Complaining is a usual part of life. We complain to others; our colleagues complain to us; and we might have a running commentary of complaints as part of our self-talk. The trouble with complaining, though, is that it keeps our thinking stuck and can prevent us from knowing and working toward what we do want.

Having a way to break the habit of complaining – for both ourselves and others – can help. When we have a coaching strategy that can quickly short-circuit complaining and refocus the conversation, we can spend more time thinking about the goals we do want and the steps we can take to achieve them.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares a powerful coaching question that can quickly shift a complaining session into a productive conversation so that people feel clearer, more positive, and more empowered. If you’re ready to for a coaching tool to shift complaining into action, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

When we live and work closely with others, we think we know exactly what they’re going to say, how they’re approaching something, and how they see the world. The truth, though, is that we don’t. Making assumptions prevents curiosity and a deeper understanding of others.

What if you had an easy and simple way to assume less and be curious more? You would not only gain a fuller understanding of those around you, you’d also hear information to then guide your conversation into a more productive direction.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares a two-word phrase that, when added to a question, immediately creates a coaching opportunity for one person to clarify and share their point of view, and for the other person to practice coaching and listening. If you’re ready for a fun and powerful phrase to turn any conversation into a curious coaching moment, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

Most of us go through our days feeling tense and worried. We worry about others, and we worry about ourselves. The trouble with so much worry is that it keeps our thinking stuck and limited, and prevents us from seeing possibility. And if we want different things in our life, we need to see what’s possible.

Having a brain-focusing tool to shift from worry to calm is a critical tool in our leadership and personal toolkit. When we can truly calm our brain and body – even for a moment – it allows us to see a situation differently and even take confident action.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares the dreamy “What if….?” question tool and invites listeners to try it out. If you’re ready to have quick ways to relax your brain so that you approach your life differently, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

When we’re working toward personal and professional goals that matter to us, it’s helpful to pause periodically to reflect on where we’ve been putting our energies so that we can be sure we’re moving in the right direction. Too often, though, we forget to or deprioritize taking time for self-reflection.

Having an easy structure for self-reflection can help, especially when we have limited time. Having a powerful question in our toolkit that we can ask ourselves every day or every week can make it easier to pause and gather realizations.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares one easy coaching question you can use to build your self-reflection practice. If you’re ready to feel proud of all you’ve been doing and trying, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast

Feedback is a helpful part of professional development; it illuminates our strengths and growth opportunities. Yet, receiving feedback – especially 360 feedback from our manager, peers, and direct reports – can be daunting and overwhelming. It can send our brain to a place of fear, when we really want to stay calm and curious.

Having a plan to process 360 feedback can help. Bringing an intentional mindset, remembering where we have choice and agency, and having a structured framework can make the experience easier and more positive.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares concrete advice for receiving 360 feedback to help leaders stay centered and in control. If you’re ready for your 360 feedback process to be more positive and productive, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast

Meetings are an opportunity to show leadership presence, build relationships, collaborate, and align around action. Too often, though, people just show up to a meeting without any intention or preparation. That’s disrespecting others’ time and the meeting’s value.

Taking a few moments to prepare for meetings – especially important ones – is a must in this meeting-heavy world. Pre-thinking helps clarify thoughts, allowing people to feel confident, clear, and productive.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum explains a two-part framework for collecting and clarifying your thoughts and questions ahead of a meeting, so that you know you’re showing up intentionally, clearly, and confidently. If you want to feel more in control and empowered around your most important meetings, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/

When we sense that the people we are talking with feel unclear or uncertain, we want to be supportive. We want them to feel clear, confident, and empowered. The way to to do this is not by telling; it's by asking questions.

Helping others feel empowered in the moment takes an approach, mindset, and skill set. It takes being intentional around where you put your focus and the questions you ask.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum explains a framework and the steps it takes to slow down, be present, and coach someone else to think more positively. If you want to build your coaching skills as a leader, colleague, and friend to help those around you reflect and grow, press the play button now.

Transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast

Leaders are committed to supporting those they work with to achieve goals. One obstacle that can get in the way is the stress of other people. If you work with people who get stressed, you know the negative impact it can have on productivity, working together, and conversations.

Other people are not in your control, AND it is in your control as a leader to try different strategies to invite your team and colleagues to shift from stressed thinking to more effective thinking.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum explains two strategies you can try with others to help them return to strategic thinking, good decision-making, and seeing other points of view. If you want to add more strategies to your coaching toolkit to help those you live and work with more quickly regain their calm and clarity when stressed, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast

Having more peace of mind allows our body to relax and our thoughts to quiet. Calmer, clearer thinking helps us move forward more easily and live more intentionally. Too often, though, everyday stresses undermine our ability to connect to this place of calm.

If we care about how we show up for ourselves and others, we need strategies to help us shift out of stress and into a more peaceful brain. One way to do this is to allow, recognize, and name the different parts of our thinking and feeling.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares a brain-based tool to access greater calm, acceptance, and peace of mind. If you’re ready to think, act, and lead from a place of more clarity and understanding of yourself and others, press the play button now.

Relationships need trust to thrive. When there’s trust, relationships are easier, lighter, and more collaborative. When there’s a lack of trust, misperceptions and misunderstandings can take root.

Building trust takes clarity around expectations and perceived roles and responsibilities. While this often comes with time, there’s also a way to accelerate this clarity in a relationship – and that’s through communicating exactly what we want others to count on us for.

In this episode, Leadership Coach Deb Elbaum shares a phrase that, when asked and answered in “designing the alliance” conversations, can help more quickly bridge relationship gaps and build trust. If you’re ready to build or rebuild some key relationships in your life and work, press the play button now.

Full transcript at https://debelbaum.com/podcast/