Your Leadership Coach

The phrase for the week is "Stand Firm.” Individuals with any measure of success are without question, engaged in some level of risk taking.   Not reckless risk, but strategic risk--supported by research, a strong network and faith.   For a business enterprise, these calculated risks result in increased market share, an innovative product design, and can distance the company further from their nearest competitor.   This week, identify a project, initiative or idea you’ve been considering.   Do the required research to support your position and the opposing points of view.   Be clear on how this can move the organization from point A to point B.   Be clear, be confident and stand firm. I do my research and I stand firm on my ideas and decisions.

The word for the week is "Communication” Communication is central to all aspects of life. It’s a critical skill for maintaining your personal as well as professional relationships. ·          Builds trust ·          Establishes credibility ·          Lays the foundation for great leadership Be aware of the nonverbal cues you receive when speaking your mind.   Silence does not automatically mean agreement. When communicating, ask don’t tell .   Being asked lights up “positive visioning areas” in the brain, associated with greater cognitive and perceptual openness.   Being told can activate “negative emotional attractor” areas of the brain, causing defensiveness. I communicate clearly and listen for clarity and understanding.

The phrase for the week is "Know When To Walk Away” You might be humming the Kenny Roger’s hit “The Gambler.”   It is so appropriate for this week’s affirmation.   We often hear, “hold on tight to your dreams,” “persevere,” “never give up.” It is so specific. So, if I let go of a dream, give up--am I a failure, a loser? How do we know when it may be time to sunset something that isn't working? When do you focus on what you've learned and move on? I’ve read a lot of self-help books over the years. Necessary Endings by Henry Cloud stayed with me for years and I’ve recommended it to countless friends and clients.   In it he states, “Getting to the next level always requires ending something, leaving it behind, and moving on. Growth demands that we move on. Without the ability to end things, people stay stuck, never becoming who they are meant to be, never accomplishing all that their talents and abilities should afford them.” Wow!   I was so relieved to consi...

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 "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’...