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Why You Don’t Do What You Know is Good for You (and the perfect solution to that problem!)

Published on 4 May, 2012 by in coaching, grow

Everything people say or do is ultimately rooted in the belief that these actions will lead them to happiness. - Taro Gold

Most people know what’s good and bad for them. We all have an idea of what we should do but we also have a gazillion excuses why we’re not doing them. Even reading a dozen self help books doesn’t help much if it doesn’t get people into action. Whether it’s exercising, eating healthy, spending more time with the family or saving money, most of us choose to go the other way and continue doing things the easier way.The problem doesn’t lie in the lack of knowledge but the lack of awareness or lack of will power in some instances. But how do you become aware or start changing yourself if you’re always in auto pilot?

  1. Notice yourself and how you act with everything that’s happening around you. This is the first step in becoming aware of your actions/inaction and the reasons behind them.  Don’t change anything yet, just notice.
  2. As things happen around you, think hard about the reasons behind what you do or don’t do. For instance, do you stay late at work because you have problems at home? Do you avoid going to the gym because you prefer to spend your weekends relaxing?
After becoming aware of what you don’t do and the reasons behind them, identify ways of meeting them in another way.  What we do, whether it’s good or bad, is always some form of a solution or reprieve from a problem we’re experiencing. Take the example above regarding exercise, a lot of people know it’s good for them but they don’t do it because they prefer to relax or spend their time in another activity. Now that you’re aware of the real reasons why you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do, it’s time to change your ways and create a new “response” system. Here’s how:
  • Turn “should do” into “must do”. People who turn what they want to do into a necessity are more likely to start doing it than those who don’t. It’s a basic rule in Psychology, if you convince yourself that what you’re supposed to do is a necessity, you’re more likely to do it. For instance, instead of just pushing yourself to dedicate more time for your family, give yourself more convincing reasons to do so, like “not missing your kids grow up” or “preventing your marriage from falling apart”.
  • Avoid unnecessary distractions. Sometimes, even the things we want to achieve most aren’t obvious because of all the distractions around us. Don’t attempt to do everything! Concentrate on what’s more important for you and do those things well.
  • Focus on the fun part. Our brains are hard wired to “avoid” anything that sounds remotely difficult or boring. If you’re serious about doing what you should be doing, you need to think of the fun and easy aspect of what you want to do. People do things not because it’s logical or good for them (I should save for my retirement) but because it will make them feel good (I’m going to travel the world when I have enough money after I retire!).

If what you’re trying to do sounds too hard, boring or scary, your brain and body’s inertia will resist it. What are you waiting for? Stop surfing the internet for nonsense and get started with doing what’s good for you. It’s never too late to start.

 
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Help for the Long Term Unemployed

Published on 23 April, 2012 by in business, coaching

Recently I’ve been working with a number of clients who have been unemployed for some time. I used to deal with this type of situation every once in awhile, but it now seems to be happening more and more frequently.

Curriculum Vitae

Long term unemployment can be a few weeks, months or even years. However long it is, everyone seems to suffer in the same confidence crushing way.They lay awake at night wondering how they are going to pay the bills. Feeling desperately alone and racked with guilt for letting themselves get into this position in the first place. Their confidence is at rock bottom and they begin to doubt themselves and every action they take seems futile.

The first things a client always tells me is that they are “doing all the usual stuff”, but just to get clear I ask them to list off all the things they are doing.

This tends to be their response:-

  • They have updated their CV
  • They have been applying for positions they see listed on job websites relevant to their experience
  • Sending their CV to recruitment agents
  • Updated their LinkedIn profile
  • Asked friend and family if they have any jobs going
  • Starting to look at alternative jobs such as bar and shop work

These are the main actions that people take. They are all exactly what they should be doing, but they don’t feel it’s getting them anywhere.

Recruitment agencies rarely ever acknowledge their CV, only on the odd occasion to say their application was rejected. None of their friends or family seem to know of any positions available, and their LinkedIn profile seems like the biggest waste of time.

It’s a horrible, horrible place to be.

I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. Help is on it’s way and if you are prepared to re-take control then grab a pen and paper and lets get started on turning this situation around.

Why Recruitment Agents Ignore You

A lot of jobs listed on recruitment websites no longer exist, or worse, the jobs never existed in the first place! A recruitment agent cannot afford to have a client call them about a position, post it on a website and then wait for CVs to come in, he or she MUST have a stock of relevant CVs they can send to the client immediately! The only way to do that is to post similar jobs of what they expect to receive and build up a stockpile of CVs. Make sure your CV is in the pile by sending in yours when you see a “job” posted.

Finding The Hidden Job Market

Big companies don’t always use external agencies, they often have their own internal recruitment team. So jobs advertised on their own website are much more likely to be real jobs. The only trouble here is that it’s often a requirement for them to advertise this job externally and so “test the market”. Ultimately it’s often cheaper for them to promote internally that it is to get someone new.

Small companies can’t always justify the expense of using recruitment agents. So they also have to do everything themselves. But they will advertise their jobs elsewhere like in the “free papers”, most of those are now in digital format. Places like GumTree and CraigsList will have jobs advertised by the smaller companies that can’t afford a posting in a newspaper or on job sites like Monster.com or Jobserve.com.

The Hidden Secret to LinkedIn

Having a LinkedIn profile is a bit like going to a recruitment fair and then standing in the corner smiling, but never talking to anyone. It’s doubtful that anything will come from it. Like any social network, you get out of it what you put in. The loudest voice gets heard. You are more likely to get head hunted if you are known and liked. But how? LinkedIn Groups are the biggest “hidden in plain sight” secret of LinkedIn. Think of them as hundreds of forums where like minded people gather to talk about their topics of choice. Look at your LinkedIn page and you’ll see in the top right corner a search box, change the drop down to groups and type in the industry you are looking to get work in. Join those groups, some may require approval, but don’t let that put you off, it’s rare that people don’t get in. Have a look through the previous discussions and join in by posting replies, or even posting new discussions yourself. Try to avoid blatant begging for jobs. But do watch out for others actually posting jobs that are specific to that group. The more you interact on these groups the more known you become and the more likely your name will come up when the head hunters come looking. Talking in LinkedIn groups is just like working the room at a networking event. But the people there are much more likely to know of a job that might be suitable for you.

Helping Friends and Family find you work

Asking friends and family often gets disappointing results. Most of your friends and family don’t understand what it is you actually did do when you were working so will have even less chance in recognising a suitable job for you, even if it slapped them in the face. You’re better off asking them if they know of anyone that works for a specific company that you could contact to ask yourself.

Finding a Job is a Job in itself

Acknowledge the work you have done so far is worthwhile and absolutely necessary. Retrospectively complete your diary. This will help you answer that’s dreaded question your partner asks “What did you do today”. Just replying “I applied for jobs” makes you feel even more demoralised. Every 1-2 hours think about what you’ve been doing and make a note of it in your diary. Then at the end of the day you can look at it and truly see how hard you really have been working at getting a job. Knowing this will help you rebuild your confidence and also help others see that you are really trying hard to get back into work.

Dealing with the Loneliness of Unemployment

Being unemployed can be terribly lonely. All your old friends are working during the day and in the evening they go places you simply cannot afford to attend. Meetup.com is a website that is designed to organise meeting real people in real places, not just online in forums. Most of the groups are totally free of charge. These will help you get out of the house. Mix with like minded people and often cost no more than the price of a soft drink at a bar. One of my favourite groups is called Drinks And Links. It’s a great mix of all types of people looking to network and promote their own business. It might not be perfect for you, but it’s a great example of MeetUp.com group working well. Have a look at their website and do a search for other groups in your area.

Dealing with the stress of Unemployment

Dealing with the stress of unemployment is critical to your own health and wellbeing. Talking to someone about your struggles is vital, but mostly people think they need to “help” or “fix” it for you by giving you advice. This can be terribly frustrating for both sides. It can also put a massive strain on relationships. All you seem to need right now is either a “Job” or “Understanding”. Being constantly questioned and challenged often just adds more stress and pressure that you can really do without.

If you find yourself laying awake at night worrying about all sorts of things try these tips to help you calm your mind.

  • Ask yourself “is there anything I can do about it right now?”. If there is, get up and do it.
  • If not, then write down a note of what it is you are worrying about, what you want to do about it, and when you will take that action.

By externalising your thoughts in this way and promising to take action later allows your mind to calm down and let go of the thoughts. Your mind slows down because you have ensured you won’t forget what it was worrying about.

You will get through this and eventually get a job, it might not be perfect, or it might even be your dream job! The unfortunate fact is it’s still a numbers game. But as long as you keep doing what you are doing already, and add in some of the tips listed above, hopefully you won’t have to wait too long.

I’m shortly going to be running a few live webinars online to work through these points and answer any questions you might have. If you would like to attend one of these, enter your email address below and I’ll invite you to the webinar once it’s been scheduled.

 

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5 Reasons Why it’s Taking Forever for You to Get a Promotion

Published on 20 April, 2012 by in business

I've fallen and I can't get up! For FDT (Face Down Tuesday). Rough day at the office.

The economy may not be in good shape but that doesn’t mean companies can’t afford to promote their employees. If your colleagues who started almost the same time you, already got promoted and the company you’re in is doing pretty well, then it only means one thing. You can’t blame the economy, your boss or anyone else.

Take a good look and see if the reasons below ring a bell:

  • Meeting expectations isn’t enough to get you a promotion because it’s nothing out of the ordinary. That’s what you’re paid too do. Your boss won’t consider you worthy of a promotion if all you do is come and leave on time and submit your work on schedule. You may think that you’re doing a good job because you’re meeting expectations. That kind of thinking is exactly the reason you’re not getting promoted! During work coaching sessions, I often tell clients to challenge themselves when it comes to work. Strive to exceed your boss’ expectations or at least top off your last month’s performance. You should also contribute something extra to your company by showing initiative in some projects and suggesting ways to improve the way your system works.
  • You don’t keep record of your bragging rights. Kudos emails, awards and certificates of contribution are more than keepsakes, you know. Instead of throwing them away, keep them in a folder with your resume. When a vacancy opens up or when you ask for a promotion, you have something to back up (or substantiate?) your application. Your brag book will certainly add to your application’s “worth”.
  • You’re not getting noticed. Sometimes, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” Your professional relationship with people in your company can help you move up the career ladder faster. Don’t worry, this work coaching tip is not about smothering your boss with compliments or gifts. When you’ve done all you could in terms of your performance, the next step is establish a connection with the higher-ups. Put yourself where the action is and find someone who will root for you when the management is deciding who to promote.
  • You’re a whiner. It’s okay to speak up in the office but you should always be careful who you talk to. I often tell my work coaching clients to avoid complaining about the management with other people, even to their team mates. Word goes around fast and you never know how far your comments can reach. If you’re a whiner, you’re giving your boss ammunition to retain you in your post. Instead of whining and complaining, suggest solutions to the problem. Make your boss see you as a problem solver.
  • You’re not asking for a promotion. Even if you’re the best employee, there’s a big chance that you won’t get promoted- unless you ask for it. You know what they say, “if you don’t ask, the answer is always no”.  If you have what it takes to get promoted and you know you’ve earned it, schedule a meeting with your boss and talk to him about your intentions. Mention your skills, accomplishments and traits that fit the position you’re asking for.

Getting promoted isn’t easy but it’s not impossible.

Climbing up the career ladder is like a chess battle, so create a strategy and stick to it! Take a hard look at your attitude and performance at work. Are you guilty of some of the reasons above? Change, and change now! Next week, I’ll give you a battle plan to get the promotion you’ve been waiting for.

 

 
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Improve Your Leadership Style through Effective Coaching Techniques

Published on 10 April, 2012 by in coaching, leadership, staff

Learning how to coach your staff, subordinates and even your business partners is an important skill for improving your leadership style. I think of coaching as an art, it’s more than a conversation between the employee and the boss. Coaching is done to develop a better professional relationship with your employees, while helping them perform better and find fulfilment in their role within the company.

Contrary to what other managers and leaders think, coaching isn’t as simple as telling people what they’re good or bad at. Coaching is managing – using a positive language.

So why is coaching important? Isn’t the pay check, benefits and perks of the job enough to satisfy your team? No. It’s never enough. As a leader, you must understand that your subordinates are human and thus they have “human” needs. These human needs include:

  • A purpose in what they do
  • Appreciation
  • A sense of belonging
  • Motivation
  • Goal
  • Encouragement

If you want to improve your leadership style, you should find a way to fulfil these non-monetary needs of your team. And for me, one of the best and most effective ways to fulfil these needs is coaching. When you coach your staff effectively, you don’t just help improve his performance- you also connect to him on a personal level.

4 Tried and Tested Coaching Techniques

Do your homework

Before you start coaching anyone in your team, I suggest you get to know them better. Observe their personality, check their strengths and weaknesses, find out about their career objectives, their ideas and anything that can help you connect to them when you start with your coaching session.

Make them feel important

no matter how small you may feel their role is. Helping your staff understand the importance of their role in the business’ operation will motivate them. Knowing that what they do is important will encourage them to perform even the most mundane of tasks, better. If you really want to be recognised for your leadership, you should find a way to make your employees see beyond the difficulty of their tasks and look at the bigger picture.

The Feedback Sandwich

Coaching isn’t just about praising your employee. That would be impossible and unrealistic, of course your staff still has areas to improve upon! To balance the positive and negative feedback you’re going to give, I suggest you try the Feedback Sandwich method. Start out with a positive feedback, then discuss the negative points or areas of improvement, then end with a positive feedback. The important thing is you don’t dwell too much on the negative aspects.

Problem resolution

If there’s a problem, focus on the problem- and not on your employee! If you really have to discuss a serious performance issue, make sure to be objective. It’s better to point out things like this as soon as you see it. Describe the problem in detail and ask for your employee’s side. Remember, coaching is a two-way street. You have to hear your employee’s side of the story. After hearing his explanation, ask him for ideas to rectify the situation or how he plans to prevent it from happening in the future. Never blame your staff, this is the worst thing you can do!

 

Coaching is the most powerful and cost-efficient way to improve your staff’s performance. Learning to coach your employees effectively will help your subordinates and your peers recognize your leadership.

 

 
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4 Things Career Coaching can do for You

Published on 7 April, 2012 by in coaching, featured

Day 324/365 - Jack of Many Trades

Career coaching has many benefits for fresh graduates, job seekers, career changers and even experienced professionals. Just think about it, even the world’s best athletes wouldn’t have been so successful if not for the help of their coach. Why? Because their coach guides them to the right path, encourages them and pushes them to improve their performance and reach their potential. Career coaches are similar to sports coaches in that way.

If you think you don’t need a career coach, then you’re really missing on a lot of things. In my opinion, a lot of people would do better if someone was guiding them. Athletes, movie actors, musicians and successful business men, all of them wouldn’t be as successful without the help of a well-grounded yet inspiring career coach.

So what does a career coach do? How can career coaches help you achieve what you want for your career? Put simply, career coaches ask questions to evaluate your need and aims. After the evaluation, he will work with you to create and execute a plan that will help you meet your goals.

Benefits of Career Coaching:

  1. Career coaching sessions can help you figure out what you really want to accomplish with your career. This is especially helpful for fresh graduates and even long term professionals that are having a hard time on deciding which career to pursue. If you’re tired of jumping from one job to another, then a career coaching session can help you decide what type of work would bring you inner satisfaction and contentment.
  2. Promotes better job satisfaction. Even if you’re already working on your dream job, there will still be times when you will feel drained, stressed or sad with the way things are going on your job. It might be because of a lost client, a bad deal, a lost promotion, a nasty colleague or even an inconsiderate boss. Regardless of your reasons for feeling down, a career coaching session can help you bring back the satisfaction you once felt while doing your job. Career coaches are good at inspiring people and helping them focus on the positive things in life. And even if the situation can’t be helped, a career coach can listen to you patiently while you release all your pent up emotions.
  3. Career coaching can help you establish a work/life balance. Are you finding it difficult to spend some time with your friends and family? Is your work taking too much of your time that you can’t even go to the pub for some drinks? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then you should definitely consider getting a career coach. Through frequent career coaching sessions, your coach can teach you how to manage your time, how to be more productive at work (thus minimizing the need for overtime) and how to set aside time for yourself.
  4. Career coaching can develop your confidence and leadership skills. Do you have stage fright? Are you finding it hard to speak in front of your staff or colleagues? If so, career coaching sessions can enhance your confidence through simple confidence building techniques. If you’re really shy and timid, your career coach can help you improve little by little by giving you small assignments that will increase your communication skills slowly but surely. If your problem is about leadership issues, your career coach can recommend ways on how you can best handle your team based on your organizational set up and the personality of your staff.

Career coaching is not just for job-seekers. It’s also for esteemed professionals who want to get the most out of their career. A good career coach can help you jump from a mediocre job to a well-paying and satisfying career. So if you’re at loss of what to do with your career, get back on track by getting career coaching sessions now.

 

 
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5 Fool Proof Steps to Win the Battle against Stress

Published on 23 March, 2012 by in featured, News

December 3 2007 day 53 - When stress does a number...

“Fall Down Seven Times, Get up Eight”
-Japanese Proverb

I’m sure all of you have had several bouts with stress. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you would even say you’re fighting a losing battle. Even as an experienced coach, I’m not invincible against stress. I’ve lost a few battles myself.

The important thing is that I never give up- neither should you. Since stress is a constant thing we have to face, you should apply the Japanese proverb I quoted above. “Fall Seven times, get up Eight”. Don’t let stress get the best of you.

Here are 5 Steps to Overcome Stress

      1. Find the silver lining in every stressful event. There’s almost always something positive in every situation. But if you can’t see anything positive, try to see it from another angle. Try to find humour in your everyday hassles to lighten things up. Don’t take everything too seriously.
      1. Find time for what’s really important. This is vital, especially for all the workaholics out there. If you have a demanding job, then you should practice separating your work from your personal life. People who take their work problems home tend to feel more stressed. Does this make them more productive? No, not really. In fact, studies show that employees who don’t work at home are more productive in the office and are better able to contribute ideas.  Whatever your job is, you should find time to do things you love. Life is too short to worry about your boss and the deadlines you have at work. Do yourself a favour and set time aside to do one thing your really love. Trust me, it will do you the world of good.
      1. Be grateful for what you have. I know this advice is such a cliché but it’s so true. Remembering what is good in life and your achievements will make you feel good, especially when you’re stressed. Recalling positive memories also releases ‘feel good’ hormones in your body.
      1. Don’t punish yourself. Things aren’t always your fault. And even if it is, punishing yourself won’t help the situation. Instead of moping around, try talking to a friend to release your emotions. Talking helps a lot because it helps you release your pent-up emotions, helping you think logically again. After letting it all out, you’ll be on your way to coming up with a solution to your problem.
      1. Adjust your expectations. I’m not telling you to lower your standards. What I’m saying here is you shouldn’t always strive for perfection. Instead of aiming for perfection, set a reasonable standard for yourself and others around you. Then continuously improve upon what you have. Working your way to the top is easier and less stressful, compared to expecting to get things perfectly the first time.

Stress is a notorious killer. If you want to succeed in life, you should never let stress bring you down. After all, is what you are stressing about really that important? If not, then let it go. You’ll be happy you did. Follow the steps above and stay ahead of the battle against stress.

 

 
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Stress is a Dirty Word

Published on 8 March, 2012 by in business, featured, Services

In these tough times nothing is certain. There are no jobs for life. Business’s are cutting back staff and expect the remaining people to be willing and able to pick up the extra work. Jobs that used to be the staple for your industry are now being outsourced to cheaper off shore alternatives forcing you to take on roles that are not best suited to your experience or natural abilities.

The Formula for Stress

Sudden Change + Uncertainty = Stress

Stress results in a loss of confidence and loss of motivation.

It’s not just the day-to-day workers that are feeling the pressure either. Team leaders, managers, directors, in fact all levels of the corporate ladder are starting to suffer the ill effects of stress. From that initial knot in your stomach to a full-blown leave of absence authorised by a doctor, it seems that everyone is experiencing stress daily to some degree.

How We Handle Stress

How people handle stress can sometimes be even more damaging. Working all hours possible to catch up or turning to recreational escapes such as drink or even drugs to provide some respite.

And yet we still don’t like to talk about it. Especially when it comes to suffering from stress ourselves. Somehow admitting it, is like telling everyone you’re a failure. You’re not up to doing the job. You just need to buckle down, get on with it and stop moaning. Stress is a dirty word and people don’t like to be labeled with.

Recently a CEO of one of the largest banks in the UK was signed off on long-term medical leave, citing “exhaustion” as the reason.

Once stress has taken root in your everyday life it becomes a heavy burden that you carry into other areas of your life. Your friends and family are the first to feel the effects. It becomes difficult for them to provide any kind of support or advice without you experiencing more stress, which then becomes magnified by guilt. It finally reaches the point where you feel you have no options available to you other than quitting, but you can’t afford to do that either, so you just keep on suffering.

Stress has you in blinkers, stopping you from seeing alternatives.

Taking action to resolve stress doesn’t automatically mean making huge changes, like quitting your job. A few simple steps can relieve the pressure just enough for you to start seeing clearly again. What these steps are, will be unique to you, which is the main reason why coaching can make such a difference. It’s driven by you, with the support and guidance of your coach. So that the solutions created during the sessions are crafted perfectly for you.

What to do about stress right now

Some of the things you can do right now to help are:

  1. Make a list of all the current issues that are clouding your mind
    This is effectively a pressure release valve. By writing down the things that are whizzing around in your mind, you allow yourself to let go of them just a little. The instant result is that you worry about them a little less because you’ve made a note of them.
  2. Tell one person that you think you maybe suffering from stress.
    It doesn’t really matter who it is, just as long as you feel comfortable that telling them won’t make things worse. If you can’t think of anyone, tell a complete stranger. When you hear yourself telling someone “I’m feeling stressed” , it’s like a huge weight has been lifted. Admitting it will make it more real, which may sound scary, but once it’s real you can start to tackle it.
  3. Decide if you are ready and willing to accept help from someone else. The key to resolving stress is to find alternative solutions. But trying to do this on your own can be frustrating and simply make things worse. By accepting and inviting help from others you are opening the door to opportunities you can’t currently see.

It’s important to recognise that you are not alone, you are not a failure and that just trying to put on a brave face is not the only option. Help is available, but you have to want to be helped.

Don’t hesitate to take the first step and get in contact either using the comments box below or send an email via my contact page

Feel free to forward this on to a friend or colleague if you think it would help them too. Or just share it with your social networks, you never know who might need this right now. There is also a great article and video on the NHS Website covering the effective of stress

 

 
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Invitation to Explore Coaching

Published on 19 January, 2012 by in business, featured, News, Services

Many people have already experienced the power that coaching can provide. If you have yet to try it out then now is the perfect time.

Now that everyone is back at work and in their daily routine, this is the perfect time to start some improvement initiatives. Coaching isn’t just about helping under-performers, although it does work really well in that area, it can also help with: -

  • Increase productivity in a team by teaching them better facilitation
  • Rewarding individuals with a personal coaching course, to help them excel even further
  • Easing tension through times of change by group coaching your team
  • Reduce staff turnover by coaching them to resolve their own issues

There is no question that coaching is a powerful part of business and employee development, which is why most managerial job descriptions list it as integral to the job.

Finding The Time

By outsourcing your coaching to a qualified professional you free up your own time to focus on managing the business.  How often do you really provide one to one coaching to your staff? Once or twice a year?

You’re bound to see an improvement if this was increased but it’s always relegated to second place when a new issue arises.

As a dedicated coach, I can focus on the individual without being distracted by the daily fire fighting that happens in every business. Coaching between 6 and 8 people in a single day, your entire team or even department can receive the coaching that they need to succeed. Instead of just once or twice a year (normally thrown in with their reviews) your team could receive dedicated coaching monthly, on time, every time.

Flexibility

Scheduling the right amount of time is critical for successful coaching. Too much too often and the employee doesn’t have the time to complete the actions they have set for themselves. Infrequent or adhoc coaching, can feel a lot like “too little, too late”. Once a regular coaching schedule is in place, clients often find they are able to spot and resolve issues before they become serious problems. Each coaching package needs to be designed with the business and the employees requirements. But just to give you some examples here is a suggestion of typical schedules businesses choose:-

  • 1 hour of one to one coaching, per employee, per month.
  • Half a day of group coaching, followed up with further group sessions every two months.
  • “Floor walking” and “open door”. Coaching at their desk with the option to move to a meeting room.
  • 1 month of weekly coaching, reduced to monthly coaching for the following 6 months

The frequency and combinations of one to one, group sessions are limitless, so it’s easy to find the perfect solution to your business needs.

Let’s talk

Designing a coaching solution for your business can easily be done, during a meeting at your premises. Together we’ll discuss your requirements and answer any questions you may have on the coaching process, service or any developmental requirements you have for your business.

Just email me from my contact page, or you can call me directly on 0845 388 3218.

 

 
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2012 KickStart

Published on 31 December, 2011 by in business, News, Services

What is 2012 KickStart?

By joining 2012 KickStart you will gain direct access to your own personal coach, with unlimited email coaching.

To really give 2012 the KickStart you need you will also receive 4 telephone coaching sessions in the first month.

It’s doesn’t just stop there. Once you have completed your 4 telephone coaching sessions, you will continue to receive unlimited email coaching AND 1 telephone coaching session EVERY MONTH!

You’ll be able to work on all the issues that have been holding you back, set real goals and start working towards them, become more confident and achieve the dreams you have struggled to realise on your own.

  • Improving work relationships
  • Improving managers perception of the coachee
  • Development techniques to manage stress
  • Confidence building
  • Time management
  • Work / Life balancing
  • Health / Fitness
  • Motivation

With all this one to one coaching, email support and on going coaching you might be surprised to find out, that until the end of January 2012 I’ll be changing just £50 per month for this service. Of course I won’t be able to hold this special offer price indefinitely so make sure you get in early and ensure your place.

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Sometimes it Helps to Focus on the Positives

Published on 6 December, 2011 by in business

This is a guest post from Sean Conrad:
Focus

When we’re trying to improve our own performance, or as managers, trying to coach our employees to improve their performance, it’s common to focus on the things that need to change, or ‘the negatives’. We do this regularly in performance appraisals: we rate an employee’s performance, identify challenges or areas of weakness and put development plans in place to address them.

 

But sometimes, when we want to encourage growth and development, it can be powerful to focus on the positives. Here’s one way you can do that.

We’re often taught to apply “root cause analysis” techniques to address performance deficiencies. So for example, in a work situation, we ask ourselves or our employees questions like:

  • What did you do wrong?
  • What circumstances led to or contributed to your difficulty?
  • What internal and external factors were at play?
  • How can you change the way you behave next time?
  • What knowledge/skills/abilities do you need to acquire or perfect to perform better next time?
  • Etc.

 

The goal is to gain a better understanding of why you or your employee struggle or fail, and then takes steps to improve performance.

You can apply these same techniques to identify the root causes of success. So for example, in a work situation where you are coaching an employee, you could ask questions like:

  • What kinds of projects or people bring out the best in you?
  • What work are you most passionate about?
  • What kinds of management or supervisory support help you excel?
  • What are the “conditions” that support your success?

 

Instead of identifying the things that cause us to fail, we identify the things that cause us to succeed. If there are factors that have contributed to high performance and success in the past, they’ll likely continue to do so in the future. Once you’ve identified these root causes of high performance, you can work to try to replicate them as much as possible. You might also consider engaging in development to help further develop a strong skill or gain more knowledge in an area of interest.

Sometimes, focusing on the positives and successes in our lives can lead us to better understand how to improve and succeed in other areas. By including positive feedback as part of our regular coaching and discussions on performance, we give our employees a more balanced perspective and encourage desired behaviors and actions. And in our own lives, we can learn to apply the lessons and conditions of our success just as easily as we apply the lessons from our failures. And the bonus is, we feel better about ourselves.

As a Certified Human Capital Strategist and former learning specialist, Sean Conrad knows how effective coaching and feedback can support higher performance. He works for Halogen Software, a leading provider of performance management software.

 
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