Resources

I Lead But I’m Not The Expert

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leading Yourself

I coach many leaders of technical teams with complex topics.   If the ‘am I technical enough?’ worry is on your mind and it’s holding you back, I hope these tips help.  It’s a common concern and one that’s really worth thinking about.  Call me if you would like to talk about how leadership or communications coaching can propel your confidence and impact to the next level. 

Some people are already experts and are learning to lead and communicate well.  Others are strong leaders but lack all the technical expertise & knowledge they think they need.   With everything in between.  This ‘expert’ concern can hold back both groups from leading confidently, presenting well and ultimately impacts on results.  So how do you tackle it?  

The main point is to gain some perspective on the reality of the situation and then actively shape how you personally want to tackle the job.  Here are some tips that help you work out how.

Get Perspective & A Reality Check

What is your role today, what are the expectations from your company?

What do you offer, why are you the leader?  

What Must You Know?

  • Normally, there is technical or structural knowledge you must have to operate. However, it’s unrealistic to think you can be as expert as the ‘deep’ operational experts in your team in every area. You are the leader of the team now and that is different. 
  • Ask yourself what must you know, what do you know, where are your gaps? Does it matter?

What Next? 

  • How will you position your role so that you are not expected to be an expert in all areas? 
  • How will you fill gaps you need to fill?
  • How will you handle meetings, presentations and advising the team?  
  • Can you take a chair role, helping your expert team to shine, asking strong questions?

Hot Questions for your Personal Growth, man looking at plan.

Hot Questions for your Personal Growth

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leading Yourself

Now is the time of year when you get to work out your 2020 personal development plan – for work and for home. To kick off your thinking, I have two very powerful questions to help you on your way.

And if part of your plan is to have 1-2-1 executive coaching, please do ask me about Time to Think™ Coaching. It’s different, highly effective and enjoyable.

Every decision you make, every evolution, every new breakthrough idea depends on the quality of your own independent thinking. Yet, how often are we invited to think for ourselves, to the edge of our thinking?

We interrupt each other every 11 seconds. We follow the crowd. We are drowned out in meetings. We are told what to think and do. We’re not even sure we can think this well. What a waste.

Last week, I had a fantastic couple of PD days with my fellow Time To Think™ coaches and received some great coaching myself. I was invited to think, with a promise of no interruption, about two questions.

  1. What is a challenging step you want to take in your life right now that you’re not taking?

  2. What do you assume about yourself most of the time that is most stopping you from having a better life? (or for better life substitute health/relationship/promotion/activity or anything else you want to think about)

I hope this gets you thinking and building your plan.

KineticFuture can coach you to be a world-class communicator and leader. Coaching 1-2-1 and in groups. Clients include Abbvie, Amgen, Gilead, GSK, Novartis, Mars, Pladis, WPP and Barclays. We have six main areas of work: Time to Think™ coaching, executive presence, presenting and storytelling, tricky conversations, resilience and communicating purpose.

Decoding Bill Gates

Posted on by Karen Moyse in The Thinking Environment, Thinking Partnerships, Time To Think™ Coaching

Watch the Netflix documentary ‘Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates’  It’s fascinating! In the episode below, Melinda Gates says

“When Bill stills himself, he can pull together ideas others can’t see”.

It also reveals that even when CEO of Microsoft, Bill took thinking weeks to innovate.  

My experience as A Time To Think™ coach is that everyone can think brilliantly and independently.  It is quite amazing to see someone’s brain in action; when we give ourselves the opportunity to think in a Thinking Environment.  Imagine what you could think, be, or do if you had some Time to Think coaching. Give me a buzz if you’d like to explore this with me.  You deserve it. 

And enjoy the series! Here’s a link to the promo video.

Business woman in leadership standing in busy street with executive presence and gravita

Can They Lead Without You?

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leading Others

Can your team lead key meetings without you? They have the technical expertise but well…  ‘they are not you’. Sadly, your bosses, clients and other key stakeholders recognise that they lack the confidence, gravitas and executive presence. The impact of having to be in each meeting on on your time and your team’s development is huge.

We coach Executive Presence. It really is the missing link between merit and success. We base our KineticFuture approach on solid global research and use theatre skills, real simulations, psychology and practice to ensure each person in the group can find their own authentic way forward. Contact us if you’d like to know about our group courses and one to one coaching.

It’s highly skilful coaching work but you can help your team right now with some quick tips and hints below. It’s worth it.

Quick Tips for Executive Presence, Confidence & Gravitas.

  1. Just do it – get them leading meetings without you. They will survive and grow with a bit of guidance. It’s worth the risk.
  2. Super prepare – some of your team will back off the prep because they are scared, others will spend too much time on the wrong things. Give them guidance on what to prepare and ensure they are clear on objectives, key messages and proof points. Can they answer the tough questions succinctly? Rehearse them through it.
  3. Physicality – they can make a huge difference just by rehearsing their physicality in a room. Ask them to walk in, sit down and start to explain the topic. Coach them to sit tall, open arms on the table, make good eye contact and stop any fiddling. Then maintain it come what may. Ask them too where they plan to sit – in easy eye-line of the key decision maker will help.

SOS My Confidence is Dipping Today

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leading Yourself

If you’ve got a big day tomorrow and you need to get through, here are some fast SOS confidence tips that work. Click on the links below and survive tomorrow. No one will guess!

If you’d like to build real confidence (and let’s face it, we’d all like more) talk to me about Time To Think™ Coaching. It’s 1-2-1 coaching but not as you know it. You’ll think brilliantly and independently about the challenges that are important to you. (This is me coaching outside the office, by the canal in Paddington – one of my favourite places to work).

In the meantime, follow the tips, phone a friend and you’ll pull off that big day tomorrow.

Three Weird Confidence Cheats

Choose Respect

You can have strong executive presence and impact in meetings and presentations. It just takes some work and a coach who can tap into your potential. You can do it! Give us a call and we’ll coach you how. Find out more about our courses here.