Kent Blumberg

Two models for coaching your direct reports

In recent reading about coaching I've come across two models that you might find useful in developing the folks on your team.  Both models represent personal change and growth as occurring at a number of levels, each one deeper than the last.  In both cases, you ask at which level you are hoping to see an employee grow, and then intervene appropriately.

"Microtrends" - book review

Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes (Mark J. Penn with E. Kinney Zalesne, Twelve, 2007, 448 pages) is a collection of 75 microtrends Penn claims to have discerned from poll research.  Penn defines a microtrend as an intense identity group that makes up one percent or more of the population and is growing.  Without offering any evidence, Penn claims that such a group can have significant impact on society.

Although I have two problems with the premise of this book, I do think it can be useful to business leaders and to marketers.  First, my problems, and then a few ways you might use this book.

Listening for leaders

In my opinion, a good leader spends much of her time listening to those around her.  Work by the Gallup Organization seems to back that up.  Gallup says that employee engagement is higher when people feel their opinions count, when they have the materials and equipment they need to do their jobs right, when their jobs are matched to their strengths and when someone pays attention to their development.  All of those require careful listening.

Think you are a great listener?  Have a look at this Active Listening Quiz (MSWord2003, 38 kb).  If you didn't score as high as you wanted to, read on.

Ten ways to build your personal brand

A brand is a promise - buy what the brand represents and you expect to get a certain experience.  People have brands, too.  Your personal brand is what people think of when they hear your name.  For example, when folks hear your name they might think, "The gal who gets things done," or "That guy who speaks in riddles," or any number of other things.

What is your personal brand?  What do people think of when they hear your name?  Is your brand telling folks what you want it to?

Here's a list of ten things you can do to build the brand you want to have.

Incensed

A temple in Hong Kong.

Eating Black Swans one bite at a time

Nassim Nicolas Taleb's best-selling essay, The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable (Random House, New York, 2007, 400 pages) is a huge feast for thought (hence the post title).  In this post, I'll explain Taleb's basic concept, give some examples, and then suggest some implications for business owners and executives.  I'd love to hear what implications you draw from Taleb's ideas.

More frog pix

This is the same frog that posed so nicely for my "climbing the corporate ladder" shot.  This was shot earlier the same day, before it tired of my flash.

[Note:  No animals were harmed in the making of this photo.]