John Whitehead MA, CEC, PCC
@johnkwhitehead.bsky.social
I am a Certified Executive & leadership Coach (ICF) who helps leaders be heard and understood
You can spot a quiet connector because they lead with questions instead of solutions and listen closely to catch what others may miss, which builds empathy, writes Askin. "Their credibility grows through attentiveness, not authority."
Why quiet connectors drive real organizational change - SmartBrief
Meeting- and hallway-dominating voices often attract attention, but they can drown out the quiet connectors — those who build deep relationships, bridge silos and help organizations evolve. I’ve…
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November 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
You can spot a quiet connector because they lead with questions instead of solutions and listen closely to catch what others may miss, which builds empathy, writes Askin. "Their credibility grows through attentiveness, not authority."
November 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The two types of jokes everyone tells
The two types of jokes everyone tells
You can laugh cheerfully, mirthlessly, dryly, cruelly, drunkenly, unexpectedly, and pointedly. But there are only two types of jokes.
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November 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The two types of jokes everyone tells
Sticking to a layoff script can help HR deliver the bad news in a calm and respectful manner. "Employees who feel informed and respected are not only more likely to trust leadership and remain engaged, but also more likely to find new employment quickly," the report read.
Gossip beats HR in layoff announcements
New report reveals risks of layoff miscommunication
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November 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Sticking to a layoff script can help HR deliver the bad news in a calm and respectful manner. "Employees who feel informed and respected are not only more likely to trust leadership and remain engaged, but also more likely to find new employment quickly," the report read.
I tried to not procrastinate for a week. Here’s what helped the most
I tried to not procrastinate for a week. Here’s what helped the most
Ploughing through my to-do list felt great until I hit a wall. Were we really meant to work without watching any vertical videos first?
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November 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I tried to not procrastinate for a week. Here’s what helped the most
Although board games may seem like a leisure activity, the games can also provide educational opportunities for staff members. "I like to ensure that when I’m picking an activity, it ties in with the opportunity for learning," Caro says.
Fun Office Board Games For Breaks And Team Bonding
Teambuilding doesn’t just improve morale around the office. Studies show that work environments with a strong sense of teamwork also have better communication, trust and productivity. We tapped a…
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November 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Although board games may seem like a leisure activity, the games can also provide educational opportunities for staff members. "I like to ensure that when I’m picking an activity, it ties in with the opportunity for learning," Caro says.
What Is The Four I Model of Appreciative Inquiry?
YouTube video by John Whitehead
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The first job of a CEO is not to have all the answers; it's to set the tempo and ensure everyone is in the right seat suited to their talent and have the right playbook."
The CEO As Conductor: How To Lead In Perfect Harmony
A great CEO, like a great maestro, doesn’t need to play every instrument. Instead, she must bring the orchestra together, align various voices and create harmony out of complexity.
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November 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The first job of a CEO is not to have all the answers; it's to set the tempo and ensure everyone is in the right seat suited to their talent and have the right playbook."
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Short - Key Questions for Problem Solving
November 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Short - Key Questions for Problem Solving
Giarrusso offers actionable strategies for each of the five elements, such as reflecting on strengths to build self-belief, clarifying intentions before speaking and practicing emotional regulation.
The Power of Straightforwardness: Why Leaders Must Speak Up to Drive Connection and Performance - CEOWORLD magazine
Today, we are moving at a pace never seen before and there is one skill that I see that continues to rise as both an opportunity and a challenge for leaders and executives: straightforwardness.…
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November 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Giarrusso offers actionable strategies for each of the five elements, such as reflecting on strengths to build self-belief, clarifying intentions before speaking and practicing emotional regulation.
By cultivating trust, curiosity, and renewal across the human ecosystem," the leader "will not be a master of information, but a gardener of wisdom," Beliczky says.
The Gardener and the Machine: Rethinking Leadership for the Post-Knowledge Age By Mark Béliczky - Global Peter Drucker Forum BLOG
In an age when machines can learn almost anything, the true work of leadership is learning how to cultivate what machines cannot — understanding, trust, and the conditions for human flourishing.…
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November 7, 2025 at 5:20 PM
By cultivating trust, curiosity, and renewal across the human ecosystem," the leader "will not be a master of information, but a gardener of wisdom," Beliczky says.
Instead of asking your boss for new assignments, bring proposals, insights and data to existing projects to show initiative, writes Pandey. "We can't control who our manager is, but we can shape that relationship to better work for us."
How Understanding Your Boss Can Boost Your Career
Ever thought of writing a README for your boss? Discover how this unique approach can enhance your communication and productivity at work.
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Instead of asking your boss for new assignments, bring proposals, insights and data to existing projects to show initiative, writes Pandey. "We can't control who our manager is, but we can shape that relationship to better work for us."
youtu.be/VYc7xUlB3GQ
#Leadership In this week' Vlog we explore the four key phases of Appreciative Inquiry : Discovery, Dream, Design, and Delivery.
#Leadership In this week' Vlog we explore the four key phases of Appreciative Inquiry : Discovery, Dream, Design, and Delivery.
What Is The 4 D Model of Appreciative Inquiry?
YouTube video by John Whitehead
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
youtu.be/VYc7xUlB3GQ
#Leadership In this week' Vlog we explore the four key phases of Appreciative Inquiry : Discovery, Dream, Design, and Delivery.
#Leadership In this week' Vlog we explore the four key phases of Appreciative Inquiry : Discovery, Dream, Design, and Delivery.
It's essential to remember that, as a leader, you need to approach each moment with intention, especially those moments when you're spending time with family and friends, as Barnard writes, which is represented by his blue shirt. "The Blue Shirt is my way to just 'be' -- I relax and replenish ...
The Three-Shirt Rule: Contextual Performance Is a CEO's Greatest Asset
We're often told that to be truly effective, we must project a single, consistent persona 24/7. I don't agree.
buff.ly
November 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
It's essential to remember that, as a leader, you need to approach each moment with intention, especially those moments when you're spending time with family and friends, as Barnard writes, which is represented by his blue shirt. "The Blue Shirt is my way to just 'be' -- I relax and replenish ...
November 3, 2025 at 5:40 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.
November 2, 2025 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.
Short-The Power of Multiple Solutions
November 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Short-The Power of Multiple Solutions
Stop Performing Productivity and Start Actually Getting Things Done
Stop Performing Productivity and Start Actually Getting Things Done
Constant updates, performative busyness, and visibility theater drain your focus. Silent productivity is the antidote: real work, real results, zero noise.
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October 31, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Stop Performing Productivity and Start Actually Getting Things Done
Hale writes "you will only find real peace if you address your own perceptions, because no matter where you go or what you say, if you're a human being operating in this world, you're going to be around people that frustrate you, whether they be at work or at home."
My Coworker Drives Me Nuts. Do I Talk to Him or Let It Go? | Crucial Learning
I have a coworker that I just can’t stand. He is good at his job, but I struggle to get along with him because he’s so opinionated and narrow-minded. He has an opinion about everything and can’t…
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October 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Hale writes "you will only find real peace if you address your own perceptions, because no matter where you go or what you say, if you're a human being operating in this world, you're going to be around people that frustrate you, whether they be at work or at home."
New seasons may demand new leadership skills, Lancefield writes, which may necessitate leaders stepping aside if they are not equipped for the moment. "Also, seek out people -- including mentors, sponsors, and even detractors -- who know you well and will tell you the truth."
The 4 Seasons Organizations Go Through—and How to Lead in Each
Organizations, like people, move through different seasons, each with its own rhythms and demands. Most leaders are rewarded for driving the organization hard and fast. But the wiser leaders learn to…
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October 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM
New seasons may demand new leadership skills, Lancefield writes, which may necessitate leaders stepping aside if they are not equipped for the moment. "Also, seek out people -- including mentors, sponsors, and even detractors -- who know you well and will tell you the truth."
October 27, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Although it sounds counterintuitive, knowing that you don't know all the answers can lead to learning from employees. "Going from knowing it all to embracing not knowing but learning it all is a powerful and necessary leader shift," Winkle Giulioni writes.
3 leadership reversals required for success today - SmartBrief
Traditional leadership is facing a reversal from command and control to asking, trusting and pausing, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni.
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October 26, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Although it sounds counterintuitive, knowing that you don't know all the answers can lead to learning from employees. "Going from knowing it all to embracing not knowing but learning it all is a powerful and necessary leader shift," Winkle Giulioni writes.
Swift writes. "Imagine if your communications stream looked more like the real firefighters' example: an unemotional, live discussion of who is doing what, when and why, with repeated check-ins and clarifications."
Handle the Corporate Heat Like an Actual Firefighter | Melissa Swift
Leaders can apply four key principles from FDNY firefighters to contend with “fires” in the business world.
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October 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Swift writes. "Imagine if your communications stream looked more like the real firefighters' example: an unemotional, live discussion of who is doing what, when and why, with repeated check-ins and clarifications."