Next Level Blog

APRIL 21, 2020

As a starting point, simpler frameworks make it easy to focus a conversation and align people around a goal. With that in mind, here’s a simple framework for getting started with VUCA leadership that I came up with last year when I was working with a group of global general managers.

Uncertainty 135

Uncertainty Short-term Leadership Letter 135

Next Level Blog

MARCH 27, 2019

In 20 years of working as a leadership educator, speaker and executive coach, I’ve seen a lot of data points on leadership development programs and definitely see some patterns. Here, then, are five principles that I’ve become convinced are essential to designing great leadership development programs. What do they think?

Leadership Development 134

Leadership Development Development 360-Degree Feedback Leadership 134

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 18, 2022

When you do that, leadership becomes longitudinal, not episodic. I began to write about that question in a pre-pandemic post I wrote back in 2019 on five principles for designing great leadership development programs. And when you do, be explicit about how the latest victory is contributing to the ultimate goal.

Engineering 237

Engineering Participative Goal Team 237

Next Level Blog

JULY 26, 2022

A few months ago, I was facilitating a senior leadership team meeting where the focus challenge came up again and, after listening for a while, I drew this grid on the flip chart and asked, “What if you tried this?”. Click here to get a free copy of the template that you can use with your team.

Team 277

Team How To Long-term Mentor 277

Next Level Blog

AUGUST 2, 2023

During the ten years that I taught leadership coaching at Georgetown University, one of the biggest points all of us on the faculty wanted our students to learn was that coaching isn’t about offering answers or advice. As an executive leadership coach, I often see the same dynamic playing out with my clients.

How To 246

How To Active Listening Learning-by-Doing Long-term 246

Next Level Blog

MAY 3, 2022

Fortunately, that happens a lot including as recently as a few weeks ago when I was talking with Rishi, a country manager on a leadership team I’m coaching. I love it when I learn from the people I’m coaching. In a prep conversation for an upcoming team coaching session, I asked Rishi what’s been working lately with the team he leads.

Team 176

Team How To Constraint Short-term 176

Next Level Blog

JULY 11, 2023

If you put yourself in the position of controlling the traffic, you’re adopting a leadership model that doesn’t scale. If you choose the role of traffic enabler, however, that’s an imminently scalable approach to leadership. A leadership team that understands their roles and supports each other’s success. How do you that?

Executive Coaching 142

Executive Coaching Metrics Learning-by-Doing Team 142

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 25, 2022

The added benefit is that doing so will free you up to do the higher value-added stuff that only you can do given the leadership role that you’re in. Coach – One of the ideas that we used to talk about a lot when I was on the faculty of Georgetown’s leadership coaching program is that great coaches coach the person not the problem.

Team 245

Team Delegation Learning-by-Doing Career 245

Next Level Blog

MAY 28, 2014

The basic goal of the change is to shift from the Bank’s decades-long regional structure to one that is organized around areas of functional expertise. Another goal is to reduce expenses. As reported in the New York Times this week, the World Bank is in the midst of a two year restructuring effort.

Restructuring 212

Restructuring Banking Report Goal 212

Next Level Blog

JULY 12, 2022

One of the leadership communications distinctions I’ve been thinking about a lot this year is the difference between communications that are episodic and those that are longitudinal. In almost every executive presentation or conversation, you’ll want to start with a quick reminder of what your big goal is and why it matters.

How To 346

How To Execution Tactics Resources 346

Next Level Blog

SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

Through multiple acts of leadership they have organized themselves to take care of their bodies, minds and spirits. Here’s some of what we can learn from the miners: Leaders share the role:   You might assume that the miners’ shift supervisor would take over the sole leadership role. Today was not one of those days.

Blog 277

Blog Leadership Learning-by-Doing Bottom-up 277

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 22, 2020

The positive leadership ripple effects from doing a better job of listening are enormous and wide-spread. Your goal is to wrap up and move on. Your goal is to move things forward. Your goal is to learn more about the other party – what they think, what they value and how they feel. You feel distracted or impatient.

Long-term 182

Long-term Executive Coaching Goal Creativity 182

Next Level Blog

DECEMBER 18, 2019

And, then, in a couple of weeks, we’ll wipe the slate clean and start pursuing the goals of 2020. Before you officially shut things down for the holidays, frame up a short list of goals, opportunities or challenges you want to take on in 2020. Here’s some advice (for myself as much as anyone) before you dive into next year.

Goal 173

Goal Advice Follow-up Planning 173

Next Level Blog

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

When you’re new to a leadership role or new to an organization it can be a challenge to project the right amount of grounded confidence that you belong and can contribute. Over the years, you’ve developed a playbook for how to build great teams, develop talent and accomplish big goals. You’ve proven it out over time. Be curious.

Learning Curve 244

Learning Curve Energy Project Blog 244

Next Level Blog

APRIL 4, 2023

I first started thinking about this when I helped run a leadership development program for country general managers of a global company. Since that experience, I’ve tuned into how the need for an ambassadorial approach to leadership extends to a range of executive roles. Certainly, the CEO and other C-Suite roles are among them.

Strategic Planning 176

Strategic Planning Storytelling Planning Marketing 176

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 30, 2019

Because each of those leaders is the current incumbent in the leadership role they’re in, there are certain things that only they can do given the resources, opportunities, authority, information and access that come with the role. How do they support the goal? What is your team doing that tracks with what they care about?

Marketing 146

Marketing How To Team Goal 146

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 8, 2015

If you work in an organization with other people, this is the time of year that you''re likely having conversations about goals and expectations for the year. General Leadership Organizational Development emotions Goals Happy logic new year Pharrell Williams' You may be the boss having those talks with your team members.

Goal 100

Goal Team Development Organization 100

Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

Pretty much every senior leader I work with has a plate that is overflowing with big issues – return to office initiatives, higher performance goals, huge investments, achieving operational excellence, you name it. He’s not the only one that feels like the beginning of 2024 has been overstuffed with things to do and deal with.

Stress 167

Stress System Execution Efficiency 167

Next Level Blog

MARCH 23, 2021

Last week I had the pleasure of spending some extended time online with a group of coaching and leadership development colleagues. The result is an amazing amount of information you can use to track your health, pursue fitness goals and make better lifestyle choices based on your metrics.

Class 246

Class Travel Health Care Quality 246

Next Level Blog

AUGUST 16, 2010

At the risk of igniting a debate among readers on the efficacy of building the Islamic center a few blocks from Ground Zero, I would argue that both Obama and Bloomberg have shown principled leadership on the issue. Leadership can be lonely. Who’s exhibiting sound leadership in this case?   What’s your take so far?

Leadership 138

Leadership Learning-by-Doing Blog Simon 138

Next Level Blog

APRIL 20, 2021

It’s as true in business and leadership as it is in yoga and the rest of life. Patience Prepares the Ground for Urgency : To act with urgency on the right things in the right ways first requires the patience to step back and determine what’s going on, what you’re trying to do and how you need to proceed to accomplish that goal.

Scenario Planning 246

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

Next Level Blog

NOVEMBER 3, 2010

Even More Leadership Lessons from the Washington Redskins So, if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you might have expected me to have some sort of leadership lessons post on yesterday’s mid-term elections.  OK, if you’ve read this far you must be both a football fan and a student of leadership. 

Leadership 137

Leadership Blog Sports Learning-by-Doing 137

Next Level Blog

AUGUST 14, 2019

As I’ve written here before , effective leadership communications involves two distinct activities – transmitting and receiving. For your leadership communications to be inspirational and influential, you need to do both as well. Too many people in leadership roles overemphasize the transmission and underemphasize the reception.

Influence 118

Influence Sample Tips Quality 118

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 2, 2018

The great leaders stand alone, indomitable in the face of adversity, accomplishing their goals in the face of all obstacles. There’s a ton of leverage that comes with a designated leadership position. Just like financial leverage, leadership leverage can yield amazing outcomes when used well or disastrous outcomes when used poorly.

Financial Leverage 178

Financial Leverage Learning-by-Doing Executive Coaching Conference 178

Next Level Blog

JULY 28, 2021

Their goals are to help each other pull the lens back, assess what’s going on in their worlds and identify any steps they need to take or adjustments they need to make to be successful in their roles. Peer Coaching.

Mentor 246

Mentor Commitment Environment Learning-by-Doing 246

Next Level Blog

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

or “What’s supporting and what’s getting in the way of your goals?” Then, work on incorporating these three traits into your influential leadership style: Share What You Know – Don’t play your cards close to your vest. Yet another is “What could we do together that would make a difference?” Ask the questions and listen to the answers.

Influence 246

Influence How To Trends Learning-by-Doing 246

Next Level Blog

JUNE 6, 2013

As reported in the New York Times and other outlets, the two leaders will spend a lot of time in relaxed and unscripted conversations with the goal of getting to know each other better. General Leadership Improving Communications Personal Presence collaboration Leaders relationship building' Click headline to continue.

Report 214

Report Goal Leadership 214

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 4, 2012

My friend and colleague Dan McCarthy recently shared this finding on his Great Leadership blog. According to a 2012 Corporate University Xchange Leadership study, 81 % of surveyed organizations have “significant” concerns about their leadership bench strength and their ability to support future growth.

McCarthy 201

McCarthy Education Survey Participative 201

Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

A few months ago I wrote here that preparation is the new leadership differentiator. What am I trying to do in this next conversation or meeting to support that goal? That conclusion is based on close observation of my executive coaching clients and their colleagues. That involves thinking through and, in some cases, visualizing.

Executive Coaching 150

Executive Coaching Follow-up Reference Objective 150

Next Level Blog

DECEMBER 1, 2020

The publication date of this post, December 1, 2020, marks the 20 th anniversary of our leadership development company, The Eblin Group. My goal with the book was to help leaders understand the expectations that others have of them and what they need to pick up and let go of when they’re moving into big new roles or situations.

Development 241

Development Long-term Workshop Learning-by-Doing 241

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 23, 2019

Talk about their work and personal goals and connect them with the goals and the work of your group as a whole. Third, remember that review conversations have a huge impact on your personal leadership effectiveness and establishing the perception of how you lead. Second, separate the conversation from the compensation.

Performance Review 149

Performance Review Review Process How To 149

Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 26, 2020

Trolls can show up on peer leadership teams, boards of directors and lots of other places where people need to work together to get things done. Choose the dignified response by focusing on what matters and the facts that support the goal. Chances are you’re dealing with some trolls in your work world right now.

Shaw 191

Shaw Construction Learning-by-Doing Productivity 191

Next Level Blog

JANUARY 15, 2015

Leadership Lessons Personal Presence game changing Goal setting high performance' In the last couple of weeks, I’ve asked around three dozen high potential leaders to answer the question, “What’s the one thing you need to do to play a bigger game this year?” I’ve boiled their answers down to seven ways to play a bigger game.

Goal 100

Goal Execution Organization Leadership 100

Next Level Blog

OCTOBER 20, 2014

Higher up the value chain is transactional listening in which we’re listening with the goal of accomplishing something or solving a problem. In a lot of my workshops and presentations on mindful leadership, I ask people to practice transformational listening. That’s important but doesn’t really do much for the heart and soul.

Workshop 173

Workshop How To Goal Books 173

Next Level Blog

JUNE 6, 2017

Every Friday, they take a look at the calendar for the next two weeks with the goal of eliminating at least 20 percent of the scheduled appointments. One of my favorite questions to ask participants in our leadership programs is: “What is it, given the unique leadership role that you’re in, that only you can do?”

Objective 155

Objective How To Delegation Definition 155

Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

My main goal in this post is to share some Steelers coach Mike Tomlin-inspired thoughts on servant leadership. It’s Monday morning and time to break down the Super Bowl. Have to spend a little time. Please click the headline to read the whole story.

Servant Leader 185

Servant Leader Goal Leadership 185

Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 13, 2019

During that period, my company has run over a thousand 360 degree leadership assessments based on the success behaviors I highlight in my book, The Next Level. Share Perspective and Information – The best leaders inspire their team’s performance by connecting their work with the bigger goals of the organization.

Team 180

Team 360-Degree Feedback Short-term How To 180