Leaders in not-for-profit organizations frequently ask why would I hire a coach. In my own experience as a leader and in coaching executives, here are three reasons you might want to hire a coach. It can be lonely at the top. Even though there are others who work in your organization, you can feel isolated. […]
Ghosting Is Not Just a Halloween Term Any More
It’s a recent phenomenon describing the practice of of suddenly ending a relationship without explanation. While this term frequently crops up in dating circles in recent years it has spread to the workplace where employers are donning the the role of jilted lover. Ghosting can take several forms. A job candidate may ditch an arranged […]
Performance Reviews Made Easier
Many managers dread the performance review process because of the time and preparation needed to deliver to and support their employees. BoardSource recently posted an article with practical suggestions to make the process easier.[1] The premise of the article is that more frequent, focused, and conversational discussions are more effective than the once a year […]
Conducting an Effective Meeting
Do you dread attending the weekly staff meeting and other meetings on your calendar?? Melanie Woodword from Balance Small Business offers the following advice: “7 Tips For Effective Meetings Establish the Meeting’s Objectives Before sending out a meeting alert and putting it on your calendar, ask yourself why you want to hold a meeting and […]
Characteristics of a Good Leader
When plans don’t go as we hoped they would, or we get discouraged, we may ask ourselves what went wrong. What kind of a leader have I become? I recently read a very interesting article that provided the ten most important characteristics of a good leader. The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) is known for […]
Book Review by Michael D. Kogutek
“Extreme Ownership” Jocko Willnik and Leif Barbin, St. Martin’s Press (2017) “Extreme Ownership “is written by two former Navy SEALs, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, who now head up a leadership training and executive coaching company. The battlefield experiences they share in this book are intense and vivid. The book is written in a […]
Book Review by Michael D. Kogutek
Judith Glaser’s book is a welcome treat for coaches and mentors looking to expand their professional horizons. Her thesis is that the relationship is central and key is providing change and transformation. She comes from a coaching perspective and states that conversations build trust that move us as individuals and organizations.Her definition of trust in […]
Organizational Changes Require Good “Facilitation Skills”
When organizations go through change, good leadership skills are necessary to withstand the uncertainty. A leader with good facilitation skills can assure a smooth transition and support transparency. The skills are required for good collaboration and consensus building. A significant skill to this learning is the ability to ask good questions, which fosters meaningful group […]
Don’t Forget to Plan for the Unexpected
Often in our planning we forget to look at what might happen in favor what we want to happen. As we consider our goals for the coming year give some thought to what might upset your best laid plans. What internal and external threats could disrupt your mission? Internal risks could include unplanned expenses, disruptions […]
Choosing Dogs & Board Members
The history of how dogs have been utilized to accomplish a wide variety of tasks is fascinating. The unique personality and physical characteristics of the breeds makes each one ideally suited for taking on some pretty demanding challenges. One of the biggest challenges that ECofOC coaches confront is helping Executive Directors figure out who are […]