Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # JohnKWhitehead & Associates Executive/Leadership Coach ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [The Quiet Power of Building Others Up](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-quiet-power-of-building-others-up/) - We are at the final vlog post in this short series on building your self-confidence, and I hope you have enjoyed the series so far and taken away some helpful ideas. One key trait of people who have high self-confidence is that they build up others, rather than tearing them down. Having self-confidence means that - [From Posture to Power: Small Habits That Build Confidence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/from-posture-to-power-small-habits-that-build-confidence/) - This is my third vlog post in a short series on how to build self-confidence. In this video, we're going to look at some surefire self-confidence-building tactics. Self-confidence is a trait that can be built. Think of going to the gym to work out and build muscle. By practicing some of the tactics I'm going - [How Confident Are You, Really?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-confident-are-you-really/) - This is the second in a short series of video blogs on building self-confidence. How confident are you? It can be hard to assess our own self-confidence. Taking some time to ask a few questions and answer them honestly can help you gauge the areas where your confidence is high and the areas in which - [Own It - Building Self Confidence Without Arrogance](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/own-it-building-self-confidence-without-arrogance/) - This week’s vlog starts a short series on building your self-confidence, which is an important soft skill and something I've focused on in the course I produced for St. Mary's University for their Enactus Program. What is self-confidence? For me, it's about owning it, and taking control of yourself. Is it easy? No. You may - [Coaching and Mentoring: Key Differences](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/coaching-and-mentoring-key-differences/) - Welcome back to this final video in the short series on coaching and mentoring. To wrap up this series, remember that the main difference between coaching and mentoring is that: Coaching is structured and short-term. Mentoring is long-term and relationship-driven. The best leaders use both. Coaching builds performance. Mentoring builds potential. https://youtu.be/6QSDaVadvyE - [How do you Overcome Roadblocks and Recognition?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-you-overcome-roadblocks-and-recognition/) - This week I want to talk briefly about overcoming roadblocks and recognition. Roadblocks are normal. They’re expected. They can come from managers… or employees. Sometimes the issue runs deeper and are out of our control. So what can you do when you hit a roadblock? Focus on what you can control. https://youtu.be/HF88_qzjntI - [Coaching: Giving Effective Feedback](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/coaching-giving-effective-feedback/) - Welcome back to these short videos on Coaching and mentoring, In the last video we talked about trust. Now let’s talk about feedback. Feedback is essential, but it has to be done right. Done poorly… it damages trust. Done well… it drives growth. It’s about unlocking potential. [ https://youtu.be/TMWXRx2Duuc - [What is Building Trust in Coaching?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-building-trust-in-coaching-2/) - In the last video in this series on coaching and mentoring we talked about building a plan…and turning coaching into action. In this video we’re going to talk about something that sits underneath all of it…Trust. Because without trust… coaching doesn’t work. People won’t open up. They won’t share real challenges. And they won’t fully - [https://youtu.be/VUe26LIfD-Y](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/https-youtu-be-vue26lifd-y/) - We’re halfway through this series now on Coaching and Mentoring . In the last video… we talked about developing options…and turning ideas into something actionable. In this video we’re finishing the GROW mode by wrapping everything into a plan. Ideas are great…but without a plan… nothing actually happens. This is where coaching turns into real - [Developing Options in the GROW Model](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/developing-options-in-the-grow-model/) - In the last video, we talked about reality… getting clear on where your employee is right now… and what might be holding them back. Now we move into the next step of the GROW model… developing options. And honestly… this is where coaching either comes to life… or falls flat. https://youtu.be/ebl5IFrSIps - [The GROW Model - "R" for Reality](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-grow-model-r-for-reality/) - In the last video, we focused on setting clear, SMART goals. Now we move to the next step in GROW: which is "R" for Reality. Once you know where you’re going…you need to understand where you’re starting from. And this is where many leaders go wrong. They jump straight to solutions without fully understanding the - [What is the "G" in the GROW Model?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-g-in-the-grow-model/) - In the last video, we introduced the GROW model— a simple way to structure coaching conversations. In this video, the 3rd in the series on Coaching and Mentoring, we start with the first step: "G" for Goal. Why? Because without a clear goal…coaching doesn’t really work. You end up circling the same issues without making - [What is the Difference between Coaching and Mentoring?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-difference-between-coaching-and-mentoring/) - In the last video, we talked about coaching as a combination of strong relationships and clear goal setting—and why that matters for performance. Now let’s get really clear on what coaching actually is… and how it’s different from mentoring. Coaching is focused. It’s about helping someone improve a specific skill or performance area. Mentoring, on - [Coaching, What It Is and Why It Matters](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/coaching-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/) - You are in your office looking over your performance report and it happened again. Your low performing employee failed to meet quota this month even after you spoke with them about the importance of meeting goals. This employee has a great attitude and you know they can do better. You just do not know how - [Creative Problem Solving – Final Wrap-Up: Bringing It All Together](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creative-problem-solving-final-wrap-up-bringing-it-all-together/) - Over the course of this series, we’ve walked step-by-step through the creative problem solving process. We’ve explored how to move from recognizing a problem, all the way through implementing a solution — and learning from it. In this final video, let’s bring the whole process together and focus on how you can apply it in - [Critical Problem Solving - Recording Lessons Learned](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/critical-problem-solving-recording-lessons-learned/) - Once a problem has been solved and the solution has been implemented, it’s tempting to move on and focus on the next challenge. But before you do that, there’s one final — and often overlooked — step in the creative problem solving process: recording lessons learned. This step helps you turn one successful solution into - [How to Plan Thoughtfully, Implement Deliberately, and Adjust Intelligently](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-plan-thoughtfully-implement-deliberately-and-adjust-intelligently/) - Welcome to my weekly vlog post and the 8th in the series on Critical Problem Solving. In this video, we’ll focus on identifying tasks, identifying resources, and then implementing, evaluating, and adapting the solution as needed. At this point in the creative problem solving process, you’ve made a decision. You’ve selected a solution — or - [You Have a Solution To Your Problem - What's Next?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/you-have-a-solution-to-your-problem-whats-next/) - At this point in the creative problem-solving process, you’ve made a decision. You’ve selected a solution — or maybe a small set of solutions — that best addresses the problem. But a good decision on paper doesn’t automatically lead to good results. Now comes the critical step: turning the solution into action. In this video, - [Creative Problem Solving – Solution Selection](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creative-problem-solving-solution-selection/) - welcome my weekly vlog post and this 7th video in my series on creative problem solving. At this stage of the process, you’ve done a lot of the heavy lifting. You’ve defined the problem, generated many ideas, analyzed them, and narrowed the list down to just a few strong options. Now it’s time to decide: - [Creative Problem Solving – Step Five: Analyzing Possible Solutions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creative-problem-solving-step-five-analyzing-possible-solutions/) - Welcome to this week’s video blog post and the 6th in my series on creative problem-solving. At this point in the problem-solving process, you should have a long list of possible solutions. Now comes the hard — and important — part: deciding which ideas are actually worth pursuing. In this video, we’ll look at three - [Creative Problem Solving – Step Four: Generating Possible Solutions (Part 2)](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creative-problem-solving-step-four-generating-possible-solutions-part-2/) - In the last video, we explored several brainstorming techniques to help generate lots of ideas without judging them too soon. In this video, we’ll continue generating solutions by looking at a few additional tools that can push thinking even further — especially when problems are complex or feel stuck. https://youtu.be/1Qx8k7tLfzo - [Creative Problem Solving – Step Four: Generating Possible Solutions (Part 1)](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creative-problem-solving-step-four-generating-possible-solutions-part-1/) - Up to this point in the series, we’ve gathered information, defined the problem, and prepared ourselves for creativity. Now it’s time to start doing what many people think of first when they hear “problem solving” — generating solutions. In this post, we’ll focus on the first part of that process: how to generate lots of - [Creative Problem Solving – Step Three: Preparing for Brainstorming](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creative-problem-solving-step-three-preparing-for-brainstorming/) - So far in this video series on creative problem-solving, we’ve gathered information and clearly defined the problem. Now we’re ready for the next phase: generating solutions. But before we jump into brainstorming, there’s an important step that often gets overlooked — preparing for creativity. In our customer satisfaction example, preparing for brainstorming helps the team - [Creative Problem Solving – Step One: Information Gathering](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creative-problem-solving-step-one-information-gathering/) - In the first video of this series, Creative Problem Solving, we introduced the creative problem-solving process and why using a structured approach matters. Now we’re going to focus on the first step: information gathering. To make this practical, let’s use a real-world example. Imagine a company that’s seeing a steady decline in customer satisfaction scores. - [Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/critical-thinking-and-creative-problem-solving/) - Think about the last time something didn’t go the way you expected. Maybe a plan fell apart, a process didn’t work, or a goal just wasn’t met. Those moments can be frustrating — but they’re also opportunities. Opportunities to slow down, think critically, and solve problems creatively. This week’s video begins a new short series - [Conclusion: Appreciative Inquiry, A Way of Thinking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/conclusion-appreciative-inquiry-a-way-of-thinking/) - Over the past several weeks’ I have produced a series of vlog posts on Appreciative Inquiry As we come to the close of this series, let’s take a moment to reflect on what Appreciative Inquiry truly invites us to do. At its core, Appreciative Inquiry is not just a method—it’s a way of thinking. It - [How to Create a Positive Core](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-create-a-positive-core/) - Welcome to this week’s video blog post and the final in my series on Appreciative Inquiry. This week let’s talk about something at the heart of every successful team and individual - creating a positive core. If we want the people around us to be positive and confident, we have to start by building that - [How to Coach and Manage using Appreciative Inquiry?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-coaching-and-managing-using-appreciative-inquiry/) - Welcome to this week’s video blog post, my ninth is the series on Appreciative Inquiry. This week let’s talk about how we can use Appreciative Inquiry to become better coaches and managers. Managing a group of people is tough enough and coaching them in the right direction can be even trickier. Sometimes, even our best - [How to Influence Change Through Appreciative Inquiry](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-influence-change-through-appreciative-inquiry/) - In this week’s video blog post, let’s talk about how we can create positive change at work—and how that change can ripple out to others. It’s all about Appreciative Inquiry and using our strengths to make a difference. Influencing other people doesn’t have to be complicated. It often starts small—maybe with a positive attitude or - [Using Positive Imagery for Leadership Success](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/using-positive-imagery-for-leadership-success/) - This week's Vlog is about something simple but powerful—positive imagery. You might be surprised how much it can shape your attitude and your results at work. Positive Imagery is about creating a full picture of an idea or situation using details and facts. When you focus on positive images—whether they’re physical, like a trophy, or - [What Does Anticipatory Reality Have to Do With Appreciative Inquiry?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-does-anticipatory-reality-have-to-do-with-appreciative-inquiry/) - In this sixth video on Appreciative Inquiry, Let’s talk about something that can really shape our success—how we think about the future. In Appreciative Inquiry, there’s a concept called “Anticipatory Reality,” and it’s all about focusing on what we want and how we can get there. This week's video explores what this is and its - [How Can Interviews Be a Positive Experience Using Appreciative Inquiry?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-can-interviews-be-a-positive-experience-using-appreciative-inquiry/) - This week I continue my series on Appreciate Inquiry. In this edition we explore how interviews can be a positive experience—for both the interviewer and the interviewee—using Appreciative Inquiry. Let’s be honest, most people hear the word “interview” and immediately feel a little anxious. But what if interviews could be less about stress and more - [What Is The Four I Model of Appreciative Inquiry?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-four-i-model-of-appreciative-inquiry/) - This week I continue my series on Appreciate Inquiry with the Four I Model of Appreciative Inquiry. a practical way to create positive change in your organization So, what’s the Four I Model all about? It’s a simple framework that helps teams move good ideas from the ground level all the way up to upper - [What Is The 4 D Model of Appreciative Inquiry?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-4-d-model-of-appreciative-inquiry/) - In this weeks Vlog, we explore a powerful approach to positive change in the workplace—the Four D Model of Appreciative Inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry is all about opening new doors and seeing things in a fresh, positive way. When we focus on what’s working and keep a positive attitude, we discover new ways to reach our - [How To Change Your Way of Thinking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-change-your-way-of-thinking/) - Let’s talk about something that can really make a difference in how we feel at work and in life—changing the way we think. My second video in the short series on Appreciative Inquiry. You know, one of the simplest ways to relieve stress and feel better about ourselves is to shift our mindset. When we - [What Is Appreciative Inquiry?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-appreciative-inquiry/) - This weeks Video Blog begins a short series on Appreciate Inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry means recognizing the best in people and using those strengths to get great results. In the workplace, it’s about encouraging everyone to think positively. When we do that, it’s easier to overcome negative thoughts, work harder, and reach our goals. https://youtu.be/zL6tKGg5ku4 - [Jumping From Loop to Loop](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/jumping-from-loop-to-loop-2/) - What is the right answer? How do we know we have the answer to a challenge we face? Do we stop and look to see what’s next? Roger von Oech in his 1983 book, A Whack On The Side Of the Head, talks about releasing those mental “locks” that keep us from being innovative; from - [What Would It Be If You Did Know?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-would-it-be-if-you-did-know-2/) - What Would It Be If You Did Know? What is your challenge today? This week? Next month? How can you resolve it? By when? What do you need to accomplish this? These are really good questions and are ones that we shoulg be asking every day.Preview (opens in a new tab) https://youtu.be/hN5Z8AcXJgY - [What Is Resilience and Why Is It Important?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-resilience-and-why-is-it-important-2/) - Dr. Peter Kramer says that the opposite of depression isn’t happiness, but resilience. Resilience allows you to remain strong, energetic, optimistic, and committed in the face of difficulty. Why is this important? Resilience means being flexible and adaptable to change. It means finding opportunity for growth within challenges. Resiliency isn’t simply bouncing back; it’s using - [Leadership Coaching Unlocks Potential](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-coaching-unlocks-potential/) - Discover how John K Whitehead & Associates enhances effectiveness through expert coaching, emotional intelligence, and proven leadership tools. - [The Birds - Wrapping It Up](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-birds-wrapping-it-up/) - This week I wrap up my short series on the "Birds" - Like DiSC this behaviour/communications model is, in my mind, the most accessible and the easiest to understand. I would be interested in what you think. If this model is of interest to you and you would like to learn more about how it - [Are You a Dominant Eagle?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-a-dominant-eagle/) - In this 4th look at the Social Style Model, I discribe the 4th behaviour - Drivers. Who they are, how they are percived by others and some ideas of what to be aware of if you, yourself are a Driver. https://youtu.be/8fJnIeCwM_k - [Why the Owl: Making decisions.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-the-owl-making-decisions/) - Why The Owl: Making decisions. The Analytical style in Tracom's Social Style behaviour and communications model is often seen to be indecisive. This is seems to be counter to the idea of someone who is driven by information and data. But there lies the problem – they feel they have to be right all the - [Who Are The Doves?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/who-are-the-doves/) - Who are the Doves? It's All About Relationships - The Amiable Style - The second in my series on behaviour and communications styles. How do you recognize your own style and others? The Amiable style is all about relationships, being part of a team. https://youtu.be/ZhjNgAxywV4?si=d6S-PSY2w7aRY9eo - [What is the "Peacock" Expressive style](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-peacock-expressive-style/) - This blast from the past was a video I produced in 2015, but still holds up great. Even though the video quality is not so good, the content is still as valid as then, and is still my starting place when working with clients. THis is the first in a short series introducing Social Styles - [Who Are You As a Leader?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/who-are-you-as-a-leader-2/) - Where does your concept of being a leader come from? Many of us have influencers, our parents, friends, co-workers, previous managers. How did your past experiences impact who you are not only as an individual but also as a leader? In this week’s video blog post I explore these questions and what are some of - [How to be a Better Leader Ask Questions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-be-a-better-leader-ask-questions/) - As a leader, it’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to have all the answers. But according to Mike Robbins, real leadership isn’t about always knowing what to say — it’s about asking the right questions. When you invite your team in with questions like, “What’s your take on this?” or “Is there something I - [Procrastination, A Leaders Guide](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/procrastination-a-leaders-guide/) - As a leader, you've probably told your team (or yourself) at some point: “Just get the hard stuff done first.” It’s classic advice—and it works, to a degree. But real-world leadership is rarely that simple. When it comes to productivity and procrastination, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cut it. Here’s how to think more strategically about - [Tiny Leadership Acts That Matter](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tiny-leadership-acts-that-matter/) - When considering the attributes of an impressive leader, terms such as inspiring, courageous, and heroic are frequently used. However, research indicates that individuals, when reflecting on exceptional leaders in their own experiences, seldom mention grand actions or noble qualities. Instead, they often highlight small interactions— this week's vlog post explores moments when a leader made - [How to Build Your EQ using Social Styles](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-build-your-eq-using-social-styles-2/) - The primary tool I use in my work as an Executive/leadership Coach is Social Styles by Tracom. This behaviour and communications model is easily understood and accessible by everyone in every type of organization. One of the things have realized over the many years of both using and teaching this model is how it impacts - [What is Coaching, How does it work?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-coaching-how-does-it-work-2/) - Interested in what coaching is all about? Have you considered hiring a coach but not sure what some of the things that they talk about? In this week’s video I give you a little window into how I provide coaching sessions. Interested in knowing more? Give me a call or send me a message. https://youtu.be/pE_fwzTg6QA - [What Are The Keys to Effective Teamwork?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-are-the-keys-to-effective-teamwork/) - Effective teamwork requires more than group participation—it demands strong communication, coordination, and mutual support. Based on Hoegl’s Teamwork Quality Construct, six key elements define team success: communication, coordination, balanced contributions, mutual support, shared effort, and cohesion. Additionally, Amy Edmondson identifies four essential behaviors for teaming: speaking up, collaboration, experimentation, and reflection. This weeks video explores - [Embracing Problem Solving Skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/embracing-problem-solving-skills/) - The reality is that no matter your role or the industry you work in, you will encounter problems. How you handle them will go a long way in determining your level of success. It will also determine how you manage the relationships and shared goals you have with your team and/or organization. This weeks Vlog - [leadership is a Journey](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-is-a-journey/) - In this weeks Vlog post I explore how becoming a leader is really a journey and one that can differenciate a manager from a leader. It is that moment when a manager recognizes their own gaps in knowledge or ability, and while working on improving their own competencies, finds members of their team who can - [Asking for feedback](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/asking-for-feedback/) - Here's an interesting question for you as a leader, as a manager, or even as a supervisor. When was the last time you asked your direct reports for feedback on how your communications, or your actions are affecting them? This weeks Video Blog explores the impact of not checking in with your team on how - [Leadership Is Not What I Thought It Was](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-is-not-what-i-thought-it-was-2/) - Our personal experiences with leaders, which in most cases are managers, colour our expectations. If we have had the opportunity to have different jobs and or roles we have the ability to experience different kinds of bosses. Over time, we get to find out what we like in a boss and what we don’t like. - [What is Leadership Coaching?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-leadership-coaching/) - Leadership coaching is a personalized process designed to help individuals, particularly leaders, enhance their leadership skills, performance, and effectiveness. It typically involves one-on-one sessions with a professional coach who helps the leader identify areas for improvement, set goals, develop strategies, and overcome challenges. In this weeks Video Blog post I talk about some of the - [What Do You Control?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-do-you-control-2/) - In my coaching practice I frequently work with clients who, for whatever reason, are chasing their time, schedule, employees or staff, events, projects, you name it… Whatever “IT” may be, it is a distraction and almost every time we drill down on the “challenge”, there is a big component that is out of our control. Whats in your control? - [The Coaching Profession – A Responsibility to be Professional](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-coaching-profession-a-responsibility-to-be-professional/) - This is where professionalism comes into play, and the need for coaches to have the proper training and certification - [Leadership is … Understanding Our Followers](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-is-understanding-our-followers/) - One of the fundamentals of great leadership is to be able to connect with your followers, to build trust. My argument is that to do that effectively as leaders we need to first understand our followers, understand what they need and then move towards their style in the way we communicate with them. This ability One of the fundamentals of great leadership is to be able to connect with your followers, to build trust. - [Believe In Yourself](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/believe-in-yourself-2/) - When we look at ourselves what do we see? De we see great potential? Can we see qualities that are still hidden but ready to emerge? What’s below the surface ready to pounce out? It how you see it isn’t it. How you believe in yourself. https://youtu.be/JBkwsG544Uo - [Are Soft Skills Learned or Inborn](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-soft-skills-learned-or-inborn-2/) - Soft Skills: Nature or Nurture? Are you born with them or are they learned? It’s the old chicken and the egg argument, which comes first? A quick review of the discussion in the research reveals the consensus that we are born with these skills, but like any other, they can be improved over time, with Soft Skills: Nature or Nurture? Are you born with them or are they learned? It’s the old chicken and the egg argument, which comes first? A quick review of the discussion in the research reveals the consensus that we are born with these skills, but like any other, they can be improved over time, with - [What Is Your Niche, How can you find what it is?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-your-niche-how-can-you-find-what-it-is/) - Finding and accepting your niche can be a bit scary and challenging. That's what my experience has taught me, and it is reinforced almost every day in my conversations with various people. Here are some of the questions I am asked and my typical approach in answering them: https://youtu.be/CCFfRdEAn3g What is your niche? This is a question I seem to be asking more and more of both my clients and the other professionals with whom I talk. - [Did I Hear What You said Correctly?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/did-i-hear-what-you-said-correctly-2/) - In his book Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others, James Flaherty (2010) stated that “language forms the basis for observation and it is, in fact, not possible to make any observation outside language” (p. 25). So how is language defined in this context? Flaherty’s contention is that “language is an orientation to our common world” (p. “language is an orientation to our common world” . Language then is not just the words we use but also includes observable behaviours, tone and intonation. - [How to Grow Your Business with Networking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-grow-your-business-with-networking/) - I believe the most important commitment I made was to network. I’m convinced that this one thing has been the primary reason for my success to date. I had no real connections when I started in the fall of 2014. My previous role did not provide me with a ready-made network of potential clients or My number one piece of advice for anyone who is building their own business is to get out there and meet people, either in person or virtually – network like crazy! - [What is Building Trust in Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-building-trust-in-coaching/) - I view trust as a two-way street, but it is my responsibility to establish trust first. I also take the position that I will trust another until such time as they demonstrate that they are not to be trusted, that “I’m Ok and you’re Ok”. Trust is contagious—if I act in a trustworthy way as As a coach I see it as my responsibility to set the stage for trust. Placing the confidentiality statement up front helps but that is only the beginning. - [How To Master Body Language](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-master-body-language/) - #post_excerptOur non-verbal communication tends to be unconscious. It can be influenced by many things, including past habits, life experiences, personal models, culture and hidden thoughts and feelings. This weeks Vlog asks What does body language look like – what do you need to look out for? - [The Importance of Continuous Learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-importance-of-continuous-learning/) - This week I consider John F. Kennedy's quote that "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other" . It underscores a profound and timeless truth about the dynamic relationship between leading effectively and the continuous pursuit of knowledge. Leadership requires adaptability, insight, and a forward-thinking approach, all of which are cultivated through learning. Without the This week I consider John F. Kennedy's quote that "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other" . It underscores a profound and timeless truth about the dynamic relationship between leading effectively and the continuous pursuit of knowledge. - [Why Is It Important To Be Aware of High Employee Turnover?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-is-it-important-to-be-aware-of-high-employee-turnover/) - Why is it important to be aware of high employee turnover and what are some of the strategies you can use to prevent it? This weeks short vlog post explores these questions and provides some valuble ideas. Interested in learning more, reach out to me. https://youtu.be/sWXDQB5BTdg Why is it important to be aware of high employee turnover and what are some of the strategies you can use to prevent it? This weeks short vlog post explores these questions and provides some valuble ideas. Interested in learning more, reach out to me. - [How Do You Choose Team Members?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-you-choose-team-members/) - What should you be aware of when it comes to recruiting for your organization? In this short video I provide some quick easy point to think about. Let me know what you think in the comments section. https://youtu.be/Cr_6S6iXVI4 What should you be aware of when it comes to recruiting for your organization? In this short video I provide some quick easy point to think about. Let me know what you think in the comments section. - [Improving Workplace Communication](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/improving-workplace-communication/) - This week’s video Blog post explores poor communication in the workplace, which can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, and a lack of trust. It breeds an environment of secrecy and suspicion, hindering collaboration and causing frequent conflicts and mistakes. I provide some examples of how deal to deal with this challenge https://youtu.be/tPw1_sUbszE This week’s video Blog post explores poor communication in the workplace, which can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, and a lack of trust. It breeds an environment of secrecy and suspicion, hindering collaboration and causing frequent conflicts and mistakes. I provide some examples of how deal to deal with this challenge - [Leading Change Effectively](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leading-change-effectively/) - Every change begins with a leadership decision. Making the decision to institute change is not always easy. Change can be precipitated by economics, market forces, the environment, or the need to just “mix it up a bit”, to create new energy. Being prepared with focused planning, and creating a solid team of people to work Every change begins with a leadership decision. Making the decision to institute change is not always easy. Change can be precipitated by economics, market forces, the environment, or the need to just “mix it up a bit”, to create new energy. Being prepared with focused planning, and creating a solid team of people to work with you, will make not only the decision but the process a lot easier. This weeks Vlog post looks at some ideas on how to effectivly lead change, - [Are You Looking for insight into how an individual will "fit in" to your team?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-looking-for-insight-into-how-an-individual-will-fit-in-to-your-team/) - There are several models and tools that an organization can use to establish if someone would be a good fit for their organization - how do they manage time, how do handle conflict and stress? This week’s video blog looks at one such model and why it so effective in not only the workplace, but There are several models and tools that an organization can use to establish if someone would be a good fit for their organization - how do they manage time, how do handle conflict and stress? This week’s video blog looks at one such model and why it so effective in not only the workplace, but in life as a whole. - [Becoming Your Best Self](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/becoming-your-best-self/) - How can we progress from knowing what kind of person we want to be, to actually becoming that kind of person? I am asked that question a lot in my coaching practice. It comes from people’s perception that they are not satisfied with their current reality, and a need to be better, or the feeling How can we progress from knowing what kind of person we want to be, to actually becoming that kind of person? I am asked that question a lot in my coaching practice. It comes from people’s perception that they are not satisfied with their current reality, and a need to be better, or the feeling that they can improve. I have found that the key is to shift our point of view from trying-to-get-to-where-you-want-to-be and, who-you-want-to-be, to (coming from the perspective that) I-am-already-that-person. For example, if I want to become a mindful person in a place of always being present in conversations, then I just need to “be” that person. To coin a phrase, “just do it”. In this weeks video blog I explore what this means - [How to Become a Great Leader...Maybe](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-become-a-great-leader-maybe-3/) - Mark M-G on LinkedIn started an interesting discussion this sometime ago with this question: “The large numbers of articles on leadership on LinkedIn and elsewhere will not produce major improvements in leadership skills. They focus almost exclusively on WHAT behaviors to change to become a better leader, not HOW to change those behaviors. And changing Mark M-G on LinkedIn started an interesting discussion this sometime ago with this question: “The large numbers of articles on leadership on LinkedIn and elsewhere will not produce major improvements in leadership skills. They focus almost exclusively on WHAT behaviors to change to become a better leader, not HOW to change those behaviors. And changing behaviors is very, very hard to do. What do you think should be done about this loss of focus on HOW to change?" I started to respond to his question and quickly realized that it was getting long and that I was actually writing what would become my own next post. Here it is... - [How to Network 101 – Some Lessons learnt](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-network-101-some-lessons-learnt-2/) - With the pandemic behind us, many of you may be returning to networking events, to reconnect and make new connections. I have been doing just that and as I do I am reminded of a post I wrote in 2019. I thought I would reshare it wiith you as a reminder of what to be - [SHORT - How to Be An Inclusive leader p.4](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-how-to-be-an-inclusive-leader-p-4/) - My 4th and final short on Inclusive Leadership https://youtube.com/shorts/he0NeHOGJ_s?feature=share - [Short - How to be an inclusive leader pt 3](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-how-to-be-an-inclusive-leader-pt-3/) - Here is my thrd short on inclusive leadership https://youtu.be/fYNKB89cKZM - [Becoming an Inclusive Leader pt2](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/becoming-an-inclusive-leader-pt2/) - Part 2 on my Short series on becoming an Inclusive Leader https://youtube.com/shorts/1qgJkA5KF9U?feature=share - [How to be an Inclusive Leader pt 1](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-be-an-inclusive-leader-pt-1/) - https://youtube.com/shorts/yVmeMsntd9E?feature=share Short video - what are some of the things to be thinking about in becomng an Inclusive Leader? - [How to Become a Great Leader.... maybe](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-become-a-great-leader-maybe-2/) - A post on LinkedIn started an interesting discussion recently with this question: “The large numbers of articles on leadership on LinkedIn and elsewhere will not produce major improvements in leadership skills. They focus almost exclusively on WHAT behaviors to change to become a better leader, not HOW to change those behaviors. And changing behaviors is - [Short – How Are We Encouraging Growth as A Leader (part1)](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-how-are-we-encouraging-growth-as-a-leader-part1/) - As a leader how can we encourage our direct reports growth? Here is one quick idea in under 60 seconds…. https://youtube.com/shorts/wlO23Hgb_Qc?feature=share #leadership, #Leadershipdevelopment, #Leadershipcoaching - [Short – Being a Better Leader – Fostering Collaboration](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-being-a-better-leader-fostering-collaboration/) - One of the things that I've learned as a leader, to be able to do that (lead) properly is to slow down. It is to slow myself down, to check my emotional stance, to understand and to recognize that I'm not necessarily the one that must have all the ideas. In this 60 second video - [Short – Encourage the Heart](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-encourage-the-heart/) - "Celebrations are the punctuation marks that make sense of the passage of time”. David Campbell, Senior Fellow, Center for Creative Leadership” This short, 60 second reel explores celebrating staff https://youtube.com/shorts/V57ONSVZn_k?feature=share #leadership, #Leadershipdevelopment, #Leadershipcoaching - [Short – What s a Psychological Safe Space](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-what-s-a-psychological-safe-space/) - Short – What s a Psychological Safe Space In this short 60 second Reel I explore the importance of trust in creating a psychological safe workspace https://youtube.com/shorts/6FbJPFcLz_4?feature=share #leadership, #Leadershipdevelopment, #Leadershipcoaching - [Short - A Question About Your Values](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-a-question-about-your-values/) - Here is a quick question for you to reflect on about your values. https://youtube.com/shorts/ck0spbeGwec?feature=share - [Short – Do You have Imposter Syndrome?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-do-you-have-imposter-syndrome/) - Most of us have had the Imposter Syndrome at some point or another, I know I have. What do you do to manage it? In this 60 second video I have one idea for you in tackling it. https://youtube.com/shorts/1_9cfHwT8AQ?feature=share - [Short – Why Soft Skills? How do leaders in organizations view the importance of Soft Skills?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-why-soft-skills-how-do-leaders-in-organizations-view-the-importance-of-soft-skills/) - Why Soft Skills? How do leaders in organizations view the importance of Soft Skills? https://youtube.com/shorts/kFaEDWVZ6Tc?feature=share - [The Good News About Self-Awareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-good-news-about-self-awareness/) - EQ is like a muscle, the more you exercise it the stronger you get. And it starts with knowing yourself first https://youtube.com/shorts/OBzxoUYUGtU?feature=share #leadership, #Leadershipdevelopment, #Leadershipcoaching - [Short – It’s All About Self-Awareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/short-its-all-about-self-awareness/) - In my role as a coach its first about understanding oneself. How can you lead others if you can’t lead yourself first? https://youtube.com/shorts/h1CBg543beg?feature=share - [How Not to Make Assumptions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-not-to-make-assumptions/) - https://youtu.be/M7SJceYmKeI Short - How you can prevent making assumptions - an easy question to ask. John K Whitehead & Associates coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence, and resiliency. You can read my blog at https://johnkwhitehead.ca If you have enjoyed reading these posts, please Follow - [What is Coaching, How Does it Work?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-coaching-how-does-it-work/) - Interested in what coaching is all about? Have you considered hiring a coach but not sure what some of the things that they talk about? In this week’s video I give you a little window into how I provide coaching sessions. Interested in knowing more? Give me a call or send me a message. https://youtu.be/h1Jp0aCW_qU - [Thank You!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/thank-you/) - Over the past number of years, I have been producing these video blog post and written many blogs on the subject of leadership, leadership Development and Coaching. It has been really gratifying and humbling to see the reaction to many of my posts. Thank You! https://youtu.be/_v5yeH_rhS8 #leadership, #leadershipdevelopment, #leadershipcoaching, - [The Importance of the Clarity of Expectations](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-importance-of-the-clarity-of-expectations/) - One of the themes that comes out in my work as an Executive and leadership Coach is the importance understanding whether or not you are being clear on what your expectations are for your team. This week’s Vlog explores how you can increase your clarity for two of the four behaviour styles in the SOCIAL - [How to Build Your EQ using Social Styles](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-build-your-eq-using-social-styles/) - The primary tool I use in my work as an Executive/leadership Coach is Social Styles by Tracom. This behaviour and communications model is easily understood and accessible by everyone in every type of organization. One of the things have realized over the many years of both using and teaching this model is how it impacts - [DEI – Finally, Respect & Belonging](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/dei-finally-respect-belonging/) - This final post on my series on DEI looks at Diversity, Equity and inclusion by exploring encouraging Respect and Belonging and how EQ fits with DEI. If you have enjoyed watching this series on DEI reach out to me about how this topic or other topics such Soft Skills development can benefit your organization, Thanks! - [DEI – About Culture and Policies](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/dei-about-culture-and-policies/) - Workplace policies reflect what the company values, as well as what they do not value. To improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, workplace policies can be very influential for creating rules and standards that are fair for every employee. They help to communicate priorities, as well as boundaries. They help create a culture - [DEI - What Is Cultural Intelligence?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/dei-what-is-cultural-intelligence/) - Cultural intelligence, or cultural quotient, is a foundational link to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is the ability to be attentive and adaptable in culturally diverse situations. An inclusive leader can successfully interact with team members from various backgrounds. To do this, it is critical to pay attention to the experiences and words expressed from - [DEI – How Do You Become an Inclusive Leader?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/dei-how-do-you-become-an-inclusive-leader/) - Inclusive leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on valuing diverse team members and creating an environment that includes connection and respect. It encourages the sharing of perspectives and backgrounds. An inclusive leader is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. With inclusive leadership, the organization can carry out effective problem solving, decision making, and - [DEI – The Importance of Inclusive Language](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/dei-the-importance-of-inclusive-language/) - Language is a powerful tool; the words and phrases that we use matter, It’s important that we recognize the importance of our words and the impact that they hold. One of the key factors in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization is to promote the use of inclusive language. Inclusive language is a language - [What Are Microaggressions & How Do We Deal with Them?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-are-microaggressions-how-do-we-deal-with-them/) - First, let me apologize for the length of this week’s vlog, however the topic is so important that I couldn’t break it up into smaller sections…. So, please sit down and allows your self to dig into this topic. In this week’s vlog post in my series on DEI, a deeper dive, we take a - [DEI - The Fallout from Biases: Stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, harassment.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/dei-the-fallout-from-biases-stereotypes-prejudice-discrimination-harassment/) - In this post I continue to look at Breaking Down Social Biases and what biases lead to - the outcomes of bias. Bias is common in many aspects of our lives. To make sense of everything around us, we often categorize the things we experience or people we encounter. Biases may be conscious or unconscious, - [Breaking Down Social Biases](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/breaking-down-social-biases/) - In this post I want to look at Breaking Down Social Biases. Bias is common in many aspects of our lives. To make sense of everything around us, we often categorize the things we experience or people we encounter. The problem with this is when it creates a divide between humans and social groups. Social - [What is Diversity? (pt. II)](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-diversity-pt-ii/) - This week is the second video in a two-part section on Diversity, the different forms of diversity and the impacts that they can have on the workplace. Our diverse world is made up of many values, cultures, and ways of interacting with others. Workplace diversity recognizes and values differences. This week we start with Religious - [What is Diversity?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-diversity/) - This week we start a two-part section on Diversity, the different forms of diversity and the impacts that they can have on the workplace. Our diverse world is made up of many values, cultures, and ways of interacting with others. Workplace diversity recognizes and values differences. .A workplace culture is determined by its employees and - [DEI in Organizations: What is The Difference between Equality & Equity?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/dei-in-organizations-what-is-the-difference-between-equality-equity/) - DEI creates an environment where people from various backgrounds are able to share different ideas, skills, and insights. This environment ensures that every team member feels involved and supported. It is not simply an environment where diverse individuals are present, but rather where diverse individuals are involved, empowered, and developed. A foci of this is - [What Is meant by Diversity and Inclusion?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-meant-by-diversity-and-inclusion/) - Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) represent an important movement within society and growing organizations. Collectively, DEI will create an environment where individuals feel supported and welcomed, and are given the resources needed to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or differences. Since diversity, equity, and inclusion all represent a different type of change, it’s valuable - [Diversity, Equity & Inclusion…. A Deeper Dive!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/diversity-equity-inclusion-a-deeper-dive/) - Every human is different; we all have different backgrounds, personalities, and aspirations. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) embraces people from every walk of life. It recognizes the value of diverse voices and inclusivity as key factors of success. Each component of DEI is aimed to create a more welcoming, fair, and respectful environment to everyone. - [What Is the Cost of Not Paying Attention to Psychological Safety, DEI & Quiet Quitting?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-cost-of-not-paying-attention-to-psychological-safety-dei-quiet-quitting/) - This week’s Vlog post discusses the cost of not paying attention to the psychological safety of employees and the impact of that to the bottom line. What if you could increase the chances of keeping people and not have the costs of having to recruit, hire and train new people. Let’s continue our conversation on - [Cogs In a Wheel, or Valued Partners?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/cogs-in-a-wheel-or-valued-partners/) - Are your people engaged in the workplace? Do they have a safe Space to engage with you? In this week’s Vlog post I explore how we can become more aware of how engaged our staff/employees/people are, and some ideas for better engaging with them. https://youtu.be/j4CLsR7ktOg John K Whitehead & Associates coaches individuals and organizations - [How Do Values and Mission Fit With Quiet Quitting DEI & Psychological Safety?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-values-and-mission-fit-with-quiet-quitting-dei-psychological-safety/) - Continuing the conversation about Quiet Quitting, DEI and Psychological Safety and ask how are your decisions as a leader aligned with your stated mission? Do you have a mission statement for yourself and/or your team? What about your and/or your team’s values? All the above areas of Quiet Quitting, DEI and Psychological Safety have to - [What is the Connection Between Psychological Safety, EDIJ & Quiet Quitting? pt. II](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-connection-between-psychological-safety-edij-quiet-quitting-pt-ii/) - In this weeks Vlog post I start to build the case for understanding and recognizing our own biases and how they are reflected in who we are as a leader. It is a short vlog, but I ask you to answer the question I asked in the previous vlog post, where are your biases? How - [What is the Connection Between Psychological Safety, EDIJ & QuietQuitting?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-connection-between-psychological-safety-edij-quietquitting/) - I start a 6-part weekly series on the connection between Psychological Safety, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice, and Quiet Quitting. I ask the question about how bias informs how we as leaders lead. How do these biases have an impact, if any, on Quiet Quitting. https://youtu.be/b6-Qob6oI58 John K Whitehead & Associates coaches individuals and organizations - [A Lesson from Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield – Leading the Way](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/a-lesson-from-canadian-astronaut-chris-hadfield-leading-the-way/) - One of the better books ostensibly about leadership I have read is Chris Hadfield’s An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth (Random House, 2013). I didn’t start in on it with the expectation that it would enhance my own leadership, but as I often do during “down times,” I picked it up just for the sake of - [Watching Videos and Reading Blogs -What do we learn?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/watching-videos-and-reading-blogs-what-do-we-learn/) - This week's Vlog reflects on how we learn from everything we watch and read on-line, or can we? How can we take what we see and watch and put it into practice? - [Adding A to DEI](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/adding-a-to-dei/) - Adding accessibility to the DEI conversation – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion should automatically include accessibility shouldn’t it. How accessible is the space you have in your business? What about when you hold activities at your business, think of pizza days… do you think about food allergies, dietary options? What about something as basic as how - [What is Psychological Safety?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-psychological-safety/) - Is it the new buzzword? The latest and greatest leadership epiphany? Or a rehash of a previous thought and/or idea? Maybe a bit of both? Whatever it is, it doesn’t diminish the real importance of the ideas and philosophy behind the message. Leadership has been on a continued journey of change and just maybe this - [Expectations & Intentions: Why spending more time on WHY is important](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/expectations-intentions-why-spending-more-time-on-why-is-important/) - For those of you who are familiar with Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” and “WHY” video https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en you will know where I am going with this. In this week’s video I equate Sinek’s WHY to leaders who spend way too much time on Expectations vs. Intentions… https://youtu.be/MFQTBifubeA #Leadership, #Leadershipdevelopment, #leadershipcoaching John K Whitehead & Associates coaches - [What are Soft Skills?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills/) - What are Soft Skills? Soft skills are those things which help us interact with others much easier. “Soft” because it's to compare them against “hard” skills or technical skills. In this week’s Vlog post I talk about what Soft Skills mean to me…. from a previously posted vlog post https://youtu.be/ate25v2VFs0 John K Whitehead & - [What is an Inclusive Leader?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-an-inclusive-leader/) - What does it mean to be an inclusive leader and what does that look like? What is an inclusive organization? In this week’s Vlog post I look at what these might be and explore the continuum created by Jennifer Brown in her book “How to Be An Inclusive Leader” and the stages we go through - [Confronting Our Biases as leaders](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/confronting-our-biases-as-leaders/) - Where is your thinking around diversity, equity, inclusion? What does it mean to you? If I was to ask you, what does it mean to be an inclusive leader, what would you say? This week’s vlog is a continuation from last week on personal learning and growth as I question my own biases. https://youtu.be/YSOluOaLCG0 John - [Are You Continuously Learning? Where is it taking you?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-continuously-learning-where-is-it-taking-you/) - In this week’s blog post I start exploring what it means to be an Inclusive Leader and how I came to this through my own learning journey In this video I refer to the course as Aboriginal Canada it is actually called Indigenous Canada. You can learn more about this amazing 12-week course at https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html - [How to Build Self-Confidence pt.III](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-build-self-confidence-pt-iii/) - This is the third vlog post on my short series on how to build self-confidence In this video we will look at Sure-fire Self-Confidence Building Tactics. Self-confidence is a trait that can be built. In fact, a few very simple tactics can help you quickly build your self-confidence. And as you become more confident, you - [How to Build Self-Confidence pt. II](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-build-self-confidence-pt-ii/) - This is the second of a short series of video blogs on building self-confidence This week we ask the question - How confident are you? It can be hard to assess our own self-confidence. Taking some time to ask a few questions and answer them honestly can help you gauge the areas where your confidence - [How To Build Self-Confidence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-build-self-confidence/) - Self-confidence is all about owning it taking control of your own self. Is it easy no. you may have heard someone say to you “go on, be confident!” or “show some self-confidence!” in a very matter of fact way, or even in a demanding way without any idea of what that actually means, or even - [Introducing a new series of Vlog posts](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/self-confidence/) - This week I introduce a new series of Vlogs on how to develope your self-confidence. https://youtu.be/Rz7v_BWT1JE - [Goals – Moving from SMART to GROW](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/goals-moving-from-smart-to-grow/) - The start of a new year often means New Year’s resolutions and goal setting. We start seeing a myriad of articles, posts, and podcasts on these subjects around this time of year and so not to be an outlier, here is my offering. But with a bit of a twist. This past year I was - [Seasons Greetings 2021](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/seasons-greetings-2021/) - Thank you for following me this past year and for viewing my weekly leadership vlog posts. This week, something a little different, my holiday message to each of you. My wish is for everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season! https://youtu.be/MZUkad5eyGs John K Whitehead & Associates coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more - [What Is Resilience and Why Is It Important?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-resilience-and-why-is-it-important/) - This week, a link to an article I wrote for ALSD SEAT magazine.... Research shows that resilience is linked to key outcomes. As leaders in the luxury suite industry, we not only need to aware of our team’s resiliency, but also of our own. Why? https://youtu.be/XwkKbxgAzYM You can read the article at: https://alsd.com/content/what-resilience-and-why-it-important If you - [Interview with Tammy Dunnett for the Leadership Communications Expo](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/interview-with-tammy-dunnett-for-the-leadership-communications-expo/) - This week’s Vlog post is an interview I did a few weeks ago for the Leadership Communications Expo hosted by Tammy Dunnett. It was my privilege to be one of many communication experts and gurus speaking on communications from the leadership perspective. It’s a bit longer than my usual vlog post but I believe you - [Why Soft Skills part II](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-soft-skills-part-ii/) - This is a reposting of a vlog post I produced in the fall of 2019, and is part two of last week’s post. The IBM Institute for Business Value recently surveyed approximately 5,670 executives across 48 countries to learn more about the skills needed to execute business strategies. The top finding of the research is - [Why Soft Skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-soft-skills-2/) - Watch a replay from one of my blogs form October 2019 - This is still really relevant and important for those seeking leadership roles as well as for emerging and senior leaders looking to improve thier leadership skills John K Whitehead & Associates coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve - [The Leadership Challenge: A personal review](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-leadership-challenge-a-personal-review/) - For 33 weeks I systematically did a personal deep dive into the work of Jim Kouzes and Barry Moore, The Leadership Challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations. This wasFor 33 weeks I systematically did a personal deep dive into the work of Jim Kouzes and Barry Moore, The Leadership Challenge: How to - [The Leadership Challenge: We wrap it up](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-leadership-challenge-we-wrap-it-up/) - This week I wrap up my series on the Leadership Challenge. This has been my interpretation of Kouzes & Posner’s five leadership practices that make extraordinary things happen in organizations. I hope you have found some of the content interesting and helpful. If you have found this content helpful and would like to learn more - [Try It… It’s Worth It!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/try-it-its-worth-it/) - One of the keys to giving team members recognition is that you need to “know” them first. Understanding what they need in terms of recognition. If you have been following me for a while, you will know the importance of understanding the behaviour patterns of your team. Is that hard work? yes, it is, does - [How Do You Tie Recognition to Values?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-you-tie-recognition-to-values/) - Kouzes and Posner state that one of the practices that exceptional leaders do is tie recognition to shared values. So how do you do that? In this week’s Vlog post I talk about how one of my clients did this by tying success stories to the shared values of the team. He uses staff meetings - [And The Reward Goes To?... Giving Recognition](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/and-the-reward-goes-to-giving-recognition/) - Kouzes and Posner state that “getting extraordinary things done in organizations is hard work. People become exhausted, frustrated, and disenchanted”. So encouraging the heart of your team is a very important past of being a leader. It’s about inspiring others with courage and hope. One of the ways to do this is to show genuine - [“I Appreciate the Job You Are Doing!”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/i-appreciate-the-job-you-are-doing/) - This week’s vlog continues our series looking at the final practice in Kouzes & Posner’s book The Leadership Challenge, Encourage the Heart. This practice is all about recognizing and appreciating staff, their skills and the abilities they bring to their roles! How often do you recognize, compliment and reward your team? https://youtu.be/nhQGUU637Zk John K Whitehead - [Encourage the Heart: Recognition is the key](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/encourage-the-heart-recognition-is-the-key/) - We've come to the final practice, the final practice in Kouzes and Posner's, The Leadership Challenge. Over the last number of weeks, I have been going through the different practices, the five practices, and then the six behaviors that go with each of those practices. And now we come to the final one which is - [Are You Allowing Your Team Members to Grow?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-allowing-your-team-members-to-grow/) - Leaders who make extraordinary things happen in their organizations ensure that people grow in their jobs by learning news skills and developing themselves. What to know more on how you might be able to accomplish this? Watch this week’s vlog post and then let me know what you think https://youtu.be/_wl_Z-vJ6fg John K Whitehead & Associates - [Enabling Others to Act: Give others the opportunity to find their own solutions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/enabling-others-to-act-give-others-the-opportunity-to-find-their-own-solutions/) - This is not easy. As the boss you may believe it is your job, your responsibility to come up with, and then implement solutions to problems. That’s the difference between being a “boss” and being a “leader” – a “boss” commands and controls, a leader gets others involved, encourages and shares ideas, create an environment - [Becoming A Great Leader, Let Others Come Up with The Solutions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/becoming-a-great-leader-let-others-come-up-with-the-solutions/) - Having people reporting to me, means having the opportunity to use them as a resource with ideas, and solutions they can bring to the table. I'm not necessarily the one that must have all the ideas and solutions. To do this I need to give people the freedom and choice in deciding how to do - [Who Are K&P and What is TLC?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/who-are-kp-and-what-is-tlc/) - There are two very influential books in my leadership journey. One of those is Marshall Goldsmith’s What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (2007, Hyperion); the other is The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner (Jossey-Bass, 2012). I have talked about both of these works and their authors in previous posts. The Leadership Challenge - [The Importance of Saying “Thank You” and Why It Matters](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/importance-saying-thank-you-matters/) - I have been a follower of Marshal Goldsmith’s work since his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There came out in 2007 and after I had the opportunity to participate in his two day workshop in 2008. Last fall I completed the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching certification and am now an associate - [Are You paying Attention?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-paying-attention/) - This week’s behaviour is treating others with dignity and respect. This is the third behaviour in the leadership practice of Enabling Others to Act and builds off last week’s vlog post and behaviour of actively listening to diverse points of view. As I explore in this week’s vlog, it’s not just good enough to be - [Are You Listening to Diverse Points of View?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-listening-to-diverse-points-of-view/) - Think about a meeting you were recently in. it was probably an online meeting because of the pandemic, right? Were you actively listening, or were you doing something else? Distracted by your mobile maybe, or thinking of the next meeting, conversation coming up? Did you seriously ask for input, ideas, or did you just ask - [Enable Others to Act: Teach them to fish](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/enable-others-to-act-teach-them-to-fish/) - Challenge, Enable Others to Act. The Practice has two Commitments associated with it, “foster collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships” and, “strengthen others by increasing self-determination and developing competence”. And as we have been doing over the past several weeks, I look at the first behaviour in this practice which is, “develops cooperative relationships - [Challenging the Process: What About Taking Risks?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/challenging-the-process-what-about-taking-risks/) - Challenging the Process: What About Taking Risks? Over the past several weeks we have been talking about Challenging the Process. Stepping out of our comfort zone, looking outside the box, taking risks, looking for the little wins and building on them. As leaders in organizations, we first need to be prepared to take risks but - [How Do You as A Leader Set Goals, Plans and Measurable Milestones?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-you-as-a-leader-set-goals-plans-and-measurable-milestones/) - Most of us I will assume set goals and make plans, but how do we do when it comes to checking where we are in those plans, goals? Keeping milestones? Tracking how we are doing? Here is another layer. As a leader, how are you at developing your people to be effective in their planning - [What Can We Learn When Things Go Wrong and Right?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-can-we-learn-when-things-go-wrong-and-right/) - Kouzes and Posner ask the question, “What can you learn when things don’t go as expected?” as their 4th behaviour in the practice of Challenging the Process. I want to shift that a little and ask, what can you learn when things go as expected? More of a positive right? We are really good at - [What Are You Doing to Improve What You Do?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-are-you-doing-to-improve-what-you-do/) - Building on last week’s Vlog Post which talked about how to challenge others to try out new and innovative ways to do their work, this week focuses on you and your role in this. It’s not about doing things the same way but looking outside the box for new and innovated ways to do things. - [What is One Way You Can Challenge People to Try Out New and Innovative Ways to Do Their Work?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-one-way-you-can-challenge-people-to-try-out-new-and-innovative-ways-to-do-their-work/) - When a direct report walks into your office with an issue, challenge or answer they need, what do you do? Do you give them the solution to the challenge, and answer to their problem? Then, is the next thing you do is complain because you can’t find the time to get your own work done? - [How Does One “Challenge the Process?”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-does-one-challenge-the-process/) - Kouzes & Posner break down Challenge the process in this way. Leaders who make extraordinary things happen in organizations “search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and by looking outward for innovative ways to improve” and “experiment and take risks by consistently generating small wins and learning from experience”. I add to this with and - [What Does It Mean to Speak with Genuine Conviction About the Higher Meaning and Purpose of Our Work?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-does-it-mean-to-speak-with-genuine-conviction-about-the-higher-meaning-and-purpose-of-our-work/) - This is the sixth and final vlog on Kouzes and Posner’s second practice of the five practices of exemplary leadership from their book The Leadership Challenge. We are talking about vision. We are talking about where we want to take our organizations, what the is vision of the work that we are doing, what we - [Thinking of the Big Picture: What Do We Aspire to Accomplish?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/thinking-of-the-big-picture-what-do-we-aspire-to-accomplish/) - Thinking of the Big Picture: What Do We Aspire to Accomplish? In this week’s Vlog post I explore how Vision is about the big picture. We start with the big picture and from there start developing how we get there, but we need to start with looking forward and upward. It is also about bringing - [How Are You Enlisting Others in Your Vision?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-are-you-enlisting-others-in-your-vision/) - Kouzes & Posner in their work “The Leadership Challenge” state that “Visions are images in the mind; they are impressions and representations.” As leaders we need to present our vision in ways that our direct reports and others can grasp it, to “draw on that very natural mental process of creating images”. How can you - [Do You have a Compelling Vision of Your Future?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/do-you-have-a-compelling-vision-of-your-future/) - And if you do, are you sharing that vision with others? Specifically, and in the context of leadership, with those of whom you lead? Following up to my last Vlog post where I asked the question “What is your Vision for your organization? Can you envision what the ideal and unique future is for your - [Are You in Your Job to Do Something, Or for Something To Do?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-in-your-job-to-do-something-or-for-something-to-do/) - What is your Vision for your organization? Can you envision what the ideal and unique future is for your team? Try asking these questions of yourself: Are you in your job to do something of for something to do? What about your job is important to you, your team, your organization, to those who use - [How Do You Inspire a Shared Vision?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-you-inspire-a-shared-vision/) - What is your vision for your organization? – Do you know? Can you state it seamlessly and flawlessly? What can a “Vision” be? Well Kouzes and Posner give us this; “a vision is an ideal and unique image of the future for the common good”. To share that vision, we should “envision the future by - [What Is Your Leadership Philosophy?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-your-leadership-philosophy/) - In this week’s Vlog post - What is your “leadership voice”? What you care about, what defines you and what makes you who you are? These are the questions Kouzes & Posner ask in The Leadership Challenge as it relates to your Leadership Philosophy. It begins, as I continually say, with self-awareness. If you are - [What Are Your Core Values?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-are-your-core-values-2/) - If I were to ask you right now what your Five Core Values are, could you rhyme them off or would you need a few minutes to think about what they are, if at all? In my practice I am continuously surprised to learn how few people have taken the time to work on what - [How Often Do You Ask for Feedback on Yourself?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-often-do-you-ask-for-feedback-on-yourself/) - How would you answer this question “How often/frequently do you ask your direct reports on how your actions affect their performance?” Interesting question, right? Maybe a bit scary as well. Kouzes and Posner in the Leadership Challenge pose this question, “how can you know that you’re doing what you say if you never ask for - [Promises, Promises: Building trust in leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/promises-promises-building-trust-in-leadership/) - Following through on promises and commitments you make as a leader is Kouzes & Posner’s 3rd behaviour in their practice of Modelling the Way from the book “The Leadership Challenge”. In fact, doing what you say you will do is a critical leadership step. Many of us will have known bosses who say one thing - [Are We On The Same Track?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-we-on-the-same-track/) - Building off last week’s Vlog post where I spoke about as leaders, we are being watched by our direct reports on the standards we set, and how we also need to be demonstrating these same standards. What happens if we let some “off the hook” but others must be accountable to those standards? This week - [](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/who-is-watching-you/) - As a leader in the organization, any organization, you are being watched, observed, and almost certainly being mimicked (hopefully in a good way). This week I dig into the 30 behaviours that are associated with Kouzes and Posner’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership from their book The Leadership Challenge. The first behaviour is “sets a - [Leadership Coaching: How to start the process off right.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-coaching-how-to-start-the-process-off-right-2/) - This week I begin a series of vlog posts on my interpretation and experiences on the work of Kouzes and Posner, specifically The Leadership Challenge (Wiley). I start this week by outlining how I approach my coaching process by engaging, not only the person I am going to be coaching (the coachee), but also those - [Leadership Coaching: How to start the process off right.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-coaching-how-to-start-the-process-off-right/) - This week I begin a series of vlog posts on my interpretation and experiences on the work of Kouzes and Posner, specifically The Leadership Challenge (Wiley). I start this week by outlining how I approach my coaching process by engaging, not only the person I am going to be coaching (the coachee), but also those - [My Reflections on Marshall Goldsmith’s “What Got You Here Won’t get You There”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/my-reflections-on-marshall-goldsmiths-what-got-you-here-wont-get-you-there/) - Over the past almost six months I have recorded a series of vlog posts based on the work of Marshall Goldsmith and his Twenty Habits That Hold You Back from the Top which can be found in his amazing book, “What Got You Here Won’t get You There” published in 2007 by Hyperion. This has - [Epilogue: The Twenty Habits Are Not Just for Leaders](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/epilogue-the-twenty-habits-are-not-just-for-leaders/) - My posts over the last 21 weeks have been an exploration, my interpretations of the “Twenty Habits That Hold You Back from The Top” found in Marshall Goldsmith’s amazing book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”. If you are a leader, at any level, in an organization I highly recommend that you purchase - [The Paradoxical Habit of Goal Obsession](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-paradoxical-habit-of-goal-obsession/) - Goal obsession is Marshall Goldsmith’s 21st habit that keep’s us from the top in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You there. In my interpretation of this habit, I see it as a paradox, whereas we need to be planning, setting goals, but not at the expense of the here and now. There - [Habit #20 – An Excessive Need to Be “Me”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/habit-20-an-excessive-need-to-be-me/) - The excessive need to be me is exalting our faults as virtues simply because they’re who we are. Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You Here calls this the “chronic behaviour, both positive and negative”. In my interpretation of this habit, I talk about how we need to know ourselves, - [When the Buck Stops Here](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/when-the-buck-stops-here/) - Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, calls Passing the Buck “one of those terrifying hybrid flaws” where you take “a healthy dose of needing to win and making excuses. Mix it with refusing to apologize and failing to give proper recognition. Sprinkle in a faint hint of punishing - [Punishing the Messenger](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/punishing-the-messenger/) - Punishing the Messenger – the misguided need to attack the innocent who are usually trying to help us. In his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Marshall Goldsmith states that punishing the messenger “is like taking the worst elements of not giving recognition and hogging the credit and passing the buck and - [How Does Self-confidence Drive Success?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/self-confidence-success/) - March 2017: Last year I completed a blog series on Soft Skills development. The series generated a lot of attention and over the past several months I have had several organizations contacting me to ask permission to either use or republish for their internal use. I have also had requests to use the video I - [The Impact of Just Saying “Thank-You.”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-impact-of-just-saying-thank-you/) - Dale Carnegie is known to say that the two sweetest words in the English language were a person’s first and last name. If you have known people who do that in conversations with you, you have more than likely paid closer attention to them and appreciated the attention. Marshall Goldsmith in his book “What Got - [Are You Listening?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-listening/) - Not Listening is Marshall Goldsmith’s 16th habit in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and of the 20 Habits That Keep You from the Top. Marshall comments that this is the most passive aggressive for of disrespect for colleagues. In this week’s Vlog post I not only talk about the impact - [15. Refusing to Express Regret – saying I’m sorry](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/15-refusing-to-express-regret-saying-im-sorry/) - Over the past 15 weeks I have been talking about habits that will keep you from the top, this week is number 15 - The inability to take responsibility for actions, admit when we are wrong, or recognize how our actions affect others – What are your experiences with this? Have you seen this in - [Are you Playing Favorites in the Workplace?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-playing-favorites-in-the-workplace/) - Playing favorites is failing to see that we are treating someone differently, maybe even unfairly The question isn’t “do we play favorites – like some people over others, treat some people differently than others”? As humans we do tend to do that – the question should be “are we aware of this and the impact - [Wishing Everyone a Happy Holiday Season!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/wishing-everyone-a-happy-holiday-season/) - https://youtu.be/n35z-Z_NkvI - [Clinging to The Past: Leadership requires moving forward](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/clinging-to-the-past-leadership-requires-moving-forward/) - Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t get You There talks about clinging to the past as one of the things that will keep you from the top. Marshall talks about this as being a way to deflect blame away from ourselves and onto events and people from our past. Another way - [If You Are Hearing Excuses, Look at Yourself.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/if-you-are-hearing-excuses-look-at-yourself/) - #12, making excuses in Marshall Goldsmith’s book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and his list of Twenty Habits That Keep You from the Top talks about how we deflect responsibility for our actions instead of simply saying sorry and moving on. It is “the need to reposition our annoying behaviour as a - [Taking Credit When It Is Not Ours to Give](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/taking-credit-when-it-is-not-ours-to-give/) - In his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Marshall Goldsmith lists the 11th habit that will keep you from the top as claiming credit that we don’t deserve and as Marshall puts it “…adding injury that comes with overlooking recognition” (see last week’s blog). “We are not only depriving people of the - [A Tip on How to Make Sure You Give Recognition](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/a-tip-on-how-to-make-sure-you-give-recognition/) - We are now halfway through Marshall Goldsmith’s 20 Habits That keep You from the Top. Number 10 is Failing to Give proper Recognition. Often, we just let things go by without recognizing when things are done well. There are several reasons for this but that doesn’t excuse it. So how might we change that? This - [Why “You Can Have That” Matters](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-you-can-have-that-matters/) - Withholding information: The refusal to share information in order to maintain an advantage over others. This is the 9th Habit That Keeps You from The Top as described and pronounced by Marshall Goldsmith in his leadership book “What Got You Won’t Get You There”. As Marshall puts it, “the problem with not sharing information, for - [Negativity: Being negative and what you can do about it](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/negativity-being-negative-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/) - We have all know folk who seem to be negative all the time, but what about you? How do you know if you are being negative or not? Like you, most folk most likely are not aware of how negative they are and the impact this is having on those around them. Again. For me, - [What Is the Impact of Speaking When Angry?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-the-impact-of-speaking-when-angry/) - Speaking when angry is Marshall Goldsmith’s 7th habit that can keep you from the top. It is using emotion as a management tool. We all get angry at times; we are human after all. But what we often forget is the impact that emotional outbursts have on those around us and specifically in the workplace, - [Danger - Showing People We’re Smarter Than We Are](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/danger-showing-people-were-smarter-than-we-are/) - Have You ever been in one of those conversations where the other person keeps playing “one-upmanship”, you know, they keep adding to the conversation additional information just to prove they know what they are talking about – trying to show how smart that are? Marshall Goldsmith lists this as the sixth Habit That keep You - [Marshall’s 4th Habit That Keeps You from The Top](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/marshalls-4th-habit-that-keeps-you-from-the-top/) - Making destructive comments is Marshall Goldsmith’s 4th habit that keeps you from the top. These are the needless sarcasms and cutting remarks that we think make us sound sharp and witty. In this week’s Vlog I take a different take on what this means to me and how I have seen this manifest in leaders. - [Passing Judgement: When making assumptions gets you in trouble.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/passing-judgement-when-making-assumptions-gets-you-in-trouble/) - In his book “What Got You Here Won’t get You There”, Marshall Goldsmith lists the 3rd of his Twenty habits that keep you from the top as Passing Judgement, which he defines as “the need to rate others and impose our standards on them”. In my mind it is about making assumptions. We often make - [Adding Too Much Value? When is too much, too much?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/adding-too-much-value-when-is-too-much-too-much/) - Adding too much value is the overwhelming desire to add your two cents to every discussion. You may have a great idea or thought, but what is the unintended consequence you are having on others? As a leader one of your roles is to develop others, by adding value are you really giving them the - [What is “Winning Too Much” and Why Does It Matter?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-winning-too-much-and-why-does-it-matter/) - In his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Marshall Goldsmith gives us his Twenty Habits That Hold You from The Top. These are twenty behaviours or habits that you may not even be aware of but have a significant impact on you as a leader. In this Vlog Post and for the - [What is “No”, “But”, and “However”…?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-no-but-and-however/) - In his book “What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There”, Marshall Goldsmith gives us the Twenty habits That Hold You Back from the Top. One of these is starting with “No”, “But or “However” and how the overuse of these negative qualifiers says to others; “I’m right, you are wrong”. One of the things - [It’s Really All About Self-Awareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/its-really-all-about-self-awareness/) - Who am I? How do I tend to behave and communicate? This is the first step, the platform, the foundation to build upon. How can you use this knowledge to grow, move forward? In this week’s video blog post I explore the impact self-awareness has on our personal growth and on our relationships. https://youtu.be/Cw-dxpgcJLQ John - [Who Are You as a Leader?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/who-are-you-as-a-leader/) - Where does your concept of being a leader come from? Many of us have influencers, our parents, friends, co-workers, previous managers. How did your past experiences impact who you are not only as an individual but also as a leader? In this week’s video blog post I explore these questions and what are some of - [Values](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/values/) - Improving communications skills, time management and values are the three things that consistently bubble to the surface in my coaching practice. In this week’s video I discuss how specifically values show up and how the coaching process can help. https://youtu.be/Q_IxBeBaYgg John Whitehead, coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve - [COVID19: Getting Back to Work, What Do You Control?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid19-getting-back-to-work-what-do-you-control/) - In my work with leaders in organizations, one of the items that comes up consistently is “What do you control, not control?” Where is your focus? Dealing with returning to the workplace creates the environment where this comes up again. In this week’s vlog post I explore what it means to focus on what you - [Being a Professional, a soft skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/being-a-professional-a-soft-skill/) - This week I explore what it means to be a “professional” based on the work of Nido Qubein and his five attributes of professionals which are: A specialized knowledge and skills, a unique relationship with their clients, render a service that people are willing to pay for, are held accountable for that service and finally, - [Why Do You Do These Blogs/Vlogs?”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-do-you-do-these-blogs-vlogs/) - This is a question I get asked every once and awhile, what is my ROI, why spend the time producing these? There are two definite reasons for me and why I believe it is important. In this weeks episode I explore this question and provide my reasons. Also, don’t forget to sign up for this - [What are Soft Skills?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-are-soft-skills/) - Soft skills are those things which help us interact with others much easier. “Soft” because it's to compare them against “hard” skills or technical skills. In this week’s Vlog post I talk about what Soft Skills mean to me…. https://youtu.be/ate25v2VFs0 - [Subtitles, eBook plus... why?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/subtitles-ebook-plus-why/) - This week’s vlog "Subtitles, eBook plus... why I do this blog/vlog", introduces using subtitles (actually surtitles in this case). I also have finally finished my ebook based on a series of blogs I did on Soft Skills over a 24-week period. You can learn how to get a free copy by signing up for my - [Are You Enabling Employees to Depend on You?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-you-enabling-employees-to-depend-on-you/) - One of the most frequently complaints I hear from leaders is that about time management – they never seem to find time to get stuff done. In my coaching with them, I often learn that they are spending a lot of time responding to employees coming into their offices asking for help with problems they - [The Most Challenging Aspect of Leadership?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/challenging-aspect-leadership-2/) - I am currently working with a client in Saudi Arabia conducting a couple of courses on Leadership and Interpersonal Communications, so far it’s been an incredible experience. The timing has meant that I have not had time (or energy – jet lag can be a bummer) to write a blog for this week, so I’ve - [Leadership Series Directory](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-series-directory/) - This series specifically explores what leadership is and how we can not only understand leadership, but implement it. Leadership series directory: https://johnkwhitehead.ca/three-theories-leadership/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/situational-leadership/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/who-are-kp-and-what-is-tlc/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/servant-leadership-is/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-style-and-its-impact/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/listening-leaderships-common-denominator/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/intentions-and-expectations/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-vs-management-encourager/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/challenging-aspect-leadership-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-is-about-who-we-are-leading/ - [Twelve Characteristics For Success - What makes a person successful?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/twelve-characteristics-success-makes-person-successful/) - Success has many definitions and means different things to different people. Just Google “success” to see what I mean. The truth is, no matter how we define or perceive success, we all want to be successful in our own way, and to be seen as successful to others. This post is not intended to judge - [How Do We Listen to Understand?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-we-listen-to-understand/) - Stephen Covey said that we need to listen to understand not to respond. Communications is the foundational piece and building block that I use in my work with clients. It is the primary Soft Skill that everything else builds upon. Understanding who we are starts here. In this weeks Vlog post I give a simple - [First, we had COVID then we had the knee…](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/first-we-had-covid-then-we-had-the-knee/) - As leaders how do we process what is happening right now? Heck, how do we process it as humans? There is a quote by MLK that states that we will remember not the words of our enemy’s, but with the silence of our friends. But as a white privileged male what can I or - [COVID – Phasing Back into “Normal”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid-phasing-back-into-normal/) - This is a bit of a tricky time where we are moving out from the lock-downs to partial openings. Moving from the “Neutral Zone” into the “New”. What does that mean for us as leaders, as managers? How do we transition bringing our people back into the workspace? In this week’s video I explore this - [COVID 19 – Operating in the Neutral Zone](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid-19-operating-in-the-neutral-zone/) - What does it mean to be in the Neutral Zone (Bridges, 1991). Bridges talks about how when we move from the “old” to the “new” we must travel through the “neutral zone”. This time can be a difficult time and a creative time, it is “a time when a necessary reorientation and redefinition is taking - [Handling Communications During COVID19](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/handling-communications-during-covid19/) - How do we deal with the inundation of communications while working through the COVID 19 pandemic? The lines between home and office have been blurred and we are being overloaded with ZOOM calls and emails at all times of the day. This is causing higher stress levels on top of everything else - so how - [COVID-19, Are You Taking Care of Your Self First?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid-19-are-you-taking-care-of-your-self-first/) - COVID-19. Before we take care of others – we need to take care of ourselves first. As leaders we won’t be of any use to anyone else unless you are taking care of ourselves yourself. Do you have a routine to follow? Are you finding time to exercise, to read? In this weeks Vlog post - [Why Do You Need An Accountability Partner?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-do-you-need-an-accountability-partner/) - Why Do You Need An Accountability Partner - Not just for COVID 19, but at anytime? I discuss how having an accountability partner can help us with our day to day, week to week activities - keep us on track. Maybe more important so as we are faced with "stay at home" orders... This video - [COVID: Leading in This New Environment](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid-leading-in-this-new-environment/) - I have already commented on leading and managing when workers are remote, but what about the essential workforce. How do we lead and manager and keep our physical distancing - and should we still be doing that? https://youtu.be/SdVt6nW6Beg Please sign up for my blog posts at https://johnkwhitehead.ca/blog-2/ - [Article on Soft Skills published in SEAT Magazine](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/article-on-soft-skills-published-in-seat-magazine/) - Excited to have one of my articles published in SEAT magazine, the publication of the Association of Luxury Suite Directors. I will be presenting at their conference this summer in Fort Worth TX. Possessing the technical skills required to execute job duties is only one part of being our best self in the workplace. Effective - [COVID, Leadership & Communications](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid-leadership-communications/) - As a leader, how and how often we communicate during this pandemic is critical. Communicate often with transparency and allow space for staff to respond.. https://youtu.be/SiIW_6b5qJY - [COVID & Social Distancing](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid-social-distancing/) - COVID 19 - Social Distancing NO - Personal/Physical Distancing Yes! There is a difference and it's an important one. I explain why in this weeks vlog post https://youtu.be/GlfViFQP6jQ My second post on the COVID crisis - you can see my first at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqB6WF5EQTQ&feature=emb_title Visit the rest of my blogs at https://johnkwhitehead.ca/blog-2/ You - [COVID-19 from a Leadership Perspective](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/covid-19-from-a-leadership-perspective/) - A look at the current COVID crisis from a leadership perspective - its about values https://youtu.be/BqB6WF5EQTQ If you wold like to learn more, please reach out to me and visit my LinkedIn Page https://www.linkedin.com/in/johwhi/ and my website at https://johnkwhitehead.ca/ - sign up for updates.... - [What are your Core Values?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-are-your-core-values/) - Do you know what your core values are? Kouzes and Posner define values as “moral judgments", responses to others, and commitments to personal and organizational goals that: Help us determine what to do and what not to do. Influence every aspect of our lives. Set the parameters for our decisions we make every day”. We - [The 2020's: Essential leadership skills for the roaring 20's](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-2020s-essential-leadership-skills-for-the-roaring-20s/) - What do we as leaders need for the new roaring 20's? - my reflection and comments based on an article written by Marlene Chism https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2... https://youtu.be/VV5XrW7IVKQ - [Knowing More about Yourself](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/knowing-more-about-yourself/) - In this week's video vlog post I talk about Self-Awareness and its impact on Emotional Intelligence. What can you do to find out about how you behave and react in certain situations and what you can do to shift behaviours... https://youtu.be/Xx_PMzNP9aw If you want to know more about understanding your own "self"... reach out - [Looking For Complexity](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/looking-for-complexity/) - Are you missing the obvious but looking for the complex? Sometimes its just the donkeys. https://youtu.be/kelCaYJLiU8 _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead, coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. *******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is right for you? Contact John for - [Why Values?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-values/) - In my coaching practice I have found that one of the three top things that come to the surface is personal values, finding out who you are at the core, what your beliefs are. I am constantly amazed (although by now I shouldn’t be) how many people have never done any work on their personal - [Do We Need Followers To Be A Leader?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/do-we-need-followers-to-be-a-leader/) - Do we need followers to be a leader? How do we position ourselves as a leader in any given context? Over the past couple of weeks I have been confronted again with the question about what leadership looks like in the context of there being no organization to lead. Can you be a leader without - [Seasons Greetings 2019](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/seasons-greetings-2019/) - https://youtu.be/O5SNHg19eyY - [Leadership & Learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-learning/) - The two models I discuss in this video is where a manager becomes a leader. It is where the manager first recognizes their own gaps in knowledge or ability, and while working on improving their own competencies, finds members of their team who can fill them — that by demonstrating their own process of - [Self Leadership Comes From Self-Awareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/self-leadership-comes-from-self-awareness/) - Self Leadership comes from Self-Awareness - what does this mean and look like? Here are some questions to ask yourself https://youtu.be/1sNYECuyONE - [Stress, Your Leadership Style and Its Impact](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/stress-your-leadership-style-and-its-impact/) - Stress impacts everyone in one way or another. Some people withdraw while others lash out in frustration and anxiety. As a leader, every decision, action and behavior you make impacts your direct reports, your teams and your organization. Unfortunately, during difficult times, you can’t just hide, waiting until things get better or move on. This - [BAD EXAMPLES OF MANAGERS AND LEADERS TO HORRIFY YOU!!!!!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/bad-examples-of-managers-and-leaders-to-horrify-you/) - I read this and just had to share with everyone today! - Happy Halloween!! BAD EXAMPLES OF MANAGERS AND LEADERS TO HORRIFY YOU: by Lauren Parkhill “Fail!” That is a common funny thing we say when something goes awry or doesn’t hit the mark. But a leadership fail? That’s just spooky. In our work, we - [Why Soft Skills II](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-soft-skills-ii/) - The IBM Institute for Business Value recently surveyed approximately 5,670 executives across 48 countries to learn more about the skills needed to execute business strategies. The top finding of the research is that approximately 120 million workers may need to be retrained or re-skilled as a result of AI and intelligent automation. Yet, the research - [Leadership Vlog Post 191017 - Why Soft Skills?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-soft-skills/) - Having the technical skills and knowledge to successfully execute our job duties is only one part of being the best we can be in the workplace. In addition to these “hard” skills, we also need “soft” skills. As I stated above, Soft Skills are those skills that allow us to effectively work with others. No - [What Is Your Challenge This Week?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-your-challenge-this-week/) - What is your challenge today? This week? Next month? How can you resolve it? By when? What do you need to accomplish this? This week's Vlog post explores these questions.... https://youtu.be/AF1HOeI6jts Want to know more? reach out to me by email at john@johnkwhitehead.ca or schedule a call --->>>>> - [What is a Coach Approach](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-a-coach-approach/) - What is a Coach Approach and when do you use it? https://youtu.be/tNyRr_ZiCeA - [Making Connections: The Importance of Networking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/making-connections-the-importance-of-networking/) - I believe the most important commitment I made was to network. I’m convinced that this one thing has been the primary reason for my success to date. I had no real connections when I started in the fall of 2014. My previous role did not provide me with a ready-made network of potential clients or - [Communicate, Communicate, Communicate: The when’s & how’s](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/communicate/) - This week I discuss how and when we communicate with our direct reports and others. Keeping open communication and letting others know you are accessible is one of the keys to being a good leader. So, what are some of the things we can do to make this happen? https://youtu.be/CQ8T3T4FvDE John K Whitehead & Associates - [What is Your Perspective?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/perspective/) - How do you "see" things in your role as a leader? How does changing perspective shift how you lead? This week’s video blog explores these questions and looks for answers. https://youtu.be/VseU25L-IvY Let me know what you think? John Whitehead, coach’s leaders to become more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence - [So What is the Platinum Rule?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/so-what-is-the-platinum-rule/) - At some point in the workshop I conduct on interpersonal communications skills using the SOCIAL STYLEs model, I invariably make the comment that with the knowledge all of the participants have gained during the session comes great responsibility; that with what they have learned about communication and behaviours comes the responsibility of using that knowledge - [What’s That Knocking at the Door: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/comfort-zone/) - "The lesson here is to be ready… be ready to step up and be uncomfortable ……get outside your comfort zone …. because those are the opportunities for real growth. Be ready to open that door when it knocks…. There is reason for you to be doing what you are doing, and it will become clear - [How Do You Figure Out How To Manage Your Time & Tasks?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/task-management/) - Task Management: Great time management means being effective as well as efficient. Managing time effectively, and achieving the things that you want to achieve, means spending your time on things that are important and not just urgent. To do this, you need to distinguish clearly between what is urgent and what is important: https://youtu.be/Na2qUIT6f4Q - [Video - How Do Your Values Equate to Your Credibility?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/video-how-do-your-values-equate-to-your-credibility/) - If you had asked me nine to ten years ago to articulate the importance of vales and what mine were, I would not have been able to. It has been my learning journey, specifically over the past nine years that has enabled me to do so now.... https://youtu.be/mNcNEneAHKg How Do Your Values Equate to Your - [Leadership Is Not What I Thought It Was](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-is-not-what-i-thought-it-was/) - If I were to ask you for your personal definition of leadership, how would you answer? What experiences would you draw on; what readings and research would you cite? Who in your life has been the greatest influence? https://youtu.be/ZtCbuSbMDEY - [Continuous Learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/continuous-learning/) - This week I explore what continuous learning means to me and why it is important in leadership https://youtu.be/UjUkpx8w56g - [It's All About Teamwork](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/its-all-about-teamwork/) - This weeks Vlog post is about teamwork - Teamwork - it's all about teamwork. Even as a family, working together effectively gets the job done. https://youtu.be/j09t193CJW8 - [The core of leadership is self-awareness - being who you are.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-core-of-leadership-is-self-awareness-being-who-you-are-2/) - This weeks' Vlog post is on what I have learned about being self-aware and the impact it has on being a leader -pl https://youtu.be/6rY4wYdeQ-k Reach out if you would like to know more about my coaching services and workshops.... - [Soft Skills Blog Index](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-blog-index/) - Here is the listing of blog entries written on the subject of Soft Skills. https://johnkwhitehead.ca/so-what-are-these-things-called-soft-skills-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-required-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-learned-or-inborn/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-professionalism-a-soft-skill-3/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-communication-the-most-important-soft-skill-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/nonverbal-communication-the-ultimate-soft-skill-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/listening-the-secret-to-communication-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-team-building-is-an-important-soft-skill/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/using-soft-skills-as-a-member-of-a-team/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-soft-skill-of-problem-solving-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/time-personal-management-as-a-soft-skill-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skill-management-of-time-dr-who-take-note-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-power-of-flow-a-personal-management-soft-skill-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-myth-of-multitasking-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/keep-calm-and-attitude-and-work-ethic-3/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-being-self-centered-that-bad/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-flexible-are-you-the-soft-skill-of-adaptability-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-flexible-are-you-the-soft-skill-of-adaptability-part-ii-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-can-self-confidence-drive-success-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-ability-to-learn-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-we-become-self-aware-3/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-core-of-leadership-is-self-awareness-being-who-you-are/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/criticism-and-the-ability-to-learn-2/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-soft-skill-art-of-the-critique/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-network-101-some-lessons-learnt/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-network-102-continuing-to-learn/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/building-trust/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-conclusion-2/ - [What is a leader without followers? - A Personal Leadership Challenge](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-a-leader-without-followers-a-personal-leadership-challenge/) - This week begins a new series of video blog posts where we will discover what it means to be a leader in todays environment… it really doesn’t matter what the environment is – it may be leading a sales team selling season’s tickets for a professional sports team….. you may be a lead or general - [Soft Skills - Conclusion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-conclusion-2/) - Over the past thirty weeks I have published a series of posts on Soft Skills: their development, the competencies they represents and the importance soft skills have in the workplace (or life in general, for that matter). I still like the following definition of Soft Skills because it is straight forward and concise: “’Soft Skills’ - [Building Trust](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/building-trust/) - As I completed my series on Soft Skills, a commenter asked me about the place of Trust, since I had not listed it as a specific Soft Skill. I’m not sure about this. The question of Trust seems to be relevant or applicable in a number of different areas, and so as I did with - [How to Network 102: Continuing to Learn](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-network-102-continuing-to-learn/) - “Giving connects two people, the giver and the receiver, and this connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging.” ~ Deepak Chopra Last week I wrote about some lessons I have learned from attending networking events. I titled that post “Networking 101: Some lessons learnt”. This week I want to expand on that theme. - [How to Network 101 - Some Lessons learnt](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-network-101-some-lessons-learnt/) - A typical networking interaction may go like this: “What do you do?” or “Tell me about your business.” What is your response? Are you prepared to answer in a way that will engage the asker, perhaps even to the point of persuading them to meet with you and ultimately purchase your product or service? That’s - [How Do We Become Self-Aware?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-we-become-self-aware-3/) - Last week I wrote about the Ability to Learn in the context of Soft Skills. My comments about self-awareness solicited a response from one of my readers - thanks Mark (see his comments below) - for some powerful questions and your comments. This week I intended to continue my exploration of learning and of criticism - [The Soft Skill Art of the Critique](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-soft-skill-art-of-the-critique/) - My last three posts have focused on the ability to learn — an incredibly important soft skill, perhaps even more so than self-awareness, since without it there is no ability to grow or improve. This may be the ultimate “the chicken or the egg” scenario. What comes first: self-awareness or the ability to learn? Last - [Criticism and the Ability to Learn](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/criticism-and-the-ability-to-learn-2/) - My guess is that not many people like to be criticized. Those who do have most likely learned that listening to criticism is a good way to learn. That doesn’t mean it is easy — our egos often get in the way. We tend to see criticism as a personal attack (and sometimes that is - [The Core of Leadership is Self-Awareness - Being who you are.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-core-of-leadership-is-self-awareness-being-who-you-are/) - The work of author and business coach Marshall Goldsmith, in particular his book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (2007) has been a significant influence in me becoming self-aware. In the spring of 2009 I attended Goldsmith’s workshop in Boston after reading his book and being intrigued by the concepts he espoused, - [What is SOCIAL STYLE?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-social-style/) - SOCIAL STYLE is the world’s leading Behavioral Style model. It has been used by thousands of organizations to improve leadership performance and sales results. SOCIAL STYLE is used by global organizations and leading executives because it’s highly effective, yet easy to understand and apply. Years of research into workplace success have shown that people are one of four - [Soft Skills - Ability to Learn](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-ability-to-learn-2/) - I am a strong believer in continuous learning. If you have been following this blog for some time you will know that I am constantly looking for opportunities to learn. I often tell the story of the time I and some colleagues were in a management meeting when the topic of learning came up. At - [How can Self-confidence drive success?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-can-self-confidence-drive-success-2/) - In this, the seventeenth in my series of posts exploring soft skills, I want to focus on Self-confidence. How does Self-confidence drive success? One of the problems I have with this particular soft skill is that it can easily become or be viewed as arrogance. There is a fine line between being self-confident and allowing - [How Flexible Are You? The Soft Skill of Adaptability. Part II](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-flexible-are-you-the-soft-skill-of-adaptability-part-ii-2/) - This is Part Two of last week’s blog on Adaptability and Flexibility. As I stated last week, these are two skills are coming to the forefront of Soft Skills development. How one adapts to change and remains flexible in one’s approach to it is critical to success in today’s world. Changing to Manage Process - [How Flexible Are You? The Soft Skill of Adaptability.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-flexible-are-you-the-soft-skill-of-adaptability-2/) - I read somewhere recently that Soft Skills have become today’s Hard Skills. This is something to think about as we move further into the information age and away from the industrial age. It’s not that we will do away with hard skills. Trades, factories, mining, the list goes on, will still be around and those - [Is Being Self-Centered That Bad: Caring for Others vs Caring for Self](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-being-self-centered-that-bad/) - Has there been a shift in our thinking around caring for others vs. caring for ourselves? I ask this because of the current focus on Self-Awareness. Has the pendulum swung again to a focus on self rather than on others? (Some may ask if the pendulum ever really swung toward the latter!) I remember the - [Keep Calm and... Attitude and Work Ethic](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/keep-calm-and-attitude-and-work-ethic-3/) - “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” - Albert Einstein You’ve most likely heard the phrase, “Hire for attitude; you can always train and test for skills.” Hard skills for any job can usually be tested. A simple example would be for typing skills –you can measure a candidate’s keyboarding speed by administering a test. - [Why just saying “Thank You” matters.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-just-saying-thank-you-matters/) - I have been a follower of Marshal Goldsmith’s work since his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There came out in 2007 and after I had the opportunity to participate in his two day workshop in 2008. I have also had the opportunity to facilitate the exercise that Goldsmith describes in the article - [The Myth of Multitasking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-myth-of-multitasking-2/) - My focus for this final post on the soft skill of personal management is on multitasking. Multitasking is exactly what it sounds like – trying to do more than one thing at a time. How many times have you heard a colleague proclaim that they are great multitaskers? Many of us claim (or complain about) - [The Power of Flow: A Personal Management Soft Skill](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-power-of-flow-a-personal-management-soft-skill-2/) - Have you ever had those moments when you are involved in an activity and time just seems to have flown by? Maybe it was sitting at the piano, painting, a challenging chess match, or reading a really good book. Maybe you were playing a sport and everything was working—every pass you made, every shot you - [Soft Skill Management of Time (Dr Who take note)](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skill-management-of-time-dr-who-take-note-2/) - I concluded my last post with a promise of some practical applications for use in Time and Personal Management. I also discussed Steven Covey’s concept that personal management is actually the fourth generation of time management. Covey, in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Simon and Shuster, 1989), describes the first generation as one - [Time (Personal) Management as a Soft Skill](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/time-personal-management-as-a-soft-skill-2/) - “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” ~ Winston Churchill I believe the very first workshop I attended in my working life was one on time management. That workshop — in the late 70s in Winnipeg — was the start of a lifelong journey of learning. I attended that workshop because of my - [The Soft Skill of Problem-Solving](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-soft-skill-of-problem-solving-2/) - Was Problem-Solving on your list of soft skills? I can’t say that it was originally on mine. Why is that? I think that we tend to think of soft skills as “positive”. Soft skills are there to present an upbeat environment that everything is okay. It is an improvement mechanism. A reference to problem-solving suggests - [Using Soft Skills as a Member of a Team](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/using-soft-skills-as-a-member-of-a-team/) - My last post on Team building was from the perspective of the builder, or leader of a team. However, you don’t have to be the leader to be an integral part of the team-building process. Being a member of a team provides its own opportunities for building and sustaining a team culture. Whether you are a new - [Setting Targets for the New Year?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/setting-targets-for-the-new-year/) - It’s that time of year when we start to take a look ahead at what we want to achieve in the coming New Year and at the same time reflect on where we have come from since this same time last year. It is fascinating to read the posts that start to appear on LinkedIn - [Why Team Building is an Important Soft Skill](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-team-building-is-an-important-soft-skill/) - Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships. - Michael Jordan There is no strength until there is cooperation – Irish Proverb John Adair defined “team” as “a group in which the individuals share a common aim and in which the jobs and skills of each member fit in and those of others”. Working - [Listening... The Secret to Communication](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/listening-the-secret-to-communication-2/) - “There is a difference between listening and waiting for your turn to speak.” — Simon Sinek My previous two posts in this Soft Skills series have been about verbal and non-verbal communications: its nature of being a “two way street,” the need for both a sender and a receiver in order for the communication to - [Nonverbal Communication – the Ultimate Soft Skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/nonverbal-communication-the-ultimate-soft-skill-2/) - Interpersonal communication is a huge part of leadership. The ability to get your message across, whether it’s a simple instruction or a complex expectation, is very important. Some believe that being a good leader means being able to get things done in the quickest, most efficient way; less concerned with the method, as with the - [Is communication the most important soft skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-communication-the-most-important-soft-skill-2/) - “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” Peter Drucker Is communication the most important soft skill? I believe it is, and it is why the focus of my practice is on interpersonal communications. I have found that even if a client’s initial interest is in exploring another area of their - [Is Professionalism a Soft Skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-professionalism-a-soft-skill-3/) - “Soft Skills, or the ability to manage soft issues, is a challenge for modern leaders to master” Aly Moreno I received a comment from one of my most reliable blog post followers shortly after I started publishing this material in my blog. He stated, “...Soft Skills or the ability to manage soft issues is a - [Are Soft Skills Learned or Inborn?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-learned-or-inborn/) - Soft Skills: Nature or Nurture? Are you born with them or are they learned? It’s the old chicken and the egg argument, which comes first? A quick review of the discussion in the research reveals the consensus that we are born with these skills, but like any other, they can be improved over time, - [Do you have the Soft Skills Required to be Successful?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-required-2/) - Why is it that soft skills seem to have become the newest and latest “big” thing? Weren’t they always important and necessary? However, I’m noticing more and more articles and posts focused on the need to increase soft skill training and development, which in turn suggests at least the perception of a shortage of these - [So, What Are These Things Called “Soft Skills”?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/so-what-are-these-things-called-soft-skills-2/) - ‘Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business. Large stores, gilt signs, flaming advertisements, will all prove unavailing if you or your employees treat your patrons abruptly. The truth is, the more kind and liberal a man is, the more generous will be the patronage bestowed upon him.” ~ P. T. Barnum - [The Impact of Values](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-impact-of-values/) - How do your values impact your daily life? How do they influence critical incidents and interactions that you have? How do they inform the language you use and see the world? This week’s video blog post explores one person’s aha moment, where she realized through reflection that it was her values that were creating her - [The Little Things That Build Credibility](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-little-things-that-build-credibilty/) - The Little Things That Build Credibility Building on my recent video blog post about Trust and Credibility (https://johnkwhitehead.ca/getting-to-trust/), in this weeks edition I tell the story of an interaction I observed with one of my clients and one of his direct reports. Sometimes it is just the little things that go a long way to - [Soft Skills - Conclusion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-conclusion/) - Over the past twenty three weeks I have written a series of posts on Soft Skills: their development, the competencies they represent and the importance soft skills have in the workplace (or life in general, for that matter). I still like the following definition of Soft Skills because it is straight forward and concise: “’Soft - [Bringing the Right Attitude:](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/bringing-the-right-attitude/) - What does it mean to bring the right attitude to work? What is the impact, positive or negative? In this week's video blog post I talk about an example that came up in a leadership workshop I was conducting this past week with a colleague. https://youtu.be/98VisFS4Dss _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead, coaches individuals and organizations in - [Getting to “Trust”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/getting-to-trust/) - In this week’s video blog post I think about the whole are of “trust” – how do we get there? Kouzes and Posner in their work “The Leadership Challenge” observed how their Characteristics of Admired Leaders aligned with the work on source credibility by Berlo, Lemert & Mertz (1969). K & P’s top four - [Putting “What You Control” into Context](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/putting-what-you-control-into-context/) - In this week’s video blog post I describe how a medical issue I have been dealing with provides me with some thinking on the ongoing conversation I have been having on “What We Can Control and What We Can’t Control”. Often in my work as an Executive Coach, the leadership concepts I talk about with - [Stress: Becoming Aware](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/stress-becoming-aware/) - This week’s video blog focuses on stress, not so much how we handle it, but that stress is something that can be good or bad. I use the Social Style model by Tracom as my starting point and refer viewers to previous posts at: https://johnkwhitehead.ca/eagles-driving-force-style-behaviour/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/owl-making-decisions/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/relationships-amiable-style/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/peacock-expresive-social-style/ https://johnkwhitehead.ca/birds-flock-together-social-styles-putting-together/ Each of the four styles - [What is Your “WHY”](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-your-why/) - Simon Sinek’s great video presentation has resonated for me for several years. Most people have watched, if you haven’t I would recommend you take some time to do so at: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action In this week’s video I explore the question that Simon brings forth for me and what it could mean for you... As always, - [Finding the Time](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/finding-the-time/) - This past week I was facilitating two days of leadership development to 13 leaders in a non-profit organization when the question of time came up. How do we find the time to get done what needs to get done and still have time to do “leadership” stuff? This week’s video blog post explores this question. - [Taking a Chance on Coaching - Video Case Study](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/taking-a-chance-on-coaching-video-case-study/) - Derek Hodgins is the CEO of High Roller Games, a local games company based in Kelowna BC. They specialize in making custom games for big brands like Trailer Park Boys, Vikings and Bob Marley. Derek states that it was always a dream job to be able to go ahead and create games. Then ten years - [Awareness - Video Blog Post](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/awareness-video-blog-post/) - Self-Awareness - A slightly different recording this week as I use my mobile to record this video while my computer is out of order. This week I talk about self-awerness, recognizing how we communicate and behave and it's effects on others. We are who we are, we can't change that but we - [Credibility + Vision = ????](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/credibility-vision/) - Research has shown that people consistently select four characteristics to describe the leaders they would choose to follow. They are: Honesty. Inspiring. Competent and Forward-Looking (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). These four characteristics that followers expect of leaders add up to what communications experts freer to as source credibility (Berlo, Lemert & Mertz, 1969). In this - [What is Leadership Pt II?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-leadership-pt-ii/) - So I continue with this weeks video blog where I left off last week, with some additional thoughts on what leadership is. I focus on how increasing your self-awareness as a key step to recognizing your own leadership style, understanding your values and building a vision... then go from there. https://youtu.be/kskeoanghqo John Whitehead - [What is Leadership?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-leadership-2/) - What is Leadership? After a few weeks of posting written blog posts, I come back this week with a video to talk about some ideas and reflections on leadership informed by my faculty of managment students at UBCO... Part 2 next week https://youtu.be/di_O_LqhQo0 John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more - [How Do We Become Self-Aware](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-we-become-self-aware-2/) - Last week a LinkedIn friend, Aly B Moreno wrote an incredibly insightful article called Sustainable Growth through HBD a most required Paradigm. I will leave you to follow the link and read it. In his article, Aly askes a number of very interesting questions around human development and it got me thinking again about how - [Keep Calm and... Attitude and Work Ethic](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/keep-calm-and-attitude-and-work-ethic-2/) - “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” - Albert Einstein You’ve most likely heard the phrase, “Hire for attitude; you can always train and test for skills.” Hard skills for any job can usually be tested. A simple example would be for typing skills –you can measure a candidate’s keyboarding speed by administering a - [Is Professionalism a Soft Skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-professionalism-a-soft-skill-2/) - “Soft Skills, or the ability to manage soft issues, is a challenge for modern leaders to master” Aly Moreno I received a comment from one of my most reliable blog post followers shortly after I started publishing this material in my blog. He stated, “...Soft Skills or the ability to manage soft issues is a - [Do you have the Soft Skills Required to be Successful?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-required/) - Why is it that soft skills seem to have become the newest and latest “big” thing? Weren’t they always important and necessary? However, I’m noticing more and more articles and posts focused on the need to increase soft skill training and development, which in turn suggests at least the perception of a shortage of these - [What Does It Mean To Really Listen](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-does-it-mean-to-really-listen/) - In my upcoming book (hopefully to be available this fall) I explore the importance of Soft Skills development. Two of these skills are verbal and non-verbal communications: its nature of being a “two way street,” the need for both a sender and a receiver in order for the communication to be anything other than mere - [Using FeedForward to get Unique Perspectives](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/using-feedforward-get-unique-perspectives/) - FeedForward is an exercise and concept from Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world’s top executive coaches. FeedForward is based on the premise that we can’t do anything about the past, it’s done. What we can focus on is the future. It is a different way of looking at performance reviews as well. In this week’s - [How Do You Deal With Procrastination?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/1829-2/) - How Do You Deal With Procrastination? In this week’s video blog post I talk about my experience this past week where I facilitated a workshop on Goal Setting and Time Management for a non-profit organization. This is a fairly large non-profit with 24 managers attending the one day workshop. As we got into the workshop - [Your Vision & How to Find It](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/your-vision-how-to-find-it/) - This week’s video blog post speaks to Vision. As a leader what is your vision for your organization? Do you share that vision with your team? Kouzes & Posner describe vision as “An ideal and unique image of the future for the common good” (the Leadership Challenge, 2017) with the emphasis on Ideal, Unique image, - [What Do Young Adults See As Characteristics of Admired Leaders?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/young-adults-see-characteristics-admired-leaders/) - In this week’s video blog post I reflect on the reaction that my 4th year faculty of management university students had to a questionnaire on the Characteristics of Admired Leaders (Kouzes & Posner, 2014). In their leadership book, The Leadership Challenge (Wiley, 2017), Kouzes and Posner describe what people look for and admire in their - [Do you know what your core values are?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/know-core-values/) - Kouzes and Posner define values as “moral judgements, responses to others, and commitments to personal and organizational goals that: Help us determine what to do and what not to do. Influence every aspect of our lives. Set the parameters for our decisions we make every day”. We can commit and demonstrate our values by: Scheduling - [Birds Flock Together - Social Styles, Putting It All Together....](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/birds-flock-together-social-styles-putting-together/) - Birds Flock Together - Social Styles, Putting It All Together.... this is the final of 5 videos where I talk about Tracom's Social Style model. A simple yet every effective way to understand, not only how you prefer to communicate and behave, but also how to recognize how others prefer to communicate and behave. This - [Eagles - The Driving Force (Style) of Behaviour](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/eagles-driving-force-style-behaviour/) - Eagles - The Driving Force (Style) of Behaviour - this is the fourth in a series of 5 posts that explore the four behaviour/communications styles in Tracom's Social Style Model. https://youtu.be/QFzOs_Z9zyI _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. *******Are - [Why The Owl - Making decisions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/owl-making-decisions/) - Why The Owl - Making decisions. The Analytical style in Tracom's Social Style behaviour and communications model is often seen to be indecisive. This is seems to be counter to the idea of someone who is driven by information and data. But there lies the problem – they feel they have to be right all - [It's All About Relationships - The Amiable Style](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/relationships-amiable-style/) - It's All About Relationships - The Amiable Style - The second in my series on behaviour and communications styles. How do you recognize your own style and others? The Amiable style is all about relationships, being part of a team. Their bird image is a dove. https://youtu.be/gtJstCZEmEA _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in - [The Peacock - Expressive Social Style](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/peacock-expresive-social-style/) - The Peacock - Expressive Social Style. How do you know you are talking to a Peacock? In this weeks video blog I introduce Tracom's Social Style and focus in on the Expressive Social Style. https://youtu.be/02Yfs80i-g4 _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence - [On Being a Continuous Learner](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/on-being-a-continuous-learner/) - On Being a Continuous Learner - In this weeks video blog I talk about the importance of continuous learning. Being open to new ideas, thoughts learnings. What I mean by being a Learner Practitioner... https://youtu.be/tNOsj7EVPY8 _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence - [Objectives, Strategies & Action Plans](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/objectives-strategies-action-plans/) - Objective, Strategies & Action Plans - what are yours? Do you have an objective (Goal), a strategy to get there and action plan to put the strategy into place? This week I talk about an experience with a client and my students... https://youtu.be/fjx1MU4DGzA _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective - [Sell Sell Sell](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/sell-sell-sell/) - No matter what business you are in, what service you provide, you have to sell yourself.... I reflect on how my sales background has helped me get where I am today and the importance of acquiring sales experience and expertise... https://youtu.be/jG1Ec-jMQcE John Whitehead, coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them - [Being Clear About Your Expectations](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/being-clear-about-your-expectations/) - In this weeks blog post I explore clarity and being clear about your expectations using an example of a recent coaching experience. https://youtu.be/YTe5H7vI_1o _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. *******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is - [Soft Skills - The Platinum Rule](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-platinum-rule/) - This weeks blog discusses and introduces the Platinum Rule. How being aware of others styles and speaking to them improves how we communicate, reduces tension and conflict. https://youtu.be/48MJQM6Drpg _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. *******Are you wondering if having - [Soft Skills - How Do We Communicate?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-communicate/) - Interpersonal communications - In this weeks blog I talk about how interpersonal communications almost always floats to the surface in my coaching work with leaders. _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. *******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development - [Collaborating With The Enemy](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/collaborating-with-the-enemy/) - In this week's blog I explore my take away from Adam Kahane's book "Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don’t Agree with or Like or Trust" and a his keynote presentation at Royal Road's University's Leadership Conference. I explore how it fits with my coaching work with leaders. https://youtu.be/C6RliTIJtsw John Whitehead - [What is it you Control?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-it-you-control/) - What is it that you control, what is it you don't control? In this weeks video blog post I explore what it is you can or can't control and what you do about it? https://youtu.be/vJ6PSjdVkhQ _____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence - [Being Present](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/being-present/) - In this weeks Video Blog post I explore what it means to be Present... some thoughts https://youtu.be/Gt7mtjlPjrw ____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. *******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is right for you? Contact John - [What Coaching is Not](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-coaching-is-not/) - In this weeks blog I discuss what coaching is not.... it is not consulting, mentoring or athletic coaching.... https://youtu.be/K8zjGx9HClM (Apologies for the sound quality as I was experimenting with a different system - it is definitely a work in progress) ____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve - [This week - Video Blogging](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/week-video-blogging/) - This week I try something new - Video blogging... enjoy... https://youtu.be/shvIXK2R-m0 ____________________________________________________________________________________ John Whitehead coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. *******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is right for you? Contact John for a complimentary, exploratory coaching session - [Are Soft Skills Learned or Inborn?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-learned-inborn-2/) - Several years ago I wrote a series on Soft Skills and their development – this is an updated repost of the third post in that series from October 2015. Soft Skills: Nature or Nurture? Are you born with them or are they learned? It’s the old chicken and the egg argument, which comes first? A - [Wining and [Losing] Learning!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/wining-loosing-learning/) - Wining and Losing Learning! This is my 155th blog post. I was going to celebrate my 150th and write about that, but somehow it slipped by me. It’s also my birthday as I write this. It’s not a milestone birthday this year, but every birthday is a reminder that time marches on. A - [Do it – Step out of Your Comfort Zone!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/step-comfort-zone/) - I did something this week that made me step right out of my comfort zone. I presented a live webinar. The idea of doing webinars has held no interest for me in the past, partly because I prefer being in front of an actual crowd of real people, were I can feed off the - [So, What Are These Things Called "Soft Skills"?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/things-called-soft-skills/) - So, What Are These Things Called “Soft Skills”? Soft Skills’ is a catch-all term referring to various behaviors that help people work and socialize well with others. In short, they are the good manners and personality traits needed to get along with others and build positive relationships. https://youtu.be/Tiy2LONr050 To read my series of posts - [De-bugging the Soft Skill of Problem-Solving](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/de-bugging-soft-skill-problem-solving/) - Was Problem-Solving on your list of soft skills? I can’t say that it was originally on mine. Why is that? I think that we tend to think of soft skills as “positive”. Soft skills are there to present an upbeat environment that everything is okay. It is an improvement mechanism. A reference to problem-solving suggests - [Hi-Tech: When Beanbag Chairs and Foosball Tables Aren’t Enough](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/1682-2/) - I read a great post a week or so ago titled “Adaptability: The Key Leadership Trait in the Digital Transformation” by Daniel Newman. Reading it took me back to two blogs I wrote a couple of years ago in my series on Soft Skills development, specifically the ones on adaptability and flexibility. In them I - [Fighting What You Control and What You Don’t Control](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/fighting-control-dont-control/) - Over the past few weeks, in a significant number of discussions with a variety of people, the concept of “What do you control and what don’t you control” has surfaced. It’s a common challenge for many clients in their day-to-day activities. The battle is the same for business owners trying to figure out how to - [Why Teambuilding is an Important Soft Skill in Hi-Tech](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/teambuilding-important-soft-skill-hi-tech/) - "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." - Michael Jordan "There is no strength until there is cooperation" – Irish Proverb John Adair defined “team” as “a group in which the individuals share a common aim and in which the jobs and - [Is Professionalism a Soft Skill? A Hi-Tech Perspective](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/professionalism-soft-skill-hi-tech-perspective/) - “Soft Skills, or the ability to manage soft issues, is a challenge for modern leaders to master” Aly Moreno As I wrote last week, I am in the process of interviewing senior leaders, founders and “C” suite executives in the Hi-Tech sector to get a sense of what challenges they face regarding hiring, working with, - [Research into the Social (Soft) Skills of Hi-Tech Workers](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/research-social-soft-skills-hi-tech-workers/) - Over the past few months I have been shifting my attention to the Hi-Tech industry. I have this sense that there is a need for executive and leadership coaching in this sector, but it really is just a sense right now – unsubstantiated with any facts or data. Those of you who have followed my - [Hi-Tech Hiring: Where do Soft Skills Fit?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/hi-tech-hiring-soft-skills-fit/) - Last week I wrote about how the Hi-Tech industry is feeling the pinch from workers lacking basic soft skills. A recent article published in CIO Magazine (March 27, 2017) states, “Forget experience and hard skills -- tomorrow's best talent will need soft skills, and it's a fact that sourcing and recruiting pros need to be prepared to - [Soft Skills and the Hi-Tech Sector: A Growth Industry](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/1646-2/) - My coaching practice focuses on helping individuals, usually senior and emerging leaders in organizations, to become more effective leaders. In most cases this centres on the so-called Soft Skills, which are those skills required to “help people work and socialize well with others.” In 2015 I wrote a 26-part series on Soft Skills, which has - [Time (Personal) Management as a Soft Skill](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/time-personal-management-soft-skill-2/) - “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” ~ Winston Churchill I believe the very first workshop I attended in my working life was one on time management. That workshop — in the late 70s in Winnipeg — was the start of a lifelong journey of learning. I attended that workshop because of my - [Seeing the Other Side – Influence and Persuasion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/seeing-side-influence-persuation/) - In a recent coaching conversation, a client mentioned that he always feels like he is second guessing his actions. He wondered why he was getting the sense that his messages aren’t getting across. I asked him for an example and he talked about not getting the expected responses or results when he assigns tasks to - [Interpersonal Communications: It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/interpersonal-communications-its-not-what-you-say-its-how-you-say-it/) - “Fluency in non-verbal communication can be as powerful a tool as masterful negotiating techniques or expert salesmanship” – Joe Navarro Have you ever experienced a situation where your partner in conversation is noticeably overbearing? Have you had a supervisor whose way of delivering instructions comes across as overly aggressive? You may have felt intimidated, even - [Using Your Body to Communicate: Five Forms of Body language](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/using-body-communicate-five-forms-body-language/) - Communication is not just about what comes out of our mouths. In fact, what we don’t say -- our body language and use of silence -- often sends a louder message than the words we use or the intonation of our voice. So being aware of, and practicing, our non-verbal communication skills are critical parts - [Interpersonal Skills: Communicating with Power](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/interpersonal-skills-communicating-power/) - This is the third post in a series focusing on the interpersonal skill of communications In the initial post I discussed how communication is the exchange of information between two or more people. Last week’s post focused on the importance of questions, not only to solicit the specific information you seek, but the way in - [Moving from Hearing to Listening: Ask Questions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/moving-hearing-listening-ask-questions/) - In last week’s post I discussed how communication is the exchange of information between two or more people. This week’s post focuses on the importance of questions not only to solicit the specific information you seek, but the way in which well-crafted questions can create the space for an engaging conversation. Asking questions can establish - [Interpersonal Skills: Making the effort to move from hearing to listening](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/interpersonal-skills-making-effort-move-hearing-listening/) - We’ve all met that dynamic, charismatic person who just has a way of connecting with others, is influential and makes a lasting impact. In the next series of posts I will explore how we, too, can be an influencer by improving our communication skills and negotiation techniques. I’ll also provide tips on how to make - [Leadership Defined as an Elephant](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-defined-elephant/) - Leadership can be described in many different ways. Just google “Define Leadership” and see how many results you get. For the course I’ve been teaching at UBCO, “Leadership in Complex Environments”, I asked the students (fourth-year Faculty of Management) to devise their own definition of leadership. In fact, throughout the term, they have navigated through - [The Coaching Profession – A Responsibility to be Professional](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/coaching-profession-responsibility/) - The world of coaching is constantly changing and growing. Although there is still some confusion out there about what coaching is really all about, it is becoming better known and accepted as a process that can be of real help to people. Meaningful, tangible results are being generated every day around the world as individuals - [Coaching From a Global Perspective](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/coaching-global-perspective/) - I am currently in Warsaw, Poland attending the ICF (International Coaching Federation) Global Leaders Forum where over 200 delegates from more than 70 countries have come to learn more about how to promote coaching in our communities. I am honoured to be representing the Okanagan Chapter of ICF, a group of dedicated individuals who - [Change Begins With a Leadership Decision](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/change-begins-leadership-decision/) - Every change begins with a leadership decision. Making the decision to institute change is not always easy. Change can be precipitated by economics, market forces, the environment, or the need to just “mix it up a bit”, to create new energy. Being prepared with focused planning, and creating a solid team of people to work - [The Leader as Coach](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-leader-as-coach/) - This week, as was the case last week, my post is triggered by a comment from one of the students in the class I teach at UBCO. The topic was Flow (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) and its impact on us. Which of our activities give us energy, and which drain us of energy? What dreams and goals - [Are You Prepared For Change?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/can-prepare-change/) - Change is constant and occurs whether we like it or not. Understanding its components on a personal level can help us translate that understanding to the organizational level; an important thing as organizational change typically affects many different areas of that organization. Maybe even more important is the effect that change has on the individuals - [Creating Space for Change: A little bit goes a long way](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/creating-space-change/) - The difference between the best and the worst, between success and failure, between mediocrity and excellence, is often very small — witness how tight the spread between first and last place can be in an Olympic downhill race. A single insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience. That is one reason why I call myself - [Leaders Build Leaders](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leaders-build-leaders/) - Leadership is... Building Leaders Over the past couple of years I have been writing a series of blogs on what it means to be a leader. Last week I asked the question, do we need followers to be a leader? How do we position ourselves as a leader in any given context? In that blog - [Do We Need Followers To Be a Leader?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/need-followers-leader/) - Do we need followers to be a leader? How do we position ourselves as a leader in any given context? Over the past couple of weeks I have been confronted again with the question about what leadership looks like in the context of there being no organization to lead. Can you be a leader without - [So What Stops Them From Succeeding?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/so-what-stops-them-from-succeeding/) - Neville Guant wrote a comment to my last blog post asking the question, “...all your readers and mine ... know it already. So what stops them acting and succeeding?” This is a really good question and I guess one of my answers would be that I’m glad they don’t act, because that’s what keeps me - [What is your niche?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-your-niche/) - One of the advantages of being an independent coach is that I get to connect with other coaches around the world, usually using either LinkedIn or coach-centred sites. I often find that these individuals are floundering a bit. They feel they are lacking a focus; that they are looking, most of all, for clarity. And - [Leadership Is Not What I Thought It Was](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-not-thought/) - "Leadership is not what I thought it was" – this was the comment from one of my students earlier this week as I sat in on one of the small group discussions into which the students break during class time. When I asked her to explain what she meant, she went on to state that - [What’s That Knocking at the Door?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/whats-knocking-door/) - When I started writing this blog in 2014, my initial intent was to write about my journey as I started my own business as an Executive Coach. I had decided on the school I would attend for training, and had already completed some certifications in processes that would be useful. It was a time of - [Networking – Growing Your Business in 2017 and Beyond](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/networking-growing-business-2017-beyond/) - Vince Lombardi, the well known and loved US football coach, is known, among other things, for his famous speech, “What It Takes to Be Number 1”. In a nutshell his central message is commitment; that to be a success in anything is to be committed to it 100%. One of his quotes is this: “Once - [Leadership is a Continuous Journey](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/1452-2/) - Leadership is a continuous journey — we should never stop learning. One of the most effective ways of learning and growing, according to Kouzes and Posner (Learning Leadership, Willey, 2016), is to look for "stretch" assignments; areas for personal development. They suggest that you list several areas in which you would like to grow personally. - [Setting Targets for the New Year?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/setting-targets-new-year/) - It’s that time of year when we start to take a look ahead at what we want to achieve in the coming New Year and at the same time reflect on how far we have come since this time last year. It is fascinating to read the posts that start to appear on LinkedIn and - [Leadership…. A Few Blisters](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-a-few-blisters/) - We usually think of blisters in a negative way. They can hurt, if not looked after can cause infection, and depending where they are, have a frustrating tendency to get in the way. Another way of looking at blisters is that they are the result of hard work, usually after doing something that you've not - [Leadership is … Understanding Our Followers](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-understanding-followers/) - At some point in the workshop I conduct on interpersonal communications skills using the SOCIAL STYLEs model, I invariably make the comment that with the knowledge all of the participants have gained during the session comes great responsibility; that with what they have learned about communication and behaviours comes the responsibility of using that knowledge - [Leadership is... About Who We Are Leading](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-is-about-who-we-are-leading/) - I’m in the midst of getting my materials ready for the Leadership course I will be teaching this coming January at the University of British Columbia. I have also just returned from 10 days in Saudi Arabia where I was facilitating two courses on Leadership and Communications. Both these experiences are providing me with the - [Leadership vs Management – Encourager!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-vs-management-encourager/) - There is a certain quote uttered by one of the US presidential candidates that keeps coming back to me. Perhaps you can guess which one said it. “I am a great leader; I tell people what to do and they do it”. I cringe every time I hear that quote or even think of it. - [Intentions and Expectations](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/intentions-and-expectations/) - Leadership is… making clear what are the Intentions and Expectations. A large percentage of my career has been in sales management and leadership, where I have been responsible for 30 or more direct reports at a time. Sales management, at its core, is about training and developing sales people to be the best they can - [Practicing What We Preach](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/practicing-what-we-preach/) - I’m taking a break this week from my series on leadership because I have been spending a lot of my time preparing to teach two Soft Skills and Leadership Development courses overseas in a couple of weeks. This has been an interesting experience. First, I had to pull together content for a number of subjects - [Listening - Leadership’s Common Denominator](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/listening-leaderships-common-denominator/) - It’s Friday afternoon and I’m just now sitting down to write my weekly blog post. The trouble with getting busy is that it starts to impact my regular schedule. I’m not complaining; this is a good problem to have (especially when it’s a “being paid" busy)! I just completed two days with a client in - [Your Leadership Style and Its Impact](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-style-and-its-impact/) - Stress impacts everyone in one way or another. Some people withdraw while others lash out in frustration and anxiety. As a leader, every decision, action and behavior you make impacts your direct reports, your teams or your organization as a whole. Unfortunately during difficult times you can’t just hide, waiting until things get better or - [Servant Leadership is….](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/servant-leadership-is/) - After I wrote my post on Situational Leadership a couple of weeks ago, one of my readers commented on it, suggesting that I take a look at Servant Leadership. Servant Leadership is more prevalent in some circles than in others. Some may perceive it as pretty radical concept. Even the name of this leadership style - [Leadership is... Three Theories of Leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/three-theories-leadership/) - As you read the literature on leadership, you soon realize that there are many theories on leadership’s defining characteristics and its practices. The following three theories of Leadership are the most prevalent ones. The Great Man Theory Developed in the 19th century, this model was promoted by Scottish philosopher, writer and teacher Thomas Carlyle. Its premise - [Is Influence The Soul of Leadership?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/influence-soul-of-leadership/) - As long as there have been leaders, there have been those who tried to determine how and why they were successful. Although I don’t believe leadership itself has changed, our understanding and learning of it has. I believe it is important to understand why very different leadership styles are effective, why the same leadership techniques - [Leadership is...Reflecting on Self-Awareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-self-awareness/) - Kouzes and Posner stated in their book, The Leadership Challenge (Jossey Bass, 2012), that “Engineers have computers; painters, canvas; musicians, instruments. Leaders have only themselves. The instrument of leadership is the self, and the mastery of the art of leadership comes from mastery of the self. Leadership is self-development… And it starts with taking a - [What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith, Hyperion, 2007.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/marshall-goldsmith/) - The work of author and business coach Marshall Goldsmith, in particular his book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (2007), were key elements among several motivating factors that led me to enroll in the MA Leadership program at Royal Roads in 2010. In the spring of 2009 I attended Goldsmith’s workshop in - [Leadership is... Creating Inclusive, Safe Spaces](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/inclusive-leadership/) - I listened to a story this weekend of a Baptist pastor in Pennsylvania at the beginning of the last century who preached what she called “extravagant grace”. Extravagant grace to her was the concept that all were welcome into the space of worship. There were no “outsiders”. Race, economic status, religious ideology, sexual orientation were - [A Milestone - #100!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/milestones/) - Webster defines a milestone as “An important point in the progress or development of something; a very important event or advance.” This post is an important point for me as it is my 100th continuous weekly blog post. There were some weeks when I wasn’t sure what I would write about, and only two - [The True Definition of Teamwork](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/true-definition-teamwork/) - Last week I attended the 17th International Handbell Symposium in Vancouver. This was a week-long event with about 750 handbell ringers from around the world who came together to learn, perform together, make new friends and renew previous connections. It was an amazing event on so many levels and I had the privilege of facilitating - [Revisited: A Helium Stick experience with Handbell Ringers](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/revisited-helium-stick-experience-handbell-ringers/) - I just finished spending a week at the 17th International Handbell Symposium in Vancouver where the idea of real teamwork was reinforced. I will definitely be writing more about it over the next few weeks, but in the meantime here is the very first post I wrote which was on this very subject …. Enjoy. - [Two Ears and One Mouth.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/listen-two-ears-and-one-mouth/) - While meeting with a new client the other day I noticed that I was listening to a “dump”. This is not that unusual in a first meeting/session. It’s about getting to know one another or more correctly, me as the coach getting to know the client. In first meetings I have found that clients feel - [Leadership is... Building Leaders](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-building-leaders/) - In November 2014 I wrote blogs on leadership and followership. I asked the question, what are leaders without followers? As I re-read both posts this week, I realized that they still hold true and still resonate with me. However over the past several months I have discovered yet another aspect of what it means to - [Treasure Every Moment](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/treasure-every-moment/) - To realize the value of one year: Ask a student who failed his final exam. To realize the value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of one week: Ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of one day: Ask - [What is “Leadership” to you?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-leadership/) - This is a question that I will ask students when I start teaching the Leadership in Complex Environments course at UBC Okanagan this coming academic year. My goal is to have the 4th year Faculty of Management students think about, reflect on, and research this question. In doing so my intention is that they will - [The BIG Three Coaching Topics](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/big-three-coaching-topics/) - Over the past almost two years of coaching, I have identified three specific areas that have arisen from working with my clients. Three coaching areas consistently come to the fore. They are: Interpersonal Communications Skills, Time Management and Values. As I coach clients, it doesn’t matter what their roles, occupations or positions these three consistently - [Believe in yourself](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/believe-in-yourself/) - I just bought Kouzes’ & Posner’s latest book, Learning Leadership (Wiley). I have written in this space previously that they, along with other leadership experts, tell us that leadership is something that can be learned, that we are all born with the ability to lead and that we are already leading in one capacity or - [Our actions are a reflection of who we are.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/our-actions-are-a-reflection-of-who-we-are/) - Over the past week, two clients have asked me why people act the way they do and why some people are jerks. This was, of course, the perspective of those clients. As a coach I can ask them why they think these people are acting the way they are and I can attempt to get - [How We Use Words For Change](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/use-words-change/) - In her book, Conversational Intelligence: How great leaders build trust and get extraordinary results, Judith Glaser notes that 90% of all conversations miss the mark. That is to say, the giver’s intended information didn’t register with the receiver. One reason for this, according to Glaser, is because in many ways the tone or intonation used - [The Words We Use Have Meaning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/words-use-meaning/) - Last week I wrote about how words have power; about how they have both a direct and, more often, an indirect way of impacting our emotions, and how we see the world. I used the example of phrases we often use and the messages those phrases can send, either negative or positive. And it’s not - [The Words We Use Have Power](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/words-use-power/) - Over the past several months I have become more aware of the language, the words, I use in everyday conversations. Not only with other people but also my own inner conversations, the conversations we have with ourselves. I’m sure you know what I mean, it’s that little voice that pops up in your head every - [Leadership at Its Core](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-at-its-core/) - As I continue to reflect on the topic of Leadership I am drawn again to the idea of what Leadership is at its core and how this relates to any and all of us. There is a misconception that to be a leader you need a title such as manager, director or chief-something. This is - [Leading and Learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-and-learning/) - Sasha Libolt, in a recent LinkedIn Pulse post asks the question, “How do you lead when your team is smarter than you?” This is a great question and one that can trip up a lot of managers. In her post Sasha provided three points: admit what you don’t know; know what you have to offer; - [Leadership – Is it Born or Made?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-born-made/) - Last week I wrote about the definition of Leadership, where that definition comes from, and who defines it. Another of the “great” leadership questions over the years has been whether leaders are made, or born. Are some people born with natural leadership traits or is it something we can learn? When I started my personal - [What is leadership, anyway?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-leadership-anyway/) - What is leadership, anyway? What is your definition of leadership? There are as many definitions for “leadership” as there are individuals defining it. Some of the big names in leadership circles have created definitions and theories that have met their own needs and circumstances, which to me is legitimate. Steven Covey, Warren Bennis, Jim Collins, - [What do you Control?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-do-you-control/) - I’m sitting in the waiting room at the car dealership while my vehicle is being serviced. It’s going to be a few hours and since I live outside their catchment area for a courtesy drop off /pick up, I’m held captive. As I sit here I can’t help think of the topics of my past - [Humour](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/humour/) - Last Sunday was Holy Humour Sunday in many Christian denominations. The tradition of designating the first Sunday after Easter as Holy Humour Sunday goes back to the Greeks in the early years of the church. For centuries Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant countries celebrated what was known as “Bright Sunday” with parties, practical jokes, singing, - [Patience](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/1117-2/) - It has been almost 20 months since I made the decision to start out on my own as a Leadership and Personal Development coach. It began with a change in my employment status, as the organization I had worked with for over 19 years decided to make a change. I made the decision to move - [Trust - is it a Soft Skill or ...?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/trust-is-it-a-soft-skill/) - As I completed my series on Soft Skills, a commenter asked me about the place of Trust, since I had not listed it as a specific Soft Skill. I’m not sure about this. The question of Trust seems to be relevant or applicable in a number of different areas, and so as I did with - [The Soft Skill Art of the Critique](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skill-art-critique/) - My last three posts have focused on the ability to learn — an incredibly important soft skill, perhaps even more so than self-awareness, since without it there is no ability to grow or improve. This may be the ultimate “the chicken or the egg” scenario. What comes first: self-awareness or the ability to learn? Last - [Criticism and the Ability to Learn](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/criticism-and-the-ability-to-learn/) - My guess is that not many people like to be criticized. Those who do have most likely learned that listening to criticism is a good way to learn. That doesn’t mean it is easy — our egos often get in the way. We tend to see criticism as a personal attack (and sometimes - [How Do We Become Self-Aware](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-we-become-self-aware/) - Last week I wrote about the Ability to Learn in the context of Soft Skills. My comments about self-awareness solicited a response from one of my readers - thanks Mark - for some powerful questions and your comments. This week I intended to continue my exploration of learning and of criticism but after reading Marks’ - [Soft Skills - Ability to Learn](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skills-ability-to-learn/) - I am a strong believer in continuous learning. If you have been following this blog for some time you will know that I am constantly looking for opportunities to learn. I often tell the story of the time I and some colleagues were in a management meeting when the topic of learning came up. At - [How to Build Self-Confidence: a Soft Skill Work in Progress](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-build-self-confidence-a-soft-skill-work-in-progress/) - Self-confidence, like all Soft Skills can be improved. In fact, a few very simple tactics can help you quickly build your self-confidence. As you become more confident, you will find that you will have experiences that will build your confidence even more. “With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence - [How can Self-confidence drive success?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-can-self-confidence-drive-success/) - In this, the seventeenth in my series of posts exploring soft skills, I want to focus on Self-confidence. How does Self-confidence drive success? One of the problems I have with this particular soft skill is that it can easily become or be viewed as arrogance. There is a fine line between being self-confident and allowing - [How Flexible Are You? The Soft Skill of Adaptability. Part II](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-flexible-are-you-the-soft-skill-of-adaptability-part-ii/) - This is Part Two of last week’s blog on Adaptability and Flexibility. As I stated last week, these are two skills are coming to the forefront of Soft Skills development. How one adapts to change and remains flexible in one’s approach to it is critical to success in today’s world. Changing to Manage Process - [How Flexible Are You? The Soft Skill of Adaptability.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-flexible-are-you-the-soft-skill-of-adaptability/) - I read somewhere recently that Soft Skills have become today’s Hard Skills. This is something to think about as we move further into the information age and away from the industrial age. It’s not that we will do away with hard skills. Trades, factories, mining, the list goes on, will still be around and those - [Is Being Self-Centered That Bad: Caring for Others vs Caring for Self](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-being-self-centered-that-bad-caring-for-others-vs-caring-for-self/) - Has there been a shift in our thinking around caring for others vs. caring for ourselves? I ask this because of the current focus on Self-Awareness. Has the pendulum swung again to a focus on self rather than on others? (Some may ask if the pendulum ever really swung toward the latter!) I remember the - [Keep Calm and... Attitude and Work Ethic](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/keep-calm-and-attitude-and-work-ethic/) - “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” - Albert Einstein You’ve most likely heard the phrase, “Hire for attitude; you can always train and test for skills.” Hard skills for any job can usually be tested. A simple example would be for typing skills –you can measure a candidate’s keyboarding speed by administering - [The Myth of Multitasking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-myth-of-multitasking/) - My focus for this final post on the soft skill of personal management is on multitasking. Multitasking is exactly what it sounds like – trying to do more than one thing at a time. How many times have you heard a colleague proclaim that they are great multitaskers? Many of us claim (or complain about) - [The Power of Flow: A Personal Management Soft Skill](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-power-of-flow-a-personal-management-soft-skill/) - Have you ever had those moments when you are involved in an activity and time just seems to have flown by? Maybe it was sitting at the piano, painting, a challenging chess match, or reading a really good book. Maybe you were playing a sport and everything was working—every pass you made, every shot you - [Soft Skill Management of Time (Dr Who take note)](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/soft-skill-management-of-time-dr-who-take-note/) - I concluded my last post with a promise of some practical applications for use in Time and Personal Management. I also discussed Steven Covey’s concept that personal management is actually the fourth generation of time management. Covey, in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Simon and Shuster, 1989), describes the first generation as one - [Is Communication The Most Important Soft Skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-communication-the-most-important-soft-skill/) - "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” Peter Drucker Is communication the most important soft skill? I believe it is, and it is why the focus of my practice is on interpersonal communications. I have found that even if a client’s initial interest is in exploring another area of their lives, - [Time (Personal) Management as a Soft Skill](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/time-personal-management-as-a-soft-skill/) - “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” ~ Winston Churchill I believe the very first workshop I attended in my working life was one on time management. That workshop — in the late 70s in Winnipeg — was the start of a lifelong journey of learning. I attended that workshop because of - [The Soft Skill of Problem-Solving](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-soft-skill-of-problem-solving/) - Was Problem-Solving on your list of soft skills? I can’t say that it was originally on mine. Why is that? I think that we tend to think of soft skills as “positive”. Soft skills are there to present an upbeat environment that everything is okay. It is an improvement mechanism. A reference to problem-solving suggests - [A Change is as Good as a ......](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/change-good/) - I have made a commitment to myself to try and write a weekly post for linkedIn. See, I have already given myself an out by saying that the commitment is to “try and write”. What I am coming up against is what to write about. My first post came from an experience I had conducting - [The most challenging aspect of leadership?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/challenging-aspect-leadership/) - This week a post arrived through one of my LinkedIn groups with the question: “What are the group’s thoughts about the most challenging aspect of leadership?” I love being confronted with these types of posts because they make me stop and think. I don’t always respond to them but this one I did. I - [Passion:](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/passion/) - I had an interesting on-line conversation this past week with a classmate in a Coursera course I have been taking. If you are not familiar with Coursera it is part of the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) phenomenon that offers hundreds of free university and college courses on-line. The discussion started when a member in - [Teamwork II - Using Soft Skills as a Member of a Team](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/939-2/) - Last week’s post on Team building was from the perspective of the builder, or leader of a team. However, you don’t have to be the leader to be an integral part of the team-building process. Being a member of a team provides its own opportunities for building and sustaining a team culture. Whether you are - [Why Teambuilding is an Important Soft Skill](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-teambuilding-is-an-important-soft-skill/) - "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." - Michael Jordan John Adair defined “team” as “a group in which the individuals share a common aim and in which the jobs and skills of each member fit in and those of others”. Working in a successful team can be rewarding. It can be even - [Listening... The Secret to Communication](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/listening-the-secret-to-communication/) - "Man's inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively."— Carl Rogers My previous two posts in this Soft Skills series have been about verbal and non-verbal communications: its nature of being a “two way street,” the need for both a sender and a receiver in order for the communication to be - [Nonverbal Communication – the Ultimate Soft Skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/nonverbal-communication-the-ultimate-soft-skill/) - Interpersonal communication is a huge part of leadership. The ability to get your message across, whether it’s a simple instruction or a complex expectation, is very important. Some believe that being a good leader means being able to get things done in the quickest, most efficient way; less concerned with the method, as with the - [Are Soft Skills Learned or Inborn?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/are-soft-skills-learned-or-inborn/) - This is the third in a series of posts exploring Soft Skills and why they are so important to your success in any endeavour. Soft Skills: Nature or Nuture? Are you born with them or are they learned? It’s the old chicken and the egg argument, which comes first? A quick review of the discussion - [Is Professionalism a Soft Skill?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/is-professionalism-a-soft-skill/) - This is the second in a series of posts exploring Soft Skills and why they are so important to your success in any endeavour. “Soft Skills, or the ability to manage soft issues, is a challenge for modern leaders to master” Aly Moreno I received a comment from one of my - [So, What Are These Things Called “Soft Skills”?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/so-what-are-these-things-called-soft-skills/) - ‘Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business. Large stores, gilt signs, flaming advertisements, will all prove unavailing if you or your employees treat your patrons abruptly. The truth is, the more kind and liberal a man is, the more generous will be the patronage bestowed upon him.” ~ P. T. Barnum - [Networking 102](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/networking-102/) - “Giving connects two people, the giver and the receiver, and this connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging.” ~ Deepak Chopra Last week I wrote about some lessons I have learned from attending networking events. I titled that post “Networking 101”. This week I want to expand on that theme. Networking - [Networking 101](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/networking-101/) - A typical networking interaction may go like this: “What do you do?” or “Tell me about your business.” What is your response? Are you prepared to answer in a way that will engage the asker, perhaps even to the point of persuading them to meet with you and ultimately purchase your product or service? That’s - [What is Trust in the Coaching Relationship?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-is-trust-in-the-coaching-relationship/) - One of the great privileges of being a coach is the opportunity to listen to and get to know other people on a very intimate level. This requires a significant amount of trust on the part of both the coach and the client. This is obvious for the client, as most of the discussion revolves - [Blogging for that AHA moment…](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/blogging-for-that-aha-moment/) - This post marks one year since I made the personal commitment to write a weekly blog – and I have done it! It is really great feeling to know that something I decided to do, despite little experience, has been accomplished. To boot, I never missed a week (even during vacation, which I wrote about - [Why do any of us do what we do for a living?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-do-any-of-us-do-what-we-do-for-a-living/) - Why do any of us do what we do for a living? Is it because we just “fell into it;” circumstance left us here doing what we do? Or was it something we knew we wanted at an early age, something we planned and trained for? Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut, knew from an early - [On Vacation](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/on-vacation/) - What do you do when you are going to be away for a couple of weeks and you have made a commitment to yourself that you will produce a weekly blog? Well you sit down and write three in a row and have them ready to go at the push of a button. Seems easy - [What Would It Be If You Did Know?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-would-it-be-if-you-did-know/) - What is your challenge today? This week? Next month? How can you resolve it? By when? What do you need to accomplish this? These were several questions I wrote down in the final session of the CEC program I was completing a couple of weeks ago. These are really good questions and are ones that - [Making a list and checking it twice…](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/making-a-list-and-checking-it-twice/) - I was coaching an individual recently who was trying to figure out how to use her time more wisely, to stop procrastinating and get a clear vision of what she needed to accomplish on a given day. She had tried creating lists, setting each day’s goals, etc., but nothing had clicked yet. Through the coaching - [Watershed Moments](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/watershed-moments/) - This week was a watershed for me as I completed the Certified Executive Coach (CEC) program. I am now a qualified executive coach. The certification program was important to me as I am a strong believer in certification of competencies as a way professionalizing and providing credibility to a profession. If you want to - [What’s Your Story and Why Is It So important?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/whats-your-story-and-why-is-it-so-important/) - Storytelling is fundamental to the human search for meaning” – Mary Catherine Bateson There are some great stories floating around social media. Everyday news pop up, along with the recycled. This past week it was the Crime Stoppers video from Louisiana that went viral as a solemn State Trooper explained exactly what he was going - [Visioning What Might Be](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/visioning-what-might-be/) - This past week I pulled out a copy of a personal vision statement that I wrote as part of my Master’s program in 2010. The document describes what I expected to be doing in 2015. Little did I know back then how much change would actually have occurred! But I found it interesting to see - [Why Coaches Need Coaches](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/why-coaches-need-coaches/) - It seems like only yesterday that I began my journey toward certification as a coach. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of having a coach. That might seem rather obvious — wouldn’t I be certain that coaching was an important process if I was entering the field? You would think - [Collaborating towards an Impossible Future.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/collaborating-towards-an-impossible-future/) - “Trust is at the heart of collaboration” Kouzes & Posner After a recent audited coaching session (a third party listens in on the conversation with permission from all parties to give feedback) the auditor asked me what I thought was my signature presence as a coach. I responded that I thought it was my active - [Leadership = Accountability](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-accountability/) - Some favorite sayings of small children are: “It’s not my fault...they made me do it...I forgot.” Some favorite sayings of small adults are: “It’s not my job...No one told me...It couldn’t be helped.” Dan Zadra said, “True freedom begins and ends with personal accountability.” If this is true for us as individuals, it is - [A Leader and A Follower Walked Into a Bar...  Not quite](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/a-leader-and-a-follower-walked-into-a-bar-not-quite/) - Sometime ago I came across a list of one-liners. I’m not even sure anymore where I found them. They are sayings that occasionally crop up in meetings or other group settings. Some of these will pop into my mind when I need them in a presentation or workshop. As someone involved in Leadership Development, I see - [Developing Future Leaders](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/developing-future-leaders/) - I had the privilege of spending three days this past week with Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner along with 250 other leadership professionals at the Leadership Challenge Forum in San Francisco. Three days of workshops, case studies and speakers, including leadership guru Ed Schein. I also had the privilege of presenting our Teambuilding with a - [The How of Leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/the-how-of-leadership/) - There is no easy answer to the question, “How do I become a great leader?” Just visit your local bookstore or library and take a look at all the books written on the subject. Don’t even try Googling “leadership.” Even doing a search for “leadership groups” on LinkedIn gives you 27,430 results. On one such - [Do you have the Soft Skills Required to be Successful?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/do-you-have-the-soft-skills-required-to-be-successful/) - Why is it that soft skills seem to have become the newest and latest “big” thing? Weren’t they always important and necessary? However, I’m noticing more and more articles and posts focused on the need to increase soft skill training and development, which in turn suggests at least the perception of a shortage of these - [How to Become a Great Leader.... maybe](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-become-a-great-leader-maybe/) - Mark M-G on LinkedIn started an interesting discussion this past week with this question: “The large numbers of articles on leadership on LinkedIn and elsewhere will not produce major improvements in leadership skills. They focus almost exclusively on WHAT behaviors to change to become a better leader, not HOW to change those behaviors. And changing - [Jumping From Loop to Loop](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/jumping-from-loop-to-loop/) - What is the right answer? How do we know we have the answer to a challenge we face? Do we stop and look to see what’s next? Roger von Oech in his 1983 book, A Whack On The Side Of the Head, talks about releasing those mental “locks” that keep us from being innovative; from - [A Different Kind of Creation Story](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/a-different-kind-of-creation-story/) - “There is no competition, only creation” Dan Zaleski I heard this quote the other night at a leadership event I was attending. For some reason I immediately grabbed a pen and quickly wrote it down. I can’t tell you what was said before it or for some time after because I was too enthralled by - [Your leadership style and its impact](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/your-leadership-style-and-its-impact/) - Stress impacts everyone in one way or another. Some people withdraw while others lash out in frustration and anxiety. As a leader, every decision, action and behavior you make impacts your direct reports, your teams or your organization as a whole. Unfortunately during difficult times you can’t just hide, waiting until things get better or - [Four Key Components of Resiliency](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/four-key-components-resiliency/) - originally posted by Sierra Charter at http://www.tracomcorp.com/blog “If there’s a word people in the top ranks of human capital are buzzing about these days, it’s resilience. I get asked all the time what it means—followed by questions about how to get more of it” writes Jan Bruce in the Forbes article “How To Know If You’re Truly - [Do your direct reports tell you what they think, or what they think you want to hear?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/do-your-direct-reports-to-tell-you-what-they-think-or-what-they-think-you-want-to-hear/) - How do you create an environment where your direct reports feel comfortable enough to tell you what they think rather than what they think you want to hear? Start by building trust. Trust and respect — why are these so important in the working relationship? Honesty and integrity are basically the same thing – both - [Have you done your own groundwork – dug deeper?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/have-you-done-your-own-groundwork-dug-deeper/) - I am now more than halfway through the Executive Coaching course at Royal Roads University. It has been a fascinating journey so far. We have been asked to delve deep into our personal stories, vision and mission. Going through a personal groundwork process has been a very interesting, sometimes daunting, but ultimately illuminating and - [How Do Your Values Equate to Your Credibility?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-do-your-values-equate-to-your-credibility/) - How Do Your Values Equate to Your Credibility? Over the years I have done several exercises both to determine and to measure my values. Our values are from what and where we operate. I have found that to be an effective leader I need to be clear about what my guiding principles are, - [How to Give and Receive Feedback:](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-give-and-receive-feedback/) - We are all great at giving feedback, either positive or negative —it’s when we are receiving it that we pay more attention. When we think of feedback we often think of it in the negative form (criticism), because most of us get more negative feedback than we get do positive. And if we are really - [A Helium Stick experience with Handbell Ringers](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/helium-stick-experience-handbell-ringers/) - I had a very interesting experience recently while facilitating the Helium Stick activity with a Handbell Choir. The choir had come together for a day long, start-of-season retreat. To start off the day I was asked to have the choir participate in the Helium Stick exercise. For those of you who may not be - [How To Become Who You Want To Be](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/how-to-become-who-you-want-to-be/) - How can we progress from knowing what kind of person we want to be, to actually becoming that kind of person? I am asked that question a lot in my coaching practice. It comes from people’s perception that they are not satisfied with their current reality, and a need to be better, or the - [10 Tips to Improve Your Listening Skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/10-tips-to-improve-your-listening-skills/) - Decide to listen! At the start of every business discussion, make the commitment to listen actively to the other person. A good listener is highly valued. Focus on what the speaker is saying, and don't use that time to think of what your response will be. Listen with respect. Even if you don't like the - [Did I hear what you said correctly?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/did-i-hear-what-you-said-correctly/) - In his book Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others, James Flaherty (2010) stated that “language forms the basis for observation and it is, in fact, not possible to make any observation outside language” (p. 25). So how is language defined in this context? Flaherty’s contention is that “language is an orientation to our common world” (p. - [“Eureka – that’s it!!” - When was your last ‘AHA’ moment, and what did you do about it?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/eureka-thats-it-when-was-your-last-aha-moment-and-what-did-you-do-about-it/) - Have you ever had one of the moments where you shout “YES!! That’s it!!” They may come fairly often or only infrequently. These significant ‘AHA’ moments can be transforming moments that turn your world upside down, or they can be smaller moments of gentle realization. I have had several of these moments in recent years - [Building Personal Capacity – Finding the Blind Spots](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/building-personal-capacity-finding-the-blind-spots/) - The past several weeks have been both challenging and inspiring; a real learning experience. I am currently enrolled in the Certified Executive Coaching program at Royal Roads University. One exercise we have been put through is designed to help us become more self-aware, focusing on ‘Personal Mastery’ (Senge, 2006, Cashman, 2008). After completing a personal - [The core of leadership is self-awareness - being who you are.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/core-leadership-self-awareness/) - The work of author and business coach Marshall Goldsmith, in particular his book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (2007) has been a significant influence in me becoming self-aware. In the spring of 2009 I attended Goldsmith’s workshop in Boston after reading his book and being intrigued by the concepts he espoused, - [Sorry, I just assumed.... Making assumptions – not listening to understand,](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/sorry-just-assumed-making-assumptions-not-listening-understand/) - One of the biggest mistakes we can make – and believe me, I do this all the time – is making assumptions when talking to someone. You are going along quite nicely in a conversation, listening intently and nodding in agreement, but all along making assumptions about the person’s the point or intention. We are - [Did this title make you click on the link to read the post?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/title-make-click-link-read-post/) - I followed a thread last week that talked about how writers could make sure their posts were read; how to get them read enough to start a ripple of others connecting and reading. After reading that post and others of the same ilk, to me, it still seems to take as much luck as anything - [Listen to Me!](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/listen/) - I teach and coach interpersonal communication skills. I am amazed by the number of posts, articles, blogs that exist on how to improve listening skills. I’m not sure if technology is the problem—heads down, fixated on smartphones, earphones plugged into music devices—or if it goes back to shows like Sesame Street that so many of - [A Communications Fable - Zig Ziglar on Winning Sides](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/communications-fable-zig-ziglar-winning-sides/) - One of my favourite Ziglar stories is about a young boy who was confronted by three bullies. Quickly the little guy drew a line on the ground, stepped back several feet, looked the biggest bully in the eye and said, “Now, you just step over that line.” Confidently, the big bully stepped over the line, - [For 2015, First, Know Yourself...](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/2015-first-know/) - Have you had to deal with people who just seem unable to make up their mind— those who need to have as much information as possible before they are able to make a decision? There is a descriptor that is often used for those individuals: they have “paralysis by analysis”. In the most extreme cases - [A Lesson from Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield - Leading the Way](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/lesson-canadian-astronaut-chris-hadfield-leading-way/) - One of the better books ostensibly about leadership I have read this year is Chris Hadfield’s An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth (Random House, 2013). I didn’t start in on it with the expectation that it would enhance my own leadership, but as I often do during “down times,” I picked it up just - [Why Communications Matters](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/communications-matters/) - Interpersonal communications is a huge part of leadership. Being able to get your message across, whether it’s a simple instruction or it’s a more complex expectation, it is very important. Some believe that being a good leader means having to get things done in the quickest most efficient way, not concerned with the how, so - [Are Your Values Who You Are Related To? ](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/values-related/) - There is a myriad of books, articles and posts about the meaning of leadership. If you were to ask a group of individuals to define leadership, I know you would get a mixture of definitions. I recently asked a group this very question and the answers were all over the map. Why is this? Why - [What is a Leader Without Followers? Part II / The Dawning of a New Perspective....](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leader-without-followers-part-ii-dawning-new-perspective/) - Two weeks ago I posted about how prior to August 2014, my leadership role was pretty straight forward. I had worked out the meaning of leadership in the position I held. I had returned to school to figure it out, and had taken The Leadership Challenge workshop and facilitator’s training to cement my thinking. Then - [What I know I didn’t Learn in Kindergarten](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/know-didnt-learn-kindergarten/) - I’ve been reflecting on my personal experience in education lately. Over the course of my adult life I have taken numerous courses that have interested and appealed to me, and overall I have done very well in them. This was not always the case. I struggled in the public school system, barely passing high school - [A Personal Leadership Challenge – What is a leader without followers?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/personal-leadership-challenge-leader-without-followers/) - Prior to August 2014, my leadership role was pretty straight forward. I had worked out the meaning of leadership in the position I held. I had returned to school to figure it out, and had taken The Leadership Challenge workshop and facilitator’s training to cement my thinking. Then things changed. I went from having the - [Who, me? A Leader?](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leader/) - Leaders can be found anywhere. Leadership is not necessarily a title but a way of being. You can be a leader without even realizing it. In fact I have come across many people who are leaders in what they do, but have no realization of what that means or the impact they are having. Leaders - [The Happiness Factor ](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/happiness-factor/) - Positive Psychology was the topic of a recent article I was reading. There seems to be more and more being written about this subject over the past year or two. A lot of it has come from advances in Neuroscience in which researchers have been able to use imaging equipment to “watch” the brain while - [Judging a Book by its Cover](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/judging-book-cover/) - Guess what? We do judge a book by its cover. It is our natural first instinct and its imbedded deep within our basic, reptilian brain. It’s that “Fight or Flight” mechanism that allowed our ancient ancestors to survive the world they lived in. Our more modern day selves though, have been taught not to judge - [Leadership & Acts of God](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/leadership-acts-god/) - This past week I attended the Art of Leadership conference in Vancouver. Among the five speakers was Rudy Giuliani, mayor of New York City during the 9/11 attacks, and Time’s 2001 Person of the year. Early in his speech he said something that resonated with me. He told the story of when he was starting - [Lessons Learnt](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/lessons-learnt/) - In my previous post I recounted how I learned some important lessons from my personal search into leadership. I talked about how a number of years ago, I had become the “golden boy” within my organization. Everything was working for me, the region I was managing was the number one region three years in a ## Pages - [Home](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/) - Executive Coach ~ Leadership Coach Leadership & Personal Development and Team-Building We coach Leaders on increasing efficiency and productivity through improved interpersonal communications and behaviours How many times have you said “ABC” to someone, only to find they have heard “XYZ”? Do you have a co-worker who needs to know every detail, cross every - [Clients & Testimonials](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/clients-testimonials/) - Clients: Appraisal Institute of Canada Angus Reid Institute High Roller Games Central Okanagan Food Bank Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) Millennium Solutions Training Center (Dubai, UAE) Cabin Forestry Chartered Professionals in Human Resources BC & YK Canadian Ski Patrol Federated Co-operatives Limited Seaspan Okanagan College Refinery Leadership Partners Venture Training Canadian Mental Health Assoc. Vernon & - [Hogan Assessments](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/hogan-assessments/) - Founded in 1987 by Drs. Joyce and Robert Hogan, Hogan leads the world in personality assessment and leadership development. With products and services in 56 countries and 47 languages, what began as a small startup has evolved into the industry leader serving more than half of the Fortune 500. It is a daunting task to - [Events](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/events/) - Upcoming Workshops: In Search of a Happier Workplace How understanding SOCIAL STYLE™ can improve productivity and reduce workplace stress When: Email for details Where: Cost: Register early - Bonus: - just ask what it is.... For additional information, please contact us, or leave a comment below - thanks! - [What Are These Things Called Soft Skills - Book](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-are-these-things-called-soft-skills-book/) - Thank you for signing up to my Blog! Download the copy of your free Ebook here What Are These Things Called Soft Skills_Whitehead,J_20200724 - [Videos](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/videos/) - https://youtu.be/aTLcg71wBEQ I am interviewd by Tammy Dunnett for the Leadership Communications Expo The "Birds" from my "In Search of a Happier Workplace" Workshop (recorded in 2020) Visit my YouTube channel and subscribe at: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnWhitehead_Executive_Coach/videos - [BLOG](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/blog-2/) - [MIndset - Resiliency](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/social-styles/mindset-resiliency/) - Resiliency - Mindset. The Importance of Resiliency Mental and emotional resiliency is a hallmark trait of the world’s most successful people, no matter their career or job role. Studies show that individuals with a high degree of resiliency are better equipped to tackle any challenge that comes their way with optimism and poise. Resilient individuals bounce - [SOCIAL STYLE WORKSHOPS](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/social-styles/social-styles-2/social-style-model/) - Interpersonal communications - We're Judged on Our Behaviors Early in life, we develop behavioral preferences and patterns which we find most comfortable. These patterns are partly the result of genetics and partly learned in our early years. Some people speak quickly and are interested in taking action, for example, while others speak more slowly and - [The Leadership Challenge](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/leadership-challenge/) - Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI)® Assessments: A Leader’s First Step Toward Achieving the Extraordinary Over three million people have taken their first steps towards their personal leadership best with the Leadership Practices Inventory® (LPI®), a 360-degree assessment tool by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Based on The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® model, the - [Workshops & Courses](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/workshops-courses/) - John K Whitehead & Associates is experienced in facilitating a varied menu of workshops and courses: Workshops/Courses– from 1 hour to half & full day to Multi day. Customized for the client or occasion: “Ten Soft Skills you need” “Communication Strategies” “Critical Thinking” “Change Management” "DEIJ"- "How to become an Inclusive Leader" “Interpersonal Skills” - [About Us](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/executive-coach-about-us/) - John K Whitehead & Associates, Executive Coach, provides Leadership and Personal Development Coaching John K. Whitehead & Associates was formed in 2014 to provide coaching to both individuals and organizations who are interested in exploring how to improve the way they communicate, understand and work with each other. 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Please try again or contact site support. - [Payment Confirmation](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/payment-confirmation/) - [simpay_payment_receipt] - [Contact Us](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/contact/) - John K. Whitehead & Associates West Kelowna, BC, Canada P: 250.707.1381 M: 250.826.6088 email: john@johnkwhitehead.ca For a free coaching session, interest in a workshop... or to just say hi! - send us a message: john@johnkwhitehead.ca Find out if coaching is right for you! - [What We Do](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/) - Assists individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by improving their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency. To accomplish this we use: one-on-one coaching workshops team building activities We have Five areas of expertise: Click on each subject to learn more: We are a Certified Executive Coach with Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder - [SOCIAL STYLE](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/social-styles/social-styles-2/) - SOCIAL STYLE® SOCIAL STYLE is the world’s leading Behavioral Style model. It has been used by thousands of organizations to improve leadership performance and sales results.Each of the four Styles displays positive and negative characteristics when working with others, and research shows that people of any SOCIAL STYLE can be successful in any profession. If - [Book Appointment](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/appointment-booking/) - Use my online scheduling page by vCita to schedule an appointment with me: Use my online scheduling page by vCita to schedule an appointment with me: Online Scheduling with John K Whitehead & Associates - [Team-Building](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/team-building/) - Presents a unique Team-Building experience using Handbells. If you looking for something different to kick off a meeting or want to have an event to kick-start a project, consider this unique activity. Handbells ringing is unlike any other activity, it takes attention, communication and co-ordination. The Handbell Team Building Exercise takes participants out of - [Behavioral EQ](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/social-styles/behavioral-eq/) - Emotional Intelligence - Behavioral EQ Our brain is highly complex, and the emotional side vastly outweighs the rational side. In essence, the emotional brain controls us, while the rational brain is too often left to contemplate our actions in retrospect.Our emotions tend to be negative more often than positive. We fear the worst, and we - [Social Intelligence (SOCIAL STYLE)](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/social-styles/) - "We’re judged on our behaviors." What is Social Intelligence? Social Intelligence refers to the ability to understand and manage our Behavioral Style, Mindset and Emotional Intelligence to optimize interpersonal relationships. It deals with unconscious biases that we may not yet understand, but that can be learned and controlled. At its heart, Social Intelligence is - [Video Case Study: David – Blogging to Success](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/clients-testimonials/video-case-study-david-blogging-success/) - Video Case Study: David – Blogging to Success David had been a coach for just over three years when we first connected, and like many coaches, his practice was experiencing many ups and downs and was not well focused. As David puts it, “It was kind of figuring out the next step for my business”. - [Video Case Study: Terryl – A Shift In Behaviour Creates Leadership.](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/clients-testimonials/video-case-study-terryl-shift-behaviour-creates-leadership/) - Video Case Study: Terryl – A Shift In Behaviour Creates Leadership. Terryl is a senior leader for a rural utilities co-op. He has 19 direct reports made up of managers, journeyman linemen, mechanics and engineers. His operation is responsible for the maintenance and operations of 12,000 miles of overhead electrical powerlines and 2500 miles of - [Teri – Respect | Sales | Confidence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/clients-testimonials/teri-respect-sales-confidence/) - Teri – Respect | Sales | Confidence When I first began working with Teri she was a sales representative in the security industry. One of her challenges was with assertiveness: “I had trouble with asserting myself when I had an idea, an opinion, a thought, even a suggestion”. Teri also recognized that she often let - [Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/marshall-goldsmith-stakeholder-centered-coaching/) - Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching is the world’s premier executive coaching company with the largest network of top coaches all certified in the same coaching process. Ranked as the World’s #1 Leadership Thinker by Harvard Business Review and Thinkers 50, Marshall Goldsmith’s coaching process has been used by more than 150 of the Fortune - [One-on-One Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/one-one-coaching/) - John K. Whitehead & Associates provides coaching on Leadership and Personal Development. WHAT IS COACHING? What is Coaching? from ICF Headquarters on Vimeo. "Coaching is a development partnership, based on the shared responsibility between a coach and an individual. It is not a simple hand-off or transfer of knowledge, but a relationship focused on - [Behaviour EQ Training](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/what-we-do/social-styles/behavioral-eq/behaviour-eq-training/) - Emotional Intelligence Courses: Developing Behavioral EQ is a full-day course which provides an in-depth review of elements of Emotional Intelligence and strategies to improve performance. Participants receive detailed lessons and exercises to apply Emotional Intelligence in workplace situations. The course includes the Behavioral EQ Multi-Rater Profile. Facilitating this course requires certification. You may ## Categories - [Leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/leadership/) - [team building](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/team-building/) - [teams](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/teams/) - [communication](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/communication/) - [handbell](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/handbell/) - [Change](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/change/) - [Inter-personal communications](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/inter-personal-communications-2/) - [Lessons learned](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/lessons-learned/) - [Passion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/passion/) - [SOCIAL STYLE](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/social-style/) - [Positive Psychology](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/positive-psychology-2/) - [Followers](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/followers/) - [Learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/learning/) - [Values](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/values/) - [Beliefs](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/beliefs/) - [Success](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/success/) - [Making Assumptions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/making-assumptions/) - [Self-Awareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/self-awareness/) - [Listening](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/listening/) - [Trust](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/trust/) - [Interpersonal Communications](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/interpersonal-communications/) - [Leadership Traits](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/leadership-traits/) - [Stress](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/stress/) - [Decision Making](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/decision-making/) - [Soft Skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/soft-skills/) - [education](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/education/) - [Leadership Development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/leadership-development/) - [Accountability](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/accountability/) - [Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/coaching/) - [Vision](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/vision/) - [Goal setting](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/goal-setting/) - [Self-Discipline](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/self-discipline/) - [Career Development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/career-development/) - [personal development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/personal-development/) - [Professional](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/professional/) - [Problem-Solving](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/problem-solving/) - [Time Management](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/time-management/) - [Organizational Development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/organizational-development/) - [Hi -Tech](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/hi-tech/) - [Executive Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/executive-coaching/) - [Self-Confidence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/self-confidence/) - [Networking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/networking/) - [Teamwork](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/teamwork/) - [Leadership Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/leadership-coaching/) - [Self-Care](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/self-care/) - [Psycological safety](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/psycological-safety/) - [Diversity Equity & Inclusioin](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/diversity-equity-inclusioin/) - [Diversity Equity & Inclusion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/diversity-equity-inclusion/) - [Appreciative Inquiry](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/appreciative-inquiry/) - [Mentoring](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/category/mentoring/) ## Tags - [handbells](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/handbells/) - [inter-personal communications](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/inter-personal-communications/) - [Helium Stick](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/helium-stick/) - [William Bridges](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/william-bridges/) - [change](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/change-2/) - [Kouzes & Posner](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/kouzes-posner/) - [The Leadership Challenge](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/the-leadership-challenge/) - [Marshal Goldsmith](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/marshal-goldsmith/) - [Giuliani](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/giuliani/) - [Kouzes](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/kouzes/) - [Posner](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/posner/) - [Collins](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/collins/) - [Business cycles](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/business-cycles/) - [Kevin Cashman](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/kevin-cashman/) - [presence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/presence/) - [listening](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/listening/) - [time](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/time/) - [Flow](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/flow/) - [Happiness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/happiness/) - [Niche](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/niche/) - [Chade-Meng Tan](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/chade-meng-tan/) - [Tony Hsieh](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/tony-hsieh/) - [Goleman](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/goleman/) - [Social Intelligence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/social-intelligence/) - [Tracom](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/tracom/) - [Personal judgement](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/personal-judgement/) - [Fight or Flight](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/fight-or-flight/) - [Trust](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/trust/) - [positive psychology](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/positive-psychology/) - [brain](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/brain/) - [neuroscience](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/neuroscience/) - [Chris Hatfield](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/chris-hatfield/) - [Peter Drucker](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/peter-drucker/) - [Unassuming leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/unassuming-leadership/) - [learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/learning-2/) - [school](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/school/) - [classroom](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/classroom/) - [Adult Learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/adult-learningh/) - [Command and Control Management style](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/command-and-control-management-style/) - [People Centered management style](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/people-centered-management-style/) - [Commitement Model Management Style](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/commitement-model-management-style/) - [Chris Hadfield](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/chris-hadfield/) - [Marshall Goldsmith](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/marshall-goldsmith/) - [Compitition](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/compitition/) - [Analyticals](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/analyticals/) - [Expressives](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/expressives/) - [Understanding yourself](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/understanding-yourself/) - [Zig Ziglar](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/zig-ziglar/) - [Bully](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/bully/) - [Successful leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/successful-leadership/) - [Gallup](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/gallup/) - [Resilency](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/resilency/) - [coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/coaching/) - [blogs](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/blogs/) - [making assumptions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/making-assumptions/) - [Steven Covey](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/steven-covey/) - [self-awareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/self-awareness/) - [Peter Senge](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/peter-senge/) - [Blind Spots](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/blind-spots/) - [transformational change](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/transformational-change/) - [credibility](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/credibility/) - [James Flaherty](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/james-flaherty/) - [feedback](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/feedback/) - [Leadership Traits](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-traits/) - [Stress](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/stress/) - [Success](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/success/) - [competitive strategy](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/competitive-strategy/) - [Argyris](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/argyris/) - [Hargrove](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/hargrove/) - [Decision Making](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/decision-making/) - [Oech](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/oech/) - [Behaviour](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/behaviour/) - [Soft Skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/soft-skills/) - [Leadership Development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-development/) - [Accountability](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/accountability/) - [Dan Zadra](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/dan-zadra/) - [Doug Savage](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/doug-savage/) - [Emotional Intelligence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/emotional-intelligence/) - [Executive Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/executive-coaching/) - [Leadership Coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-coaching/) - [Goal Setting](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/goal-setting/) - [Visioning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/visioning/) - [One Page Business Plan](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/one-page-business-plan/) - [Royal Roads University](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/royal-roads-university/) - [planning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/planning/) - [self-discipline](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/self-discipline/) - [Leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership/) - [team building](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/team-building/) - [teams](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/teams/) - [communication](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/communication/) - [Passion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/passion/) - [SOCIAL STYLE](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/social-style/) - [Followers](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/followers/) - [Values](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/values/) - [Beliefs](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/beliefs/) - [vacation](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/vacation/) - [Career Development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/career-development/) - [James Cameron](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/james-cameron/) - [Personal development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/personal-development/) - [Vince Malinaro](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/vince-malinaro/) - [Networking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/networking/) - [professionalism](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/professionalism/) - [Body Language](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/body-language/) - [non-verbal communications](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/non-verbal-communications/) - [Problem-Solving](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/problem-solving/) - [Time Management](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/time-management/) - [Multi-tasking](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/multi-tasking/) - [Attitude](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/attitude/) - [Work Ethic](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/work-ethic/) - [adaptability](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/adaptability/) - [flexibilty](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/flexibilty/) - [self-Confidence](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/self-confidence/) - [leadership develop](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-develop/) - [Lencioni](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/lencioni/) - [patience](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/patience/) - [Humour](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/humour/) - [Ronnie Corbett](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/ronnie-corbett/) - [leaders](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leaders/) - [Amanda](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/amanda/) - [Lindhout](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/lindhout/) - [interpersonal communications](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/interpersonal-communications/) - [Bolmans & Deal](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/bolmans-deal/) - [John Maxwell](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/john-maxwell/) - [mar](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/mar/) - [Daniel Goldman](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/daniel-goldman/) - [James MacGregor Burns](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/james-macgregor-burns/) - [The Leadership C](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/the-leadership-c/) - [Servant Leadership](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/servant-leadership/) - [Robert Greenleaf](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/robert-greenleaf/) - [Warren Bennis](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/warren-bennis/) - [Platinum Rule](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/platinum-rule/) - [personal growth](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/personal-growth/) - [Imposter syndrome](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/imposter-syndrome/) - [Marketing](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/marketing/) - [Change management](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/change-management/) - [organizational development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/organizational-development/) - [ICF](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/icf/) - [leadership developement](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-developement/) - [Hi-Tech](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/hi-tech/) - [persoanl develeopment](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/persoanl-develeopment/) - [exective coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/exective-coaching/) - [Personal developement](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/personal-developement/) - [Comfort zone](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/comfort-zone/) - [collaboration](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/collaboration/) - [Sales Skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/sales-skills/) - [objectives](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/objectives/) - [strategies](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/strategies/) - [action plans](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/action-plans/) - [Smart Goals](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/smart-goals/) - [Core Values](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/core-values/) - [Vision](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/vision/) - [Procrastination](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/procrastination/) - [FeedForward](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/feedforward/) - [persoanl development](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/persoanl-development/) - [communications](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/communications/) - [Video Case Study](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/video-case-study/) - [leadership developmenet](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-developmenet/) - [Simon Sinek](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/simon-sinek/) - [@](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/205/) - [Happy New Year](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/happy-new-year/) - [soft s](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/soft-s/) - [adap](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/adap/) - [flexib](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/flexib/) - [criticism](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/criticism/) - [communication skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/communication-skills/) - [exectutive coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/exectutive-coaching/) - [leadership developmenet coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-developmenet-coaching/) - [leadership development coaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadership-development-coaching/) - [selfawareness](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/selfawareness/) - [Seasons Greetings](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/seasons-greetings/) - [COVID19](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/covid19/) - [Self-Care](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/self-care/) - [COVID 19](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/covid-19/) - [Transitions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/transitions/) - [Racism](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/racism/) - [professional](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/professional/) - [negativity](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/negativity/) - [Listening Skills](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/listening-skills/) - [Thank you](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/thank-you/) - [Purpose](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/purpose/) - [Challenge the Process](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/challenge-the-process/) - [Recognition](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/recognition/) - [rewards](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/rewards/) - [Resliency](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/resliency/) - [GROW model](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/grow-model/) - [continuously Learning](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/continuously-learning/) - [Diversity](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/diversity/) - [Equity & Inclusion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/equity-inclusion/) - [expectations](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/expectations/) - [Intentions](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/intentions/) - [psychological safety](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/psychological-safety/) - [DEI](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/dei/) - [Quiet Quitting](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/quiet-quitting/) - [Diversity Equity & Inclusion](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/diversity-equity-inclusion/) - [EQ](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/eq/) - [encourage the heart](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/encourage-the-heart/) - [Resiliency](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/resiliency/) - [Appreciative Inquiry](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/appreciative-inquiry/) - [Mentoring](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/mentoring/) - [leadershipcoaching](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadershipcoaching/) - [Leadershipdevelopment](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/leadershipdevelopment/) - [Mentorship](https://johnkwhitehead.ca/tag/mentorship/)