Ep. 023 Interview Series: Bernard Kates on Life Coach Skills for Leaders

Business Breaks - All Things Business

Guest Bio:

Bernard Kates is a skilled leader and coach who helps people discover their true purpose and desires. With a focus on people over profits, Bernard emphasizes the importance of leading with empathy and understanding, rather than just rules and procedures. He understands that coaching is key to unlocking people's full potential, and strives to help his clients achieve their goals in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling. As a leader in the business world, Bernard knows that success relies on nurturing his team and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

Bernard's LinkedIn profile:

Bernard Kates | LinkedIn

Bernard's website:

Bernard Kates.com | Coaching. Mentoring. Leading.

Episode Summary: Leading Teams with Life Coach Skills

Encouraging Conversations Among Team Members

- Challenges of engaging quiet or disengaged participants

- Clear boundaries and respect for each other to avoid resentment and talking over each other

- Dealing with troublemakers privately and with care to show empathy

Managing Friction Between Team Members

- Coaching is not a one-size-fits-all approach

- Providing perspective, reflection and reframing, and managing small wins to create a virtuous circle of change

- Timeless principles, such as motivating people, conveying vision and clarity, and convincing people that change is for the better, are crucial

The Value of Respect and Leadership Styles

- The speaker's experience taking over a team from a previous autocratic leader

- Different people are motivated differently, and leadership styles vary

- Resentment is corrosive and needs to be addressed proactively

Coaching for Self-Improvement and Effective Leadership

- Injecting a positive culture takes time

- Micromanaging may be necessary at times

- Good relationships with the team are necessary, but decisions may upset some

- Identifying weaknesses and strengths of the team and individual members

- Coaching helps individuals understand themselves better

Building Trust and Maintaining Leadership

- Honesty, transparency, and humility are critical in building trust with employees

- Communication is the key to effective leadership, and it should be a two-way conversation

- Life coach skills, such as communication and active listening, can be helpful in leadership positions

Motivating Teams and Achieving Success

- Leaders must strive to motivate their team members to work towards a common goal willingly

- Recruiting the right people for the team and delegating tasks to them

- Creating a psychologically safe environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their opinions without fear of ridicule or criticism

- Encouraging respectful disagreement to consider different viewpoints

- Enabling the collective intelligence of the team to achieve success

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