#coaching-practice
#coaching-practice

I spent a decade building a career I thought I wanted, a house I thought I needed, and a persona I thought would finally make me real - and one Saturday morning over coffee I sat with the quiet certainty that I had built all of it for someone who no longer lived inside me - Silicon Canals

Building a life based on societal expectations can lead to a personal crisis when the facade becomes unsustainable.

17 hours ago

Psychology says people who feel like they've been living someone else's life aren't confused or ungrateful - they're often the ones who were so good at adapting in childhood that they never stopped adapting long enough to find out who they actually were - Silicon Canals

Adapting to others' needs in childhood can lead to feeling disconnected and lost in adulthood.

Retirement

I spent a decade building a career I thought I wanted, a house I thought I needed, and a persona I thought would finally make me real - and one Saturday morning over coffee I sat with the quiet certainty that I had built all of it for someone who no longer lived inside me - Silicon Canals

Building a life based on societal expectations can lead to a personal crisis when the facade becomes unsustainable.

more#identity

Online learning

fromeLearning Industry

20 hours ago

Continuous Learning Cultures: What High Performing Organizations Do Differently

Organizations must adopt a continuous learning culture to keep pace with rapid changes in technology and evolving job roles.

14 hours ago

I'm 37 and the friendships in my life that have lasted are the ones where we stopped pretending - stopped curating what we showed each other, stopped performing the version of our lives that made sense on paper - and what replaced the pretending is the best thing I have built in the last decade - Silicon Canals

Authentic friendships emerge when individuals drop their facades and share their true struggles with each other.

6 hours ago

The people who are best at hiding unhappiness aren't the stoic ones or the quiet ones - they're the ones who became so skilled at giving everyone around them exactly enough warmth to never be looked at too closely - Silicon Canals

People often hide their struggles behind a facade of warmth, leading to loneliness despite appearing thriving.

What to do after a life-defining mistake

The only thing worse than making a mistake is keeping it bottled up inside. Learning from the mistakes of others could help you embark on the healing journey of sharing and working through a mistake of your own, with someone you trust.

Books

9 things people who command respect at work do that have nothing to do with their title or seniority - Silicon Canals

Respect at work is earned through listening and accountability, not through titles or positions.

Many productivity programs solve the wrong problem. This is what leaders should do instead

Organizations face work design problems rather than productivity issues, leading to temporary solutions that fail to address underlying conflicts in problem-solving approaches.

Are you making this common productivity mistake?

Overwhelmed professionals often mistake organizing for productivity, leading to reduced performance despite increased activity.

I'm 37 and I get more done by noon than I used to get done in a week - not because I work harder but because I eliminated the seven invisible habits that were consuming 80 percent of my energy while producing exactly zero percent of my results - Silicon Canals

Identifying and eliminating invisible habits can significantly increase productivity and energy efficiency.

Many productivity programs solve the wrong problem. This is what leaders should do instead

Organizations face work design problems rather than productivity issues, leading to temporary solutions that fail to address underlying conflicts in problem-solving approaches.

Are you making this common productivity mistake?

Overwhelmed professionals often mistake organizing for productivity, leading to reduced performance despite increased activity.

fromwww.businessinsider.com

I'm 37 and I get more done by noon than I used to get done in a week - not because I work harder but because I eliminated the seven invisible habits that were consuming 80 percent of my energy while producing exactly zero percent of my results - Silicon Canals

Identifying and eliminating invisible habits can significantly increase productivity and energy efficiency.

Your CEO gives you the ick. Now what?

Emily's perception of her CEO's integrity is compromised after discovering his affair, affecting her confidence in promoting company values.

Tech industry

Goodbye, middle managers. Hello, 'player-coaches' and 'org leads.'

Meta and Block are redefining managerial roles to embrace AI, with Meta introducing 'org leads' and Block using 'player-coaches'.

fromIndependent

'He's the most competitive person I know' - Shane Lowry's S&C coach on hard work, weight change and what makes Offaly man tick

Robbie Cannon was in a fourball with Shane Lowry at The Grove XXIII, a small corner of paradise tucked away on the outskirts of Hobe Sound in Florida.

Chicago Cubs

Bootstrapping

Clear Job Responsibilities Helps You Grow Faster - Here's How

Deliberate governance design is essential as companies grow to avoid confusion and inefficiency.

Fundraising

How giving starts progress and leadership scales it

Volatility and accountability are transforming philanthropy, requiring leadership to drive impactful change.

The people who look most successful on the outside often have no idea what they're doing - they just learned early that confidence and competence look identical from a distance - Silicon Canals

The gap between perceived success and actual competence is significant, often leading to overconfidence in those with limited knowledge.

Exercise

Building Confidence Through Small Victories

Naming tasks and completing small actions can rebuild confidence after significant loss.

The people who look most successful on the outside often have no idea what they're doing - they just learned early that confidence and competence look identical from a distance - Silicon Canals

The gap between perceived success and actual competence is significant, often leading to overconfidence in those with limited knowledge.

Exercise

Building Confidence Through Small Victories

Naming tasks and completing small actions can rebuild confidence after significant loss.

I'm 37 and I've already learned that your body keeps score, your gut rarely lies, and your childhood follows you into every relationship - while pretending I had it all figured out at 25 - Silicon Canals

Emotional struggles and stress manifest physically, impacting health and well-being.

How to Handle Trusts and Psychological Safety When Scaling Organizations

Trust must be built team by team; it cannot be replicated as organizations scale.

Social media marketing

fromForbes

7 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Build Trust In Their Personal Brands

Trust is crucial for building a personal brand online, as many consumers are skeptical of social media information.

Remote teams

fromInfoQ

How to Handle Trusts and Psychological Safety When Scaling Organizations

Trust must be built team by team; it cannot be replicated as organizations scale.

Social media marketing

fromForbes

7 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Build Trust In Their Personal Brands

Trust is crucial for building a personal brand online, as many consumers are skeptical of social media information.

The unexpected childhood activity that predicted my career path

A childhood fascination with weddings evolved into a career in wedding planning, driven by a desire to streamline chaotic logistics.

Artificial intelligence

fromwww.businessinsider.com

AI as Personal Coach? Maybe. Three Ways to Make It Useful

Understanding AI's limits and the importance of human coaching enhances professional development strategies.

I was laid off twice from the same company. The second time was a gut punch but taught me not to take cuts personally.

When the CEO held a virtual town hall in 2020 and said there needed to be layoffs, I knew I would be one of the first to go because I served zero purpose at that point.

Marketing

Graphic design

fromItsnicethat

in 1 week

"You may need to step down in order to segue"

A degree is not necessary to become a designer; understanding fundamentals and tools is essential.

It took me until 37 to realize that almost all successful people let go of these 7 habits, but average performers keep clinging to them - Silicon Canals

Successful people abandon habits that keep others stuck, focusing instead on effectiveness and prioritizing their time.

Why your successful life doesn't leave you fulfilled

Success is subjective; many feel unfulfilled despite achievements due to societal comparisons and not pursuing personal desires.

It took me until 37 to realize that almost all successful people let go of these 7 habits, but average performers keep clinging to them - Silicon Canals

Successful people abandon habits that keep others stuck, focusing instead on effectiveness and prioritizing their time.

Why your successful life doesn't leave you fulfilled

Success is subjective; many feel unfulfilled despite achievements due to societal comparisons and not pursuing personal desires.

Psychology says people who mellow out as they get older aren't the ones who suffered less - they're the ones who decided, at some point and without always knowing they were deciding, that the suffering was going to make them more open rather than less, and that decision, remade daily in small ways that nobody notices, is the entire difference - Silicon Canals

Emotional responses to life's challenges can change over time, leading to greater peace and stability despite ongoing difficulties.

14 hours ago

I'm 34 and have always struggled to maintain close friendships - and the most uncomfortable thing I have ever admitted to myself is that I have been the one who made them hard to maintain, not through cruelty or carelessness but through a consistent and barely conscious tendency to keep just enough distance that nobody could ever get close enough to disappoint me - Silicon Canals

Sabotaging friendships by maintaining surface-level connections prevents deeper relationships and emotional intimacy.

Bootstrapping

How to Treat Your Successes Like Renewable Resources

Success can create pressure and lead to misaligned goals for entrepreneurs, making them feel obligated rather than fulfilled.

#emotional-intelligence

Psychology suggests people who stay calm during conflict aren't less emotional - they learned early that the person who controls the temperature of the room controls the outcome, and they stopped reacting and started choosing - Silicon Canals

Controlling emotional responses during conflict can significantly influence the outcome of the situation.

The Hidden Power of Naming What You Feel

Avoiding emotions strengthens them; naming feelings fosters thoughtful responses and self-awareness.

Psychology suggests people who stay calm during conflict aren't less emotional - they learned early that the person who controls the temperature of the room controls the outcome, and they stopped reacting and started choosing - Silicon Canals

Controlling emotional responses during conflict can significantly influence the outcome of the situation.

more#emotional-intelligence

The Hidden Power of Naming What You Feel

Avoiding emotions strengthens them; naming feelings fosters thoughtful responses and self-awareness.

When Executive Presence Backfires

Executive presence is essential for senior leaders, characterized by confidence and decisiveness, influencing career advancement and performance evaluations.

The 3-Step Talent Audit That Keeps Your Leadership Team Aligned and Performing

Treat talent as capital to enhance team performance and strategic alignment.

Some people don't fear failure. They fear succeeding and then being expected to sustain it, because the version of them that achieved it was running on adrenaline and desperation, and the person who shows up on Monday is someone quieter who doesn't know how to replicate what the emergency produced. - Silicon Canals

The fear of success stems from the pressure to replicate high performance, not from a desire to avoid good outcomes.

How to Help Someone Have an Empathy Makeover

Empathy can be developed through structured reflection and practice, enhancing mental health and relationship dynamics.

Can Listening Move You to Love?

High-quality listening evokes Kama Muta, a powerful emotion of feeling moved by love, fostering emotional closeness in both listeners and speakers.

#management

Careers

When You're Worn Down-and Your Team Is Too

17 ideas on coaching new managers

Not every employee should move to management; coaching individual contributors is essential for their growth and success.

1 month ago

Business

The Value of Leadership Training

When You're Worn Down-and Your Team Is Too

Joy in management is about finding deep satisfaction and fostering meaningful connections, not just fleeting happiness.

17 ideas on coaching new managers

Not every employee should move to management; coaching individual contributors is essential for their growth and success.

1 month ago

Business

The Value of Leadership Training

How to Retrain Your Brain to See Challenges as Opportunities

Avoiding problems creates new challenges that must be faced later.

Relationships

The most liberating thing you can learn after 40 is that 'because I don't want to' is a complete and legitimate reason - not an opening argument - Silicon Canals

How to Retrain Your Brain to See Challenges as Opportunities

Avoiding problems creates new challenges that must be faced later.

The most liberating thing you can learn after 40 is that 'because I don't want to' is a complete and legitimate reason - not an opening argument - Silicon Canals

Saying 'no' without justification can lead to a more fulfilling life.

more#personal-growth

6 days ago

7 Lessons for When Your Attempts to Control Outcomes Fail

Many situations contain irreducible uncertainty. No matter how many variables we try to control, we can't reduce uncertainty to zero. It's inherent in the messiness of life.

Productivity

3 Ways to Supercharge Your Company's Sales Organization

Executives pressure sales organizations to increase activity metrics in uncertain markets, expecting results despite challenging growth conditions.

Start Strong But Never Finish? 4 Causes and 4 Solutions

Starting strong and quitting is common due to tedium, poor planning, and discouragement; recognizing patterns and seeking support can help overcome this.

The Pitfalls of Being a People-Pleaser

Voicing opinions is essential; people-pleasing can lead to neglecting personal needs and preferences.

fromSlate Magazine

I Told My Friend Some Private Things About My Wife. Now I'm in Big Trouble.

Maintaining long-term friendships can be challenging when past grievances affect perceptions in a marriage.

fromSecuritymagazine

Beyond the Certificate: Why Real Expertise in Investigative Interviewing Comes from Practice

Training and certifications signal competence, but true effectiveness in investigative interviewing requires disciplined application and real-world experience.

How to Get Chummy With Your Discomfort

Regulating emotions and reactions is essential for managing life's challenges effectively.

Not everyone who avoids asking for help is proud. Some of them asked once, received it with a lecture attached, and learned that the cost of support was a small erosion of standing they could never quite earn back. - Silicon Canals

Asking for help can lead to unintended consequences that affect relationships and self-perception.

When Your Partner Doesn't Share Your Spiritual Path

Partners need common values and autonomy, while exploring codependency mindfully.

When Parts Begin to Merge: Inside Integration

Integration is a complex, lived experience involving reorganization of the self, requiring safety and support systems for healing from complex trauma.

#communication

Growth hacking

How to Be an Effective Communicator in 3 Easy Steps

How "Supercommunicators" Make Conversations Work

There are three conversation types: practical, emotional, and social, with emotional intelligence playing a key role in effective communication.

How to Be an Effective Communicator in 3 Easy Steps

Effective communication involves deliberate interactions, strategic questioning, and active listening to influence and align in professional settings.

How "Supercommunicators" Make Conversations Work

There are three conversation types: practical, emotional, and social, with emotional intelligence playing a key role in effective communication.

I'm 37 and I realized I wasn't actually a good person the day my wife said "you're kind to strangers and cruel to the people closest to you" - and the worst part wasn't the accusation, it was that I couldn't argue because I'd been using up all my patience on people who didn't matter and coming home empty - Silicon Canals

Kindness should be abundant at home, not rationed for public interactions, to foster authentic connections with loved ones.

Agile

4 weeks ago

7 leadership moves that matter before you step in front of your team

Effective leadership communication requires intentional message planning before creating slides, focusing on what the audience should think, feel, and do.

Teaching Executives to Shed Trauma Responses

Stress and burnout are increasing in the workforce, exacerbated by past trauma affecting employee behavior and productivity.

Slow Down for Love

Slowing down enhances relationships and personal well-being by improving the quality of experiences over the quantity of tasks.

fromSlate Magazine

My New Boss Has Some Unfortunate Corporate Mannerisms. I'm Having an Involuntary Reaction to It.

Corporate-speak can create barriers in communication, leading to feelings of condescension and stress in workplace relationships.

The difference between people who actually change their lives and people who just talk about it almost always comes down to what they do in the first 90 seconds after waking up - Silicon Canals

The first 90 seconds after waking significantly influence the rest of the day, often leading to reactive behavior if not managed properly.

Miscellaneous

4 weeks ago

Want a Leadership Coach? Just Ask AI

AI disrupts leadership practices, and leaders can use AI itself as a coaching tool to navigate uncertainty, test ideas, and develop better decision-making skills.

3 weeks ago

How to Stop Wasting Money on the Wrong Executive Coach

If you scroll through LinkedIn, it will look like everyone is an executive coach. That's not entirely wrong, as mass layoffs have led many leaders to hang out a shingle as a coach, even if just temporarily, until they find their next role. But let's be real: not all executive coaches are created equal. Sorting true executive coaches from self-proclaimed leadership experts can be difficult, particularly since AI has made it easier than ever for practitioners to rapidly produce polished marketing content that doesn't always reflect genuine expertise.

Business

Psychology says adults who struggle with procrastination aren't avoiding the task - they're avoiding the version of themselves who might fail at it - Silicon Canals

Procrastination often stems from a fear of failure rather than laziness or poor time management.

Careers

7 Ways to Get Started When You Can't "Just Do It"

Procrastination can stem from a lack of motivation, and self-reflection may help identify personal barriers to achieving goals.

Psychology says adults who struggle with procrastination aren't avoiding the task - they're avoiding the version of themselves who might fail at it - Silicon Canals

Procrastination often stems from a fear of failure rather than laziness or poor time management.

7 Ways to Get Started When You Can't "Just Do It"

Procrastination can stem from a lack of motivation, and self-reflection may help identify personal barriers to achieving goals.

Falling in Love With a Mirror

AI can create an illusion of intimacy but often reinforces existing beliefs without genuine emotional connection.

Burnt-out managers are destroying teams. These 5 daily habits reverse it

Burnout among managers is prevalent, but resilience can be built through specific daily habits, including openly practicing self-care.

Psychology says people who apologize constantly without realizing it are more damaged than they appear - because they internalize blame and absorb conflict, a survival response from childhood, which never switches off even when they're safe - Silicon Canals

Excessive apologizing often stems from childhood experiences of mistreatment and can lead to chronic self-blame in adulthood.

The busiest leaders share this surprising weakness

Constant busyness at work deteriorates personal relationships and collaboration, ultimately undermining high performance.

fromBig Think

How to build a manager development program from scratch

Darktrace built a scalable manager development program training 75% of global managers across 20 cohorts in under two years using a three-person team and a four-tier curriculum framework.

Your Team Doesn't Need a 'Work Family' - It Needs This System That Holds Up When It Counts

Teams struggle with clarity, not effort; accountability erodes when support blurs lines between family and business.

#leadership

Psychology

Yes, it's possible to lead without dominating. Here's how

Are you micromanaging yourself out of a job?

Leadership transitions can lead to disengagement and escalation cultures, costing organizations significantly despite initial appearances of productivity.

Careers

Only 7% of leaders get this right-and their teams outperform everyone else

Leaders who balance high expectations with genuine care are rare but significantly enhance team engagement and performance.

Psychology

Lead With What You've Got

All personality traits can enhance leadership effectiveness; there is no single ideal leader type.

Yes, it's possible to lead without dominating. Here's how

Modern leadership requires balancing authority with openness, fostering shared ownership while delivering results, and avoiding the pitfalls of dominance.

Are you micromanaging yourself out of a job?

Leadership transitions can lead to disengagement and escalation cultures, costing organizations significantly despite initial appearances of productivity.

Only 7% of leaders get this right-and their teams outperform everyone else

Leaders who balance high expectations with genuine care are rare but significantly enhance team engagement and performance.

Lead With What You've Got

All personality traits can enhance leadership effectiveness; there is no single ideal leader type.

I stopped explaining myself when I apologize and the reactions taught me exactly which people in my life had been treating my explanations as retractions. To them, sorry with a reason attached meant sorry didn't really count, and sorry without one meant I was finally admitting fault on their terms. - Silicon Canals

Apologies without explanations reveal who truly listens and who seeks loopholes.

fromEarth's Attractions - travel guides by locals, travel itineraries, travel tips, and more

How Successful People Negotiate Everything From Car Prices to Office Raises by Starting With a Small Yes - And Why It Works So Well (It's Easier Than You Think)

The foot-in-the-door technique increases compliance by starting with a small request before making a larger one.

I'm 34 and I just realized I've been performing competence at work for seven years because somewhere along the way I confused being impressive with being safe, and the exhaustion I thought was burnout was actually the weight of never once letting anyone see me learn something for the first time. - Silicon Canals

Performing competence can lead to self-erasure and social rewards, masking genuine capability with a polished exterior.

Always the Fixer, Never the Leader?

Dependability can hinder career advancement by making individuals indispensable but not seen as leaders.

Want a promotion? Ask yourself these three questions

Timing and readiness are crucial for successfully pursuing a promotion.

Always the Fixer, Never the Leader?

Dependability can hinder career advancement by making individuals indispensable but not seen as leaders.

Want a promotion? Ask yourself these three questions

Timing and readiness are crucial for successfully pursuing a promotion.

more#career-advancement

I used to be unhappy and I blamed everything around me - until I realized I'd built an entire life around avoiding the one conversation I needed to have with myself - Silicon Canals

Unhappiness often stems from avoiding self-reflection and attributing life issues to external factors rather than personal choices.

Made a mistake at work? Here's how to fix it in three easy steps

To successfully repair after a mistake, you need to acknowledge and name the mistake, validate the other person's feelings and viewpoint, and create a plan for the specific actions you will take to prevent this mistake from occurring again.

Careers

There's a particular kind of strength that belongs to people who rebuilt their entire personality after 40 - not because something broke them, but because they finally had enough distance from their childhood to see what was never theirs to carry - Silicon Canals

Personality changes after forty often reflect a deeper honesty about one's true self rather than a crisis or breakdown.

Ditch the Elevator Pitch. Focus on Corridors of Conversation

Elevator pitches often hinder meaningful connections; engaging in two-way conversations fosters better professional relationships.

3 weeks ago

The leadership skill we're losing: knowing when to slow down

Unexamined speed in modern work culture prioritizes motion over progress, causing burnout and lower long-term growth, while deliberate pace and patience enable sustainable success.

Why Great Employees Still Fail Inside the Wrong Strategy

Culture drives behavior under pressure, influencing differentiation through shared conviction and adaptive thinking.

5 Career Myths Standing Between You and Your Next Level

Nonlinear careers foster adaptable skillsets and personal growth more effectively than traditional career paths.

6 days ago

What to Do When You Hit Life's Low Point

External crises trigger deep self-reflection, especially during midlife, leading to questions about fulfillment and the meaning of life.

Venture

fromBig Think

How to be a great mentor in business and life

Sustained, hands-on mentorship—long conversations, shared reading, and repeated guidance—is essential for developing mastery despite convenience of AI tools.

From Contender to Champion

Champions manage pressure and maintain focus, allowing them to perform effectively under high-stakes situations.

Startup companies

Feeling Stuck in the Weeds? Here's How to Break Free.

Clear, simple SOPs acting as living checklists enable consistent work, reduce decision fatigue, permit delegation, and let businesses scale and operate without the founder.

How leaders and managers can befriend their inner critic and get ahead at work

Befriending your inner critic can lead to better decision-making and improved leadership skills.

How to grow at work when your manager won't give you feedback

Senior leaders receive less feedback than early-career employees due to authority bias and organizational hierarchy, requiring proactive strategies to solicit advice and create psychological safety.

Business

Leadership Is a Performance Art

Calm, assertive leadership and institutional trust determine organizational success as AI reduces technical differentiation.

3 weeks ago

The 4 most reliable ways to build confidence at work

Confidence directly impacts career success, salary, and job satisfaction, yet most people struggle with self-doubt despite achieving success.

fromhbr.org

When You've Outgrown Your Relationship with a Trusted Advisor

Leaders cultivate a small circle of trusted advisors—former bosses, investors, mentors, peers, and family—whose advice shapes decisions and provides stability during uncertainty.

fromBusiness Insider

Avoid this 1 mistake if you have a difficult boss, says career coach

Venting to a boss usually damages trust; present solutions instead, vent to friends or coaches, and use coaching time for actionable problem-solving.

fromwww.theguardian.com

AI as a life coach: experts share what works, what doesn't and what to look out for

Artificial intelligence can lower the barrier to self-reflection and be genuinely empowering for some, she explains. For people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of where to begin, prompts can act as a scaffold for expressing and understanding your ideas, says Iftikhar. If the AI has access to information you've either shared or asked it to generate, it's also an efficient tool at synthesizing that information, explains Ziang Xiao, an assistant professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins University.

Psychology