord within the workplace often leading to leadership challenges that I daresay are quite unnecessary. What if we taught employees how to accept and seek feedback on their own terms? What if we taught employees how to accept feedback openly and honestly even when they disagree with the feedback? What if we taught employees the value of not only accepting but also learning how to provide coaching as a skill set? These three attributes would lead to greater workplace engagement and talent developmentWelcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textThe triangle of coaching is a very simple concept yet there are some unique attributes of each stage we encourage organizations to adopt. One of the most fundamental mistakes I think organizations make is we spend so much money on a top-down approach specifically teaching leaders how to lead their employees. When you think about a traditional organization of let's say 100 or 1000 people typically about 80% of the people are employees or individual contributors. This is where the opportunity really exists for organizations to also build a bottom-up approach.Welcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textFeedback is a very tough subject for people. It is our contention here at Progress Coaching people dismiss or accept feedback based on their agreement germane to the feedback. What most people don't understand is feedback is not a literal thing yet it is also morphed in perception. When somebody provides an employee feedback such as you are coming off negative and the employees first responses no I'm not. They are taking it literally when in fact the leader is providing an opportunity to alter perception which obviously leads to greater collaboration and teamwork for the employee.Get Info on Our Feedback Progression Training Program Where We Teach How to Seek & Receive Feedback Professionally as Well As How to Deliver Feedback Professionally So Its Accepted. Click here:  https://form.jotform.com/220773349332052Welcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textFeedback is a very tough subject for people. It is our contention here at Progress Coaching people dismiss or accept feedback based on their agreement germane to the feedback. What most people don't understand is feedback is not a literal thing yet it is also morphed in perception. When somebody provides an employee feedback such as you are coming off negative and the employees first responses no I'm not. They are taking it literally when in fact the leader is providing an opportunity to alter perception which obviously leads to greater collaboration and teamwork for the employee.Get Info on Our Feedback Progression Training Program Where We Teach How to Seek & Receive Feedback Professionally as Well As How to Deliver Feedback Professionally So Its Accepted. Click here; https://form.jotform.com/220773349332052Welcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textThis episode teaches 4 conversations every new manager not only has to have but has to have fluently and skillfully. The first 90 to 180 days of every new manager's position will be met with resistance, lack of support, and certainly excitement by becoming a new manager. Every new manager must become skilled at conversations because they will be challenged by peers, former peers, people with more experience, etc. This episode will teach how to have four very strategic conversations that allow new managers to be successful in the short term and long term.Free Webinar "Are Your NEW Managers Ready to Lead?" Apr 8, 2022 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Register Here: Click HereWelcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149

Send us a textThere are so many views on feedback and how people should perceive feedback. I saw a post that created different viewpoints from feedback as a gift to other viewpoints where people felt feedback was not a gift. I think the one thing that we often miss when it comes to feedback is that feedback is a choice to provide, and it is also a choice to accept. First, let us talk about the value of providing feedback. I go back over 38 years ago to my manager Martha Sheffield at IBM during a college internship where I was ready to quit my job cause I was really lost in terms of what I was doing and she said something to me that I'll never forget that really illustrated the value of feedback: She said “why do you think I provide you this feedback? I provide you this feedback because I am willing to take my time to tell you things that most people will never take the time to tell you so you have an opportunity to improve, and that choice will always be yours”. after she had shared that with me, I asked her what she called that, and she said coaching. That was the day I decided to go into coaching in the workplace as a 21-year-old college student and I owe her a debt of gratitude for that decision. When providing feedback language is critical. Leaders must possess language and conversational skills that allow people to accept feedback willingly, openly, and professionally. Look at the two statements below and ask yourself which set of feedback would you be more willing to listen to number one or #2: 1.       John, I need to provide you some constructive feedback in the areas of...2.       John, we have an awesome opportunity to raise your game in a specific area that will allow you to reach your goals specific to...The second example illustrates tying feedback to what motivates a person not merely what we think motivates a person. When we use the words constructive or feedback it typically will prompt emotional reaction. Replace the words feedback with the word’s opportunity, perspective, or insight.Checkout Our Program Feedback Progressions: Click HereWelcome to Coaching Conversations We have created a NEW and Innovative line of books called Workplace Coaching Books. These books use QR codes with embedded audio and video lessons speaking directly to the reader. Each book comes with assessments and journal based coaching pages where they document what they've learned and what they've applied. In addition each book comes with the self analysis link that prompts them to share what they've learned and what they've put into action leading to greater learner application aCoaching Talks is a dynamic leadership development speaking series customized to your needs. Need help spreading the value and application of workplace coaching? Let us help: We provide many styles of speaking services: We provide virtual keynotes We specialize in 4 part virtual series (we always customize) We have a unique feature called "Speaker Tracks" where we send to all audience members reinforcement lessons after the talk (to the pc or cell phone), thus keeping people on track after the talk Get More Info Here: https://form.jotform.com/241193119118149