It’s almost 30 years since “Coaching for Performance” by Sir John Whitmore catapulted coaching into the leadership psyche. Before that, coaches were found in the sports arena, not the Boardroom. It’s a good book and its impact endures – there’s
New Year’s Resolutions That Will Really Pay Off
I guess we start this year with optimism and yet less certainty than we would normally do. I know most of my friends are much more likely to say ‘If I can…’ rather than ‘I intend to…’ when it comes
‘Tis The Season to Be Jolly…Maybe
Well, December has arrived. It’s an auspicious month; one that brings Hanukkah and Christmas festivities, one that heralds the end of the calendar year. Here in the UK we’re hunkering down in the depth of winter, while in Australia people
Getting ready for APRs? Some self-assessment questions to ask yourself first
It’s Annual Performance Review time of year again for many organisations. APRs are amongst those conversations that everyone involved should welcome because of the value they bring. Instead, far too often people dread them. In fact, according to a 2019
The Importance of Long-Term 1:1 Connection
It’s been a bit of an up and down week here at CommsMasters as we, as a team and individually, have been making sense of new ways of working, the unexpected pressures that now surround us both personally and in
Why leaders find giving feedback difficult and what to do about it
CommsMasters Insights The prospect of ‘giving feedback’ can make even the most confident of leaders stumble over their words or struggle to articulate what needs to be said. A recent Gallup poll found that 69% of senior managers have difficulty
If you want people to take accountability – get out of the way!
I recently went on a touring holiday with a friend where I did most of the driving. On the first day, I discovered that this particular friend is a real back-seat driver – and doesn’t even realise it! From which
Changing culture starts with changing behaviours
Cultural evolution is essential for the success of any organisation. The ability to flex and redefine culture underpins an organisation’s ability to future-proof for changing markets, different customers and new generations of employees. The right culture provides competitive advantage that
How bad communication skills affect the bottom line
I want to start by busting a myth about communication skills. Something I hear regularly is this idea that communication skills are simply ‘soft’ skills, and therefore don’t have a tangible impact on an organisation’s bottom line. I couldn’t disagree
Five ways leaders can increase employee engagement
Introduction One thing organisations truly covet is an engaged workforce. Often described as the ‘holy grail’, genuinely engaged employees are proud to work for their organisation and feel they are a vital part of the business. They are more productive,