Food for Thought
Welcome to the HardTalk Biz Coaching Blog.
When you nurture your intellectual curiosity through reading, when you seriously entertain someone else’s perspective, and when you seek out professional opinions, thought-provoking articles, and contrarian views, I believe it leaves you enriched and wiser. I wish you inspired reading and reflecting and I welcome your comments on my posts.
Additional Reading: Some of My Many Favorite Books
A good book for me is one that provides me with multiple perspectives, one that confronts me with thought-provoking questions, and one that offers contrarian narratives so I can reflect in new ways and multiply my options. Let me offer you ten of the many books I think are excellent vehicles to expand your mind:
- The Business of Belief, Tom Asacker
- Moments of Impact, Chris Ertel and Lisa Kay Solomon
- Transparency – How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor, Warren Bennis, Daniel Goleman, and James O’Toole
- The Leadership Challenge and The Truth about Leadership, James Kouzes and Barry Posner
- Managing Transitions, William Bridges
- How to Keep People from Pushing Your Buttons, Albert Ellis and Arthur Lange
- The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle
- Humble Inquiry, Edgar H. Schein
- Beyond Blame – Learning from Failure and Success, Dave Zwieback
- Just Culture – Restoring Trust and Accountability in Your Organization, Sidney Dekker
Who Doesn’t …
Who doesn’t … want to be successful? Who doesn’t … want others to act accountable? Who doesn’t … want their team to function as a true team? I like to share some nuggets from the workshop Holding Others Accountable that I attended, with all credits, of course, to the...
read moreWanna Get It Right? #Leadership
There are many things that strong leaders believe, think and do. Below you find some that I found to be true in my 28 year consulting, coaching, and workshop practice in Europe and the U.S. With gratitude for the many hundreds of clients who taught me what strong...
read moreHype or Smart? Walking Meetings
Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg popularized walking meetings as a way to strengthen work relationships while improving health. If you conduct a walking meeting, focus on the topic improves and the usual distractions go down. Moving increases blood flow to the brain and...
read moreDeadly Mistakes: Lack of Candor & Accountability in the Workplace
Upcoming Programs & Events May 12th 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Deadly Mistakes: Lack of candor and accountability in the workplace Most of us worry about being liked. We shy away from confrontation. We misjudge the possible harmful effects of candor so we revert to...
read moreSaying It As It Is
Though I generally prefer to think and talk in affirmative language rather than the language of don’ts, I believe this post to be a useful exception. When confronted with difficult interpersonal situations that involve critique, confrontation or other ingredients that...
read moreYour Complimentary Online Coaching Session
Regardless of your industry, company, position, and present level of success, I’m sure there are problems on your plate for which coaching would be beneficial. The value of coaching is for a great deal in the interaction. For interaction with a skilled, astute coach...
read moreSeven Questions to Improve Your Professional Effectiveness
It' not so much the answers that matter, although they provide valuable insights. It's the thought processes that these questions elicit and the increased awareness you will experience that will strengthen your professional effectiveness. Here are seven questions from...
read moreThinking Bold, Acting Bold, Being Bold
Being bold = being honest with yourself and with others. Being bold = mustering the strength to appear vulnerable. Being bold = facing your fears and imperfections. Being bold = acknowledging how you deceive yourself. Being bold = questioning your assumptions and...
read moreA Leader Who Empowers and Inspires …
… is a leader who shows up, speaks up, and steps up. who asks “How can I help you be more successful?” who models vulnerability, humility, and courage. who wants to know what she might be missing. who knows when he has to withdraw and let go. who demonstrates the...
read moreWe Are All Lousy Listeners …
… even though we know that Listening builds trust Listening adds perspective Listening expands your mind Listening is a show of respect Listening breaks down resistance Listening creates buy-in and support Listening provides you with feedback Listening conveys that...
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