Want to make more room for development? Try reading that room!

Next week, the 3rd edition of Help Them Grow of Watch Them Go will be available. Already it’s a #1 new release on Amazon. And we couldn’t be prouder – nor more grateful to everyone who ordered their copies early. ?

If you haven’t already secured your copy, please do it now . The special pre-order incentive of eight videos featuring Bev Kaye and me addressing a range of career development topics expires September 24.

How many times have you read a book and formed great intentions that never went anywhere? The challenge many of us experience when it comes to putting good ideas into practice is bridging the ‘knowing-doing’ gap. We might have the intellectual (book) knowledge but translating that into action can be tough.

So, we’ve created a book-bot, an AI-supported tool that readers of the new 3rd edition of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go can use to build the confidence they need to use what they learn from the book with their teams.

It’s a safe place where readers/leaders can plan for upcoming career conversations, get help structuring a dialogue with great questions, assess their skills and practices, brainstorm development opportunities, and even rehearse conversations in advance and get feedback that will help them be more effective.

We’re really excited about the role our book-bot can play in helping?elevate the career development experience of employees everywhere…. and it’s available free with the new 3rd edition of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go.

‘Read the room.’ It’s the perfect short-hand response to thoughtless or tone-deaf remarks that are out of sync with the tenor of a situation. In fact, ‘room reading’ is a core competency of highly effective people who understand that recognizing and leveraging the countless cues around them is the key to connecting with others – and with success in general.

Reading the room is when a negotiator picks up on an off-handed comment, understanding that it holds the seeds of shared interest. When a healthcare provider listens beyond the words to also hear the context of the patient’s disease. When a counselor senses there’s an important message hidden in that longer-than-usual pause.

Massimo Backus ?built his successful executive coaching practice on the radical idea that self-compassion is a leadership epiphany. This concept challenges the traditional belief that leaders must be less human to be effective. Through his coaching, group facilitation, speaking, and his upcoming book Human First, Leader Second,?Massimo is bringing his message of self-compassion to the C-suites of the Fortune 1000.

Human First, Leader Second ?shatters the myth that leadership must be hard-edged and perfection-driven, introducing a revolutionary 6-step framework for self-compassion. Drawing on the experiences of over 3,000 leaders and grounded in rigorous research, this book is a call to embrace the power of leading from the heart. It reveals how true leadership begins with self-kindness, demonstrating that compassion is a strength, not a weakness. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or a new leader, discover how self-care can transform your leadership and, ultimately, your impact on others.

In his article "Dear Humans Being Leaders ," Massimo explores?how traditional leadership's focus on relentless perfectionism fosters burnout and disconnection. It advocates for a shift towards self-compassionate leadership, emphasizing empathy, authenticity, and holistic well-being, creating environments where creativity, trust, and sustainable success can flourish.

In today's dynamic work environment, organizations that prioritize career development are not just supporting employee growth—they’re investing in their own success. As we move beyond outdated management models, it's clear that cultivating talent through meaningful career conversations and development opportunities is critical for retention, engagement, and performance. Read the article here .?

As the workplace evolves, so must our approach to learning and development. That’s why former client and now colleague Debbie Cotton and I wrote this article for the Association of Talent Development’s TD Magazine, Leverage Learning that’s Hidden in Plain Sight .

Discover the hidden power of "on-the-job learning," where every task you tackle becomes a chance to grow and develop. Unlike traditional, formal training methods that add to an employee’s already busy day, this approach uncovers the learning opportunities hidden within their daily responsibilities.

Whether it's solving a problem or meeting a deadline, each moment is packed with potential to build skills and boost confidence By being intentional and mindful, we all can transform routine work into a dynamic learning experience that drives both personal and professional growth—without adding more to our plates. Learn more about embedding growth right into the flow of your day – and your employees’!

It's been a busy podcasting season. Check out these recent interviews and make sure to subscribe and like the shows to ensure the hosts are able to make quality content available.

• The Innovative Learning Strategies Podcast
• The Sharing Economy
• Accidental Trainer - ATD
• My Work Fit
• TigerHall

My recent LinkedIn poll asked people about their favorite ways to get information. And here’s what you said.

Well, just because you asked for it, we’re serving up the new edition of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go in the ways that interest you most.

• The audiobook is currently in the works. Stay tuned.
• We’re excited to offer workshops (live and virtual) and interactive keynotes based on the concepts in our updated bestseller.

However you want to consume information and learn, we’ve got a way to ‘help you grow’!?

Thanks for reading,

Julie