John Whitehead MA, CEC, PCC
@johnkwhitehead.bsky.social
I am a Certified Executive & leadership Coach (ICF) who helps leaders be heard and understood
Pay attention to how your team reacts to your story, especially if they become quiet or their body language indicates they are uncomfortable, Dunn cautions. Check in with them and refocus on your intention to share a lesson through your story.
Trauma Dumping vs Testimony: Share Stories That Inspire, Not Overwhelm
Stop overwhelming people with your personal stories. Learn how to transform painful experiences into inspiring testimonies that create connection and hope.
buff.ly
December 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Pay attention to how your team reacts to your story, especially if they become quiet or their body language indicates they are uncomfortable, Dunn cautions. Check in with them and refocus on your intention to share a lesson through your story.
Being genuinely present with another person builds trust, creates connection and improves communication, Vanourek writes. "What people really want from you when they're with you is your presence -- your full and undivided attention. Signs of focus and care."
How to Be More Present with People
Struggling to connect? Learn what presence is, why it matters, the barriers to it, and 8 ways to be more present with people.
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Being genuinely present with another person builds trust, creates connection and improves communication, Vanourek writes. "What people really want from you when they're with you is your presence -- your full and undivided attention. Signs of focus and care."
December 22, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Design your rituals around transition points in your day by arranging your desk before you start work or taking a moment to breathe deeply before big meetings, Le Cunff suggests.
Why your brain needs everyday rituals
Rituals serve psychological functions that go far beyond mere habit or tradition.
buff.ly
December 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Design your rituals around transition points in your day by arranging your desk before you start work or taking a moment to breathe deeply before big meetings, Le Cunff suggests.
Begin now to cultivate a culture of positive feedback, McLeod advises. "At your next team meeting, facilitate a conversation about how to encourage positive feedback and help colleagues recognize and appreciate each other's contributions."
Future You Will Thank You: How to Prep for Next Year’s Performance Reviews Now | Chatsworth Consulting Group
by Robyn McLeod | Dec 4, 2025 | Thoughtful Leadership | 0 comments
buff.ly
December 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Begin now to cultivate a culture of positive feedback, McLeod advises. "At your next team meeting, facilitate a conversation about how to encourage positive feedback and help colleagues recognize and appreciate each other's contributions."
If you've made every effort to shift the tone of the conversation but nothing changes, it's time to walk away, Hale says. "There's absolutely no shame in stepping away from a toxic political conversation. You're simply done expending energy on a conversation going nowhere ... and that's ok."
How to Respond to Political Putdowns | Crucial Learning
Don’t sit silently when someone attacks or labels you. Silence sends the message that it’s okay. You don’t have to fight back—just name what’s happening.
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
If you've made every effort to shift the tone of the conversation but nothing changes, it's time to walk away, Hale says. "There's absolutely no shame in stepping away from a toxic political conversation. You're simply done expending energy on a conversation going nowhere ... and that's ok."
ICF also supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
December 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
ICF also supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
"Approach each AI interaction as an opportunity to exercise leadership -- to develop the judgment and coordination skills that define the orchestrator's role."
The Vanishing Sense of “I Did This”
As AI takes over cognitive tasks, knowledge workers face a crisis of meaning. Finding fulfillment requires redefining what makes work worthwhile.
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
"Approach each AI interaction as an opportunity to exercise leadership -- to develop the judgment and coordination skills that define the orchestrator's role."
December 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
SMART Goals Aren’t Enough
SMART Goals Aren’t Enough
Discover why SMART goals alone aren't enough and learn strategies to make your goal-setting more impactful for better employee engagement and success.
buff.ly
December 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
SMART Goals Aren’t Enough
Generosity becomes a competitive advantage when it is small, consistent and intentional," Shembra writes. That means quietly mentoring others, going the extra mile for customers and sharing credit publicly, which builds relationships and loyalty, Schembra adds
The Courage to Give in a Take-First Economy
Companies don’t just need better strategies; they need a better way of being.
buff.ly
December 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Generosity becomes a competitive advantage when it is small, consistent and intentional," Shembra writes. That means quietly mentoring others, going the extra mile for customers and sharing credit publicly, which builds relationships and loyalty, Schembra adds
You make poor decisions when you get angry, and that can result in low team morale, stalled innovation and job dissatisfaction, Rockwell writes. "Frustration is a signal, not a solution. It says something is wrong."
Anger: Your Fierce Ally - Leadership Freak
Anger is a Check-Engine Light The idea that anger is bad is poppycock. Feelings are information. Frustration is the most informative. Hot emotions are a check-engine light. Yellow calls for…
buff.ly
December 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
You make poor decisions when you get angry, and that can result in low team morale, stalled innovation and job dissatisfaction, Rockwell writes. "Frustration is a signal, not a solution. It says something is wrong."
Instead of telling yourself that you "have to" run a meeting or make a call, Martin recommends reframing those tasks as things you "get to" do. "It transforms responsibility into opportunity. And when I lead from that mindset, my team feels it. Clients feel it."
Lead From The Inside Out: 3 Habits That Keep Me Centered And Ahead
Leadership begins not with quarterly strategy or annual targets, but with the habits we choose every day.
buff.ly
December 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Instead of telling yourself that you "have to" run a meeting or make a call, Martin recommends reframing those tasks as things you "get to" do. "It transforms responsibility into opportunity. And when I lead from that mindset, my team feels it. Clients feel it."
Short - Avoiding Negative Traps
December 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Short - Avoiding Negative Traps
December 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM
ICF supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
December 7, 2025 at 5:20 PM
ICF supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
You don't have to wait to walk away until you've hit a wall in your thinking, Robertson writes; you can do it any time to get a fresh perspective. "That's how most of us think of walking away -- as something done under duress or pressure, as an occasional thing.
Want to be a better leader? Walk away - SmartBrief
When you walk away -- not just when a situation gets frustrating -- it's easier to get a new perspective and ideas, writes Larry Robertson.
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
You don't have to wait to walk away until you've hit a wall in your thinking, Robertson writes; you can do it any time to get a fresh perspective. "That's how most of us think of walking away -- as something done under duress or pressure, as an occasional thing.
Science Says Super-Achievers Don't Set Avoidance Goals. Here's Why Successful People Set Approach Goals
buff.ly
December 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Science Says Super-Achievers Don't Set Avoidance Goals. Here's Why Successful People Set Approach Goals
This week's Vlog is about something simple but powerful—positive imagery. You might be surprised how much it can shape your attitude and your results at work.
#leadership, #appreciativeinquiry,
#leadership, #appreciativeinquiry,
Using Positive Imagery for Leadership Success
YouTube video by John Whitehead
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
This week's Vlog is about something simple but powerful—positive imagery. You might be surprised how much it can shape your attitude and your results at work.
#leadership, #appreciativeinquiry,
#leadership, #appreciativeinquiry,
ICF supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
December 2, 2025 at 5:20 PM
ICF supports coaches with resources and a global network, enhancing their skills and opportunities. By maintaining these standards, the ICF fosters trust and growth in the coaching industry. hashtag#CoachingExcellence
December 1, 2025 at 6:06 PM
How much trust am I really building? Not as a judgment, but as an honest check-in with yourself.
The Trust Audit
Learn how to conduct a trust audit to strengthen team communication, foster openness, and enhance leadership effectiveness.
buff.ly
November 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
How much trust am I really building? Not as a judgment, but as an honest check-in with yourself.