Resolution or Revolution?

December 29th, 2010

This morning I woke up thinking about the New Years tradition of making resolutions.  I actually gave up that practice years ago.  Resolutions always seemed like a weak attempt to make a change to some less than perfect situation in you life; comparable to the Monday Morning Diet syndrome.  You know, you want to lose weight, but once the day begins, temptation appears, and you are easily diverted off your track of good intentions with simple obstacles like the office birthday cake, the impromptu lunch invitation and the networking happy hour.  In if you’re lucky enough to hold your resolve till Tuesday or Wednesday, you might actually lose a pound or two, only to have it bounce right back by Friday.  What’s the point?

So I got to thinking, maybe the New Year is actually a time for revolution (change) vs. resolution (intention to change).  Oh, don’t get me wrong, intentions are great.  They are the seeds of change.  But real change (or improvement) only occurs when we get clear on what we want, create a strategy get there and insure accountability for action & success.  In my coaching practice, I call it my 4 C’s to Success.  Let’s look at an example of how this works

Clarify your Goal:

What do you want to change or improve on? What’s the Goal? What would the change look life or feel like (be specific)?   If the change were to occur, what would be different for you?  How would it impact your life?

Consider the Options:

There are many ways to accomplish a goal or create change.  What are some of the options available to you? Brainstorm the possibilities. Which option(s) would work best for you?

Create your Plan:

What actions will you take to achieve your goal? Determine a time line for each step as well as the final result.  What obstacles can you anticipate that may get in the way?  How will you circumvent these barriers to your success?

Commit to your Plan and Enlist an Accountability Partner

A plan is nothing more than words on a paper or an idea in your head if you don’t act on it.  If you can not fully commit to your plan, chances are good you will be easily derailed or distracted.  Commitment is internal.  You have to be the driver to make things happen.  The best way to insure your sustained motivation and commitment is to find an accountability partner to “check in” with on a regular basis.  This will keep you on track and on course.  It’s like the homework scenario when you were a student at school.  You might have waited till the last minute to complete your assignment, but in the end you got it in on time (hopefully).  Knowing that someone is your partner in your process not only creates accountability, but also provides you with outside perspective & support.

So this year, rather than making a bunch of Resolutions, try creating your own personal or professional revolution!  This year I am planning a personal “revolution” at my home.  I am in the process of getting my 1st dog.  Going through my 4 C’s has been very helpful indeed.  Especially the “consider the options” step; from breeds & dispositions to shelters and rescues.   My dog revolution is set to begin between now and the end of January.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress as I am sure my new canine companion will inspire excellent subject matter for leadership lessons and “training tails”!

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The BAIL OUT… Do you have your co-worker’s back?

November 11th, 2010

After a 20 year hiatus from Community Theater, I recently dove back into mix and was lucky enough to secure a small character part in a comedic play called, “The Women”.  I was thrilled to be part of a cast of 16 women and one lone man…our fearless director, Hunter Dion.  Right from the start, at the 1st rehearsal, our director set the tone and atmosphere to begin the team bonding process.  With only a 6 week rehearsal schedule, he knew how critical it would be for cast members to get to know each other, build trust and share his vision.  So at our 1st rehearsal there was no rehearsing – just socializing and connecting with the team. I left that night feeling energized and full of anticipation for the coming weeks.

Fast forward to 3 weeks before the play’s opening, one of the actors needed to be replaced and I was approached for the role.  I said “ I’d love to accept as long as there aren’t a gazillion lines to memorize.”  He says “there are”… but I accept anyway.  I now had 40 new lines to memorize for a 9 minute scene in less than 3 weeks. Nervous, excited and petrified were the adjectives that came to mind.  How would I do it?  What would happen if I froze and forgot my lines?  Then I learned about the “bail out”.  The bail out is the epitome of great team work.  When your team mate fumbles, stumbles or freezes, it’s your job to help, support or save them.  So before the show opened, we became familiar with our acting partners lines and  common trip up points, so we could be prepared to “bail each other out “ in the event of brain freeze.  So last week the show opened and as luck would have it, I got to be the bailer vs. the bailed.  When my partner blanked out I was ready to help her and the audience sat back entertained and unaware of our blooper.  I felt great being able to help and she felt relieved she was able to get through the scene without negatively impacting the show or personal embarrassment.

So what the heck does this have to do with business, leadership and teamwork?  Everything!  Sometimes we can become so self-absorbed in our own success we often miss the opportunities to contribute to the success of our teammates and ultimately the success of our business. When we support others on our team it builds trust, encourages confidence and creates opportunities for enhanced performance.  So whether you are selling a product, offering a service or providing an experience; the customer is your audience.  Focus on your delivery and as a team create a flawless presentation. If you are looking for a standing ovation, make sure your cast of characters (managers and employees) have the talent, support each other and perform in sync!

ps.  If you’re in the Irvine, CA area and love theater, come see my show on Saturday November 13th or the 20th.  It’s a whole lotta fun!  Show Trailer http://www.orangecountytheatercompany.org

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Tricks & Treats for The Workplace

October 16th, 2010

Everyone has a favorite holiday.  Some people love Thanksgiving, with all the good food and family connections.  Others think Christmas or Hanukah are the most special holidays richly seeped in tradition, celebration and giving.  For me, my favorite holiday is and has always been Halloween!  The costumes, the pumpkin carving, the decorations and of course the candy send me right over the moon.  I absolutely love it!  This holiday is playful and creative, which speaks directly to two of my core values.  This month I want to share with you some Halloween ideas & activities that can “Pump Up the Pulse” of your staff’s morale and inspire some “tricky” teambuilding opportunities.  Enjoy!

Halloween provides a great opportunity to build team spirit and generate some fun in the workplace.  Rather than share specific details on how to do one activity, I would like to share 8 Ideas for sparking some Haunted Humor and Creepy Creativity.

A Pumpkin Carving or Decorating Contest: This is an inexpensive and creative activity that each department can participate in.  Open up the parameter of the contest to include props, decorating and even dressing your pumpkins.  If appropriate to your business, you can have your clients be the judges.

A Bewitching Buffet: A themed pot luck lunch – with things such as Hard Boiled Eyes (eggs), BBQ Bat wings (chicken wings) and witch finger cookies. Offer a prize to the department or team that creates the most interesting or tasty treats!

An afternoon Costume Party for the kids of your employees.  Sharing family activities help bring people together on a more personal level.  Enlist staff member to plan and facilitate the event.

Adult Costume Contest: This activity works better in some companies than others. Dressing up brings out the creative nature in people as well as competition.

All Employee Halloween Meeting – This creates a fun forum for rolling out new ideas, programs and goals.

Halloween Rap Contest: Each department is tasked to create a lyrical rap about work with Halloween references. Bring your groups together to perform & be judged.  Prizes complete the event.

Candy Exchange Coffee Break – This is best the day after Halloween when everyone is trying to get rid of excess candy.

Haunted Office Decorating Contest

If you have a frighteningly good Halloween idea…please share!

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Just Pick Up the Phone!

October 5th, 2010

Recently a client of my expressed his frustration about how his coworkers use email.  He had received a misinformed email message that, of course, was copied to a few critical people which in turn created a time consuming drama that could have been resolved in minutes.   The email was about a safety issue (an electric shock hazard) at a large company. Allegedly someone had gotten shocked.  Wouldn’t you agree that an issue like that warrants a phone call?  It’s like emailing an ambulance when someone is having chest pains! Or sending a letter to the fire department when a house is burning!  Where is our common sense and what have we come to?  Why are we so reluctant to engage in live communication?  The reason I hear most frequently relates to time.  It’s quicker.  But understand, quicker isn’t always better.  When it comes to communication, use the tool that is most appropriate.
In the business arena email can be a very useful too when:

¨      You need a simple answer to a question

¨      You want to share information

¨      You want to make sure everyone on your team is informed

¨      You want to introduce an idea for someone to mull over

¨      You want to set up or confirm an appointment or meeting

Avoid using email when:

¨      You are angry or frustrated with the recipient

¨      You are angry or frustrated with a situation

¨      The issue is a sensitive subject to the recipient

¨      The information is highly confidential

¨      The topic is critical or time sensitive

¨      It’s an emergency

These are just a few of my thoughts.  If you have any other ideas to add, feel free to comment.

Clear communication is tricky business. So when in doubt, go see the person live or just pick up the phone!

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From Boas & Bunnies to Management & Motivation

September 22nd, 2010

Do What You Love!

As a child, people always ask, what do you want to be when you grow up? My first choices were Secret Agent or Royal Mounted Policewoman.  Both sounded exciting and of course riding a horse as part of a job was very appealing.  Over the years my responses would change some, but one thought always remained constant.  What ever I did, I always wanted my job to be fun and interesting.  I am happy to report that this is still true.

I began my career working with animals and children in the area of education.  I had the incredible opportunity to work at science and nature centers with a wide variety of animals ranging from spiders and snakes to skunks and squirrels. In this role I created interesting and engaging programs for children instilling both knowledge and appreciation for animals.   I can still remember walking into classrooms with a 6 foot Boa Constrictor wrapped around my waist.  Now that’s what I call active learning!  Never a dull moment and I loved what I did.

After seven great years in that field I was ready for a change.  I had always been fascinated by hotels and resorts, so I decided to explore the industry.  As luck would have it, I landed a great opportunity with a Hilton Hotel, first as a management trainee and then as an HR manager.  This was the start of a rich career in human resources and the catalyst that would eventually propel me into becoming a business owner, a coach and leadership development consultant.

Although my work environment and career have changed quite a bit over the years, my passion and focus remain constant.  In the past, I spent my workdays teaching, developing and inspiring children – today I do similar things, but my audiences are now adults and my tools have changed from spiders and snakes to assessments and power point.  Whether I am coaching a manager, working with a team or facilitating a team building adventure, I still love what I do!

So my question to you is … do you love what you’re doing?  Do you get up each day excited about what lies ahead?  If the answer is yes… then congratulations!  You’re on the right track.  If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to rethink things. Take a moment and rate the statements below on a scale of zero (not true at all) to 10 (perfectly true) .

(    ) I enjoy my career and the work I perform
(    ) My work allows me to express my unique talents and gifts
(    ) My work environment is positive and motivational
(    ) My Boss is respectful and treats me well
(    ) I have a plan for my career development
(    ) I earn what I am worth

Total: (      )

A perfect score is 60!   How did you do?

If you‘re not happy with your current “work life” situation consider hiring a coach.   A coach can help you gain clarity on what you want to change or improve, identify goals and create strategy for your next steps.   For more information on our Coaching Services, email me at anita@thecoachingcompass.com or give me a call at 949-387-3436.

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Is your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

August 18th, 2010

Today I am speaking for 70 unemployed professionals on how to stay motivated during a job search.  Being on a job search can be like riding a roller coaster; the ups and downs can be pretty extreme.  One moment you have 2 or 3 great opportunities on the table and a week later you can feel like you’ve hit ground zero – no opportunities – nothing on the horizon.  It can be very frustrating.  I don’t care how positive of a person you think you are, you’re human and we’ve all been there.

To help people maintain a positive mental attitude during a job search I have created The Mindset Makeover.  These are good habits to incorporate into your life whether you are unemployed or not.

The Mindset Makeover
Ten Tips for staying energized and positive during your job search

1. Begin your Day with Appreciation -The way you start your each morning sets the mood and tone for the rest of the day.  So as you wake up, take a moment to reflect on what you appreciate in your life.

2. Build a Schedule – By building yourself a schedule you will be able to approach each day with purpose and balance.  When you create that schedule, be sure to include not just job search time, but time for exercise, self development, family, friends and fun. The more balance you create, the better you’ll feel.

3. Take a Day Off – It is so easy to work your job search 24/7.  Give yourself permission to take a day off.  You will be more effective and refreshed when you do.

4. Focus on your Health – Exercise regularly and eat healthy. Besides being good for you, there are definite benefits from a mood and energy perspective. Try to schedule a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise into your day, don’t skip meals and avoid junk food.

5. Fertilize your Brain – Avoid the TV trap. Do things that keep you mind engaged and sharp.  Read books & magazines, take a class, listen to music & audio CD’s and engage in stimulating conversation with others.

6. Get Out of the House – A change of scene is always a good stimulus for igniting your energy and attitude.  Add some human interaction into the equation and watch you mood climb.  You are on a job search, not sentence to solitary confinement!

7. Find the Freebies – They say the best things in life are free.  Explore the many free things that are out there to do.  Concerts in the park, beach walks, street fairs and picnics are just a few of the free and fun activities you can tap into.

8.  Help Others and Volunteer – Helping people is a great way to energize you while making a difference in the lives of others. It can also open doors to new connections and possibilities for your future.

9.  Silence your Inner Critic – Negative self-talk propagates fear and inhibits action. When you hear that inner voice trying to sabotage your success, stop it dead in its tracks.  Awareness is the first step.

10. End your Day with Gratitude -What went well today?  What are you grateful for?  Create a Success Journal to help you recognize the positive actions you have taken and the successes you have achieved.

What 3 actions will you take going forward to insure maintaining a positive mental attitude?

1.____________________________________________________________________

2.____________________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________________

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Leadership At The Improv!

August 3rd, 2010

Recently I began taking an Improv Class through my town’s community   programs.  This is my 3rd class in the past year.  I guess you could say I’m hooked.  When I’m in class, I feel like I am 9 years old again playing with my friends.   Last night, I was transformed into a Hula Dancer with a lisp and then to a one-legged Russian Spy with top secret toothpaste.  I have finally found a place where it’s acceptable to “make things up” on the fly and be respected for being silly, creative and thinking out of the box.  So what does all this have to do with leadership?  How can mastering improvisation skills help you as a leader?  Improvisation is a useful tool for leaders on many levels.

Practicing Improv sharpens your communication skills. It forces you to listen closely to the other people so you can play off of each others cues.  In addition, it promotes the acceptance of other people’s ideas and challenges you to work with the information they provide.  In business your ability to listen fully and be open to others ideas is critical. By accepting feedback, you encourage others to want share their ideas more freely.  You may not choose to implement the ideas offered, but you openness to listening will drive communication and the sharing of information

Improv stretches your creativity and encourages the development of on the spot thinking. When was the last time you had to think on your feet and respond to a question you were not expecting?  Maybe it was at a team meeting, during a presentation, with a client or perhaps a conversation with your boss.  Everyday we are faced with situations that require on the spot thinking. Improv exercises and strengthens  our “creativity” and “quick thinking” muscles.  If you want to “stay in shape” you work out to stretch and get strong.  The brain may not be a muscle, but it still improves with exercise.

Making decisions and embracing risk is critical in leadership and management. An organization can not move forward if its leaders are afraid to make decisions.  Improv requires participants to make decisions and take risks.  When playing a scene, deciding whether you want to be a cowboy or a mad scientist waiting at a bus stop with a nun may not be an earth shattering decision to make, but none the less, there you are in front of your audience, forced to commit to your role.  It takes courage and trust. What a great exercise in commitment and decision making!

Improv is the ultimate teambuilding experience. It requires the players to communicate, cooperate and trust each other.  The more you know your team mates, the easier it is to do a successful scene.  One of the golden rules in improv is that you want to try to make the other person look good.  It’s not all about you.  Imagine if we could work with others with that goal in mind… to make others be successful!  Wouldn’t that make a huge impact in team effectiveness, attitude and efficiency?

So call me silly, crazy or quirky, I am convinced that Improv builds great leadership qualities.  If you are looking to sharpen you game, try playing at Improv.  I promise you it will be fun and you won’t be disappointed.  And if you’d like to improve the communication and leaderships skills of your team, consider having The Coaching Compass facilitate “Acting Up” our Improv Teambuilding program.  Click here to read about it.

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Networking Tips

July 19th, 2010

From time to time , I am asked by clients or organizations to speak on various topics.  This week I have the privilege of speaking to a local university’s medical center staff on Networking Skills.  Preparing for the program really got me thinking about the relationships I have cultivated and  nurtured over the years.  I have always been fairly good at relationship building, but it wasn’t until I became a business owner that I really understood the value of networking.  Networking is about helping other people get what they need.  It’s about sharing both your knowledge, expertise  and connections to help others be successful.  It is not about “what’s in it for me” nor is it a “quid pro quo”, mentality, but the rewards are generally plentiful and often surprising.  Through networking, I have gotten job opportunities, found new clients,  taken classes, made new friends, explored new hobbies, found service providers and traveled to some interesting destinations ( including Costa Rica, Hawaii & possibly to Europe in the near future).  And now that I am in the market for a dog …!! arff arff, I am sure my networking connections will help me find the perfect new pup.

So in the spirit of growing your network, I wanted to share with you my Seven Strategies to Networking Success.  Whether you are looking for a job, trying to grow a business or just increase your professional connections, these Seven Tips can help you along the way.  Enjoy!

1.  Be Yourself / Authentic
Remember you are your personal brand.  People want to do business with (or help) people who are “real” or authentic. They do not want to do business with phony people.  When you come across as authentic , building trust and developing solid relationships occurs more easily.

2. Be Approachable
Be conscious of your body language, facial expressions (SMILE!!) and your attitude.  Find a CPI  (common point of interest) and connect with people on a friendly and personal level.

3. Be Visible & Make it Fun
Get out of your office/home and meet people. Choose  venues that you enjoy (live networking events, social media, volunteering, social gatherings) to make the process more comfortable and fun.

4. Be Helpful
Develop a “give first attitude.”  What can you do for others?When you give of yourself first, you will reap infinite returns.

5. Be Clear on Your Purpose
Know what you are looking to get out of the networking process. Is it education, contacts, job leads, sales leads, volunteer opportunities?  This will help you be prepared and maximize your experience.

6. Be Prepared
How will you present yourself?  Create a 30 second personal commercial that will help you communicate effectively the information you want to share.  Bring your tools (business cards, info collateral).

7. Follow Up & Follow Through
Follow up quickly when you make an connection, Stay connected with people you really want to cultivate relationships with.   If you offer to help by sending information or making an introduction do it!

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The Truth About Goals

June 28th, 2010

You can’t reach your goal if you never set one. Recently I was reminded of this fact.  My husband is an extraordinary 8th grade history teacher in South Central Los Angeles.  His   students love him as he brings history alive both in and out of the classroom.  Just this year he won the secondary school, Teacher of the Year Award for his school district.  But this accomplishment is not the goal I want to address today.  The story I have to tell is about Poker; a game of patience and skill as well as some good luck.

For almost 5 years my husband has studied videos, read books, played Texas Hold’em regularly.  He is passionate about the game and is fascinated by the science of the game and the psychological strategies employed.  After about a year of playing with friends and in local tournaments, he announced, “One day, I will play in the World Series of Poker and win big money.”  I replied of course you will, only half believing him, but not wanting to burst his bubble.   When he made the comment, I thought it was about as viable as “Someday I will win the lottery.”  Well last week my husband proved to me that when you have a goal, believe it is possible and work hard to get there, it will happen.  He entered the World Series of Poker, event#34 ten days ago.  He went up against 3142 poker players from around the world – and made it to the final table (a huge accomplishment in itself).  In the end he finished in 8th place and won over $47,000.  Truly amazing!

I wanted to share this story as a reminder that if you don’t dare to think big and set goals your accomplishments will be few and minor.  It all starts with a vision.  Rather than share with you the typical goal setting strategies, I wanted to share an idea and keep it really simple.  Ask yourself, “What do I really want?”  Once you are clear on “the what” it’s as easy as ABC or should I say CBA to make it a reality.  Here’s what you do:

Conceive the idea.  Think about what you want, why you want it and what it will mean for you when you achieve it.  Get excited and feel the emotion.  Anticipate your success.

Believe that it is possible.  For any goal to manifest, you have to believe not only that it is possible, but that you are capable and worthy of achieving and receiving your success.

Achieve your goal by taking the necessary actions.  Just wanting something or believing it is possible is not enough to make it happen.  Create your plan and do the work. Be accountable to yourself. Overcome the obstacles and embrace the opportunities. Set reasonable time frames and celebrate your success.

So whether it’s a personal dream or a professional goal, you have the power to make it happen.  You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

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Super Hero Leadership

June 15th, 2010

Last week I began preparations for a new team-building program.  I wanted to offer something unusual and different for the summer; an activity that would add a little sizzle and fun while creating an opportunity for teams to bond, connect, collaborate and celebrate their strengths.  I searched the media to find out what was new or trendy.

Reality TV is on the down swing, culinary competitions are overcooked, and vampire themed shows are pretty hot…but tell me, how popular would biting and blood be in the workplace with harassment and workplace violence issues to deal with?

Then it hit me – every year there is always at least one superhero movie. This year was Iron Man 2.  And who doesn’t love a super hero? Generally they are good people with great intentions and a super ability that helps them save the world.  And in times like these, the world can use a little saving, from oils spills to terrorist plots to ecological doom & gloom.

So I am excited to introduce My Super Heroes Super Adventure.  The premise of the program is that all of us have super powers (strengths) within us, as well as an Achilles heel or weakness that gets in our way.  The team-building program begins with each individual identifying their strengths and weaknesses and creating a super hero identity which will later be teamed up with other super peers to create Super Teams.  Teams will them compete in several challenges, earn points and compete for The Super Heroes Team Award!

As I started to create the program, I thought it would be fun to use myself as a guinea pig.  If I were a Super Hero/ Super Leader who would I be?
What super powers would I have? What would my fatal flaw be?
And what creative costuming would I need to conceal secret identity?
Here is what I can up with:

Introducing

LIVE WIRE WOMAN


Her Leadership Strengths:            

  • Brings energy & excitement to the team
  • A motivational  conduit
  • Encourages a positive perspective
  • Exudes joy and optimism
  • Finds the fun in all tasks
  • Able to see the “bright side” in any challenging  situation

Her Super Human Abilities:

Electrically charged!  Can zap a bad guy dead in his tracks, can light up the city in a blackout, can start a fire at the snap of a finger, and can revive a heart attack victim with a touch of her hand.

Her Fatal Flaws:

  • Detail deficiency:  Gets so caught up in the fun aspects of a task that important details can be over looked.
  • Too trusting. Her belief in other people’s goodness and honesty can cloud her judgment and decision making.

Now with my new super identity I am now ready to team up with other super leaders to fight crime, neutralize world threats and divert day to day disasters.

So if you were to join my Super Hero Team.  Who would you be?  What strengths and abilities would you bring to the group? I’d love to hear from you.  ZAP!  You’re on!

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