MIT Coaching Video Column, Thinkers50, and Apprenticeship

"What is it like to sit across the table from you when you coach and advise? Give your 1 million LinkedIn followers what that feels like." This is the challenge my friend and mentor Ron Carucci posed to me a few years ago.

This is why I'm so excited to share my new #AskSanyin video column for MIT Sloan Management Review. We intentionally filmed these at my dining room table (yes, that's my kitchen in the background), because so much of my working together with executives or Duke University students starts with building trust and closing the distance.

All too often, we feel expected to put up a front, to show up only strong. But here, in order to grow and learn together, we need to be able to feel ourselves as we talk through challenges and opportunities. In this 4 minute video, I take a reader question - How Can We Make Meetings Less Painful - and build on that. And there's a twist in my perspective.?

Watch on to see. And then, let me know what you think. The launch of this ?quarterly video column comes at the one year anniversary of my quarterly print #MITSMR column Coaching for the Future Forward Leader.? Print readers can find the column on the last page of each issue.

What leadership questions are on your mind that we can explore in future columns? Write in comments or send them to me at: [email protected]

Induction into Thinkers50 Coaching Legends (Hall of Fame) and a reflection on apprenticeship and responsibility

This November, I was so moved to be inducted into the Thinkers50 Coaching Legends. And to be in this inaugural coaching hall of fame class with my beloved late mentor, Frances Hesselbein, late friend David Peterson, and friends such as Nankhonde Kasonde-van den Broek, Mark C. Thompson and legends such as Billy Campbell, Richard Boyatzis , and Gary Ranker….wow.

And this also made me reflect on the power of mentorship and the importance of apprenticeship.

I’m able to do what I do because of an army of amazing mentors, including my mom and dad, Sim Sitkin, L Gregory Jones, Sue Gordon Coach K, Janet Hill, Bob Brown, Deborah Lee James , and so many others.

Mentors help us to become who we aspire to be, through their wisdom, example and advocacy.

To learn and hone a craft to a level of sustained excellence also requires apprenticeship. The Guilds of old knew about this most powerful form of experiential learning - the Renaissance came to being through apprenticeship

.

In the craft of executive coaching, I’m so lucky to have apprenticed under two maestros- Marshall Goldsmith and Frank Wagner. Marshall taught me to read the fears and hopes of the human heart. Frank challenged me to create systems, codify, and scale.? In my work with them, I learned by observing, doing, analyzing and debriefing in context.

This honor deepens my sense of responsibility to elevate the craft and profession with a community who are responding to a calling- that of knowledge and people development in the service of society.

And for many in this community, they do it even when wrestling with the emotional toil of the personal consequences of wars, with familial challenges and personal health issues. To help when it’s hard, that requires love.?

So while I may be an inductee, this honor is really a testament to the collective efforts of our profession and community.. And I’m humbled to journey together to continue to elevate our craft in service of society. Together, we are only getting started.

As part of Thinkers50, I was also recognized among Top 50 Global Management Influencers for the second time. To be in the company of influential thinkers like Amy Edmondson, Rita McGrath, Whitney Johnson, Linda Hill, Hubert Joly, Liz Wiseman, Megan Reitz, Scott Anthony, Adam Grant, Dan Pink, Sheena Iyengar, and others is truly humbling.

Referred to as the "Oscars of Management" by the Financial Times, Thinkers50 is the leading worldwide rating of management thinkers. Congratulations to Thinkers50 co-founders Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove on another successful gathering. ?In an age when technology has shifted power from institutions to individuals, and AI is making knowledge and expertise into commodities, it’s the curation, connection and the cross-pollination of ideas and people that will be the source of value creation.? What Stuart and Des did 22 years ago is the doubling down on that in creating an impactful community.

Leadership Playbook: Superpowers

For leadership insights different from what you find here, and to continue to empower you with the tools to build your leadership playbook, subscribe to my Leadership Playbook: Superpowers newsletter.