The Long-Handled Screwdriver: Why Experts Make the Worst Micromanagers

What if the best coaching never happens in a booked one-hour session — but in the small, everyday moments most managers walk straight past?

In this episode of Corey-osity Unleashed, Debra and Ken Corey sit down with Gillian Jones-Williams — CEO, motivational speaker, author of 50 Top Tools for Coaching (now in its sixth edition), and 2024 Businesswoman of the Decade. Gillian left home at 17, built her firm Emerge Development Consultancy across three decades and multiple recessions, and was later diagnosed with bipolar and ADHD — a turning point that transformed how she helps leaders bring out the best in every kind of mind.

Together they unpack the "long-handled screwdriver" trap that catches technical managers, the ORACLE coaching model that refuses to solve the stated problem until it finds the real one, the surprising power of visualization, how to navigate the "parts conflict" pulling your head, heart and gut in different directions, and why curiosity is the bravest — and safest — thing a leader can do.

Practical, warm, and packed with tools you can use tomorrow.

Get the book: search "50 Top Tools for Coaching" on Amazon.

Connect with Gillian: emergeuk.com | LinkedIn (Gillian Jones-Williams)

Keywords: coaching, leadership, neurodiversity, ORACLE model, GROW model, micromanagement, visualization, parts conflict, DEI, curiosity, employee engagement, ADHD, executive coaching, coaching culture, inclusive leadership

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Gillian Jones-Williams

03:07 Gillian's Journey and Personal Challenges

06:02 The Evolution of Coaching

09:08 The Importance of Coaching in Leadership

11:58 Personalized Coaching Techniques

15:10 The Sixth Edition of 50 Top Tools

17:59 The Oracle Coaching Model

23:27 Unpacking the Oracle Model

29:16 Understanding Parts Conflict in Coaching

36:14 The Importance of Diverse Coaching Tools

41:03 Curiosity as a Key to Effective Leadership