Your Leadership Coach

The phrase for the week is "Budget Your Time.” Much like you might establish a budget for your household, few people establish a budget for their time. In my coaching practice, I often hear, “I just don’t have enough time for this or that,” or, “I’m too overwhelmed to add one more thing,” or “I need more hours in each day.”   When I ask what is consuming most of their time, they are at a lost to be specific. This week, develop your own timesheet and record how you spend your time.   Keep a detailed accounting of your activities at work and home.   It is tedious work when you write everything down, but the payoff is tremendous.   The results may surprise you.   Once you’ve determined what is creating havoc on your good intentions, create an ideal allocation of your time and begin a plan to realize your ideal.   I record how I spend my time to inform and plan for the life I want.

The phrase for the week is "Get Enough Sleep” We all have read, heard or felt the benefits of getting a good night’s rest: ·          Better Health ·          Better Sex Life ·          Better Memory ·          Less Pain ·          Better Weight Control ·          Better Mood ·          Clearer Thinking I’ve been functioning on 4 to 5 hours sleep for years, and I can point to a host of friends and colleagues who have done the same.   As I get older, I can see and feel this bad habit must change.   The first thing I did was get into regular sleeping habits. I really try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Even if I don’t go to sleep or wake early, I don’...

The phrase for the week is "Eliminate a Bad Habit” Before you slam yourself for having a bad habit you want to eliminate, consider first making a list of all your good habits.   Be ready to be amazed!   In an issue of O Magazine, Zoe Donaldson dispels some myths about habits and offered these facts: ·          Willpower is all in your mind.   You can control your self-controls to establish new routines.   ·          A University of Southern California study found that on average, it takes 66 days to establish new routines. The range was 18 to 254 days, so hang in there. ·          It’s never too late to adopt a healthier lifestyle.   No matter the age, there were significant benefits to report. Ok, now that all the excuses are out of the way, pick a habit that is limiting your forward progress. Habits like biting your nails ...

The phrase for the week is "Play to Your Strengths” Don’t get me wrong, I understand the importance of feedback, but no one ever focuses on the good feedback, just the negative.   The term” plan for improvement” annoys me too.   We are hard-wired to focus on the negative.   Our brains respond so differently to compliments and praise.   It energizes us in a way improvement plans don’t. What inevitably happens is that the employee abandons their strengths to focus only on their weaknesses.   If the news is a surprise, they wonder, does everyone know I have this weakness and aren’t telling me?   Are they having secret meetings where this is discussed?   It’s like getting to the end of the day and finding out that you had spinach stuck in your front tooth all day. I’m not suggesting that you ignore negative feedback.   Not at all.   We can all grow and become better humans when we are made aware of our behaviors or work product that a...

The phrase for the week is "Prepare for the Inevitable” This week’s affirmation is for the optimist!  This blog is for the o ne who always expects the best in themselves and in the world. This is a chance to press the pause button and reflect on what’s to come and what, if anything we can do to prepare when it isn't a question of if, but when. The idea here is to make this personal. Develop a list this week of things in your life that are inevitable and that require you to have an action plan. Set deadline dates to outline your plan of action.   Here’s my partial list: ·          Retirement ·          Marriage of a child ·          Restricted mobility, due to bad knees ·          Death of a parent ·          Closing consulting practice I embrace the unknown...

The word for the week is "Declutter.” An organized mind, office and house helps one reach personal and professional goals as planned.    Set three priorities this week and don’t allow someone else’s crisis to derail you from you plan to declutter . It takes about 4 to 8 hours to declutter an office.   According to professional organizer Barbara Reich, it takes 20 to 30 hours to organize a house.   So plan accordingly.   Resources you will need for the job:   File folders Label maker Trash bags File boxes Storage boxes or bins Packing tape, dispenser is helpful A cheerleader A positive attitude loaded with  perseverance I declutter for clarity and to reach my goals.

The word for the week is "Trust.” Trust is critical to your success. Having both people and communication skills can impact how quickly you are able to establish trust.   Ineffective communications can result in misunderstandings that can lead to missed opportunities, actions that don’t match with expectations and other issues.   Those with great people and communication skills help build their credibility as a leader, friend, spouse and parent.  When you are communicating effectively for outcomes, you get what you want. Know your own triggers that impact your communications effectiveness and address them. Work on your listening skills . Additional tips to build trust: ·          Practice What You Preach to Others ·          Honor Your Promises ·          Keep Confidences ·          Be Honest ...

The phrase for the week is "Financially Speaking” When I’m coaching a senior manager or executive who wants a seat at important C-Suite meetings, I ask one question--How’s your business and financial acumen?   If it’s a face-to-face meeting, I usually get a cold stare.   If I'm coaching by phone, the silence can be deafening. Here’s the deal, reading a profit and loss or any other financial statement is important.   What’s more important, however, is understanding what it means in relation to the company as a whole.   It is no secret, employees with business and financial acumen are better at thinking strategically, see the bigger picture relative to the company’s success and clearly understand how their function impacts that success.   Also important is understanding how the company makes money. This knowledge will accelerate your opportunities to be included in important discussions.   I choose to purse an MBA to shore up this area of weakne...

The phrase for the week is "Strive for Excellence” What exactly does that mean and how will I know I’ve achieved it?   Good question!   You can go back as far as you’d like…think about a time when you either led or were part of something that swirls joyously in your head for months or years--having children or getting married doesn’t count. You know you gave y our best when years later, you are still beaming with pride at just the thought of it!   Could you imagine having that feeling each day?   How about once a week?   Once a week is absolutely doable.   When you achieve a high level of excellence on a daily basis, and it becomes habit, then you’re going to find success greeting you at every turn.   Know where your sweet spot is and be purposeful, deliberate.   Strive for Excellence. I strive for excellence in all I do each and every day.

The phrase for the week is "Invest in Your Network” Thought I'd keep the investment theme going another week. On this day when taxes are due, I'd like to remind you that investments in your network are also due! Too often I speak with young and senior professionals who invest little or no time in building and expanding their network. It is usually during a personal or professional crisis when the alarm sounds and they realize they have no network.   They are all alone. When you have built a thriving network, you’ll know. You are privy to information that hasn’t gone public yet or perhaps, never will.   You are smarter than your peers because you have a body of knowledge and expertise that you can tap into with a quick phone call or email.   You are the go-to person for counsel and information.   People want you on the team. How do you build or expand your network?   Begin with securing a mentor (see March 11, 2019 blog post).   It doesn’t...

The phrase for the week is "Fix Your Relationship with Money”  Money was once a clouded mystery to me.   I spent many years fearful of it, embarrassed by the lack of it, and unclear how money was defining me. About twenty-five years ago, I took stock of my relationship with money and wondered, what does it mean to be rich?   I realized that being wealthy isn’t just about having material possessions, but also-and more importantly-being wealthy of spirit, having a passion for the work I do and pausing to realize all my blessings. I began to change my focus from making money to managing the money I made.   I’m no longer concerned with the deposits being made to my savings or checking, but the deposits of time and love being made to my family, friends, and the next generation of leaders looking to carve out a niche in this world. I talk more about this in my contribution to the book,  Souls of My Sisters . There are countless books on the market abo...

The phrase for the week is "Think Big, Visualize It And Then Let It Go." Make a clear distinction between wants and needs.   About twenty years ago, I finally decided to go through a box of papers I’d promise to clean out for years.   Amongst old bills, letters and photos long neglected, I found a faded sheet of paper containing a list of things I wanted to accomplish in five years and then, in ten years.   I had totally forgotten about this list and got chill bumps all over as I realized that it was ten years old, almost to the day!   This was my list of “wants.”   I had accomplished everything on the list but one thing.   It was something I later determined I didn’t “want” anymore.   Upon reflection, I remembered my state of mind when I developed that list. I was afraid to think big. Would accomplishing these things help define me?    Of course, I now know the answer is NO! I remember thinking I “needed” more money.   H...

The phrase for the week is "Listen Without Defending and Speak Without Offending" I remember the painful sting of my boss’s words in my first PR job.   “William (Bill) Pajaud said, “Cheryl, you’d get more done with less rework if you were a better listener.   And, you’d probably have fewer planning meetings if everyone in the room listened.   I left his office, determined to become a better listener and test his theory. These seven little words by Margaret Drake, I believe, are the foundation for any success I’ve enjoyed—“Listen without defending and speak without offending." Bill was right.   A good listener excels at all the basic human relations skills critical to success in all professions.   A misunderstanding can account for missed deadlines, projects that don’t match with expectations and other problems.   A good listener seeks out other points of view, thus showing respect for others and helps to facilitate open, honest communicati...

The phrase for the week is "Check Your Toolbox" Never attempt to climb a mountain without the right gear, support & mental toughness. Failure to do so can leave a scar on your soul. I will make a list of tools I need for my leadership toolbox. Share your progress here!

The word for the week is "Mentor." Betsy Plank was a mentor to so many in public relations, including me! When she donated significant funds to her alma mater, University of Alabama, she helped to establish the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. It ensured her legacy of mentoring would be passed down for generations. Having a mentor is one of the foundational blocks for a successful career and successful life.  If you don’t have a mentor, this is the week to research and identify potential confidants.  If you already have a mentor, this is the week to connect and review your goals and aspirations. Knowing what you want from a mentoring relationship is critical. Before you sit down with your mentor for the first time, decide what you hope to learn. Ask yourself what you want in work and life. What assets will help you get there? Identify the strengths that will best serve you. Then, honestly examine the roadblocks, challenges, or weaknesses t...

The word for the week is "Compromise." Pick your battles. I mean really, you can’t win all the time.   Find an opportunity to compromise at work and home this week. Please note: never compromise your ethics and values. When you find yourself in a situation where you are being asked to give up an idea, position or some ground on a matter, press the pause button.   Tap into what is really at stake for you here.   Compromise is not surrender.   You aren’t weak when you yield some ground, you are establishing a truce for the betterment of all. What are you willing to give up?   Determine this before going into the discussions.   If you’re already in the midst of the struggle, again, press the pause button and ask yourself, 'what can I give up to gain something more significant'? Viewing the other person as the enemy is asking for failure.   And since failure isn’t an option for you, approach this as a negotiation and manage a smile to ...

The word for the week is "Silly." Connect with your youth!  Do or say something silly each day this week--not obnoxious or inappropriate, just silly.  Each morning, be purposeful and plan the perfect time to be silly, to be amused.  If you’re on a first date, go for it!  The point of being silly is to create laughter.  Did you know that you don’t have to laugh out loud to reap the benefits of laughter? You can just sit there and think of something totally funny and improve your mood.   Just smiling makes a difference. Of course, I know that laughter makes you feel good.   It can cut the tension in a room.   It can certainly reduce stress.   But I’m probably the only one on the planet that didn’t know that laughter reduces pain and stress overall.   I had no clue that it increases creativity and your problem-solving ability.   The family or team that laughs together, stays together.   That translates to happie...

The phrase for the week is "Don’t Wing It” Design your career path by first developing a written plan.   The process I recommend couldn’t be easier.    I take the basic elements of a business plan and apply those to brand “You.”       Be clear on your strengths and how they align with your passion for the profession you’ve chosen.   Knowing your values will help you seek employers or clients that are a comfortable fit.   Do your research and perform your own SWOT analysis (strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats). In the planning phase, spend an adequate amount of time using the research to support your plan.   Consider all possible outcomes and how you will respond. Hold yourself accountable by creating an action plan with deadlines. Tap into your passions and signal to the world you are here and ready to realize your destiny.  I use all my resources to develop a career plan that aligns with my values. Sh...

The phrase for the week is "Make Someone’s Day” Thursday is St. Valentine's Day!  Actually, the entire month is devoted to romance.  Make someone's day this week! Act surprised, even if you aren't--make someone's day! Spend the week performing random acts of kindness.   Researchers found that when you do something nice for someone, everyone wins. You feel amazing and you share joy to someone dear or a total stranger.    Just performing an act of kindness at least once a week leads to happiness. The acts can be as simple as holding the door for someone, complimenting an outfit or paying for lunch.   According to Dr. David R. Hamilton, acts of kindness create an emotional warmth, which releases the heart-protecting hormone oxytocin. So protect your heart and make someone’s day! I perform random acts of kindness all week. Share your progress: https://www.facebook.com/AStepAheadPR.Coaching

The phrase for the week is "Seek Balance." Ever been to someone’s home and they make an incredible dish?   You ask for the recipe and get home and it never tastes quite the same?   I’ll tell you why—they leave out a key ingredient, an important ingredient. Well, I’m not going to do that… I’ll let you in on a little secret—unless you are extremely organized, work, life balance is just a pipe dream!!!   I’m not telling you what I’ve heard, I’m telling you what I know!   Early in my career I just couldn’t seem to keep up!   I would come in early and stay late.   My health suffered, my personal relationships suffered, and eventually, my work suffered.   I just wasn’t organized! (You can see me here at 21 years old at the desk of my first PR job) I worked really hard on my organizational skills, I failed often—but I never gave up.   There are countless books and seminars on time management techniques and organizational skills. ...