Author: J. Mike Smith

J. Mike Smith is an experienced, highly effective San Francisco-based executive and team coach. Not just “another consultant”, Mike has worked first hand in the roles he coaches, with personal experience working successfully in roles ranging from a front line supervisor to a senior vice president in a variety of companies and environments. Mike’s work coaching business teams is informed and guided by the wisdom and experience of being on teams and working through many of the same challenges and issues the teams he coaches face. As the President and Principal of Back West, Inc., the name of his consulting practice, Mike brings over 30 years of business experience. His work background spans industries including financial services, high tech, biotech, and wholesale distribution. His San Francisco based consulting coaching practice is focused in three areas – executive coaching with individuals, coaching work with teams such as team start-up and team building, and group facilitation and off-site design. More information at http://backwest.com/
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Sorry? Say So Effectively!

Last Friday the 13th (somehow fitting) was “sorry” day at  Back West’s world headquarters; three occasions that someone said to me “I’m sorry.”

How effectively those apologies were tells you the things that make a sorry work, and how saying you’re sorry can also make the situation even worse.

Here’s the three:

  • Stephanie Smith, the person who cuts my hair was a no-show (as in the lights were off, the door locked, and no one in her shop) for my appointment late Thursday afternoon.
… Read the rest
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Fix the Pinch and You (Too) Can Avoid the Crunch

I’m guilty.

In the land of do as I say and do as I do, I’m buckling on the latter and hoping you do the former.

It happens.

Despite best intentions to behave true to my own advice I slipped into behaviors that others rely on me to avoid modeling. It happens. Welcome to being human.

I have a conflict with someone on a board on which we both sit and rather than address it early, it’s gone from a minor annoyance to major avoidance.… Read the rest

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Are You Putting Foxes in Your Chicken Coop?

Recusal – one of my favorite 50¢ words – is the act of a judge (or anyone else) removing themselves from a process as a participant because of a conflict of interest.

While there’s no bright line, there is still a line; step over it and you’re conflicted, stay on the “right” side and you’re ethical. And when you’re conflicted, recusal is the smart and right thing to do if you’re able.… Read the rest