Dave's Journal

Latest Episodes
Appeal to the Nobler Motive
I began my career working in a neighborhood education center. Early on in my new job, a parent called one day to inform us that her daughter, who was struggling with math, would not be continuing in our program. -
You’re Not Helping
A client reached out to me recently and shared a struggle he’s been having. - His organization is going through a difficult time — for reasons that have nothing to do with him, his team, or his part of the organization.
If You Can, Move Your Feet
This week, I’ve heard lots of bad news. This has included things like an unexpected layoff, dealing with a mental health challenge, losing a major business deal, and an unwanted result from a doctor. - The fact that bad things are happening in the wor...
Be a Stress Engineer
Years ago, I was instructing a training course for a group of engineers building fighter jets. During the introductions, several the participants introduced themselves as stress engineers. - I was curious what a stress engineer did,
The Irony of Selfishness
A decade ago, I responded to an inquiry from a new client who had reached out to talk about being more effective. - During our first meeting, it became increasingly apparent that he was working a lot. At some point in the conversation,
Get Your Emails Read
When I first started the Coaching for Leaders podcast back in 2011, it didn’t even occur to me to reach out to well known experts to appear on the show. - At some point after the first year, I got a little braver. (Not smarter, but braver.
Giving the Gift of Feedback
When I was about six years old, my dad bought a Tandy 1000 computer from Radio Shack as a Christmas gift for our family. - I remember learning how to use the floppy disks, how to connect the dot matrix printer,
Green Lights Always Change
Many years ago, I was standing in the lobby of a customer’s building, waiting between meetings. An employee I had worked with years earlier noticed me and stopped to say hello. - She explained that she was now working directly for one of the top peopl...
One Alternative to Standing Meetings
There have been many meetings I have attended in my professional life that have not lived up to the intention that was hoped for when someone first put that meeting on the calendar. - No meeting is more likely to cause this kind of disappointment than...
Who Says So Other Than You?
You may have discovered this journal because of the podcast I’ve hosted since 2011 called Coaching for Leaders. - Although for many years producing and hosting Coaching for Leaders was very much a hobby, the listening audience has grown quite substant...