Posts by Paul Curci
Mentors and Coaches: Doing and Being
Some of the most important trusted advisers, mentors and coaches in my life have never worked in my industry. They’ve never practiced in the fine arts, or managed a sales organization or published a newspaper. They’ve never run a coaching or consulting group either. Yet, they seem to show up at precisely the right time…
Read MoreRelax…It’s okay to be a little scared.
Whether we’re able to admit it or not, we’re all a little scared. Those who aren’t are either living a safe, comfortable, somewhat insular life, or are deluding themselves a bit. But for the vast majority of people who actively engage with the world and stretch into new experiences, life tends to bring out…
Read MoreThe Art and Science of Leadership
A growing number of organizations are discovering the important link between Leadership and the Artistic experience. Leadership is both a science and an art. Here’s another example.
Read MoreYou’ve Just Returned From a Terrific Leadership Retreat….Now What?
Offsite meeting and leadership retreats, when they’re facilitated well, can be amazing. New energy, new ideas, deeper connections and clearer understanding are just some of the outcomes of successful retreats. But far too often, post-retreat implementation lags and is eventually replaced by new priorities and new focus, causing a gradual dissipation of energy, and a…
Read MoreConflict is Natural….and Manageable
Conflicts are normal in collaborative work environments. There are literally dozens of potential triggers that can derail a conversation or a relationship and inevitably, we all fall victim to conflict of one kind or another. Understanding a person’s personality better (what energizes them vs. what causes them stress) helps us avoid these conflict triggers. A…
Read MoreContext and Culture
To understand a leader’s context, it’s helpful to ask some very basic questions. First, what are they listening for? The way we listen is the structure through which we interpret the world. Regardless of who we are, we all listen for certain possibilities, and filter everything we see and hear accordingly. To understand leaders, you…
Read MoreBreak With the Past to Create an Impossible Future
In my (seemingly) endless quest to discover new paths that point toward the future of leadership, I recently found myself pulsing friends and colleagues on critical leadership moments that influenced them the most. One friend stated that although most of his critical leadership lessons came directly from his father, he also learned invaluable lessons from those…
Read MoreDeveloping a Coaching Culture
According to recent data from The Conference Board, presented by Amy Abel, Ph.D., here are some of the strategies companies are using to embed coaching into their talent management framework: 58% Make concerted efforts to integrate coaching behaviors within various talent management processes 50% Develop leaders and managers at all levels to be coaches…
Read MoreFIVE Keys to Building a Solid Professional Development Strategy
Summer is here. And, while some of us are thinking about the beach, many executives are thinking about the other ‘b’ word….budgeting. With budgeting in mind, here are a few thoughts on the subject of outsourcing, a strategy that companies use to create efficiencies without compromising the system’s integrity, or diminishing important core competencies. Tax…
Read MoreTrust… The Coin of the Realm
A friend of mine owns a creative services company that has enjoyed tremendous growth in both market position and revenues over the past decade. In the last few years, however, they’ve struggled. While the creativity and talent level of individual contributors have continued to evolve, their market position and profitability have eroded. To make matter…
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