The client I coached came to me seeking someone honest and objective who would light a fire under him to propel him past his perceived limitations. He knew he was capable, talented, and reasonably successful. But he was hungry for much more and restless to...
Today’s leaders are hired not just to manage people but to coach them and develop their potential. If you can’t do that you probably won’t be promoted. Here’s a case in point: Forward-thinking companies like General Electric and Microsoft are moving away from annual performance reviews. For...
During my tenure as a senior level Fortune 100 executive for Macy’s Inc. I was always giving presentations to the C-suite – and developed my own set of executive summary techniques and strategies. These high-level, short presentations can really put you on the spot and...
Years ago, when I started my executive coaching practice, one of my first clients was a picture of negativity. Every time we talked he expressed his lack of esteem and fatalistic attitude. I tried to convince him to reframe his outlook and use more positive...
Branding your leadership in a powerful, succinct, memorable way has never been more important than it is today. Companies are hiring and promoting at a significant pace, but they are being very selective. That’s the new economy, and if you want to get to the...
Listen to the podcast [audio mp3="https://illustraconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/PODCAST_10202015_transformative_leader.mp3"][/audio] Gone are the days when time on the job was enough to ensure upwardly mobile seniority. The skills that got you to where you are when you won your last promotion are not sufficient to push you to the next level....
Listen to the podcast [audio mp3="https://illustraconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/podcast_10072015_Accelerate_New_Heights.mp3"][/audio] Skill development is a huge area of opportunity. Just as organizations profit by promoting talent from within, you as an individual leader can reap tremendous rewards when you invest in developing your leadership from the inside. The main reason leaders aren’t...
Nowhere is your status and capability as a thought leader more conspicuous than when you stand up to lead a meeting or give a presentation. Unfortunately, most people enter these situations unprepared to take advantage of this kind of golden opportunity. Instead of exuding outstanding...
Your executive presence is on full display whenever you stand up to make a presentation. That’s true whether it’s to a small group around a conference table, an industry-wide audience of thousands, or a presentation to the media that may be broadcast to millions of...
In Part I of this article I described some of the issues surrounding high-level communication and the need to be fully present as an active listener. Now I will share five valuable steps or tips that can elevate your communication to the next level and...