News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Life
Culture & Art
Hobbies
News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Culture & Art
Hobbies
The Leadership Bookshelf: Books on Executive Coaching — Prana Coaching and Consulting
I often get asked which books I would recommend to sharpen coaching skills, either as a leader or an external professional coach. These books offer a mix of theoretical insights, practical tools, and real-world case studies to help you develop and refine your executive coaching skills.
Employee Recognition: Low Cost, High Impact — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Have you given positive recognition to your team lately? Leaders I coach often report that they don’t provide enough positive recognition. Positive recognition and feeling a sense of progress are two of the biggest motivators for performance, so why don’t we do more of it? Recent Gallup researc
Leading Others Holistically — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Fascinating research recently from McKinsey shows that employers are going beyond burnout and stress to consider employee well-being more holistically, including different factors that impact holistic employee wellbeing and how predictive each factor is to overall health. Leaders are well-aware th
Coaching the team as a leadership skill — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Coaching the team as a whole, not just individuals, is becoming a key leadership skill. Team coaching, whereby you use coaching practices in team meetings, has parallels to the same practices which foster team psychological safety including developing strong collaborative relationships amongst team
The Neuroscience of Positive Leadership — Prana Coaching and Consulting
In order to understand team engagement & motivation, Google asked 180 teams: What is most important for team performance? The top responses included: making an impact, having meaning, role clarity and structure, and dependability of others. But the #1 response was&nbs
5 Minute Planning, Daily — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Research shows that the first five minutes of your workday are critical to how effective the rest of your day is. When you first arrive at your office, what do you do? A strong start to the work day includes 5 minutes of planning the day ahead. Even if your schedule is set well in adv
High Performing Habits, part 2 — Prana Coaching and Consulting
In an earlier post , I wrote about research showing that the most effective leaders go beyond time management skills to use high-performing habits throughout their workday. These are meaningful at work, and yet, the activities that impact our effectiveness do not end when we go home. In fact, the h
High Performing Habits — Prana Coaching and Consulting
A recent article in the Harvard Business Review presented research that shows that the effective leadership performance is based less on skill in leadership competencies, and more on discrete, daily routines that are utilized to drive personal and organizational effectiveness. In other wor
Leading with Warmth vs. Strength — Prana Coaching and Consulting
In a recent coaching conversation with a senior executive, he started our session by expressing frustration with casual chit-chat at the beginning of meetings. He has an extensive to-do list which never gets shorter, and often works long hours, so getting down to business is a priority for him. He
Manage Energy, Not Time — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Research shows that energy management is the “new” time management – it’s not just about the number of hours in the day you create, it is about the quality of those hours, and how you manage your energy. Energy management is about cultivating the whole leader, taking into account sleep,
The Leadership Bookshelf: What We’re Reading — Prana Coaching and Consulting
The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace by Lindsay Pollack. Great insights & tips on creating, and working in, a diverse engaging workforce. Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna. Easy to read, and full of engaging stories, t
The Empty Calendar Exercise — Prana Coaching and Consulting
The average work day of most executives is busy and complex. Calendars are overbooked, meetings run into other meetings, and days and evenings are full of activities - social events, dinners, family obligations. Each day brings new demands -- a request to speak a
Leading with a Growth Mindset — Prana Coaching and Consulting
In her book "Mindset", Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck summarizes decades of research on how a person's mindset affects achievement and success. Her research shows that there are two mindsets that we all employ: Fixed and Growth.
Giving Effective Feedback — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Giving effective feedback is something that very few leaders do well. Effective feedback includes positive feedback to let someone know they are doing a good job, as well as constructive feedback to improve performance. In fact, research shows that giving both kinds o
Do your teams have psychological safety? — Prana Coaching and Consulting
What makes the best teams flourish with engaged, productive colleagues? What accounts for the fact that other teams may have highly skilled, smart individuals but they cannot bring about meaningful team-driven results? Psychological safety was coined by Harvard researcher Amy Edmondson and propelled
Do you lead with enough ‘warmth’? — Prana Coaching and Consulting
In a recent coaching conversation with a senior leader, he started our session by expressing frustration with casual chit-chat at the beginning of meetings. He has an extensive to-do list which never gets shorter, and often works long hours, so getting down to business is a priority for him. He con
Leadership Bookshelf — Prana Coaching and Consulting
This month we look at three books that discuss how to succeed for three different audiences: those transitioning into a new manager/leader role, company founders, and early in career achievers. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Watkins. This is a
Creating a coaching culture — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Many organizations use external, professional coaches to provide leadership development support to their executives. In additional there is growing trend in companies looking to create internal coaching cultures, where leaders and managers are skilled at coaching their reports. Well-executed, a coac
The Skills Critical for Success in the C-Suite — Prana Coaching and Consulting
Over the past two decades, organizations have redefined the roles of C-suite executives. Traditional capabilities, such as the management of financial and operational resources, are still relevant but when companies today search for top leaders, especially new CEOs, they prioritize one criteria abov
The Skills Critical for Success in the C-Suite — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Over the past two decades, organizations have redefined the roles of C-suite executives. Traditional capabilities such as the management of financial and operational resources, are still relevant but when companies today search for top leaders, especially new CEOs, they prioritize one criteria above
Leadership Bookshelf: What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
This month we look at three books that discuss how to succeed for three different audiences: those transitioning into a new manager/leader role, company founders, and early in career achievers. The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Watkins. This is a
Creating a culture of coaching — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Many organizations use external, professional coaches to provide leadership development support to their executives. In additional there is growing trend in companies looking to create internal coaching cultures, where leaders and managers are skilled at coaching their reports. Well-executed, a coac
Leadership Bookshelf - What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It , by Chris Voss. A former international hostage negotiator for the FBI uses real-life stories to explain how to succeed in any negotiation. The fascinating examples and science-backed research make this a great read for anyo
Leadership Bookshelf - What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Designing Your Life - How to Build a Well-Lived Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. The authors of this well-written book teach a "Design your Life" course at Stanford, and believe that in order to change, people need a thoughtful, designed process to succeed.  As a coac
Leadership Bookshelf - What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett.  Based on a nationwide survey of college graduates working across a range of sectors and occupations, Sylvia Hewlett and the Center for Talent Innovation discovered that EP is a dynamic, cohesive mix of appearance, communication, and gravitas. Thi
Leadership Bookshelf - What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
The Mind of a Leader by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter.  A new book by Harvard Business Press which dissects the modern leadership crisis (88% of employees say their leader's don't lead well) and conveys a timely new message that leaders must be mindful, selfless and compa
Leadership Bookshelf: What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities that Make Us Influential. Neffinger & Kohut. In this illuminating book which covers how to be more influential, John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut trace the path to influence. Much of the book covers the research on trust and influence, the basis of w
A 6 Step Model for Better Feedback — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Giving effective feedback is something that very few leaders do well. Effective feedback includes positive feedback to let someone know they are doing a good job, as well as constructive feedback to improve performance.  In fact,  research shows that giving both kinds o
Leadership Bookshelf -What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
The Culture Map, Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business by Erin Meyer.  In this must-read for anyone working in different countries, the author discusses cultural differences and how to succeed while working in a global context.  The Power of Presence,
Leadership Bookshelf - What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace  by Lindsay Pollack. Great insights & tips on creating, and working in, a diverse engaging workforce. Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna. Easy to read, and full of engaging stories,
Coaching for Leadership Effectiveness — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
No matter where you are in your leadership development, developing a “coaching” relationship with your team is one of the most meaningful things you can do. Leaders who coach understand that they have the biggest impact, not by doing the most, but by inspiring and motivating others. Studies have shown that failure to have a coaching approach is one of the biggest reasons why performance development fails. And a study conducted by Bersin concluded that leaders who coach frequently improve business results by as much as 21 percent. Coaching is impactful because it connects each individual’s professional development goals with the goals of the organization. Coaching at its best is skill that great leaders use daily, both informally and formally. Some approaches to develop a “coaching” approach in your daily leadership:
Want to be 10% More Effective Today? — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
The fast-paced, 'always-on' work environment of today comes with real downsides; forced to multitask, and constantly reacting to interruptions and demands, our brains - already full by mid-morning - start to feel a sense of overwhelm, and we lose our focus and ability to prioritize, and we become more emotionally reactive. The result: less productivity. Whether you are a leader of a team, or an individual contributor, this has real impact on your day. Imagine the impact on your day if you could reclaim even 10% of your mental effectiveness and productivity. The way to reclaim your mental effectiveness is now scientifically proven, and doesn't require more than 10 minutes per day:
Using Neuroscience to Improve Leadership & Team Engagement — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
In order to understand team engagement & motivation, Google asked 180 teams: What is most important for team performance? The top responses included: making an impact, having meaning, role clarity and structure, and dependability of others. But the #1 response was psychological safety; that team members feel safe to take risks and be vulnerable in front of each other. Neuroscience informs this idea of psychological safety. In fact, one of the most exciting developments in leadership coaching has been the rise of neuroscience-based research which provides insight into how the brain is impacted by common leadership behaviors. More importantly, we can utilize this understanding to promote leadership behaviors which motivate, inspire and engage (and not those that create fear, demotivate, or disengage).
Leadership Bookshelf - What We're Reading — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
"One Second Ahead– Enhance Your Performance at Work with Mindfulness" by Rasmus Hougaard. Based on 10 years of working with mindfulness within Accenture, Nike, Google and 200+ other large organizations across the globe, this book offers you a proven formula for enhancing performance and wellbeing at work.
Values, Choice & Decision-Making — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
Values define what is most important to us. They are the basis by which we make decisions, and are the motivations behind our work and our passions. Yet, often our values are so deeply ingrained in our way of being that we lose sight of what they are and the extent to which they shape our actions. Values discovery is a powerful way to get reconnected with your values, and who you truly are. When you are clear on your values, decisions become easier, because your choices will align with your values.
What Distinguishes High-Performing Leaders from Average Ones? — Executive Coaching and Leadership Consulting
A recent article in the Harvard Business Review presented research that shows the leadership performance is based less on leadership competencies, and more on discrete, daily routines that are utilized to drive personal and organizational effectiveness. My work in working with senior leaders supports that. Here's why: