Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 31, 2023

As an executive coach and advisor to senior executives in a wide range of industries, pattern recognition is vital to my work as well. The most effective senior leaders I work with take the time and make the effort to regularly engage in a practice of pattern recognition and analysis.

How To 254

How To Analysis Trends Reference 254

Next Level Blog

JUNE 20, 2013

As an executive coach, I’ll be the first to acknowledge that the title of this post may not be the world’s best business development strategy. But, after more than 12 years as a coach, I think I’ve learned when it makes sense to hire a coach and when it doesn’t. Personal Presence executive coaching'

Executive Coaching 233

Executive Coaching Execution Business Development Strategy 233

Next Level Blog

JULY 11, 2023

With that image fresh in mind, I had an executive coaching client last week make the distinction between being a traffic controller and a traffic enabler. I’ll make it easy for you – a lot! While I’d say that my favorite cop on Melrose Avenue was both controlling and enabling the traffic flow, that’s not an option for most leaders.

Executive Coaching 142

Executive Coaching Metrics Learning-by-Doing Team 142

Next Level Blog

JUNE 27, 2013

Much like last week’s post, my point of view is informed by more than a dozen years of working with scores of great coaching clients and, frankly, a few that I shouldn’t have taken on. So, based on that experience, here are three signs that you’re ready for a coach. Click headline to continue.

Executive Coaching 219

Executive Coaching Execution Information Leadership 219

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 26, 2021

Respect people’s agency – As an executive coach, I sometimes have to deliver summaries of tough colleague feedback to my clients. You owe it to your team member, your organization and yourself to deliver straight-up meaty feedback that can be understood and acted upon.

How To 246

How To Executive Coaching Construction Resistance 246

Next Level Blog

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

One of my favorite things I do as an executive coach is sharing with my clients the progress they’ve made as demonstrated in the closing colleague feedback I solicit for them at the end of the coaching engagement.

Power 167

Power Influence Executive Coaching Report 167

Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 5, 2020

When I’m doing colleague feedback interviews for an executive coaching client, I’ll sometimes hear that person described as accessible. On rare occasions, I’ll hear that the executive is both accessible and available. That desire to be a transparent and open leader is admirable.

Leadership 184

Leadership Policies Executive Coaching Video 184

Next Level Blog

AUGUST 20, 2014

One of the things I talk a lot about with my executive coaching clients is the highest and best use of their time and attention. When they think about what they really need to accomplish and how they should be spending their time to do that they often see a gap.

Crisis Management 181

Crisis Management Executive Coaching Crisis Leadership Development 181

Next Level Blog

JULY 21, 2014

I was conducting interviews with about a dozen colleagues and friends of a new executive coaching client. One of my questions was, “What do you hope he gets out of this coaching engagement?” Perhaps you think I meant to use the word candle rather than calendar in the title of this post.

Executive Coaching 206

Executive Coaching Review Report Productivity 206

Next Level Blog

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

This post is based on a presumptuous and preposterous premise which is that I’d have the opportunity to coach the President of the United States. One of the occupational hazards of being an executive coach is that I have this habit of thinking about leaders in the public eye and asking myself, “How would I coach that person?”

Planning 181

Planning Executive Coaching Execution Emotional Intelligence 181

Next Level Blog

MAY 29, 2013

In a recent conversation with a fellow executive coach and author, Joel Garfinkle, we brainstormed what influence is all about and simple, actionable ways that you can increase yours.

Influence 232

Influence Brainstorming Executive Coaching Career 232

Next Level Blog

JUNE 29, 2021

Occasionally, I get to work with an executive coaching client who’s exceptional at communicating with their colleagues. When I talk with the client’s colleagues about what makes them exceptional, one of the big differentiators is that the executive shares with them what they need to know before they need to know it.

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Audience Learning-by-Doing Executive Coaching Execution 246

Next Level Blog

APRIL 25, 2013

A big part of my job as a coach is delivering colleague feedback summaries to my executive coaching clients. I was once a corporate executive and, in one particular case, got some blistering 360 feedback that had me licking my wounds for a month or two before I finally gathered up the gumption to act on it.

Executive Coaching 208

Executive Coaching Execution Leadership 208

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 5, 2021

I just completed a round of feedback interviews for an executive coaching client who has been very intentional during the pandemic period about safely visiting, calling and sending small tokens of appreciation to his team members around the world. If you’re a leader, connection starts with you.

Efficiency 246

Efficiency McKinsey Hammer Sharpe 246

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 26, 2010

The Next Level Find out what insiders know about executive success in Scott Eblin’s new and expanded book, The Next Level: What Insiders Know About Executive Success.   There are some caveats in answering the question, however.    For starters, it’s not about being indispensable. Click Here.

Execution 165

Execution Executive Coaching McCarthy Blog 165

Next Level Blog

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

With 15 years of management experience and 12 years of executive coaching in my rear view mirror, I have no idea how many meetings I’ve been in. I’m not talking about plugging leaks of confidential information. What I am talking about is the leakage of productivity that too often occurs in meetings.

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Executive Coaching Definition Productivity Products 207

Next Level Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2019

The best leaders I work with as an executive coach encourage open and honest dialogue. They’ve learned and understand why it’s so important for the people on their team and in their organizations to be completely comfortable with speaking up.

Executive Coaching 156

Executive Coaching Learning-by-Doing Follow-up Environment 156

Next Level Blog

APRIL 20, 2021

In my role as an executive coach, I’m used to being the one who asks the questions. I’ve often said that one of the biggest things I do as a coach is give my clients the space to think out loud. Asking the right questions is a great way to create that space.

Scenario Planning 246

Scenario Planning Learning-by-Doing Executive Coaching Follow-up 246

Next Level Blog

MARCH 31, 2020

I asked that question of an executive coaching client a few days ago who was in the middle of one of those virtual conflict loops. One option is to send emails back and forth (and maybe CC’ing a few people in the process) so the two of you can argue about who’s right and who’s wrong. If you were in the pre-WFH days what would you do?

Crisis 178

Crisis Executive Coaching Engineering Participative 178

Next Level Blog

JUNE 7, 2012

I’m on the road for the rest of the week working with new executives on delegation skills today and delivering colleague feedback to a senior executive coaching client on Friday. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been conducting a lot of colleague interviews for that client and two others.

Executive Coaching 190

Executive Coaching Delegation How To Execution 190

Next Level Blog

JUNE 10, 2013

As an executive coach, I work with a lot of Type A leaders who always have the dial set to 10. That’s a good thing until it’s no longer a good thing. In the interest of mindful leadership, I want to raise the question of whether or not you should consider dialing it back a bit.

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360-Degree Feedback Executive Coaching Energy Survey 195

Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

That conclusion is based on close observation of my executive coaching clients and their colleagues. A few months ago I wrote here that preparation is the new leadership differentiator.

Executive Coaching 150

Executive Coaching Follow-up Reference Objective 150

Next Level Blog

DECEMBER 2, 2011

As an executive coach, a big part of my job is helping my clients adjust their behaviors so that they get different results. Since my clients are executives, they are, by definition, dealing with other people. They also have to manage the perception others have of their behaviors.

Executive Coaching 206

Executive Coaching Definition Execution Planning 206

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 22, 2020

One of the things I’ve said for a long-time as an executive coach is that if you get colleague feedback that you need to be a better listener, take the feedback and start working on it. The positive leadership ripple effects from doing a better job of listening are enormous and wide-spread.

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Long-term Executive Coaching Goal Creativity 182

Next Level Blog

SEPTEMBER 11, 2012

I hear a fair amount of “They should be doing’s” in my work as an executive coach. You’ll hear someone say something like, “They should be doing that because…” and what comes after because is something like “it’s the right thing to do,” or “the answer’s obvious,” or “I’m in charge.”

Influence 207

Influence Executive Coaching Execution Productivity 207

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 7, 2011

Main | Leaders, Your Words Matter » January 07, 2011 Next Level Tips for Women Leaders Last month, I was interviewed by Kristi Hedges, executive coach and columnist for WomenEntrepeneur.com , on how women leading their own businesses can develop themselves for next level performance.  Click Here.

Tips 169

Tips Hedge Executive Coaching Letter 169

Next Level Blog

JUNE 17, 2015

In my 15 years of executive coaching and running leadership development programs, I’ve worked with thousands of leaders charged with getting different results. Earlier this month, I wrote a post titled What Makes It So Hard to Let Go? A number of scenarios can drive the demand for new results.

Executive Coaching 100

Executive Coaching Leadership Development Execution Development 100

Next Level Blog

AUGUST 17, 2011

Executive coach and blogger Mary Jo Asmus has written up a “ripped from today’s headlines,” case involving a manager who says. It’s time for this month’s Leadership Development Roundtable Challenge. Please click the headline to read the whole story.

Leadership Development 163

Leadership Development Development Executive Coaching Leadership 163

Next Level Blog

NOVEMBER 13, 2019

One of my favorite things to talk about with my executive coaching clients is “What are your energy givers and your energy drainers?”.

Energy 174

Energy Budgeting Brainstorming Executive Coaching 174

Next Level Blog

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Have a peer coach – I always say that the biggest thing I do for my executive coaching clients is creating space for them to think out loud. The one that I offered to the guys that they used to great effect is: I will (what you’re going to do and to what degree) ….

Goal 243

Goal How To Follow-up Learning-by-Doing 243

Next Level Blog

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

  In addition to being an executive coach and the founder of the Weekly Leader blog, Peter is a fantastic interviewer (Watch out Charlie Rose!)  The Next Level Find out what insiders know about executive success in Scott Eblin’s new and expanded book, The Next Level: What Insiders Know About Executive Success.

Executive Coaching 146

Executive Coaching Blog Letter Execution 146

Next Level Blog

MARCH 19, 2015

As I wrote here a few months ago, the biggest development opportunity for many of the rising leaders I work with as an executive coach is to play a bigger game.

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Executive Coaching Leadership Development Tips Execution 100

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 2, 2019

Here are three best practices that I see my best prepared executive coaching clients follow: Book the time: The best prepared leaders book the time to prepare. Leaders who show up prepared differentiate themselves from those who don’t. How can you be that prepared leader even when your plate is overfull?

Short-term 185

Short-term Long-term Leadership Commitment 185

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 11, 2019

I’ve been thinking about triage lately as I’ve been working with my executive coaching clients. It’s a big reason why you might end up hanging out in the waiting room for hours if you go to the ER to get your flu or some other non-life-threatening condition treated. So, they spend a lot of effort prioritizing their work.

Engineering 146

Engineering Executive Coaching Team Goal 146

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 2, 2018

It was impressive, but, honestly, it didn’t really resonate with me because in 18 years of executive coaching, I’ve heard a lot of stories like the one this leader was telling. That’s until one of the coaches asked him to talk about the biggest thing he’s learned in his current assignment. Impressive, but not unique.

Financial Leverage 178

Financial Leverage Learning-by-Doing Executive Coaching Conference 178

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 12, 2021

As a public service to both groups, I’ll share my own observations drawn from a few decades worth of experience as an executive, executive coach and someone who’s written a book about what it takes to be successful at the next level.

How To 130

How To Committee Human Resources Executive Coaching 130

Next Level Blog

DECEMBER 30, 2010

Over the past 10 years, hundreds of my executive coaching clients have used the Life GPS® to help them reach their goals in their lives at home, work and in the community. Next month, for the first time, I’m offering an open opportunity to create your own Life GPS® with some coaching and guidance from me.  

Course 169

Course Executive Coaching Letter Blog 169