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Feedback is not a universal language. Are you fluent in your team's version of it?
A manager used the sandwich method. His direct report walked out of the review visibly upset. They were both operating from completely different assumptions about what feedback looks like. Here is how to make sure yours actually translates in international teams.

Christina - Spark Back Coaching
Mar 192 min read


Every new hire is a risk but strong leaders know how to manage it.
When leaders say “we need to hire fast,” what they usually mean is: we are under pressure, the team is stretched thin and we need to deliver asap. In those situations, it's easy to see #hiring as the go-to solution but, the truth is, it comes with considerable risk that needs to be managed carefully. Here's the Break Down of Hiring Risk Budget risk: staying competitive without breaking internal equity Legal risk: visas, probation terms, non-compete clauses, compliance gaps Pe

Christina - Spark Back Coaching
Mar 52 min read


The side hustle era and what it means for leaders
The future of #work is no longer a 9-to-5 job. The gig economy is taking over with almost half of working adults in EU and the UK earning money outside their main job. And, among Gen Z, 57% report having a side gig or actively planning one. From a leader's POV, this is a huge factor changing the reality of work, how people perceive it, as well as their motivation, engagement, productivity and the value they bring into your organization. So, How Should You Handle Side-Hustles

Christina - Spark Back Coaching
Feb 122 min read


What if the right career move is actually a step back?
Here's something you don't read every day: in a recent BI article, a senior engineer at Meta talked about how he actively asked his organization to demote him. Not because of poor #performance but because the new role did not allow him to do the things he was really good at (and thus, add value). His request was denied and he eventually went back to his previous employer. His story got me thinking about something we almost never talk about at work: the shame of demotion. We t

Christina - Spark Back Coaching
Feb 52 min read


Can you be a great leader and still lose your job?
I used to think that the largest career risk for leaders was their own performance. I now believe it's TIME. You may be performing well at #work, creating momentum, delivering results... And, on any given day, an announcement drops that your company is being acquired. The town hall meeting is filled with optimism and references to the "exciting new chapter" ahead of you. But, silently the org-chart begins to shrink... Not as a result of anyone's poor #performance, but because

Christina - Spark Back Coaching
Jan 292 min read
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