“The Offering” Copyright 2024, Madden Coaching. All Rights Reserved.
Three Things You Need To Know:
1. These 5 coaching questions are all about closing the “knowing/doing gap”. We often intellectually understand something but translating that knowledge into action is a whole different ballgame.
2. These coaching questions are designed to uncover what is (or could be) preventing someone from achieving their potential/goals.
3. Unlike feedback (comes from outside the person) coaching questions are designed to help team members gain insight (comes from within the person) into what they need to think, know and do to perform at their highest level.
5 questions (and the leadership insights to listen for) which will enable you to know exactly where and how to coach your team member to unlock their potential:
1. What about this assignment/role is new for you? (skill/experience/self-awareness assessment)
2. What will be the most challenging and least challenging part for you and why? (identifying and agreeing on growth areas)
3. What have you done previously that is similar and what transferable skills can you utilize to complete this? (building confidence based on past success)
4. As you consider those transferable skills, how are you thinking about doing this? Walk me through it. (gap analysis which will direct your coaching)
5. How can I best support you? (partnership & accountability)
2024 Copyright Sheila Madden. All Rights Reserved.
LOGO: “The Offering” Copyright 2024 Madden Coaching
Yep, it’s true. The research consistently shows that in the first 18 months of leadership, 50-70% of leaders fail. In my 30+ years of leadership and executive coaching, here are some factors that show up again and again as ones to avoid if you want to succeed as a leader:
1. Lack of Self-Awareness: Leaders who lack self-awareness don’t recognize their blind spots or understand how their actions impact others. To prevent this, leaders should actively seek feedback (individual, 360 or assessments) and engage in self-reflection to understand strengths, weaknesses and triggers.
2. Micromanagement: Overbearing micromanagement stifles creativity and demotivates team members. Keep your own performance anxiety at bay, delegate with appropriate checks, train and trust your team and empower them to make decisions within their roles.
3. Inconsistent Communication: Chaos at the top affects the entire organization. Poor communication creates confusion and undermines trust. The best leaders are transparent, listen actively, and provide clear direction.
4. Misplaced Accountability: Blaming others without taking responsibility for failures erodes trust instantly. Great leaders show courage and hold themselves accountable and foster a culture of accountability.
5. Inability To Embrace Ambiguity and Navigate Change: Refusal to adapt to change causes missed opportunities, stunted growth and stagnant innovation. Learn to see opportunity in ambiguity, learn from failures, and embrace continuous improvement.
6. Self-Focus vs Other focus: Effective leadership is about being a catalyst for collective success, not a solo player. Avoid excessive individualism and focus on collective success.
Remember, leadership is a journey of growth and learning. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can enhance your leadership effectiveness and drive positive outcomes for your team and organization.
Copyright 2024. Sheila Madden. All Rights Reserved.
In the blindingly fast world of start-ups, where every decision can make or break the future of a company, leadership isn’t just a title—it’s a calling. Successful startup leaders are the navigators of uncertainty, the champions of innovation, and the glue that holds their teams together through the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship.
But what exactly sets apart the leaders who thrive in the start-up ecosystem? Here are 10 leadership skills that spell success for startup leaders from the CEO to the frontline first timers:
1. Visionary Thinking:
At the heart of every successful startup is a visionary leader who can paint a vivid picture of the company’s future. But visionary thinking isn’t just about dreaming big—it’s about inspiring others to see and believe in the possibilities, even when the path ahead is unclear. That is why being a visionary thinker is critical not only for founders and CEO’s but for every leader in the organization.
2. Adaptability:
In the fast-paced world of startups, change is the only constant. Leaders who thrive in this environment are those who can pivot quickly, embrace ambiguity, and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.
3. Decision-Making:
Startup leaders are often faced with tough decisions under tight deadlines. The ability to make informed, timely decisions—even in the face of uncertainty—is a hallmark of effective leadership in the startup world.
4. Resilience:
Startups are no strangers to adversity, whether it’s a failed product launch, a funding setback, or a sudden market shift. Leaders who can weather the storms with grace, resilience, and a never-say-die attitude inspire confidence and rally their teams to keep pushing forward.
5. Empathy:
Understanding the needs, motivations, and concerns of team members is crucial for fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture. Leaders who lead with empathy build trust, loyalty, and high-performing teams that are invested in the company’s success.
6. Communication Skills:
Clear, transparent communication is the lifeblood of any startup. Leaders who can articulate their vision, provide feedback, and rally the troops with compelling storytelling inspire action and alignment across the organization.
7. Strategic Thinking:
In a landscape where every resource is precious, strategic thinking is paramount. Successful startup leaders are adept at setting priorities, allocating resources, and navigating the complex web of opportunities and challenges to drive sustainable growth.
8. Team Building:
Building and nurturing a talented team is the foundation of startup success. Leaders who excel at recruiting top talent, fostering collaboration, and empowering team members to take ownership of their work create a culture of excellence that propels the company forward.
9. Financial Literacy:
Understanding the ins and outs of finance is essential for startup leaders tasked with managing limited resources and driving profitability. Leaders who understand and can navigate budgets, cash flow, and resource management with confidence set their startups up for long-term success.
10. Risk Management:
Startups inherently involve risk, but successful leaders know how to assess, mitigate, and navigate risks effectively. By striking the right balance between calculated risk-taking and prudent decision-making, leaders can steer their startups toward sustainable growth and success.
In the high-stakes world of startups, leadership isn’t just about managing—it’s about inspiring, innovating, and empowering others to reach new heights. By honing these 10 essential skills, startup leaders can chart a course for success and lead their teams to greatness in the ever-evolving startup ecosystem.
Copyright 2024. Sheila Madden. All Rights Reserved.
LOGO: “The Offering” Copyright 2024 Madden Coaching. All RIghts Reserved
3 things to know:
These 5 coaching questions are all about closing the “knowing/doing gap”. We often intellectually understand something but translating that knowledge into action is a whole different ballgame.
These coaching questions are designed to uncover what is (or could be) preventing someone from achieving their potential/goals.
Unlike feedback (comes from outside the person) coaching questions are designed to help team members gain insight (comes from within the person) into what they need to think, know and do to perform at their highest level.
5 questions and the leadership insights to listen for which will enable you to know exactly where and how to coach your team member to unlock their potential:
What about this assignment/role is new for you? (skill/experience/self-awareness assessment)
What will be the most challenging part for you and why? (growth areas)
How are you thinking about doing this? Walk me through it. (gap analysis)
What have you done previously that is similar and where you can utilize the transferable skills? (confidence building)
How can I best support you? (partnership & accountability)
2024 Copyright Sheila Madden. All Rights Reserved.
Family and friends are all that count. It’s in the heart, not in the flesh. But “ouch” anyway, because I miss them so!
Sometimes, good enough is good enough.
Life is “this AND that”: funny and tragic, happy and grief stricken etc. Saying “yes” to both is the hardest and most powerful spiritual practice around.
If you feel like you’re falling off a cliff, remember, whoever it is you need to become will be there to catch you.
Focusing on gratitude is life-changing, even if it takes all day to find something for which to be grateful.
You can’t NOT smile when watching a hummingbird.
The only thing we control is ourselves and our response to life.
Faith, hope and love are no joke, they’re the real deal.
Prolonged weariness will either lead you to transformation or to the emergency room.
There is always beauty in the world. Seriously, keep looking…it’s there….I promise…just…keep…..looking.
Ever since going to the grocery store became as arduous as packing for an international trip, it’s good to know that you really CAN make something decent for dinner with all those bizarre pantry items with long past expiration dates.
Last but not least, making the perfect martini is both an art form and a Godsend!
Many of my clients are looking for ways to assist their teams in learning to work from home successfully. Here is a short list:
Schedule regular office hours and keep them.
Plan and structure your day as usual. Routine and structure will help you feel accomplished and productive.
Set aside a work area. Make sure you have the right light and ergonomic set up. It is also good to negotiate and coordinate ground-rules with family and housemates about hours, interruptions, noise etc.
Keep your normal dress and “get ready for work” habits. You will feel better!
Avoid distractions: turn off social media notifications while working and TV or other media.
Schedule breaks. Get out of the house for some air. Set reminders on your phone to take breaks if you need to.
Make sure you have the right equipment and accounts for tools that enable productivity and communication (Zoom, Slack, WEBX etc.)
Socialize with colleagues e.g. Have lunch together in a zoom room, or share breakfast, breaks or drinks over Zoom or whatever video media you are using.
Over communicate. Tell everyone your schedule and availability for meetings, when you are taking breaks or lunch etc.
End the day with a routine just like starting the day. Let everyone know when you are signing off for the day … and DO sign off. Don’t let work creep into every other aspect of your life. Especially now when there are gaps that you would normally fill in with social activity.
TED is doing a “TED Connects” series of conversations with some key leaders offering wisdom for navigating through the coronavirus.
TED CEO, Chris Anderson, opened the series pointing out that we are not only battling the pandemic externally, but we are all, in a way, battling it internally.
With that in mind the first guest was Psychologist Susan David talking about Emotional Agility and Courage, which is the ability to be with our emotions in healthy ways. The insights she shared are particularly important for what we are facing now, but are equally true for life in “normal times”. In fact, as she said, this time is giving us the opportunity to really practice ways to build and sustain emotional courage and to move into a place of wisdom within us.
So, with that in mind, here is my summary of her 5 Key Take-a-ways
1. Don’t move away from the hard emotions you are feeling. Life’s beauty is not separated from life’s fragility. For example, we cannot experience deep enduring love without also experiencing grief and loss when that love as we know it ends either by death or circumstance. We have a social narrative around “Don’t worry, be happy”. The messages we always get are around seeking happiness as the prized emotion rather than accepting the whole of life, which includes pain, grief, fear, anxiety, anger etc. Learn to accept the full spectrum of emotions, which more accurately represents the experience of life.
2. Watch your language! Emotions are data, they aren’t who we are. We might say something like, “I am scared”, that implies that 100% of us is scared. But we are not the emotion of fear instead we are experiencing the feeling of fear. It doesn’t define who we are, rather, something we are going through. The shift in language to “I notice that I’m feeling scared” allows us to label the emotion which is the essential first step. Now we have created a space to begin to problem solve: What is that emotion telling me about what is important to me? How can I get the help I may need? What can I do to help myself and move forward and through this?
3. We own our emotions; they do not own us. It is important to not let the negative emotions take control of our lives. Instead, approach emotions with curiosity: “What is my frustration telling me about what is important to me? With the answer to that question you can move to problem solving: What can I do to address that core issue? How can I, in the midst of fear, anger or anxiety or whatever the emotion is, develop a way to find courage? We typically either bottle negative emotions up or get stuck in them. Either strategy will cause more pain, so approach with compassion and curiosity because this leads us to the next step of problem solving. Getting this frontal cortex of the brain working gets us out of of the fight or flight syndrome.
4. Decide if you are going to own your narrative or if you are going to give your power up and let the media own it. Often when people are anxious or fearful, they keep consuming information. STOP! Pick the data sources that give you what you need and manage the frequency and time you spend taking information in. If it is making you more anxious and more fearful, cut back or stop altogether for a while.
5. Find focus with the things you can control. Remember the amazing wisdom of Viktor Frankl, who survived the Holocaust: There is a space between stimulus and response. That is the space in which we have the chance to choose how we want to respond. We always have control over how we respond. We control how much information we take in. We control if we turn the phone or computer off for media breaks. We control filling ourselves with what we love; gardening, nature, music, comedy. Whatever you can control, do it.
I hope you find these points helpful. I know I did. I send them to you with love and blessings to all and with the vision of us all being connected, heart to heart, in courage, kindness and determination. Be well!
Being a leader isn’t as simple as being the one who knows what to do and who deploys people to do it. People are the most complex technology in the world and unless we come to leadership with a healthy respect for that complexity and what it takes to have people follow us, things can go awry pretty quickly. In reality, leadership is a form of service and devotion that requires a ton of work to drive truly extraordinary results.
For many years I have worked with and coached successful leaders. They are all different, yet over time, patterns of behaviors that lead to consistent success have emerged. Here are 10 habits that I have observed great leaders embody and that will help you be a memorable and effective leader:
1. Be crystal clear on your vision and use your unique gifts to catalyze beneficial results for all stakeholders.
2. “People are everything.” (Indra Nooyi) Never forget that all success comes through your team. Pay close attention to others. Know what they care about, what they dream of being/doing, what scares them, what makes them come alive. Use this information to support their success and the achievement of mutual goals.
3. Know what triggers you and have strategies to mitigate those triggers so that they don’t negatively impact your decisions, actions or those around you.
4. Be courageous. The most painful failure is one where you stand down instead of standing up.
5. Become a masterful coach to unlock the potential of those around you.
6. Never forget that the world is a system and everything is connected, so think through the ramifications of your decisions.
7. Relentlessly do the right thing and say “No” when something lacks integrity or doesn’t serve the cause for which you are working.
8. Be intentional and disciplined in your thoughts, words and actions. Leadership is explicit not improvisational.
9. Never stop learning and growing. That example will inspire others to do the same.
10. Keep your sense of humor and if you don’t have one, develop one because if you can’t laugh at the chaos and craziness of leadership, it will eat you alive.
Copyright 2019, Sheila Madden, Madden Coaching & Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
We lost a great American legend this week. Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning Poet died Thursday at age 83.
Mary Oliver made poetry accessible. She opened up the world of poetry to many of us by writing with exquisitely descriptive language about nature and life. She wrote in ways that make sense, touch hearts and ignite the imagination. Her work was both simple and mystical. Reading her poems you feel that you are right there with her on her walks through the woods and you experience, as she did so profoundly, the sanctity of this earth. And as she muses about life in her writing, as the reader it is as if you are having an intimate conversation with a very wise friend.
One of her very famous lines: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” is from her poem, A Summer Day. It is a study in mindfulness and a challenge to every reader to awaken to the preciousness of life and the need for intentionality in our endeavor to achieve a fully lived life.
A Summer Day “I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, How to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Her Instructions for living:
1. Pay attention.
2. Be astonished.
3. Tell about it.
Another of her famous poems is Wild Geese, which begins with:
“You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”
If you have never heard or read this poem in its entirety, you can listen to her read it here compliments of Maria Popova of brainpicker.
In our busy lives we can often get caught up in the roles we play, be it leader, parent, sister et al and forget the person who we are. We can take people and life for granted and forget to appreciate the richness of every moment in which we are alive. Great poetry, certainly that of Mary Oliver, gives us the opportunity to slow down and transcend our human foibles in order to touch the very best in ourselves and in others.
To live a life with this type of presence, gratitude and wonder was exactly what Mary Oliver did and she blessed the world with fifty years of poetry to help us do the same.
“When Death Comes”: “When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms. When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument. I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
She most certainly did not simply visit this world. She has profoundly changed if for the better.
Thank you, blessed one. RIP .
Sheila Madden at Madden Coaching: Executive Coach & Consultant 