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Embracing Our Natural Talents: The Shift to Strengths-Based Leadership
Back in the day, we all pretty much followed the same playbook when our kids hit a snag in school: hire a tutor for whatever subject was...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 3, 20245 min read


The Doer Leader and The Case for Having a Bias for Action
Google's Manager Feedback Survey includes a question about whether a manager has the technical skills necessary for effectively managing...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 25, 20245 min read


How to Master Authentic Networking for Leaders
Networking stands as a critical component in a leader's toolkit, playing a key role in the advancement of careers and the success of...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 17, 20247 min read


How the SCARF Model Drives High-Performing Teams
Leadership is a journey that begins the moment you step into the professional world, whether you're at the starting line or eyeing the...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 11, 20248 min read


Management Decision-Making: Mastering the Art and Science
The role of a manager fundamentally revolves around a continuous cycle of decision-making. Whether it’s exchanging information, analyzing...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 28, 20249 min read


Leadership Mastery: The Power of Feedback and Feedforward
Effective feedback, along with feedforward, forms the bedrock of successful management. Despite its crucial role, mastering this skill is a challenge for many leaders however. I worked under 14 different managers during my 11 years at Google and experienced a wide spectrum of feedback styles - some managers excelled at it, while others fell short. Here is what good feedback looked like: (and there was a lot of it!) ✅ It was timely e.g. feedback about a presentation right aft

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 21, 20246 min read


Maximizing Productivity for Leaders: Top Tips for Effective Time Management
Leaders face unique challenges in managing their time due to their dual role of personal productivity and team oversight. Here's how to...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 15, 20242 min read


How to Manage your Boss for People Managers
I have been working with a coachee - we will call him, John - a new people manager with a decade of experience in tech as an individual...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 8, 20248 min read


A Year in Review: Leaving my Corporate Job to Build a Career in Coaching
As we approach the end of another year, it feels like an opportune moment to pause and reflect on my transformative journey of...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Dec 24, 202310 min read


The Career Kaleidoscope & the Art of Portfolio Diversification (a.k.a. Musings on Portfolio Careers)
My upbringing was in a household that lived and breathed the virtues of a stable job, consistency, and diligent work - principles deeply...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Dec 14, 20238 min read


End of Year Strategic Planning and OKRs
As the year winds down, I've noticed that many of my coachees, each a highly successful, accomplished, and driven leader, are feeling the...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Dec 6, 20236 min read


My Biggest Hiring Mistake
At a certain juncture in my management career, I made a hiring mistake that remains etched in my memory. It was the initial phase of my...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Nov 11, 20234 min read


Embracing the Learning Rollercoaster: From Frustration to Mastery
Picture this: You're eager to learn, but feel like you're hitting a wall. Growth? Yes, please—but oh, the dread of starting from scratch....

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Nov 2, 20237 min read


Navigating Toxic Workplaces: A New Manager's Story of Transformation
When my coachee, a talented tech professional with a stellar track record, stepped into her new role as a manager at the global tech...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Oct 22, 20237 min read


Managers’ Dilemma: People Manager or Individual Contributor?
Bob, a talented individual contributor, has recently been promoted to his first people manager role. As he takes the reins of his new...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 13, 20234 min read


Pizza or Pasta? How to Turn Constructive Customer Feedback into an Opportunity to Grow and Thrive
Recently, I noticed some red flags at my daughter’s childcare center - more of some of the worrisome signs that had already presented...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 2, 20239 min read


How to prepare for a promotion: Understand the Process, Focus on Impact
Being promoted is something almost every employee aspires to. Recognition brings a raise, new responsibilities, heightened confidence,...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 5, 20234 min read


Harese and Ambition: How much is too much?
The camel, a strong animal who can walk in the desert for days without food, water or rest has a weak spot for a particular desert...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 11, 20237 min read
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