We’re delighted to announce the addition of Executive Coaching services to our portfolio, led by Cris Hagen, President of Cris Hagen and Associates. Cris brings over 40 years of international experience in Organization and Leadership Development, and has personally coached more than 175 leaders across high-tech, healthcare, finance, entertainment, construction, aerospace, biotech, utilities, and professional services.
Cris specializes in leadership coaching, team development, strategic planning, and training in areas such as Situational Leadership, Conflict Management, Communication, and Executive Presence. His clients include Dropbox, Adobe, Starbucks, SpaceX, Disney, EY Consulting, and many others.
Cris holds an ACC certification with the International Coaching Federation and certifications in Hogan, MBTI, FIRO-B, and TKI assessments.
I had the privilege of working alongside Cris during Semtech’s acquisition of Gennum, and I deeply respect his insightful, empathetic, and results-oriented approach to leadership.
I’m pleased to introduce a special three-part series on leadership authored by my respected colleague, Cris Hagen. Cris, President of Cris Hagen and Associates, brings over 40 years of international experience coaching and developing leaders across diverse industries. Cris exploring the essential dimensions of leadership: Head, Heart, and Hands.
Each article will build on the previous, providing valuable insights and actionable guidance for leaders at every level. In this first installment, Cris explores why leadership remains both intriguing and challenging—revealing that effective leadership begins with understanding how we think. Enjoy!
Article 1: The Leadership Puzzle—Why There’s No One Right Answer
(By Cris Hagen)Having spent my entire career in leadership development and coaching, I’ve often been asked:
What makes someone a good leader?
Are leaders born or made?
How can I become a better leader?
The vast number of books and theories about leadership points to one conclusion: there’s no single answer. However, there is consensus on three critical domains of leadership:
The Head: strategic thinking, conceptual models, and frameworks for decision-making
The Heart: personal values, ethics, emotional intelligence, and cultural influence
The Hands: practical skills such as communication, team building, conflict management, and coaching
Let’s begin our series by exploring the first domain – The Head
The Head: Leadership through Strategic Thinking
Conceptual frameworks (like Situational Leadership, TKI conflict management, MBTI personality types, and Tuckman’s team stages) provide helpful lenses to understand challenges leaders face. Yet, without real-world context, these frameworks remain purely theoretical. Good leadership coaching bridges this gap, helping leaders apply these models directly to their specific situations.
Leadership coaching isn’t merely theoretical; it’s practical and situational. Coaches guide leaders through the immediate application of these concepts, fostering insightful solutions to complex, real-world challenges.