It’s official: the full version of The Truth & Lies of Performance Management has now been released. You can download the complete report here. To celebrate, we’re launching a micro-learning series to accompany the report. It’s designed…

With the need for more frequent feedback, many organizations are reviewing their approach to performance management by equipping managers with the skills to be able to give higher-quality, more frequent feedback. The problem is, HR leaders have tried t…

The traditional approach to performance management (PM) has not reached its potential, and now your organization has committed to changing its current PM approach. Now the question is this; do you involve the C-suite or not?

We all know that the world of performance management is upside down at the moment. But before you think about reinventing your approach and your processes, you need to tackle three big questions. Discover more in this article and video preview of Secti…

In the first section of our new research report, entitled Is the Revolution Real?, we interviewed over 120 senior leaders from organizations around the world. One of the key findings is that the future is here, but it’s unevenly distributed. Learn more…

Leadership development firm BlessingWhite that indicated that 73% of managers had some form of coaching training. Yet only 23% of people being coached thought that the coaching had a significant impact on their performance or job satisfaction. What’s g…

No doubt you’ve heard the rumours… Performance management is in turmoil. Ratings are being abandoned. Employees are frustrated. HR is frustrated. Everything’s been turned on its ear. See what’s actually happening in this article, “How is Performance …

An exciting new podcast has launched! Hosted by Michael Bungay Stanier, Performance Management Stories shares the successes and struggles of senior leaders who have walked the path to evolve performance management in their organizations. Learn more…

Debriefing should be a significant part of any project because, oddly enough, we learn more from an event or project once it’s all over than we do during its execution. And yet we often finish something and move on without

Have you ever wondered which way is the best way to build the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow? This week’s Twofer looks at two proven approaches to helping employees reach their leadership and entrepreneurial potential. Employee Engagement: Coach for Success

If you follow this blog, it won’t come as a surprise that I’m an advocate of going against the grain and challenging our default settings. That’s how some of our greatest visionaries and innovators found their success. And that’s precisely

Business is all about people. If you want to succeed in business, it behooves you to know how the human mind works and to examine why people respond the way they do. That understanding, of course, doesn’t apply only to

I’m generally an accommodating person, so saying no hasn’t always been my strong suit. It’s all too easy to shove another yes into the bag of our overcommitted lives, trusting that in a Harry Potter magical sort of way it

None of us got to where we are today without help. We all look to others for guidance and example. And if we’re really lucky, we just might cross paths with a great coach or mentor who helps define the

Coaching is a topic that’s near and dear to everyone here at Box of Crayons. With this week’s Twofer, I want to open your eyes to a new perspective on coaching. These two articles show how much you can gain

Every decision we make changes outcomes. Those outcomes might be small, affecting only a given day or even just the next hour. Other times they can impact careers or the rest of our lives. And it’s not just about choosing

By now you might have finished reading or listening to Do More Great Work. What happens now? How can you continue to get more out of it, or use it again and again when you need to make things happen?

My first job after university was with a creativity company. It was a pretty fantastic. I could (and did) show up wearing multiple earrings, long hair and trousers made of purple and red paisley. Now the company is the biggest

Remember the game of Follow the Leader? You might have played it, in your younger days, on the playground or at camp. It may seem like child’s play now, but there’s a valuable lesson to be learned from that simple

One of the biggest threats to productivity and creativity is something we’re all exposed to on a near-daily basis. It’s rampant. It’s contagious. I call it The Overwhelm. This week’s Twofer looks at a couple of ways we can inoculate

When interviewing top achievers and game changers, I’m struck by how many of them make time to unplug. They understand and value the need to let the mind wander. Each of these Twofer articles uncovers the merits of daydreaming and

The other day I was rereading one of my favourite books of all time, The Managerial Moment of Truth. Robert Fritz is the co-author, and he is a giant in the management field, delving into how structural relationships impact behaviour, from individuals

“Coaching” isn’t a new leadership term. Chances are you’ve already come across it in some form or another. In fact, research done in 2006 by leadership development firm BlessingWhite found that 73 percent of managers had some form of coaching

I love working with great collaborators. It raises my game, and I like to think it gives my co-conspirators a bit of a boost as well. Stepping outside your own mental box and inviting insights and ideas from other top

Are you so preoccupied with being efficient at work that you’re racing past opportunities to innovate, recharge and excel? When it comes to offering feedback, are your intentions as good as they could be? If you’re not sure on either

Sir John Whitmore was a pioneer of the coaching industry. He passed away earlier this year, but his legacy will live on forever. He had a fascinating, full life. After a career as a professional racing-car driver, John established the field

Every two years, Thinkers50 ranks the world’s top management thinkers. Many of my own heroes, the people I admire and look up to, are often listed. I’ve never tossed my hat into the ring, but with the wild success of

Technology is a marvellous thing. Yet it’s something of a Pandora’s box when it comes to the perils of hyperconnectivity. With so much emphasis on multitasking, we’ve lost the invaluable ability to single-task. This Twofer dives into the dangers of distractions

Have you ever wondered whether workplace feedback is even worthwhile? How about what to do when you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling for your job? This week’s Twofer articles offer solid advice and insights on both those topics. Read on to

A few years ago, I had an enlightening podcast conversation with Barbara Coloroso, an author who has written several books and tackled issues of parenting, teaching, school discipline, nonviolent conflict resolution and reconciliatory justice. In our c…

Most of us operate from a place of good intentions. At least, that’s something I believe to be true. Yet help can be something of a mixed bag. These Twofer articles explore the flip sides of help. The first examines

Dr. Jason Fox is a smart, savvy Australian who brings together insights on  change management and making a difference, self-management and being strategic. And he does it all with a kind of Dungeons & Dragons swagger and pirate sensibility. He’s the author of How to

In this video, I share a bit about how far Box of Crayons has come in the last 15 years, but more importantly, where we’re going and the upcoming exciting things that you get involved with. At the end, I’ve

Leadership. It’s an oft-debated topic that brings out plenty of strong opinions about how best to go about it. This Twofer presents a few key thoughts on the subject. In particular, the articles focus on quiet leaders and those of

If you’ve been scouring your brain for ways to encourage new ideas among your team and help them ALL fulfill their potential — regardless of disposition — then this Twofer is for you. Discover the better way to brainstorm, and

Celebrate with us! Today is Box of Crayons’ 15th anniversary and we’ve created 15 custom-designed version of the best coaching question of all, The AWE Question. As we’ve grown and become known for teaching busy managers 10-minute coaching, we’ve done

Tomorrow, Box of Crayons turns 15. To celebrate we’ve created 15 custom-designed versions of the best coaching question in the world, The AWE Question: “And what else?” These three small words encourage people to go further, probe deeper and uncover Read More

To do your Great Work, you need three attributes: focus, courage and resilience. But at the forefront of it all should be courage. According to the late and great Maya Angelou, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues Read More

Time is something we all struggle with. It goes too quickly, catches us off guard, is wasted or seemingly stolen from us. But what if there were a way to better manage it? If not to control the nature of Read More

Been playing it safe lately? Maybe it’s time to make a bold, brave move.

Today my guest blogger is Phil Wilson, the author of The Approachability Playbook: 3 Essential Habits for Thriving Leaders and Teams. Phil has spent years researching — and showing — the connection between approachability and successful leaders. So I’m thrilled that he Read More

Today I’m speaking to Nicole Bassett and Jeff Denby, the founders of the Renewal Workshop. The Renewal Workshop is a very cool start-up apparel company that helps apparel brands close the loop on their products. They partner with companies to help Read More

How can you be the peacemaker, the negotiator and the bring-the-team-together catalyst?

People who have a great reputation tend to succeed, and that often becomes a virtuous circle: success leads to improved reputation; an improved reputation leads to greater success. What are you known for? Discover the distinction between resumé values and Read More

Business leaders are always looking for ways to improve on-the-job coaching and performance management. (Or if they’re not, they should be!) This week’s Twofer explores how managers can succeed on both fronts. Coach’s Corner: Creating Workplace Success Today’s workforce presents Read More

It’s time to amp up your daily dose of happiness. Move towards the work that gives you the greatest fulfilment.

Are you looking to be more productive? Then settle in for this interview with my guest Marina Darlow. Marina is a project manager and productivity geek. It’s her job to create systems and structures for creative types and entrepreneurs who Read More

In business, and in life, it’s nearly impossible to overestimate the importance of delivering feedback properly. Those important developmental conversations help create trusted relationships and enable people to fulfill their potential. This week’s Twofer articles explore the art of giving Read More

What’s best for you? To dial it up, or dial it down?

Do you struggle with writing? Whether it’s a report you need to write, a blog post or even your first book, we all need to produce convincing, compelling and persuasive copy. Stephanie Chandler is my guest blogger today. She’s the author of The Read More

Sometimes the best way to have a constructive conversation is to give a little less advice and ask a few more questions. When you shift from giving advice and offering solutions to asking questions, you might at first feel a Read More

The bigger thing to do might be to give in gracefully.

Meet Bernie Banks. He’s a noted expert on the subjects of leadership and organizational change. He retired in 2016 from the US Army as brigadier general. Prior to that, he successfully led West Point’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, Read More

Good coaching is critical to success in every field. So is adopting (and mastering!) the right mentality. With a focus on medicine and sports, these Twofer pieces offer insights gleaned from interviews with industry experts, offering tips on how we Rea…

Look at your own skills and gifts. Look at the people around you, who may help. You already have the answer you need.

I know there are times when you’re showing up at your job and you’re not as excited as you might be. You’ve kind of lost the zest and the juice of the work you’re doing. If that rings true for you, Read More

Too often, we forget to appreciate the beauty in the everyday and to have compassion for ourselves. We focus on productivity at all costs and try to push through the grind, overlooking the fact that we are all individuals, with Read More

Get rid of the baggage that has been weighing you down.  

Considering writing a book? It can be a long and difficult path. (I know. See why I almost gave up on writing The Coaching Habit.) However, my friend, Jen Louden, knows a thing or two about writing. Jen is the Read More

Truly doing just one thing at a time; and believing in ourselves. Two fairly straightforward concepts, yet they can be surprisingly difficult to master, even for the best of us. This week’s Twofer looks at how to stay present in Read More

What role will compassion — for yourself, for others — play in your day?

Brian Scudamore is a serial entrepreneur and passionate people-person. He is well known for pioneering the professional junk-hauling industry with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? He’s added brands in the painting, moving and home-detailing industries under the O2E Brands banner. I had the pleasure Read More

Today I’m talking to Brian Scudamore, founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? When Brian was eighteen, he dropped out of high school. Then he talked his way into college, only to drop out again. Finally, he took $700 to start 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a home service Read More

How are your New Year’s Resolutions playing out? Did you have a sort of Bridget Jones’s list (“Resolution number one: Obviously will lose twenty pounds”) or were you more practical in your ideas, setting your sights on becoming a better Read More

Understanding the way our minds function is incredibly valuable in delivering our best work — that is, Great Work. This week offers up an article from Inc.com that looks at how doodling and feedback can be used to our professional Read More

Sometimes, there is no easy path. You can get through this. Find your focus.

After two years at an Internet start-up followed by five and a half years at Google — where she held the position of Career Development Program Manager — Jenny Blake left corporate life in 2011 to start her own company. Read More

What a response! The whole Box of Crayons team would like to send out a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who entered the #CoachingHaiku contest. Not only did we get hundreds and hundreds of submissions but the level of coaching wisdom was Read More

Today I’m talking with Paul Niven, who is taking a stand against the frustratingly low levels of strategy execution in organizations here in North America and around the world. Paul is the co-author of Objectives and Key Results: Driving Focus, Read More