Leadership Blog

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From Incite to Leadership founder and CEO Jo Ilfeld, read the latest on strategic vision, leading change amid complexity, and honing the way you communicate and collaborate with others. Get resources, practical strategies, research, and more.

Are You Feeling Unappreciated At Work?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 15, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on feeling unappreciated the image shows a disillusioned woman staring at her computer screen.

Do you ever find yourself feeling unappreciated at work? In a recent conversation with a client, we celebrated her business’s remarkable growth, the accomplishments of her team, and the successful implementation of numerous Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that were absent just a few years ago. As we talked, we discussed how important it is not…

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Workplace Relationships: Make Connections Not Transactions

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 8, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on transactional relationships at work the image shows a woman in front of a laptop with her head in her hands.

Do you have those people that your stomach just drops every time you see an email or a phone call from them? Those whose messages induce a feeling of dread? These are the people who only reach out when they need something.  It’s a very transactional relationship that is often a request for your time…

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Mastering the Art of Effective Feedback: The SBI Technique

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | November 1, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on feedback the image shows a man talking to another male across a desk with a laptop in between them.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to provide feedback to a colleague but struggled with how to formulate it? My executive coaching clients often express to me how giving feedback can be challenging. This is also a topic that frequently arises in my teaching and workshops, particularly those centered around…

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Frustrated by Return-to-Office Policies? 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | October 3, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on return-to-work policies the image shows a woman looking up wistfully at an office building.

Are you in a workplace that is changing their return-to-office policies? It’s a topic that I have been discussing more often recently with my clients. I recently received a call from a friend whose company is turning the screws on going back to work in the office. For her and many others, this transition presents…

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The Power of a Best Friend at Work

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 26, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on workplace friendships the image shows two women at work smiling and chatting.

Do you have a best friend at work? Over the summer, when I was working remotely in Carmel, I found myself connecting with one of my close work friends. We shared a Zoom screen, working on our tasks while holding each other accountable. This experience got me thinking about the research that highlights the significant…

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Plan Your Week for Success

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 19, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on plan your week the image shows a calendar on a wall with a clock

Ever reached the end of the week and wondered, “Did I really get anything done?”  I used to feel the same way so when I read productivity expert, Laura Vanderkam’s book “Tranquility by Tuesday,” I was inspired by the valuable suggestion she offered. Use Fridays to plan your week ahead. While I occasionally do it…

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Comfort Zone or Stretch Choice

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 12, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on stretch choice the image shows a chalk drawing of footprints stepping outside of a circle

Have you ever wondered if having more choices can sometimes lead to worse decisions? I came across two really interesting pieces of data recently, one of which I came across during parent orientation for my son’s college he’s attending in the Fall. Research shows that when it comes to choosing roommates or work arrangements, making…

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Talking About The Weather Gets My Approval 

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | September 5, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on talking about the weather the image shows pictures of different weather conditions

If you have found yourself starting a conversation talking about the weather, don’t worry, it’s not because you lack ideas.  This is how I initially judged myself when I realized I was starting several conversations with my clients asking them about the weather.  How could I talk about such a trite topic, I asked myself. …

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5 Game-Changing Leadership Lessons – Steph Curry Style

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | August 29, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on leadship lesson Steph Curry style, the image two hands holding a basketball.

This article originally appeared in Forbes I’m a huge Warriors fan. During the 20-ish years I’ve lived in Oakland, they have risen from a forgotten team to 4-time NBA Champions playing with 2-time-time NBA MVP, Steph Curry. Having watched Steph Curry play over the last decade it’s been amazing to witness his journey as a player, and as…

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How Can You Move the Needle on Things That Matter Most to You?

By Jo Ilfeld, PhD | August 22, 2023 |
For this article by Jo Ilfeld, Executive Leadership Coach on change the image shows a jigsaw puzzle piece with the word change written on it.

This article originally appeared in Forbes My client, Xander, decided to work out every morning to reach his fitness goals. But he was immediately faced with a problem. His European colleagues kept putting 7 am meetings onto his calendar (despite the fact he blocked it out), while Asia asked for 9 pm alignment meetings. Despite…

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