Author Archives: Denise Federer

6 Steps to Become an Inclusive Leader

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Denise Federer

“Inclusive leadership” may sound like a hastily thrown-together cliché, but in reality, it’s a proven-successful approach to leadership that companies are quickly adopting. But what is it? According to diversity expert-T. Hudson Jordan, Director of Global Diversity and Talent Strategies Pitney Bowes, defines inclusiveness as “creating an environment of involvement, respect and connections where the richness of ideas, backgrounds and perspectives are harnessed to create business value.” Inclusive leadership is not “diversity” of people. It’s diversity of people, thought and attitudes. Research has shown … Read More >

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Investing in Potential

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Denise Federer

Why family-owned businesses should invest in leadership development Your business goes as your leadership goes. Leadership can either buoy a business or sink it. Finding (and keeping) good leaders is paramount to success. That’s why large corporations and many privately-owned businesses make significant investments in the development of future leadership. Family-owned businesses, however, lag behind in this regard. That’s because many family businesses have a pre-ordained leader waiting in the wings, usually another family member. Effective leaders, however, aren’t chosen—they’re made. Leadership development programs … Read More >

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7 Steps for Turning Prospects into Clients

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Denise Federer

Keeping the Entrepreneurial Approach Alive for the Next Generation Entrepreneurs are a rare breed. They are visionaries who exude both excitement and confidence in their ideas and their companies. In my career in business coaching, almost every entrepreneur I’ve worked with has a magnetism that can’t be faked—and that can rarely be replicated. As entrepreneurs move towards retirement (or, more likely, their next project), the challenge for the next generation of leadership is retaining the spirit of the trailblazers that came before them, and … Read More >

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Why Legacy Is the Key to a Smooth Transition for Family Businesses

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Denise Federer

As you may have heard, the world’s most popular television show, Game of Thrones, is in the midst of its final season. The show—if you are one of the approximately 15 people on the planet who has not seen it—has an overriding theme of family and the importance of family legacy. Much of the characters’ motivation is derived from creating or leaving a legacy. The concept of legacy—in the show and in real life—is both abstract and incredibly powerful. And for family businesses in … Read More >

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Using Psychological Learning Principles to Motivate Your Team

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Denise Federer

Motivating employees is, in a word, complicated—especially in the modern world. I can’t tell you how often in my work as a performance coach I deal with business owners who are frustrated by their inability to properly motivate their employees to perform and to adhere to their company’s culture. The generation gap is often labeled as the culprit, but in essence, it all comes down to communication—or lack thereof. Good communication leads to good results, but good communication isn’t that easy to execute. As … Read More >

Posted in Advice, Articles, Blog Posts, Company Culture, Leadership, Performance | Tagged Business Coaching Tips | Leave a comment