Peter Drucker is known as the Father of Management, influencing modern management practices more than anyone else through his extensive writing and teaching. I’m intrigued by what he said about communication: “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” Here are two ways to practice hearing what isn’t said.
In Managing the Non-Profit Organization, Drucker outlined basic leadership competencies: “As the first such basic competence, I would put
Many coaches, as well as consultants, small nonprofits, and solo-penuers try to project a larger image to potential clients by writing in the 3rd person voice of their company. They try to hide that it’s just them. This is a mistake. Potential clients want a relationship with a person, not a company, so get personal to win more clients.
When I began coaching I came up with a name that sounded big and authoritative, Creative Results Management. I then set to work creating a website written in the 3rd person voice of the company, “we” this and “we” that.
The problem was
Answers are very much based on the question asked. Some questions will produce shallow – not insightful – answers, while other questions will open up new possibilities and paradigm shifts. If you want a better answer, you have to ask better questions. Here’s how.
Much of the work I do with leaders is helping them to listen and ask good questions. Why? Because good questions are a best way to initiate innovative change – in people, processes, and products.
Once leaders begin to get curious and ask more questions, they often don’t
I’ve long suspected that the most important leadership trait you can have is curiosity. A Price Waterhouse Cooper study now confirms it. Here’s why curiosity is so valuable and how you can become more curious.
A nonprofit president told me how his organization went from fully funded to financial crisis in a matter of days. The organization raised several million dollars a year to support it’s programs and services. They had
Most leaders are skilled communicators. By that I mean they are good talkers. Communication is so much more than words. Sometimes the most powerful thing a leader can say—is nothing. Silence has a habit of revealing meaning.
The ability to speak effectively is a strength worth developing. Through words, I help people learn, grow, and achieve results. I teach groups and lead workshops by telling stories and explaining. I coach individuals by asking questions. I lead my organization by casting vision, encouraging, and directing.
However, in my desire to communicate effectively, it’s easy to over-rely on words. A well-placed pause or an extended silence, especially after a powerful question, can
If your ministry were to appear on a nonprofit version of Shark Tank, would it get an investment from a Shark? Most nonprofit workers can’t answer the 7 questions entrepreneurs often face on the show. How about you?
The small business entrepreneurs who appear on the reality TV show Shark Tank are passionate about the product or service they have created. Often it doesn’t make business sense, and the Sharks spot the weaknesses.
People doing nonprofit ministry are also passionate about what they do to help people. How well would your ministry stand up in a nonprofit version of Shark Tank?
I’ve noticed that many leaders, rather than trying to succeed, are trying to not fail. Doing so keeps them from achieving the personal and professional success they are looking for. Here’s why you need to risk failure in order to succeed.
After yet another basketball game loss, the boy told his Dad, “It’s okay Dad, we knew we’d lose so we weren’t really trying anyway.” The boy and his team knew how to protect themselves, if they didn’t try hard, they didn’t really fail.
It’s not just kids who protect themselves from failure. How about…
I equip people to use coaching skills. Most of these people coach as part of their leadership roles – supervisor, pastor, executive, mentor, parent – but some want to generate income with their coaching. Here are 3 things you need to run a successful coaching business.
It’s a myth that a person can become a professional coach, move to Hawaii, and coach a few people a day from the beach. For one thing, the beach is far too noisy for coaching. 😉
As with most professions, in coaching, there are a few people making a lot of money and a lot of people making a little money. Here’s the truth:
