John Whitehead MA, CEC, PCC
@johnkwhitehead.bsky.social
I am a Certified Executive & leadership Coach (ICF) who helps leaders be heard and understood
Are distractions getting in the way of brainstorming?
February 17, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Are distractions getting in the way of brainstorming?
February 16, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Notice if uncertainty makes you default to command-and-control rather than engaging your teams to solve problems, Walker advises. "If my reaction is to share context, invite input, while still making clear decisions, I can help reinforce trust when it's most fragile."
7 Questions I Ask Myself In Times Of Disruption
When two-thirds of employees trust AI more than their leaders, it's time to ask better questions.
buff.ly
February 15, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Notice if uncertainty makes you default to command-and-control rather than engaging your teams to solve problems, Walker advises. "If my reaction is to share context, invite input, while still making clear decisions, I can help reinforce trust when it's most fragile."
When you're good at listening, your team will feel like their experience matters to you and that you're hearing their concerns, writes Barthle. "Listening well requires intention. It asks professionals to listen to understand rather than to correct, persuade or accelerate a process."
LinkedIn Pulse
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February 14, 2026 at 5:20 PM
When you're good at listening, your team will feel like their experience matters to you and that you're hearing their concerns, writes Barthle. "Listening well requires intention. It asks professionals to listen to understand rather than to correct, persuade or accelerate a process."
When a team member makes a complaint, let them know their concern matters, what can and cannot change right now and ask what commitment they're willing to make to get what they want, McLeod writes.
Tired of complaints? Six steps to reset feedback and lead a culture of shared accountability | Chatsworth Consulting Group
by Robyn McLeod | Jan 29, 2026 | Thoughtful Leadership | 0 comments
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February 13, 2026 at 5:20 PM
When a team member makes a complaint, let them know their concern matters, what can and cannot change right now and ask what commitment they're willing to make to get what they want, McLeod writes.
Up to this point in the series, we’ve gathered information, defined the problem, and prepared ourselves for creativity.
Now it’s time to start doing what many people think of first when they hear “problem solving” — generating solutions.
youtu.be/aZDMfUdtjjM
#leadership
Now it’s time to start doing what many people think of first when they hear “problem solving” — generating solutions.
youtu.be/aZDMfUdtjjM
#leadership
Creative Problem Solving – Step Four: Generating Possible Solutions (Part 1)
YouTube video by John Whitehead
youtu.be
February 12, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Up to this point in the series, we’ve gathered information, defined the problem, and prepared ourselves for creativity.
Now it’s time to start doing what many people think of first when they hear “problem solving” — generating solutions.
youtu.be/aZDMfUdtjjM
#leadership
Now it’s time to start doing what many people think of first when they hear “problem solving” — generating solutions.
youtu.be/aZDMfUdtjjM
#leadership
You don't create a leadership legacy by simply stamping your name on something, Dillon writes. "When considering your legacy, ask what you protected, whether that was talent, culture, integrity or trust. These are harder to measure and far harder to rebuild once lost."
Why Leaders Need To Rethink Power
We speak about it in the language of ascent, when in fact power isn’t a destination.
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February 12, 2026 at 5:20 PM
You don't create a leadership legacy by simply stamping your name on something, Dillon writes. "When considering your legacy, ask what you protected, whether that was talent, culture, integrity or trust. These are harder to measure and far harder to rebuild once lost."
February 9, 2026 at 6:19 PM
ICF also supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
February 8, 2026 at 5:20 PM
ICF also supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
As you practice the timing of your illustrative gesture, "slow down your speaking so that you have enough time to get the gesture in on top of the important word," Morgan recommends.
What Should You Really Do with Your Hands? | Public Words
Why do we gesture when we speak? And what sort of gesturing makes for better public speaking? We mostly gesture ‘synchronously’, meaning we make the same gesture with both hands. We typically do so…
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February 7, 2026 at 5:20 PM
As you practice the timing of your illustrative gesture, "slow down your speaking so that you have enough time to get the gesture in on top of the important word," Morgan recommends.
Don't make your efforts a one-and-done; check on progress, Hurt writes. "Engagement isn't rebuilt in one meeting or one survey cycle. It's rebuilt through consistent, visible leadership behaviors -- especially when things are hard."
Devastated with Your Employee Engagement Survey Results? Do This Next
Discover how to navigate tough employee engagement survey results effectively and turn feedback into actionable improvements.
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Don't make your efforts a one-and-done; check on progress, Hurt writes. "Engagement isn't rebuilt in one meeting or one survey cycle. It's rebuilt through consistent, visible leadership behaviors -- especially when things are hard."
You must prioritize respect over likeability in some situations, including during a crisis, when someone has violated company ethics or when a team member is underperforming, Thorpe writes. "
The Leadership Lie Nobody Talks About: Being Liked vs. Being Respected (And Why You Need Both) | Business Advisor and Executive Coach | Doug Thorpe
Discover how true leadership combines respect and likeability. Learn the four archetypes and the secret C3 Model to build high-performing, trusted teams.
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 5:20 PM
You must prioritize respect over likeability in some situations, including during a crisis, when someone has violated company ethics or when a team member is underperforming, Thorpe writes. "
So far in this video series on creative problem-solving, we’ve gathered information and clearly defined the problem. Now we’re ready for the next phase: generating solutions.
#leadership, #problemsolving
#leadership, #problemsolving
Creative Problem Solving – Step Three: Preparing for Brainstorming
YouTube video by John Whitehead
youtu.be
February 4, 2026 at 6:14 PM
So far in this video series on creative problem-solving, we’ve gathered information and clearly defined the problem. Now we’re ready for the next phase: generating solutions.
#leadership, #problemsolving
#leadership, #problemsolving
Discover how creative problem solving transforms challenges into opportunities, energizes collaboration, and equips leaders and teams with practical tools to innovate, adapt, and succeed together.
February 3, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Discover how creative problem solving transforms challenges into opportunities, energizes collaboration, and equips leaders and teams with practical tools to innovate, adapt, and succeed together.
February 2, 2026 at 6:37 PM
The International Coach Federation (ICF) plays a crucial role in professional coaching, setting high ethical and professional standards. It provides accreditation for coach training programs, ensuring quality and credibility.
February 1, 2026 at 5:20 PM
The International Coach Federation (ICF) plays a crucial role in professional coaching, setting high ethical and professional standards. It provides accreditation for coach training programs, ensuring quality and credibility.
Leaders, It’s Time to Build Your Tolerance for Uncertainty
Leaders, It’s Time to Build Your Tolerance for Uncertainty
In today’s volatile business environment, leaders must develop uncertainty tolerance as a core skill. Here are three ways to do so: Anchor yourself in clear values and enduring priorities to give…
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January 31, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Leaders, It’s Time to Build Your Tolerance for Uncertainty
Asking questions and seeking feedback is an excellent follower quality that also serves leaders well, write Chamorro-Premuzic and Edmondson. "Coachability is the antidote to the complacency that often accompanies positional power."
The Best Leaders Are Great Followers
In an era of complexity, specialization, and rapid change, the most effective leaders are those who exhibit the same attributes as exemplary followers. They excel at listening, learning, and adapting…
buff.ly
January 30, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Asking questions and seeking feedback is an excellent follower quality that also serves leaders well, write Chamorro-Premuzic and Edmondson. "Coachability is the antidote to the complacency that often accompanies positional power."
If the interviews reveal a pattern, such as a need for development opportunities, start small: pair team members with someone else on a project or give them stretch assignments before developing an extensive mentoring program,
How to Use Stay Interviews to Reduce Turnover Without Losing Authority
Your best employees aren't leaving for better perks. They're leaving because no one asked them to stay. Learn how to run stay interviews that uncover problems before resignations happen.
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January 29, 2026 at 5:20 PM
If the interviews reveal a pattern, such as a need for development opportunities, start small: pair team members with someone else on a project or give them stretch assignments before developing an extensive mentoring program,
In this video we’re going to focus on the first step: information gathering.
Imagine a company that’s seeing a steady decline in customer satisfaction scores. Complaints are increasing, and leadership wants fast solutions...
youtu.be/q9oIN1hhIc8
Imagine a company that’s seeing a steady decline in customer satisfaction scores. Complaints are increasing, and leadership wants fast solutions...
youtu.be/q9oIN1hhIc8
Creative Problem Solving - Information Gathering
YouTube video by John Whitehead
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 8:57 PM
In this video we’re going to focus on the first step: information gathering.
Imagine a company that’s seeing a steady decline in customer satisfaction scores. Complaints are increasing, and leadership wants fast solutions...
youtu.be/q9oIN1hhIc8
Imagine a company that’s seeing a steady decline in customer satisfaction scores. Complaints are increasing, and leadership wants fast solutions...
youtu.be/q9oIN1hhIc8
"Even when you need to challenge an idea or redirect a conversation, anchoring in genuine curiosity before introducing constraints gives ideas room to breathe and bloom -- and signals that contributions are safe and valued."
“Curious but”… not really - SmartBrief
Being curious when a team member approaches you with an idea is good, but you may be undermining them with one little word, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni.
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January 27, 2026 at 5:20 PM
"Even when you need to challenge an idea or redirect a conversation, anchoring in genuine curiosity before introducing constraints gives ideas room to breathe and bloom -- and signals that contributions are safe and valued."
January 26, 2026 at 8:10 PM
You should encourage friendships between team members and cultivate a few yourself, because they can boost trust and productivity. "Management has long been framed as the act of managing people. Increasingly, it needs to be better understood as the work of leading relationships."
Why the burden of leadership is really about managing relationships
The new workplace reality demands that organizations support leaders in settings where complex and often messy relationships are central to leadership effectiveness.
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January 25, 2026 at 5:20 PM
You should encourage friendships between team members and cultivate a few yourself, because they can boost trust and productivity. "Management has long been framed as the act of managing people. Increasingly, it needs to be better understood as the work of leading relationships."
Old scripts may come from childhood or past emotional experiences, but self-awareness can help you recognize and release them when you're feeling triggered, Thorpe writes. "Start where you are. Notice your patterns with curiosity, not criticism.
The Hidden Scripts That Shape Your Leadership: Why Self-Awareness Is Your Greatest Leadership Tool | Business Advisor and Executive Coach | Doug Thorpe
Have you ever walked out of a meeting and wondered, “Why did I just agree to that impossible deadline?” Or found yourself micromanaging a team member even though you swore you’d give them more space?…
buff.ly
January 24, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Old scripts may come from childhood or past emotional experiences, but self-awareness can help you recognize and release them when you're feeling triggered, Thorpe writes. "Start where you are. Notice your patterns with curiosity, not criticism.