Brenda’s Blog
Explore Brenda’s latest thinking on leadership, coaching, and branding. Each post offers practical insights and immediately usable tools to help you succeed — both as a leader and in life.
Self-leadership challenge #6: The “secret sauce” of powerful Executive Presence
What is Executive Presence? I have found a lot of confusion among executive coaching clients about the true meaning of this “buzz phrase.” The way I like to define it is: “a set of attitudes, behaviors, and skills which—when combined—send the right signals, influence others, and ultimately drive results.” If you’re a senior leader, you […]
Self-Leadership Challenge #5: How to Self-Promote Without Bragging
I once coached a leader named Margaret, a Human Resources executive who, along with her team, was responsible for 125 leaders within her large organization—no small feat. However, as a result of a company merger, Margaret and her team suddenly found themselves responsible for almost double that—245 leaders—and were informed that due to cost-cutting measures, […]
Self-Leadership Challenge #4: Why Great Self-Leaders Know Arguing is a Good Thing
My executive coaching client, Sonya, was head of the Operations function in her organization when her boss was struck with a severe illness that forced him to suddenly quit his job. As a result, Sonya was catapulted overnight to the role of General Manager. She went from being peers with her fellow function heads to […]
Self-Leadership Challenge #3: The Most Important Question to Ask Yourself as a Self-Leader
These are interesting times for leaders. Technology is changing the game every day, there is increasing competition for good jobs, and the international economic climate is as fickle as the weather in London. If you are like most of the executives I coach it’s hard to find the time to sit down and contemplate where […]
Self-Leadership Challenge #2: The Two Biggest Time-Wasters that Great Self-Leaders Avoid
As an executive coach, I’ve reviewed the time logs of hundreds of senior managers and executives. In those logs, where leaders track their movements at 15-minute increments for two full weeks, the two biggest and most consistent time-wasters that great self-leaders avoid have jumped out from the page: (1) attending meetings and (2) writing/responding to […]
Self-Leadership Challenge #1: What Does it Mean to Be a Great “Self-Leader”?
Often, when we hear the word “leader,” we think of an individual who leads others. But people-leadership is only one part of an executive’s journey. Yes, people-leadership skills are absolutely critical to success … but on their own, they are not enough to help you reach your full potential. Before you can effectively lead subordinates, […]
The New Year / New YOU™ Self-Leadership “Stillness” Challenge
Happy New Year! I hope that 2017 has started wonderfully for you. Are you a New Year’s resolution kind of person? I personally like the idea of setting new intentions when a new year begins. But this year, I decided to take it up a notch – to forego a traditional new year’s resolution, and challenge myself […]
Which of these self-leadership mistakes have you made?
Author Anais Nin is quoted as saying, “My ideas usually come not at my desk writing, but in the midst of living.” Of all the books I’ve written, both Leading YOU™ and its companion book, Would YOU Want to Work for YOU? are the two for which this quote holds most true. More than a […]
How to Demonstrate Good Self-Leadership During the Year-End Holiday Season: Create Your Own “Holiday-Season Mantra!”
To celebrate year-end holidays, millions of people around the globe will soon be traveling to reconnect with loved ones. Whether the trip is just across town or half-way around the world, reunions with friends and family can make this time of year a time of joy, laughter, and peace — or just the opposite. Crowded airports, […]
Bonus for Leading...
Do You Fall into This Trap? When Strengths Become Weaknesses
Ahhh, September! Depending upon where you are, this month may mean dropping temperatures and leaves turning various shades of red and orange. For others, it marks the advent of spring, flowers blooming, and the anticipation of warmer weather. Here in Singapore, no matter the date on the calendar, we are so close to the equator […]
An Excerpt From My Next Book, Leading YOU™
My new book, Leading YOU™, will be released before year’s end. You may have read another one of my books, Would You Want to Work For YOU™?” which focused on the top 15 damaging behaviors I see when coaching leaders of others. Well, this new book – Leading YOU™ – outlines the 15 damaging self-leadership […]
What Do All Great Leaders Need? An Objective Perspective
It’s that time of year again when the world celebrates International Coaching Week, which is next week, May 16-22. It’s exciting to see how this relatively young profession has grown by leaps and bounds! If you’ve worked with a coach, you will hopefully have experienced what a difference coaching can make, both in your career […]
Celebrate International Coaching Week with Me in Person!
If you’re in Singapore, come to the International Coaching Week events which will be taking place May 16-20! I’ll be giving the keynote speech to kick off the all-day Symposium on the morning of Wednesday, May 18 – “Value in Coaching: The Choice is Yours” – followed by a full day of enlightening presentations. The […]
The 15 Most Important Characteristics of Executive Presence
I am often asked, “What is the most popular topic clients request when it comes to leadership development?” My answer? “Presence” — specifically Executive Presence. I have found that Executive Presence is that “special sauce” which separates good leaders who “do well” from outstanding leaders who catapult to the top of their organizations. Let’s face […]
