ZENGER FOLKMAN

Why do so many capable professionals overestimate their effectiveness at work? And what are the hidden behaviors quietly limiting trust, credibility, communication, and career growth?

In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren sits down with Zenger Folkman co-founder Jack Zenger to explore new research on one of the most important drivers of professional growth: self-awareness. Drawing on data from thousands of individual contributors, they uncover a surprising gap between how employees view their own effectiveness and how their managers actually experience them.

BreAnne and Jack discuss the eight workplace behaviors people most commonly misjudge—including trust, communication, follow-through, initiative, and speaking up—and why these blind spots can stall development long before someone enters a leadership role. They also explore why traditional development programs often miss the mark and how organizations can begin building stronger contributors earlier through meaningful feedback and strengths-based development.

Whether you’re an individual contributor looking to accelerate your career or a leader responsible for developing talent, this episode offers practical insights on how greater self-awareness can become a powerful competitive advantage.

 Zenger Folkman’s new development experience, Extraordinary You, is designed to help individual contributors build strengths, increase self-awareness, and accelerate growth at every stage of their career.

1. Self-awareness is a competitive advantage.

2. Blind spots are more common than most people realize.

3. Feedback from others is more accurate than self-assessment alone.

4. Small behaviors have a big impact on reputation.

5. Development should start before leadership roles.

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.

The post Filling the Missing Gap in Early Career Development: Extraordinary You first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

Episode Description

In this episode of The 90th Percentile Podcast, BreAnne Okoren and Jack Zenger sit down with leadership expert Michelle Fabian to explore one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements of effective coaching: presence.

While many leadership coaching models focus on goal setting, performance gaps, and action plans, this conversation takes a different approach. Michelle shares why great coaching begins with trust, connection, and a deep understanding of the individual—not just the problem.

Grounded in Zenger Folkman’s research on strengths-based leadership development and data from over 1 million 360-degree assessments, this episode reveals what truly differentiates leaders who coach effectively.

You’ll learn practical coaching techniques to help leaders:

If you’re a leader, HR professional, coach, or facilitator looking to improve your leadership coaching skills, this episode offers a simple but powerful truth:

???? The best coaching conversations don’t start with answers—they start with presence

Key Learnings

1. Great Coaching Skills Start with Trust, Not Tools

Many leaders jump straight to goals and solutions. But effective leadership coaching begins with building trust and connection. Without it, even the best coaching techniques fall flat.

2. Presence Is One of the Most Critical Coaching Skills for Leaders

Being fully present—listening without distraction or agenda—is what allows leaders to uncover deeper issues like uncertainty, self-doubt, and competing priorities.

3. The Best Coaches Focus on the Person, Not Just the Problem

Strong coaching skills require understanding what motivates someone, where they feel confident, and where they feel stuck. This broader perspective leads to more meaningful and lasting development.

4. Effective Coaching Techniques Turn Insight into Action

Coaching isn’t about solving everything at once. The most effective leaders help others identify small, actionable next steps that build momentum and confidence over time.

5. Leadership Coaching Is About Asking, Not Telling

Zenger Folkman’s research shows that leaders who develop others effectively don’t rely on giving answers. Instead, they ask thoughtful questions that help individuals think more clearly and take ownership of their growth.

Webinar

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.

The post Coaching is Connection First— Why Presence Outperforms Advice first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.

In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with Kathleen Crenshaw and Christopher Bisgrove from Desert Financial Credit Union to explore how they are rethinking leadership development and investing in people. From building programs that reach leaders earlier in their careers to making learning opportunities more accessible, Desert Financial shares the principles and practices behind their growth. Their story highlights what it looks like when a financial institution prioritizes people as much as performance.

Key Points

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.

The post Episode 174: Making Development Popular with Desert Financial Credit Union first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.