Ben Edwards

Wanted or not, life's transitions are going to happen. In a Tealfeed article, retired leadership coach Cathy Arndt Carmody and economist and gender equality activist Shruti Kapoor talk in a SayftyChat about how to handle changes that are inevitable or unexpected. https://lnkd.in/eRCfWcU7 #LifeLessons #PersonalGrowth #SelfCare #leadership #transitions

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🚨 New Term Alert: “Glass Cliff” I recently came across the term Glass Cliff in a chat with a friend—and I was curious to learn more. So, what is the Glass Cliff? Coined in 2004, this concept describes how women—and sometimes minorities—are often promoted to leadership roles during times of crisis. Unfortunately, these positions frequently come with a higher risk of failure. But why does this happen? While there’s no single explanation, several theories help to clarify: ➜ Limited Opportunities: Women may be more willing to accept riskier roles, as safer leadership positions are often reserved for men. ➜ Stereotypes at Play: Traits often associated with women, like empathy and diplomacy, are seen as valuable during a crisis, while assertiveness—more linked to men—is preferred in stable times. ➜ Old Boys’ Club: Senior male leaders may reserve prestigious roles for themselves or other men, leaving crisis-driven positions to women. Though it’s often viewed negatively, the #GlassCliff can also present unique opportunities for growth and change. Understanding this phenomenon is essential for fostering truly inclusive leadership. What do you think—are there upsides to this? Or is it mostly a downside? Have you seen or experienced the Glass Cliff firsthand? 🛎️ Fun Fact: Glass Cliff was a contender for Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year in 2016. 📎 Check the comments for a related article! #Leadership #GlassCliff

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Thrilled to dive into the enriching insights shared by Deborah Riegel and her colleagues in this captivating article in Harvard Business Review. Thank you, William Arruda, for sharing this – and many more great insights – during ICF BDS Advanced Live. 1) Defining Coaching: Coaching isn’t about dictating solutions; it's about empowering individuals to navigate their own paths. As the authors put it, "the coach brings the process, but the coaching goes where the client takes it." Bringing the process does not mean advising, consulting, or dictating—the client sets the agenda. Always! 2) Invest in Certification: I’m often asked if certification is required for coaches. While only 1 client has *ever* asked for my credentials, the authors’ advocacy for coaching certification truly resonates. Certification hones our skills, reinforces industry standards, and ultimately enriches our client interactions, making us more effective coaches. 3) Balancing Business and Coaching: Yes, "You will need to put more effort and hours into building your business than into coaching." It’s true. So, develop a clear strategy for building your business, put a solid plan in place, and stay committed to it. This approach ensures your coaching practice thrives. 💡Tip: AI is a great thought partner for how to develop a strategy custom to you and your niche. I just used AI to develop my comms strategy and project plan for the year. It is my hope that sharing this article ignites dialogue and fosters growth within our community. Let's champion client-centric coaching, embrace continuous learning, and shape the future of our profession together! Some who may be particularly interested: Ryan Mayer, MBA, ACC, Mary Ellen Giffels, Valerie Jennings, Cindy Peterson, Pam Asen, Tiffany Dougherty, Adaora Ayoade, ICF-PCC, Kim Cavalcante, BSEE, MBA, CPCC, ACC, Amit Sood, Jean Trujillo, Binay Mahapatra, Mary M., Janice Brathwaite, and so many others that I can't possibly list! #ExecutiveCoach #TeamCoach #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #Gratitude

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This may sound like a bit of tough love. But as those words suggest, I do it out of deep interest in, and concern for, people running thought leadership research groups. They sit on one of the hottest seats in B2B companies today. Their job -- overseeing studies that must produce groundbreaking insights -- is a ton of pressure. They are applauded when marketing programs that showcase their content do well, and derided when they don’t. With that in mind, I offer my most important advice about thriving at this work. https://lnkd.in/ez5E7qA2 #b2bcontent #thoughtleadership #contentmarketing

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Join our conversation on grounding the ICF competencies in neuroscience! Loved being with you Garry Schleifer, PCC, for everything choice and Jessica Burdett, PCC for choice, the magazine of professional coaching. #coaching #neuroscience

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I had a great time sharing my Six Dimensions of Psychological Safety framework in part 1 of this webinar yesterday. The next one is coming up on May 28! Have you checked it out yet? Anyone who registers will get the recording of both webinars, so you get a full picture, and can even start using this roadmap to instil more team safety. I'll talk about... ✅ The three levels of team engagement ✅ Applying six safety dimensions to team culture ✅ Learning tips to accelerate inclusion and safety ✅ Involving your team in creating a safer culture https://lnkd.in/dJr83Wer #PsychologicalSafety #inclusion #TeamCulture

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As I listen to the stories of the people who use generative practices to lead and guide teams to create results that go far beyond what has ever been done before, it has me feeling incredibly hopeful. Case in point -- Sofia reports that managing capacity and overwhelm has been a hot button conversation or the leaders and teams she supports: “We live in a culture that prizes productivity and being busy. But is that what your life is about? Is productivity what really matters to you? When we pause and consider that ‘productivity’ and ‘being busy’ is NOT what we’re about, then we can begin to deploy the ‘Appropriate No.’ I’m seeing team members tell each other ‘no’ – often for the first time ever.  And because an ‘Appropriate no’ is respected and understood, then the whole team can come together and come up with other ways of doing what needs to be done. What this also does is create more trust. When a team member says ‘yes’ to something, they can be counted on to follow through and do the thing they promised to do.” These are the sorts of conversations that await you at our upcoming two-and-a-half-day online training “Foundations of Generative Leadership” in October. Make no mistake – these conversations aren’t just more “empty talk.” The conversations we teach plant the seeds of what’s possible in the future -- not only for you but for your teams and organizations -- for years to come.  Dates and details can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gbmtDWfP

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📕 Latest Human book review: Back to Human by Dan Schawbel - 2018 Dan is great at tapping into global trends and this book was another hit and still more relevant now than when published. Often I don’t think titles matter once I’m reading the book, but this one matters.  Going back is a very important message in a world that is hurtling forward at such a pace. And it is challenging in that respect too, as it can mean that we aren’t embracing the new shiny innovation in the way we perhaps could or should? But when I’m reading about going back, I don’t want it to make me feel like the old traditional ways of doing things are best that I’ve heard from past generations, I want to know why the previous methods were important enough to go back to and that’s what Dan does here. ❔ 1.      Tech 📲 as a distraction as much as a productivity assistant – Simon Sinek has a great video on even how much the presence of a smartphone changes how we feel in a conversation even if not being used. Indistractable by Nir Eyal is a fabulous in depth journey on this very topic too! A distraction from being human is bigger than just distracting us from being productive or successful. It places the importance of human back into the foreground of our attention. 2.      Friends at work 🤗 – friends have come to be many and flimsy in this world where we can connect with everyone and yet not really attend to or nurture those friendships at all. If friends at work are flimsier due to hybrid and remote working focusing all our teams calls on bullet pointed meeting agendas how do we have the laughs we used to that give us friendship fabric to sew into? 3.      Positive and personal recognition meaning so much more than transactional self serve benefits that strip the meaningful connection, the proud smile 😊 , the knowing of what went into that achievement and the being seen and heard that matters. It pinpoints something that is massively important to me, having developed our Human Leadership programme from years of working with those leaders who have answered the call to work through and with others, it highlights that it is actually the leaders job to connect others 📢 🤝 . This is a core message in several of my upcoming events – see here for the full list and links to register/sign up https://lnkd.in/gu3SiP8m We need our leaders to recognise what they can do to keep their own human switched on and how to help us all do it too 🔘 We are about to release our exclusive Bailey & French roundtable links: stay connected on our Human Series with us and also to find links to: On 25th Sept I'm delighted to be sharing my work with Kerri O'Neill in a virtual discussion for the brilliant Wellbeing at Work World UK Summit - we will be talking about #HumanSustainability and how to evolve human workplace culture. And 17th Oct I'm Chairing an incredible panel for Make A Difference Summits on Employee Health & Wellbeing with Una O'Reilly , FCIPD and Charlotte Surtees

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Beyond Kotler: Unpacking the Complexity of Change Management 🧩 Change management is more than a checklist. It's about navigating the intricate layers of an organization, each with its own unique challenges. While Kotler's 8-step model offers a solid foundation, truly effective change management requires a deeper dive. Let's peel back the layers: ·      Organizational: The most accessible layer, focusing on visible structures and processes. ·      Technological: This layer reflects how work gets done. ·      Management Systems: Updating policies, procedures, and decision-making frameworks is crucial. ·      Cognitive Capacity: Expanding the organization's knowledge base and analytical skills is vital for solving complex problems. ·      Corporate Culture: The bedrock of an organization. Shifting values, beliefs, and behaviors is a long game. ·      Mentality: This deepest layer, encompassing individual and collective mindsets, is the linchpin of successful change. Understanding the complexities of these layers is key to crafting a change management plan that truly sticks. Ready to navigate the depths of change management? Explore our insights and solutions at https://strategium.cc. #changemanagement #organizationalchange

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Vistage lists these as the three tenets of the future of work: ✅ People want agency ✅ Employers fear the unknown ✅ Flexibility is the solution What's interesting is that these don't seem like futuristic ideas. In fact, they seem like they've been tried, tested, and proven for years. The conclusion, that flexibility is the key to winning the talent war, is no secret. However, I'm not sure about the line "Flexibility is not a right; it is a privilege." What do you think? https://bit.ly/3WhASbG #Leadership #Coaching #Entrepreneur #TeamBuilding

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Implementing structured authoring can be quite an emotional rollercoaster. Maybe that's why this post by Max Swisher from a few years back was so popular and continues to resonate with many managers and teams who are making the transition to structured content. If you need a laugh or just want to commiserate, you'll want to read this. If anything, the way Max masterfully represents each emotional stage of grief with a Sponge-Bob image is worth the click. https://lnkd.in/gueJXpe #contentstrategy #contentmanagement #contentorganization

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Leaders often find themselves navigating uncharted waters, where answers are elusive, and certainty is scarce. This quote from Tim Brown, Chair of IDEO, perfectly encapsulates this journey: “If you're in a truly new space, you won't always know the answers. Your team won't either. You're going to venture into the unknown together. Curiosity is a great way to lead that charge.” Today #highereducation is full of uncertainty but how many leaders are embracing curiosity as a compass? Curiosity drives us to explore, to ask questions, and to seek out new perspectives. By embracing curiosity, we create an environment where innovation thrives, and where every team member feels empowered to contribute to the collective exploration. Leading with curiosity means admitting we don't have all the answers and encouraging our teams to join us in the quest for discovery. It fosters a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, essential for success in today's fast-paced world. At Academic Impressions we champion curiosity in our leadership approach. By using design thinking techniques, collaborative approaches, understanding how to evaluate and build a strong base of trust and psychological safety we teach leaders to venture into the unknown with open minds, and inspire their teams. Together, we help leaders and their teams turn uncertainty into opportunity and the unknown into the extraordinary. Curious to hear or learn more about our approach? Interested in unleashing the curiosity and creativity you had as a child? Let's connect or drop a DM to set up a call. #Leadership #Curiosity #Innovation #Teamwork #ContinuousLearning #professionaldevelopment

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In the latest episode of 🗺️ Talking Roadmaps, Melissa Appel, talks to my cohost Justin Woods. I’m lucky that I get to collaborate with Melissa all of the time. She’s just published a book on Stakeholder Management with Bruce McCarthy so no big surprise we picked out "How do you use a roadmap to align with stakeholders?", 🦻 listen to find out more! https://lnkd.in/eUhA2U-g #roadmapping #expert #productmanagement #productmgmt

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Is retaking the #EA worth it? If you're a business professional applying to EMBA programs, this question may be on your mind. While the EA is not as daunting as the GMAT or the GRE, many test-takers find themselves considering a retake. If you're in the same boat, don't fret! This article will guide you through frequently asked questions and typical justifications for retaking the EA. Learn when a quick retake makes sense and when to wait. Make an informed decision and ace the EA! 👉 Read the article here: https://bit.ly/4270xnM #ExecutiveAssessment #MBA #EMBA #TargetTestPrep #TTP #PrepareWithTheBestRockTheTest

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