Unfortunately, many (read: most) organizations are mired in a broken model for new manager development, emphasizing one-and-done training and avoiding longer-range sustained development that blends coaching, mentoring, cohort collaboration, and even executive sponsorship.As a result, too many new managers are left to flail and, if not fail, at least under-perform, wreaking havoc on performance, engagement, and retention.
The Leadership Caffeine Blog
It’s That Time of Year for Managers—Don’t Make These Mistakes with Your Performance Evaluations
The real work of getting performance evaluations starts long before you reach the time to write and discuss them. Nonetheless, you’re at the 11th hour. Here are some tips you can use at this late date to help you do your best for your team members.
Unlocking Excellence: Mastering Performance Feedback Strategies (Workshop)
No topic in my Manager Development Program generates more energy than performance feedback. Everyone knows feedback is essential. Almost everyone admits wanting help with strategies for the difficult (constructive) feedback discussions. Here’s a program to help:
Tired of the drama storm? Effective managers write the rules of the road with their teams
In my informal survey of coaching clients, workplace drama is all too prevalent and distracting. Managers are tired of officiating the he said/she said/they didn’t/I can’t work with… issues that creep up in daily work. They are looking for a solution—something that places responsibility where it belongs. I teach my managers to write the Rules of the Road with their team members to solve this problem.
Special Open Enrollment Workshop—Nine Reasons to Join the Feedback Skills Boot Camp
Join me for a powerful, practical professional development experience on 11/16 from noon to 3 p.m. Central for the latest Feedback Skills Boot Camp. Three hours and an amazing price (because it’s a group) to strengthen skills that will serve you for a career.
Seven Big Insights from the Latest Manager Development Program Cohort
One of my pleasures as an executive and emerging leader coach comes from the time spent in session with the cohort groups in my various programs. I am inspired by their passion for their work and hunger to learn and exhilarated by some of their perspectives. Here are seven big insights from the recent Manager Development Program cohort:
7 Reasons Why all new(er) managers should join this group coaching program
Coaching offers powerful growth opportunities for every professional. This unique, new program brings group coaching to those new(er) to managing to support them building a great foundation and navigating the challenges of shifting from contributor to manager. In this article, I share seven reasons why this might be the perfect development experience for you or the new(er) managers on your team.
For Managers—Part 2 of Creating Clarity with Your Coaching and Evaluation Discussions (Feedback)
Feedback—both positive (appreciation) and improvement-oriented–is a vital part of your coaching toolkit. It’s also one of the most troubling, vexing areas for managers because the improvement-oriented (aka constructive) feedback is simultaneously awkward, stressful, and potentially emotionally fraught for all parties. Here are ten ideas to help:
For Managers—Creating Clarity Via Your Coaching and Evaluation Discussions, Part 1
One of the frequent themes in my executive and emerging leader coaching sessions and programs is confusion over how to create and sustain an effective coaching dialog with team members. My goal with this series of articles is to help managers at all levels gain clarity on the types of discussions while guiding them on a regular cadence and rhythm for engaging in these discussions.
How an Operating System Transforms New Manager Development
One of the vexing career challenges any individual encounters is the shift from contributor to manager. There’s little about succeeding as a contributor that translates to guiding, coaching, and supporting others for success. We need an operating system to guide both promoting and new managers across the treacherous chasm of starting-up. This is where the Managers Operating System fits perfectly.










