Your Leadership Coach

The word for the week is "Values” We all strive to work in today’s dynamic times without compromising our values.   When the way we want to live your lives is aligned with our actions, we are happy.   When they are in conflict, unhappiness sets in and conflict ensues. This conflict destroys your ability to be creative, to innovate and grow personally and professionally. This week complete this awareness exercise to discover the behaviors that tell the world what you feel is important, what guides your life, your values. List your top five values. Next to each value, state your behaviors that are evidence to you and the world that these are your values.   For example:   My number one value is family.   Everyone will know this because I rarely work evenings and weekends so I can spend time with my family.   When you have completed the five values and evidence, put this in a safe place. Next, identify five people to help you with this awarene...

The phrase for the week is "Contingency Planning” When I was growing up in Chicago, I loved to play chess.   What I loved most about the game was trying to predict what moves my opponent might make and what I would do in response.   I’m too impatient for chess now, but I have used those skills throughout my career and am confident it has been the foundation for much of my planning success stories.   I call it contingency planning but the formal term is scenario planning. It is so much a part of how I approach my personal and professional life, I rarely realize I’ve engaged this tool.   In order for this level of planning to work, you must be committed to the amount of time it takes to sift through all the possible outcomes or scenarios.   Often, a person will only plan for the outcome they want and when things go awry, they are back to square one--researching, planning, etc.   Often there is a mourning period before they are able to regroup to beg...

The phrase for the week is "Be Open.” One doesn’t have to be in charge to help shape the environment for open and honest communication.   What kind of environment do you help to create? What is your body language saying when a colleague or friend comes up with an idea that you think is ridiculous? Do you roll your eyes and/or give that body language of “Oh my goodness, here we go again! Or, do you embrace these ideas and look for ways to nurture them and consider their merit? Bring a new perspective to your next meeting or gathering. Challenge your own assumptions.   Note how you are received and the impact you have. I am open to new perspectives and new ideas.

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 "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 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 "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!