Tonya Echols

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To effectively run a business, it’s important that leaders keep their stakeholders informed on all relevant matters. The ability to clearly communicate is critical to a CEO’s success, but with so many people and priorities to keep track of, it can be difficult to make sure everyone gets the information they need, when they need it. A multitude of issues can unfold when key internal or external parties aren’t in the know, from a lack of trust to low morale and high turnover. Below, members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss steps a chief executive can take to avoid these challenges, keep their stakeholders well-informed and ensure all stakeholders are on the same page. 

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It is a common misconception that business leaders must be extroverted to have a positive impact on their team and their company. In reality, all personality types have the ability to leverage their innate talents to lead and grow a business. For people who identify as introverts, for instance, natural inclinations toward quiet self-reflection and one-on-one conversations can be major strengths in a leadership position. Below, 16 members of Forbes Coaches Council outline ways for introverted leaders to embrace, hone and lean on their inner strengths to build successful companies and teams.

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Stakeholders are the heart of every business. From customers and employees to shareholders and investors, these are the people who provide your business with the practical and financial support it needs to thrive.  In return for their loyalty and support, stakeholders expect to be kept in the loop and look forward to seeing the company grow. That’s why it’s crucial for leaders to work out a system that keeps their stakeholders informed of the most important company news.  Here, professionals from Forbes Coaches Council discuss how they would help a client who is an entrepreneurial or executive leader figure out a system to communicate more effectively with all of their stakeholders.

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Creating and cultivating a culture that fosters employee satisfaction and high morale takes significant effort when team members are working together in the same physical location. When you're leading an all-remote team—especially for the first time—it can seem a daunting task to maintain a cohesive culture that truly supports the team. It takes a lot of intentional effort and open communication to build and sustain a positive, supportive remote culture, but as many organizations have shown, it can be done. Fortunately, there are proven practices, as well as communication platforms and organizational tools, that leaders can leverage to deepen connections and boost morale among their remote team members. Here, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss the most important aspects of organizational culture leaders of remote teams should focus on in 2022. 

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Rather than issuing edicts, now is the time to foster inclusion and collaboration to devise a plan that factors in the needs of both the people and the organization.

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Every once in a while, a coach encounters a difficult client who resists counsel, doesn't follow through and seems to test your patience at every turn. There are likely one or more underlying issues that are fueling this client's apathy (or even defiance). As a coach, it's important to get to the bottom of the situation and either find new ways to get through to the client or respectfully part ways. When a client behaves arrogantly or doesn't seem to listen, it may mean that they're unwilling to put in the effort an effective coaching relationship requires. In that case, it's up to the coach to determine the best next steps. Here, 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council weigh in with their best advice on how to handle a client who doesn't seem to listen well or follow through on matters you've discussed with them.

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Leaders and entrepreneurs in today's business world are expected to wear many hats and have an understanding of various aspects of business subject matters. This fact often requires them to master difficult subjects in a short time frame, whether it's information about a new industry, the economy, marketing or technical programs. There are several tricks and tips one can follow when faced with the task of having to master a difficult or unfamiliar subject quickly. Below, 12 professionals from Forbes Coaches Council share the most powerful hacks that clients can follow when they need to do just that.

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As the holiday season winds down and business operations return to normal, January is the perfect time to reflect, regroup and set yourself up for success in the new year. Every working professional, regardless of level or position, can get organized and set goals to keep themselves motivated and productive throughout the year. As January approaches, coaches have the opportunity to guide their clients into a successful new year. Below, 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council share the best things that every professional can do to set themselves up for success in the coming year. 

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Despite decades of research showing a direct correlation between happiness in the workplace and business success, there are still a lot of managers out there whose behaviors and actions are problematic. It’s tough to show up for a job you’re not happy to go to, especially when you know you could be more satisfied and motivated in your role if your manager would adjust their processes and bad attitude toward employees.  Maybe you’ve noticed an issue with your manager but don’t know how to approach them about it; or maybe you’re afraid to because you’re worried about being retaliated against or losing your job. Read on for expert advice from 13 members of Forbes Coaches Council on how to effectively deliver helpful, honest feedback to your manager.

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When companies publish job opportunities, they sometimes forget that the interview process goes both ways. People with a great deal of talent and ambition know what they’re worth, and they won’t settle for mediocre positions or work for companies that don’t measure up to their high standards.  If you’ve been having trouble attracting good talent, it may be time to step back and consider the reasons why the most talented job seekers are not prioritizing your business as an employment option. Below, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council share their expert opinions to help you figure out what your company can do differently to attract the best candidates.

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Self-promotion is a challenge for professionals in every industry. While it’s difficult to know what the “right” way to promote oneself is, when you achieve the correct balance, effective self-promotion can increase your visibility, build your reputation and move you closer to achieving your career goals. To help those struggling to find the right tone to use or approach to take, these experts from Forbes Coaches Council examine 14 things professionals should avoid doing when promoting themselves to ensure success.

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There’s no denying that Covid-19 has hit families and businesses hard. However, it has also introduced new opportunities that may never have been discovered in a pre-pandemic world. As leaders around the world seek out innovative solutions to deal with changes the pandemic has forced upon their businesses, they are noticing some bright spots they didn’t expect to see. Despite the challenges of 2020, many members of Forbes Coaches Council and their clients have experienced unexpected silver linings while living, working and running a business in the Covid-19 era. We asked them to share some of these stories, and here are 11 to inspire you and prove that, even in the darkest of times, there’s still light to be found.

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Since the pandemic began earlier this year, many professionals have experienced feelings of grief, whether in their personal lives or at work. As a leader, one of the most important things you can do is to learn how to support your employees and help them navigate challenging times. Working through feelings of grief and mourning with your team can not only improve everyone’s mental health and overall satisfaction, but can also provide valuable insights to help you become a better leader. Below, the members of Forbes Coaches Council share 16 important lessons that business leaders can glean from the principles of grief management.

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Working from home can pose unique challenges for professionals in every industry. As many companies have learned this year, some fully-remote team members may find it more difficult to stay engaged when they’re surrounded by the distractions of home. Others tend to overwork and lose touch with their teammates without the typical office interactions they’re accustomed to having. Remote work requires self-discipline, but you can do it successfully while staying highly engaged with your team if you use the right strategies. If you’re struggling to stay focused and productive in your home office, check out these 12 suggestions from the members of Forbes Coaches Council.

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Diversity is as good for the business world as it is for the biological world. We’ve all seen the studies and statistics that continue to prove this fact, but how much have you focused on building diversity into your own professional network?  If the connections you’ve made so far aren’t as diverse as you think they could be (or should be), consider branching out. Building trust and credibility with a wider variety of individuals helps you access broader cross-sections of your own industry and others. We asked Forbes Coaches Council why having a diverse professional network is so beneficial and how to go about building one. Below, 11 members offer powerful reasons for seeking out diverse connections in your network and effective ways to do it.

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With so many modern businesses relying on technological tools and systems, demand for professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is at an all-time high. Recruiting top STEM talent to work at your small tech company can seem impossible when giants like Google and Microsoft have the resources to make irresistible job offers. You may not have all the same perks as bigger competitors, but there are smart ways to go about recruiting the industry’s best and brightest. To help, we asked members of Forbes Coaches Council about what tech startups can do to compete with the big-tech behemoths and attract high-quality STEM candidates. See their best suggestions below.

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To maintain long-term success, organizations have to continually adjust to consumer behavior, and the longer a business remains in operation, the more likely it is that its customers’ tastes will change. As an entrepreneur, if you seek longevity and healthy, sustainable growth for your company, it is essential to stay up to date on what your customers need and want. The only way your business can remain relevant is by always striving to better meet those needs.  How do entrepreneurs keep a grasp of their customers’ ever-evolving preferences? Thirteen experts from Forbes Coaches Council share their suggestions for entrepreneurs who want to figure out what their customers really need.

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Entrepreneurs deal with risk daily. In fact, taking risks is probably what got you to this point. The biggest risks stand to bring the greatest rewards, but failing to properly assess possible impacts to your business is like entering into a potentially dangerous scenario blindfolded. Ideally, you want to have as much information as possible to understand what you’re getting into before deciding. Here, 12 experts from Forbes Coaches Council look at the most vital bits of information that entrepreneurs need to weigh to determine whether or not a project or investment is worth the risk.

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Would you hire a construction company to build your dream home without any blueprints? Chances of reaching success with that approach are slim. That’s exactly what business owners who haven’t focused on creating a mission statement are doing, though: expecting customers to buy into what they’re offering without all of the information they need to make a decision. Before customers will come to trust and believe in your company, they need to know what drives its existence and how. A mission statement clarifies what you do, who you are, and why you formed your business, mapping out the path you'll take to reach your vision. A killer mission statement tells potential customers how the business does so in a way that makes them feel confident getting behind it and becoming a part of your bigger picture. To help, we asked Forbes Coaches Council members how business owners should go about crafting a mission statement that will resonate with potential customers. Here's what they suggested.

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In business, a crisis could always be lurking right around the corner and hit without warning at any time. Because such events are unexpected by definition—often impossible to imagine, much less predict—company leaders must develop solid plans for quickly responding to any crisis that might arise to ensure that their businesses can survive and continue to thrive.  Crises can come in so many different forms that creating a comprehensive plan to deal with every issue you might encounter isn't a viable option. Fortunately, smart leaders understand how to build a flexible crisis management strategy that can be adapted to meet their needs in swiftly evolving situations. Here, 14 members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss steps you can take to design and implement an effective crisis management strategy for your company.

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The business world is unique in how the people within it relate to each other. Building trust is essential. Yet the goals, actions, and events that drive strong, thriving professional connections aren’t necessarily the same ones you rely on to forge and deepen personal relationships. Sound confusing? Luckily, certain aspects of the two endeavors do overlap. With a little practice and some simple tweaks, you can leverage the relationship-building skills you’ve mastered in your private life while you’re at work, not only to strengthen critical partnerships, but also to nurture new customer and client relationships.  To learn how, explore the different ways these members of Forbes Coaches Council recommend leaders prepare to build the most meaningful business relationships.

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If you’re questioning your current career path and everything you’ve been working toward, you may be experiencing a life crisis. While this time can feel uncertain and defeating, you’re not alone. Many people go through crises at various points in their life and make it through the other side with a renewed sense of purpose and self-understanding. If you’re experiencing a life crisis and currently in doubt about your decisions, try these tips from the members of Forbes Coaches Council to successfully navigate this challenging, but potentially freeing phase in your career.

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The youngest baby boomers, born in the mid-1960s, are rapidly approaching retirement age. As these experienced leaders enter their golden years, employers must plan ahead and have a strategy in place to fill the coming leadership gaps in their organization.  While each generation operates differently in the workplace and brings something unique to the table, leadership must still remain strong for the business to maintain success. That’s why we asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members what strategic approaches employers can take to start the process of developing the next level of leaders. Their best answers are below.

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Networking today looks a lot different than it did a year ago. In the COVID-19 era, large conferences and indoor gatherings are off-limits for the foreseeable future, and there aren’t as many opportunities to meet new contacts in person. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still network. There are countless opportunities to meet people virtually, and when done the right way, it can be just as effective as in-person networking. To help you, we asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members what common mistakes people should avoid when networking virtually. Steer clear of these 15 faux pas when you're connecting with industry peers and prospective clients online.

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I choose in this moment to set an example, help others develop and continue to speak up for what I believe in order to support the equality and freedoms all humans have a right to experience.

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A company is a joint effort among its employees. However, some employees may feel uncomfortable sharing what's on their minds. When this happens, the company suffers, since their input might encourage significant change in the business. It's up to managers to help employees feel comfortable enough to share their insight with the company. Encouragements to speak shouldn't be forceful, but rather help the employee relax so that they don't feel pressured. A more relaxed and welcoming environment is conducive to getting these employees to share. These 15 professionals from Forbes Coaches Council take a look at how managers can encourage shy staff to be more vocal about what they're thinking.

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When you’re faced with a challenging business decision, it can be difficult to know where to turn for guidance. One of the best guiding forces a leader can follow is their company's values. Values-based decision-making ensures that everyone in the organization understands why a choice was made, and how it reflects the overall mission of the company. To help you follow this practice, we asked members of Forbes Coaches Council how leaders can incorporate values-based decision making into their company. Their best responses are below.

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As a coach, your instinct is to help and mentor as many people as possible. However, attracting great clients is about quality over quantity. Your working relationship won't be as effective if the two of you are not a good fit for each other. If you’re just starting out as a coach it can be challenging to find those right-fit clients. That's why we asked members of Forbes Coaches Council the methods new coaches can use to identify and attract their ideal clients. Their best responses are below.

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As a business, you likely gather feedback from customers to help you run your business better or improve your products. Your employees can have beneficial insights, too, and getting their feedback is just as valuable. When you know what your employees are thinking and feeling, you can create a better overall experience for them and ideally, keep them at your company for the long-term. We asked members of Forbes Coaches Council the best way to get valuable feedback from employees. Try their recommended strategies when you're seeking your staff's opinion.

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One of the biggest challenges of being a leader is communicating effectively with a variety of stakeholders. Even the most competent leaders can sometimes have difficulties communicating with their clients, teams and supervisors. However, honing your communication skills and learning how to get your message across clearly is the key to successful leadership. To help, we asked members of Forbes Coaches Council what common communication problems they see among business leaders. Here are 15 issues they've spotted and how they recommend correcting and overcoming them.

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Feedback is an incredibly valuable tool that can help your employees grow and reach their full potential. But it can have the opposite effect if that feedback is pointed and negative. There’s a fine line between constructive criticism and harmful criticism, and as a leader and a colleague, it's important to understand the difference. We asked members of Forbes Coaches Council where they draw the line, and how to spot unhelpful feedback so you can alter your approach. Their best responses are below.

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To be agile is to be quick and alert. It’s an ideal quality in a leader, when paired with intelligence and foresight. Being an agile leader can be a great advantage, so we asked the members of Forbes Coaches Council what being an "agile leader" means to them. We also asked them why agility is important in the business landscape. Here's how they define agile leadership, and how this management style can impact your current and future success.

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A successful executive must be able to simultaneously oversee and manage multiple areas of the company. It can be challenging to ensure that all departments are running smoothly and receive the focus they need, especially since some areas require more time and attention than others. However, it's important to get organized and optimize your processes as a leader so you can meet this challenge head-on. To help you, we asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members to identify the areas of business they felt executives tended to overlook. Read on to learn which areas of business they believe executives should focus on, and why.

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Launching your own coaching business is no easy feat, and taking on that first client can be both exciting and terrifying. New coaches are often faced with "impostor syndrome" and may feel like they don't know what they're doing. If you feel this way too, you're not alone. The members of Forbes Coaches Council have gained a lot of experience working with clients over their careers, but they certainly didn't know everything on day one. We asked 16 members to share one thing they wish they'd known when they took on their first client. Read on for the coaching lessons they've learned a long the way.

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Bullying in the workplace is a regrettably common phenomenon. In a 2017 national survey, 19% of respondents reported being bullied at work, and another 19% have witnessed it firsthand. While some perpetrators may purposely treat others unkindly, others may not even be aware that their words and actions are being viewed as "bullying." If an executive client is unwittingly perceived as a bully by their peers, you’ll need to support them in building their self-awareness. Below, the members of Forbes Coaches Council share 16 strategies you can use to help your client develop this important skill.

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As a coaching professional in a potentially crowded market, it’s important to create a competitive pricing structure so you can attract clients. However, you also want to set prices that accurately reflect the time, energy and value you’re giving to your clients. There are many ways to set your prices for your coaching services, and the ideal pricing model for you will depend on your market, your experience and your ideal client. We asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members to share their insights and strategies for setting their prices. Here are their top recommendations.

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Many don’t realize how much they learned throughout their years of education. You retain more information than you might think from your high school and college years, and you often carry it well into your career. Valuable insight you’ve gained as a student can help propel your professional life forward in ways you never anticipated. That’s why we asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members what lessons they learned throughout their years as students and how it’s helped them become better professionals. Here’s what they had to say.

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We all face failure at one point or another, whether it’s at work or in our personal lives. When you’ve experienced a major failure, finding the strength to move forward can be one of the most difficult parts of the process. The members of Forbes Coaches Council have experience their fair share of setbacks -- and they've learned how to recover and keep going. If you’re facing a major failure, all hope is not lost. Read on for the Council’s best advice on picking yourself back up, then coming back stronger and better than before.

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Procrastination is productivity’s worst enemy. Waiting until the last minute can lead to unfinished or subpar work, especially if the assignment is more labor-intensive than you anticipated. Nearly everyone puts off tasks from time to time, but chronic procrastination can be seriously detrimental to your work performance. Sure, you know procrastination is bad -- but how do you move past it? If you’re looking for ways to become more focused and productive at work, try these 15 tips from the members of Forbes Coaches Council.

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Organization is key to successful client management. But as you start taking on more clients, it can become more difficult to remember every detail. As successful business and career coaches, the members of Forbes Coaches Councilknow firsthand how important it is to keep track of each unique client and their needs. Fortunately, there many tools available to make this process more manageable. Read on for their top recommendations for client scheduling and organization software.

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As company leaders, executives should represent their company well across all platforms, including social media. Since executives are often more visible in the public eye than lower-level employees, both their personal and professional profiles can be more easily viewed (and scrutinized). The members of Forbes Coaches Council know the importance of a positive social media presence for leaders, as well as how to maintain it. Below, they share 13 things every C-suite social media profile should have.

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Today, creating a work environment that keeps pace with tech developments is essential to staying afloat in business. But as a leader, you’ll want to ensure you’re also being cognizant of your employees’ ability to adapt to such changes. To help you strike the right balance, we asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members for their best advice on this topic. Here’s what they recommend business leaders do to stay nimble and tech-forward while helping employees adjust well to any new changes.

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Entrepreneurship is an ever-changing journey with twists, turns and constant change. You’re always learning, adapting and most importantly, growing. While a formal education is great for a business owner to have, there are other experiences that might better prepare you for the endeavor. We asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members to share the most valuable forms of education an entrepreneur can receive. Their best answers are below.

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Working remotely is becoming more common among today's professionals. The convenience of being able to work from anywhere allows for more flexibility, greater work-life balance and can even increase productivity. However, when employees are spread out, it becomes more difficult to create a sense of teamwork. We asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members to share their strategies for building company culture and improving morale in an all-remote team. Their best responses are below.

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Anyone who’s ever worked with a personal or professional coach will tell you it’s much easier to stay on top of your goals and milestones when they’re documented. While handwritten lists work well for some, many people prefer to use one of the countless available technology tools designed for this very purpose. The members of Forbes Coaches Council often use apps and programs to set and track goals for themselves and their clients. Below, 11 of them shared their favorite goal-setting app, and how it has helped them or their clients better themselves.

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To be a great leader, you must be resilient in the face of setbacks. Resilient individuals can adapt to big changes, remain calm under pressure and guide their team through challenging periods -- all of which are key to the continued success of a company. That’s why it’s important for business leaders to practice and build this skill. To help you do this, we asked the experts of Forbes Coaches Council to share strategies and practices for leaders to adopt to become more resilient. Their best answers are below.

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Being asked to mentor someone can feel like an honor -- but it can also feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially if you’ve never had a mentee before. You might question whether you’re even qualified to guide this person in their career. However, every expert must start somewhere. We asked 14 members of Forbes Coaches Council to share their best advice for first-time mentors on how to take on a mentor-mentee relationship. Here’s how they recommend becoming a successful role model to your new mentee.

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Innovation is vital to a company’s growth, but it doesn't come without risk. There are certain times where taking that risk is warranted, but in other cases sticking with standard is the best path of action. As an entrepreneur, you’ll need to make some difficult calls, including when it’s best to hold back rather than try something new. But how do you determine when staying the course is the right choice? Below, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council share some clear signs that you should stick with the status quo.

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The start of a new year is a chance to be ambitious and set big goals for the first quarter. Sometimes, things don't go as expected and those goals go uncompleted. A disappointing quarter can be discouraging, but it's important to reflect on what didn't work and develop a plan to move forward. That's why we asked 12 Forbes Coaches Council members what advice they would give businesses that want to pick themselves up and get back on track for a successful next quarter. Below they shared their best strategies for bouncing back in Q2.

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As a leader, your job is to guide and inspire your team. Your staff may often turn to you for insights – but leaders aren't perfect. You won't always have the answer to every question or problem, and that's OK. However, it can be difficult to accept this fallibility when you're accountable to your team. We asked a panel of Forbes Coaches Council members to share their advice for leaders who need to get more comfortable not always having the answer. Their best responses are below.

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Every business owner craves instant success and growth. Some are lucky enough to achieve that -- but there are downsides to growing too quickly. Keeping up with quality and demand can be a challenge, despite the increasing sales numbers. That's why we asked the members of Forbes Coaches Council to share some telltale signs that a company is growing too quickly. Here's what they had to say, and why they believe such rapid growth is a negative rather than a positive.

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The prospect of working with a new client is thrilling, but not every business partnership is a worthwhile endeavor. Whether you simply don’t provide the services they truly need, or you don’t think the relationship would be a good fit, you may find you need to turn away a prospect who wants to work with you. During their careers, the members of Forbes Coaches Council have successfully navigated the tricky waters of client relations, including the art of professional rejection. Below, 15 of them share their best advice for tactfully turning down a client.

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