Articles by Irving Buchen, Ph.D

A new CEO brought his coach with him to his new job. A good thing, too—the first week involved a steep learning curve and the inevitable prospect of mine fields. But all was managed or postponed except for one unexpected, immediate and major problem. The new CEO met twice with his executive team and they were at each other’s throats. Not content to be openly and publically hostile,...Full Article »

Companies use various means to create and stir the workforce to be engaged, productive and happy.  Left alone or to their own devises, the administrative assumption is that they would just drift, be undirected, and lack purpose.  So clearly, interventions are called for. HR has to find the means and ways to animate and align employees with company objectives to achieve unity of focus...Full Article »

It is required to identify a unique source of direction and to search for developmental options which are incremental—that stretch existing managerial levels and roles beyond current limits and even job descriptions—but which also break new ground horizontally. Although a number of such options are available, the four examples below may suggest the range of what mentors can genuinely...Full Article »

One of the unintended consequences of virtually all leadership development programs is discontent. Conceived as a journey only to the top, when it falls short—as numerically it has to—many are unhappily left behind. Their now less-than-exalted positions or states often, in turn, beget resentment and even a deep disappointment which may compromise future performance or hasten...Full Article »

Typically, at the end of a satisfactory job interview, the topic of promotion comes up. Sometimes it is folded into that perennial question:  “Where do you see yourself in three to five years from now?” The subject is always raised because it sets up the future of the job. It signals what is invested in this position, and where it and you need to be a year or so from now. ...Full Article »

Recently, one of the CEOs I coach brought me up short, asking: “Do we ever  urge professionals and workers to talk to themselves? Is it in fact teachable, trainable? Could you help me be good with such self-conversations?” I was puzzled: “What brought that up? I know you and your spouse are heavy into meditation but that usually leads to silence, not talk. What do you...Full Article »

We had such great expectations of the new CEO— the fit seemed perfect—all agreed the choice was right. But then matters suddenly turned sour.  Deeply disappointed, we are not sure what to do next?  Hang on a little longer to see if things change, cut our losses and start looking for new savior, appoint an interim and limp along leaning heavily on the talents of others, or...Full Article »

In the last edition of Next!, we discussed why leadership self-talk is important for personal development and outlined a simple procedure to follow. Below is application of self-coaching in the daunting task of launching an innovation initiative. The senior management of a small high tech firm made an executive decision to promote company-wide innovation. It was summarily announced as...Full Article »

There is a substantial tradition and growing literature associated with self-healing. Various cognitive therapists have developed different systems to structure therapeutic self-analysis. Those who have maintained a practice and clientele over time claim to have sufficient documentation to establish the efficacy of their model—its capacity not only to change but also to cure. A lesser...Full Article »

A new phenomenon: candidates are often superior to those hiring them. It is embarrassing, even demoralizing. Applicants who are smarter, savier, more credentialed, possess a wider range of work experience, etc.  Wow—no wonder so many hiring teams feel outclassed, ready to throw in the towel, and conclude if they had any integrity they would all resign and turn over their jobs to the...Full Article »

Mission statements. Who needs them? Who reads them? What value do they have?  Are they alive to change? Do they justify all the time and money spent on them? But purists quickly will respond “Absolutely!” and then claim that mission statements are indispensable.  After all, can’t steer without a rudder, navigate without a GPS, explore without a map. Along with...Full Article »