Coaching

Leadership & Executive Communication Coaching With Neil Foote

What are you working through? Let’s talk.

A new leadership role. A difficult conversation. A career decision you have been putting off. A presentation where you need to explain your ideas and answer tough questions. Sometimes you need someone outside the situation who will listen, ask good questions and give you an honest perspective. I bring 45 years of experience as a journalist, media executive, educator, entrepreneur and communications adviser to those conversations. We start with what matters to you. What is happening? What needs to change? What have you tried? Then we work toward a decision and a plan you are ready to put into practice.

Start with the issue in front of you

You don’t need to arrive with everything figured out. Bring the situation you want to work through. Our work might focus on:

Stepping into a leadership role with greater responsibility.
Preparing for a difficult conversation with an employee, colleague or board member.
Mapping out a strategy to deal with a difficult boss.
Managing disruptive change in your division.
Explaining your ideas more clearly in meetings and presentations.
Deciding on your next career move.
Describing your experience and value without sounding rehearsed.
Becoming a better listener and giving more useful feedback.
Setting priorities and following through.

We’ll agree on the focus before we begin. Before we finish each session, we will answer three questions:

What did we learn?
What are you going to do?
When will you do it?

At our next conversation, we will talk about what happened, what worked and what needs more attention.

The experience I bring

My career began at The Miami Herald in 1981. Since then, my work has included The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, A.H. Belo Corp., university teaching, entrepreneurship and strategic communications. I have worked as a reporter, led teams, taught students and advised executives. Across those roles, I have helped people explain their ideas, consider their options and prepare for important conversations. I’m a nationally recognized professional who has received the Outstanding Service to Industry Award in Public Relations, been inducted into the University of North Texas C.E. Shuford Hall of Honor and the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.

I also completed the University of North Texas Ryan College of Business World Association of Business Coaches Leader-as-Coach Certification Program. The program gave me additional tools for work I have valued throughout my career: listening, asking questions and helping people move forward. I bring my full attention and the benefit of experience.

Choose a starting point

Leadership Clarity Session

One 60-minute virtual session

For a decision, conversation or leadership issue you want to address now. Before we meet, you will complete a brief questionnaire so we spend our time on the issue, not the introductions. We will discuss your situation, examine your options and agree on steps to take after our conversation. Includes:

A brief questionnaire before the session.
One 60-minute, one-on-one virtual session.
A one-page summary of agreed priorities and actions.
One follow-up email exchange within seven days.

Leadership & Communication Coaching

Six sessions over 90 days

Some issues deserve more than one conversation. This engagement gives us time to work on your goals, put ideas into practice and discuss what happens along the way. We begin by agreeing on two or three priorities. Perhaps you want to communicate more effectively with your team, prepare for a larger role or make a thoughtful decision about your next career chapter. Each session builds on the work you have done since we last spoke. Includes:

Six 60-minute, one-on-one virtual sessions.
Written goals and an agreed focus for our work.
Exercises connected to situations you are facing.
Up to two brief email check-ins between sessions.
A final review of your progress and a plan for continued work.

Let’s talk about what you need You don’t have to decide on a package before contacting me.

How do you get started?

Schedule a complimentary 15-minute conversation. Tell me what you are working through and what you want to accomplish. We will discuss whether working together makes sense.

Coaching focuses on professional development, leadership and communication. These engagements do not include therapy, legal or financial advice, or job-placement services.