The before, during and after of great coaching

Avoid these leadership behaviors that break connection | What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail? | The before, during and after of great coaching Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( January 20, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Avoid these leadership behaviors that break connection]( [Avoid these leadership behaviors that break connection]( (Pixabay) Leaders who allow bullies to go unchecked, set unrealistic expectations, won't offer flexible working arrangements or shun their teams' ideas can harm engagement and put "a wedge" between them and their staff, write Michael Lee Stallard and Katharine P. Stallard. "Consistently high levels of connection lead to a higher level of productivity, tighter strategic alignment, greater innovation, improved quality of decisions and greater agility," they write. Put it into practice: One of the biggest connection killers is layoffs, not just because it sends some team members away, but it leaves those who remain in need of reassurance that their job is safe. "Rather than laying people off, it's preferable to find other ways to reduce costs," they advise. Full Story: [Michael Lee Stallard blog]( (1/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?]( "What goal would you shoot for if you knew failure wasn't an option?" is a great question to ask yourself to get out of your comfort zone and tackle new -- if frightening -- challenges, writes Robyn McLeod, who outlines three steps, including thinking about the rewards and committing to take one step toward it. "[I]f you can see a series of small steps rather than the giant leap required to get to your end goal, anything is possible," McLeod writes. Put it into practice: Envisioning rewards and making a tiny commitment are excellent steps, but that one in the middle -- understanding what stops us from making the leap -- is where you should spend a lot of time. Ridding yourself of limiting beliefs means everywhere can become your comfort zone. Full Story: [Chatsworth Consulting Group]( (1/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [The before, during and after of great coaching]( [The before, during and after of great coaching]( (Carol Yepes/Getty Images) Becoming a great coach for your employees means preparing yourself ahead of time by building strong relationships with them, thinking about which style of coaching will work best for each team member and choosing effective follow-up strategies, writes Paul B. Thornton. Thornton also offers some self-coaching questions for leaders including how much coaching will be needed and when is the best time to offer it. Put it into practice: Choosing the best coaching style is key to effectively helping each team member, since their needs will be different. Thornton offers three to choose from depending on whether coaching needs to be collaborative or more directive. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (1/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [We all hate meetings, but should they be banned?]( Some companies such as Shopify and Asana are severely limiting -- or outright banning -- meetings and closing down social channels on company communication tools, ostensibly to give employees more time to focus, writes Clara Murray, who questions the wisdom behind limiting ways for employees to connect. "At a time when loneliness is increasing -- particularly among young, single urbanites -- severing an important way to connect people is no cause for celebration," Murray writes. Put it into practice: Leaders need to find a way to strike a balance by paring down mandatory meetings, but also providing ways for work-from-home employees to gather at virtual watercoolers on Slack or other communication tools, Murray recommends. Full Story: [Raconteur (UK)]( (1/12) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [4 Simple Productivity Improvement Points To Dominate Your Day]( - [The Ultimate Guide To Developing Self-Discipline]( - [30 Life Lessons Learned in 30 Years]( - [How to Find Average Salary Information for US Workers]( - ["I Will Teach You to be Rich" Book Summary]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [How familiar solutions can lead to solving the wrong problem]( INSEAD Knowledge (1/19) [] - [How to keep from drowning in flood of organizational change]( Prosci (1/18) [] - [Poll: Most CEOs see business climate improving this year]( Chief Executive (1/18) [] Smarter Living Get your mind and body right each Friday [] [Feeling blue today? Go find something to awe yourself]( Deliberately seeking out things that make you feel a sense of awe -- such a walk in nature or visiting the Grand Canyon -- can improve bodily functions such as heart rate and digestion as well as quiet the voices of negativity in your head, says Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley. Cultivate that awe by seeking out beauty in everyday moments, focusing on seeing the good in others and practicing mindfulness, says Keltner and other experts. Put it into practice: When you're feeling agitated, pause, take a deep breath and look around you for something of beauty, be it a pet, a flower or anything that helps you feel connected to something bigger than yourself. If you want to go deeper, keep a journal of your awe experiences, Keltner says, to remind yourself of just how many moments of awe are available. Full Story: [The New York Times]( (1/3) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] In Their Own Words [] [Lead from these 3 places to be the most effective]( Leaders must be versatile enough to switch between leading from the front to chart a new path, leading from behind to create a culture of innovation and leading from the side to coach your team to make bold moves, says Tim Brown, co-chair of IDEO. "People will be stronger at some of those positions, but we should be striving to be pretty good at playing each of them, especially when you're trying to unlock innovation and creativity in an organization," Brown says. Full Story: [LinkedIn]( (1/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Got a question for Shakespeare? AI can hook you up]( [Got a question for Shakespeare? AI can hook you up]( Shakespeare (Pixabay) Want to chat with William Shakespeare, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe or Buddha? Two artificial intelligence chatbots, Hello History and Character.ai, offer you a chance to ask questions of the famous -- both living and dead -- to get their thoughts on social media, art, the Me Too movement or, for the so-inclined, how to reach enlightenment. Full Story: [My Modern Metropolis]( (1/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Away from the Office [] On top of old Smoky On top of old Smoky Marian O. submitted this photo of the the Smoky Mountains taken from the Foothills Parkway in Blount County, Tenn. Where do you spend time away from the office? [Send me a photo](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew The overarching theme for today's brief is about [connection]( and how we either break it or boost it. In today's work-from-home or hybrid environment, building connection seems to take more time and deliberate effort on our part. For those of us, like me, who are more introverted, this seems like a heavy lift and challenges us to get out of our [comfort zone](. For the more extroverted, the challenge may come when communication modes are limited, as in the case of [some companies]( cutting back on, or eliminating, meetings and closing off some means of communication with colleagues. How has the pandemic affected your ability to connect with your professional peers? What techniques are you using to stay in touch and build those connections? [Let me know](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] Who Said It? I never sold my soul. Jeff Beck or Tatjana Patitz [Check your answer here.]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email](   SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036