A series of abstract wheels arranged like targets is a metaphor for the complex dynamics of executive coaching
How Executive Coaching Differs from Other Kinds of Coaching

How Executive Coaching Differs from Other Kinds of Coaching

Executive coaching is an experiential and individualized leader development process that builds a leader’s capability to achieve short- and long-term organizational goals. It is conducted through one-on-one interactions, driven by data from multiple perspectives, and based on mutual trust and respect. The overriding objective is for the organization, executive, and executive coach to team up to maximize results. The $1M question is whose results? And the answer to that question makes executive coaching a unique animal in the coaching ecosystem….

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Transformational Leadership Then and Now

Transformational Leadership Then and Now

Of the 35+ leadership theories in current circulation, transformational leadership is the one nearest and dearest to my heart due to its focus on leadership ethics. But transformational leadership is also the most misunderstood theory, because many fail to realize that it’s not just about having a charismatic leader or an altruistic vision statement. Most leadership scholars consider James McGregor Burns to be the originator of transformational leadership, stemming from his authorship of the classic Leadership (1978). Burns actually used…

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A group off business leaders and managers are shown in silhouette against a panel of bright, sunlit windows
Is Leadership Different from Management?

Is Leadership Different from Management?

The study of leadership is ancient, as old as Greek philosophy and the earliest Hindu, Daoist, and Confucian scriptures. In contrast, the study of management is new, beginning shortly after the advent of the industrial revolution. But ever since, the study of management has proliferated like wildfire, eclipsing the study of leadership by orders of magnitude in frequency and reach. Naturally this raises the question as to whether the subjects are substantively different rather than different words for the same…

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An abstract painting depicts a lineup of different colored people to represent a diverse group
What is a Real Team?

What is a Real Team?

Teams have been defined as a small group of people with complementary skills committed to a common purpose and specific performance goals.1 The work of real teams requires collaboration and interdependence among team members. This means the leadership role tends to shift among team members rather than remain static. And, it means people with different jobs and skill sets must work together in a coordinated effort—in parallel and simultaneously—to be effective. The cross-functional nature of real teams is key. A…

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The Four-V Model of Ethical Leadership

The Four-V Model of Ethical Leadership

When it comes to leadership development models, one thing’s for sure: there’s no shortage. We have the great man, behavioral, situational, transactional, transformational, transforming, diamond, authentic, principled, adaptive, directive, supportive, group-centered, team-based, participative, servant and, let us never forget—the one-minute! Many of these models broach the subject of ethics in leadership.1,2,3 Usually it’s relegated to a subsection of the related book or article, sometimes a chapter. The Four-V Model of Ethical Leadership is different in this regard. Ethics is not…

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