The ninth in a monthly series of 11 posts presenting my thinking and experience on the topic of coaching. Most leaders I know talk too much. Even though they have a lot to say, only rarely do they speak about themselves in any depth. As a result, they miss many opportunities for connection and clarity. In last month’s blog (click here) I mentioned three forms of speaking for self that offer particularly high value for leaders. The first of these – distinguishing opinions

The eighth in a monthly series of 11 posts presenting my thinking and experience on the topic of coaching. Assuming you want to make a difference as a leader and coach, here’s a question for you: When you look at your own communication habits, do you tend more towards speaking for others (“We, you, they”) or are you more likely to speak for self (I, me, my”)? I consider it a leadership weakness to assume that one can speak for others. Leadership communication reflects gre

The seventh in a monthly series of 11 posts. With few exceptions, the leaders I work with understand the importance of listening and asking good questions. They’ve been through training programs that emphasize these habits, and they’ve heard the litany of reinforcing slogans: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” “If you want obedience, tell. If you want deeper thinking, ask.” “People learn more from questions than