In this article, Stephanie Soler explains how a simple shift in communication can help you to become both a trusted and respected leader. As children, we learn the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. There’s a major flaw in this thinking, and I see it again and again as I work with executives who struggle to connect with and influence the people around them. The simple truth is that people are different. We can actually…

As the holidays come to an end, and a new work year approaches, Stephanie Soler shares a few tips on how to re-energize yourself and your team for the year ahead.  If you’re like most professionals I talk to at the end of the year, you’re feeling exhausted and depleted. And so is your team. Successful leaders can be very hard on themselves, applying perfectionism and criticism to push themselves to succeed. This toughness works. In the early phase of…

Stephanie Soler shares professional coaching tips on how to manage a one-on-one session that yields results. Having regular 1:1 meetings with direct reports has become standard practice for managers. In reality, the quality of these meetings vary. At their worst, 1:1s are bland status updates and a waste of time. At their best, 1:1s are powerful coaching interactions that set your direct reports up for success. There’s no single recipe for a great 1:1. Each direct report is different, and…

Stephanie Soler provides key questions that guide the development of an effective coaching plan. One of the essential tasks of a leader is to coach those who work for you. When it comes to creating coaching plans, most leaders are incomplete. They focus on simply identifying 2-3 development areas and checking in on them. The most effective coaching plans tap into what really matters to the employee, and address the root causes of what’s getting in the way. Here are…