Category Archives: Coaching and Training

Checklist for Coaches – First Meeting with Client

That first coaching meeting is so important. So many things to cover and it can be really important to have a proper, well-founded set up. Here’s my checklist: What are their expectations Previous experience of coaching What are you expecting, … Continue reading

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Solutions-Based Coaching using OSKAR

Originating from the Solutions Focused Approach, the OSKAR coaching model is a powerful framework to help your coaching sessions focus on solutions rather than problems. Here is a brief description of the different stages which I have adapted from the … Continue reading

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​Do You Listen to the Message or the Messenger?

It’s frustrating isn’t it when many of our own good ideas are not taken up until an outside consultant comes in and says the same thing. Then it’s the best idea since sliced bread! They just had to be dressed in … Continue reading

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Could Leaders Learn More from the Arts than Business Schools?

If you are in business and just like crunching numbers in a spreadsheet, you may not be interested to read on. Believe it or not, MBA students at Said Business School in Oxford, as part of their learning programme, had … Continue reading

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Why Isn’t L&D Happening in Law Firms?

I’ve recently attended an excellent workshop at Reed Smith on the O-shaped lawyer. In case you’re interested, this basically means a more rounded T-shaped lawyer. The T-shaped lawyer was one that had more than just technical excellence – they had … Continue reading

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Falling Off The Ladder of Inference

Here’s a typical scenario which explains the ladder of inference… You briefed your assistant Jo yesterday to draft a document and give it to you first thing this morning. It’s on your desk at 10.00am (not exactly first thing!) and … Continue reading

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How to Change Our Work Habits

Gretchen Rubin has recognised that there are four types of people at work, based on our tendencies to respond to expectations. It turns out there are two types of expectation: outer expectations, such as work deadlines or accepting requests from … Continue reading

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Skills Training using Virtual Workshops – Does it Work?

Do you really need to fly people to attend training events to learn new skills? A good question when clients are baulking at the costs of such events and not clear they are getting value for money. With the development … Continue reading

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Giving Feedback Using Radical Candor (or Candour for the Brits!)

Kim Scott tells a great story about getting feedback from Sheryl Sandberg whilst working at Facebook. It goes roughly like this… After a presentation, Sheryl said: ‘You know you say ‘um’ a lot.’ Kim, who thought she was a pretty … Continue reading

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How to Walk in Your Client’s Shoes

We all know we should try to put ourselves in our client’s shoes. But it can be hard to do that when there’s so much going on in our own shoes. So here are some thoughts about what clients might … Continue reading

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