An ongoing challenge of leaders that I see as an executive coach is that my clients seek opportunities to grow capacity in their team members for the ever-changing, ever-emerging challenges and opportunities ahead, often with very little time for in-depth conversations.

A technique I use with my executive coaching clients is to encourage them to take a week and pay attention to the times they can have a meaningful, albeit brief, exchange with one of their staff members – an encouraging email, a quick word as they walk past the cubicle.  I ask them to pay attention to what happens as they keep “development” at top of mind:  note the response of their team member, the progress they made, any noticeable changes.  Changes are often subtle but important.