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
Crash Course in Critical Thinking
For anyone who thinks he’s in control or who likes to be in control, I’ve got bad news for you. Scientists believe to have shown that the brain runs largely on autopilot. Whether you like to hear this or not, if this is true, your brain acts first and asks questions...
read moreDo You…Really?
Do you speak out, when no one else does? Do you really? Do you lead, even when no one is following? Do you really? Do you give without expecting to get in return? Do you really? Do you know when you are deceiving yourself? Do you really? Do you put honesty...
read moreA Positive Mindset Made Practical
According to the well-respected Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, positive thinkers enjoy: Less stress A longer life span Lower rates of depression Increased resistance to the common cold Better stress management and coping skills Lower risk of cardiovascular...
read moreQuestions You Need to Ask As a Leader
Leading yourself, leading others, and leading change are the three main responsibilities of any leader. Easier said than done, of course. For you to be successful in these areas you need quite a few ingredients. Industry savvy, emotional intelligence, strategic...
read moreWho’s Afraid of Conflict?
Unresolved conflict represents the largest reducible cost in many businesses. Yet, in many organizations, conflict remains largely unrecognized and un-dealt-with. At the same time, too many people do not realize that tension and conflict, if you can prevent intense...
read moreReflection Time
Most of the leaders that I coach are busy. That's a fact. They are real busy meeting, strategizing, traveling, implementing, overseeing, guiding... The occasional client reflects regularly yet that's the exception. The majority of the leaders I work with tell me...
read moreApplauding Those Who Doubt Themselves
It is often said that confidence separates average leaders from great leaders. That leaders without confidence lose the trust and respect of the people they lead. Of course we want teachers, surgeons, business executive, accountants, drivers, police officers, and...
read moreSuccessful Coaching? Awareness, Urgency, Willingness!
During a conversation with a new client, I addressed the importance of three ingredients to be present before embarking on a coaching endeavor. My client was all ears and appreciated this insight into what increases the chances of success for a coaching project. Too...
read moreThe Human Side of Change
A new payroll system, merging two sales organizations, centralizing training and development, entering a new market, adding virtual teams, outsourcing data entry, introducing highly computerized production machines and robots to your plants – just a few of the...
read moreCandor
Candor Is not a goal in itself Candor has meaning and purpose Written all over it Candor Is not just a tool or technique It’s a way of life, if you want it to be With ‘genuine’ in the lead role Practiced with purpose, care, and skill Candor will Deepen Disclose...
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