Keith E. Webb's Blog, page 15

How To Breakthrough Conflict With Questions

We all have conflicts – ranging from little disagreements all the way up to major fallouts. How you respond to conflict, what you say or don’t say, can either escalate or reduce the conflict. To breakthrough conflict I’ve found nothing better than engagingthe person by asking honest questions.

I don’t like conflict. My natural style of conflict management is avoidance andsilence. If I argued, it either didn’thelp, or more likely, I saidsomething that made it worse. This isn’t very productive,...

How To Ask Questions For Innovation

Innovation is driven by questions not answers. Questions send people on a journey. But not all questions and journeys are equal. Many questions rehash old territory, only confirming somethingcan’t be done. While otherquestions exposeassumptions, unlock creativity, and focus onhowit can be done. Here’s how to ask questions for innovation.

A nonprofit organization came to me to help them with their managers who knew how to get things done, but weren’t developing people along the way. Employees...

How To Stop Comparing And Start Learning

Comparing yourself to others is a head game you can’t win. Comparisons touch ego and emotions. Learning, on the other hand, helps youimprove yourself to be a better you, not someone else. Here’s how you can stop comparing yourself to others and start learning instead.

I was invited to speak at a large conference. I was on next. On stagewas Big-Name Speaker. He was really good! Polished. Engaging stories. Insightful points. He even dressed cool! A voice in my head whispered to me, “You’re not...

How To Develop Young Leaders: The Little-Much Principle

Young leaders are often anxious to get into action. They feel prepared and ready to make a difference. Yet, the workplace is littered with the wreckage caused by those with authority but not wisdom tolead.Leader development is about going in before going out. The Little-Much Principle will help you develop young (and old) leaders.

Young leaders want to concentrate their efforts on developing skillsand accomplishing something of significance.

I knew a 24 year-oldwho was frustrated with his job...

Why You Need Confidence and How to Gain It

You can have a lot of experience, educational credentials, and recognized expertise, but without confidence you won’t reach your potential. Confidence is the X-factor that separates those who do from those who wish. Here’s why you need confidence and 6 waysto increase yours.

What’sthe difference between a consultant who charges $750 a day and one that charges $10,000? Bothconsultants may bring the same expertise, education, and experience. The one with greater confidence projects that confide...

How To Find People to Coach

You’ve completedsome coaching training and now you’re ready to begin coaching people. Where do you find them? How do you ask someoneto coach with you? I’ll show you fourof provenwaysto approachpeople to begin coaching with them.

When I was ready to begin coaching people I felt awkward. The people I considered coachingwere either my friends, or people I didn’t have much relationship with. I was at a loss for how toask people to coach with me.

I triedseveral ways to ask people to coach with me....

Every “No” Is A “Yes” To Something Else

I’ve observed that what setsexcellent leaders apart isnotwhattheyknow, orwhothey know, but how much they“no.” Saying “no” is a prioritizing and focusingbehavior that means saying “yes”to something else – and greater results.

The word “no” is formed with only two letters, but for many of us it’s one of the hardest words to say.

When it comes to work-related things, I don’t likesaying no. Here are some of the reasons, and what is really happening:

I like to help. Sam Metcalf often reminds non-...

How To Make It Reproducible

One of my personal core values is reproducibility. In all my work, I endeavor to not just do something myself, but to help peopleto learn to do itand for them to pass italong to others. Here’s how I make things reproducible.

Making something reproducible is both hard and easy. It’s hard because we make it hard. We add it too much and make it too personality-driven – usually our personality. And it’s easy, once you learn what people can do if they are given the essentials. This article will h...

How To Follow Your True Calling, Not Someone Else’s

Following your true calling is an ancient problem. In Greek mythology, the beautiful songs of Sirens lured sailors to wreck on rocky shores. Today, Sirens lure us to abandon our calling with promises greaterhappiness elsewhere. There’s a powerful way to stayon course withyour true calling, one that the Greeks used.

Siren Songs

Homer’s Odyssey follows theheroOdysseus on his epic journey homefrom the Trojan Wars. In one adventure, his shipneared the dangerous islands of the Sirens.The songs of...

How To Get People Into Action With One Simple Question

One of the toughest things in leadership is getting people into action. Idiscovered one simple, yet profound, question that motivatespeople to get into action.

People work hard. It feels like we are in action. We havemeetings, plan, write proposals, andconsult with others.These activities are one type of action. I think of them as planning-action.It’s easy to let planning-actionkeep us from the actions that produce something tangible: launch a product or service and generate revenue. I call th...