Jobs and CareersRemove the Roadblocks
By J Randy Hall
As an executive coach I have the privilege of working with some amazing business leaders. It's extremely satisfying to help these executives make a small shift in their perspective and then watch them use their new outlook to make changes, sometimes dramatic, in their own behavior. Sometimes a very simple idea can make measurable changes in how they operate if they are committed to improving and open to feedback. And they wont get too far as an executive without those two attributes anyway.
I was working with a senior executive not too long ago who had gotten some feedback from his peers that he wasn't speaking up enough on conference calls and in meetings. This leader had some solid ideas and opinions and was more in touch with customer needs than many executives I've worked with. Most of his peers and especially his superiors, wouldn't have described him that way though, because he was keeping that knowledge all to himself.
After a few discussions, it became clear that while this leader had valuable information and ideas that would add to the meetings, he didn't believe that was the case. He had conditioned himself to think that someone else would probably contribute the same thing eventually and that his ideas my not be as good or as relevant as the other executives in the room.
Once we identified the mental roadblock he had created for himself we worked to shift it so he would add more value to the business as well as his career. This executive needed a constant reminder that he possessed value that would never be realized by the business if he kept waiting for someone else to add it. We created an index card for him with three thoughts that he needed to keep clearly in mind while participating in meetings.
1. My knowledge and experience will add value to this meeting.
2. People in this meeting want to hear my thoughts and ideas.
3. Our business and my career will benefit from me being heard.
The executive kept this card with him at all times. He would set it in front of him on conference calls and slide it discretely out of his binder and look at it during meetings. Not only did he feel better about contributing to the discussions over time but the feedback about him shifted from "He's very reserved in meetings" to "He's in touch with the business and our customers." It didn't happen overnight but by consciously changing his mindset by using the card before and during meetings, he gradually became more vocal and created a new behavior for himself. He also created a more accurate perception among his colleagues of his knowledge, abilities and value to the organization.
What's interesting is that this executive already had the skill he needed to contribute effectively in the meeting. This wasn't about teaching him any new skills. He simply needed to believe that he brought real value to the discussion and once he created and reinforced that conviction for himself, the new actions then followed.
There are many ways to change a mindset you have that is limiting you and often, coaching executives is more about removing the mental roadblocks than it is teaching new skills. No matter what actions or behaviors you are trying to change for yourself, creating a visual reminder that helps you consistently raise awareness will engage your brain and help you make the shift. Over time, the conscious effort becomes an unconscious habit whether it's speaking up in meetings or achieving your own personal goals.
What's holding you back from being your best? Here's one thing that you can be sure of, if there's something holding you or any of your business leaders back, then it's holding your business back as well.
Randy Hall is the founder and principal of 4th Gear Consulting. He is passionate about developing amazing leaders and thriving, principled organizations. He believes that nothing will have greater impact on our economy, our communities, our lives and our kids' lives.
For more than a decade Randy has worked for and with organizations to help them realize more of their potential. His most recent roles in the corporate world were Senior Vice President of Learning and Leadership Development at Bank of America and Global Director of Learning and Development at Pfizer. Prior to moving into leadership development, he spent several years in sales and led his own high performing teams.
You can contact Randy at randy.hall@4thgearconsulting.com or visit him on the web at http://4thgearconsulting.com You can also read more of Randy's articles at http://bit.ly/22A0QZ
========================================================
Attitudes and Behaviours For Success in Business
By Liz Makin
Business owners running successful small and medium sized businesses have a range of attitudes and behaviours that contribute to the success of their businesses. The good news is that these attitudes and behaviours can be learnt and you do not have to be born with them.
We have identified below some of the key attitudes and behaviours that business owners of successful small and medium sized businesses display for you to consider:
Keep focused on the business vision, the goals and the strategy that they have set for the business and its financial performance. They direct their minds and all the business activities to achieving the business vision, goals and strategy and maximising the financial performance of the business.
Look for business opportunities at all times. They are constantly aware of the changing business environment and are always looking for business opportunities.
Take responsibility for making things happen in their business, being proactive and accepting blame if things don't go according to plan. They look at how things can be improved, reflect on what the business can do differently and always retain overall responsibility for the business.
Communicate effectively with everyone they deal with. They are emotionally intelligent, use good communication skills, vary these in line with who they are communicating with and are sensitive to the needs of others.
Take action. They plan how they are going to achieve their business goals and strategy and then ensure the action is taken that is needed to implement the plan, without procrastinating. They exhibit a can do attitude.
Take manageable risks in the business. They assess the risks of the actions they plan to take and minimise the risks in advance. They do not take risks that are out of proportion to the size of the business.
Are passionate and highly motivated about the business and are inspired and motivated about what they are doing. In turn they inspire and motivate those around them.
Are open and receptive to people, ideas, learning and information, both within and outside of the business. They are also happy to share information and pass on their experience and advice to others.
Think positively. They maintain a positive attitude and those around them pick up on their positive energy, they feel in control and confident and perform at their best. Everyone in their company feels positive and customers want to do business with them.
See the business from different perspectives. They understand how the different stakeholders in the business see the business and what their needs are, including customers, suppliers, shareholders, staff and even their competitors. They focus on meeting the needs of the different stakeholders.
Are versatile and adaptive to the business and the environment the business operates in. They accept that things do not always go to plan and adapt to external forces and changing customer needs. They embrace change and do not panic when the unexpected happens.
Develop their social capital. They develop good business relationships, both within and outside the business, focusing on building a good network, the reputation of the business and their standing in the community.
Learn from experiences. They learn from all their business experiences, including both success and failure, and focus on continuous improvement in their business.
Have perseverance and resilience. They persevere and do not give up, exhibiting an inner well of determination and resilience, but they are not arrogant or pig-headed.
Are happy to delegate and outsource business functions and tasks for the benefit of the business. They do not persist in doing everything themselves, instead developing and leading those around them to achieve their potential and to maximise the business performance.
Show respect to all the different people they deal with, including their competitors. They take everyone seriously and are willing to give them time and attention.
Believe in themselves and their business. They have a high level of self belief and also believe in the direction they are taking the business. However they are consciously aware of what is happening in and outside their business.
Draw on the help and support of others. They locate themselves in an entrepreneurial environment and draw on the help and support of others where they don't have the relevant expertise or where they need a sounding board or support and motivation.
You may want to compare the above with the attitudes and behaviours that you display and see if there are areas that you want to improve or adopt. In thinking about these you may want to consider successful business owners that you know and what attitudes and behaviours they display and consider modelling yourself on them.
If you would like further information or to use any of our services please refer to the Makin It Happen - Coaching, Mentoring & Stress Management website at http://makinithappen.co.uk or contact Liz Makin at Liz@makinithappen.co.uk.
This article first appeared in the April 2009 edition of the Makin It Happen - Coaching, Mentoring and Stress Management newsletter. Please click here to Sign up for our email newsletter.
=======================================
Overcoming Fear
By Linda Binns
What are you afraid of? We all have fears of some kind, whether it's fear of public speaking, heights, change, failure or success, there's usually something that we're afraid of. Sometimes we know what it is, but sometimes it's buried deep within. This fear can be sabotaging us and holding us back, yet we never quite know why because it is so deeply buried.
People often tell me that they can't change something they're afraid of. "It's just who I am," they say. Yet I know from experience that's not true. I used to be so afraid of public speaking that nothing would have convinced me to stand up in front of a group of 2 people, let alone 2,000 and yet now I do it regularly. How can that be?
There are many other things I used to be afraid of or uncomfortable with - change for example - and yet now I embrace change and actively move towards it.
I think the first step in transforming any fear is to realize that you have it and secondly, how it's holding you back. I've been very fortunate in my life to have been around people who saw things in me that I couldn't see in myself. One boss I worked for many years ago obviously saw that learning to speak in public would improve my self-confidence tremendously. How he saw that I could do this I don't know. Up until then I had successfully avoided any situation where I would have to speak up in front of a group or even be the center of attention anywhere.
I was working in the Marketing department of a company and my boss was sending some of his marketing executives on a course to improve their presentation skills. He decided to send me with them - I hated him for it at the time! I can't describe to you how terrified I was. I wasn't just uncomfortable with it, I was really terrified. But what, exactly, was I afraid of? Many things I think: saying something wrong, appearing stupid, being 'seen' (I liked to be invisible and work behind the scenes).
One of the worst things about this course, from my perspective, was that our presentations were being video-taped so all the participants could offer feedback on each other's presentations. You know how they say that many people fear public speaking more than they fear dying? That would have been me at that time. Death seemed like a very welcome alternative to me at that point.
Of course initially I sat there, watching other people give their presentations, just dreading the time when they'd get round to me. Then something happened. One of my colleagues, a marketing executive I'd known for several years as very confident, charming and never at a loss for words, was giving one of his presentations. For some reason on this occasion he stumbled over his words. He couldn't think what to say. He stopped. He smiled and apologized, people muttered words of encouragement, and then he continued and finished his presentation.
At that point I started to see things differently. Even though he had stumbled over his words and forgotten what to say, people didn't ridicule him, they were supportive. He didn't feel like a failure and nobody thought of him that way. He handled it with grace. I suddenly watched the other presentations in a new way. I started to realize that I could be at least as good as many of the people there. I started to have hope that I could actually do it without looking totally ridiculous. I did several presentations over the two-day period that we were at this course. I wasn't the best, but I wasn't the worst either. I survived. People still spoke to me. What had I been afraid of all those years?
I'll never be a slick, put together motivational speaker, but then I don't want to be. I'm just me. When I stand in front of a group of people to make a presentation I focus on them and on the information I'm presenting to them. I make mistakes sometimes, the equipment might fail sometimes. It doesn't matter. I can handle it.
How much energy did I waste by being afraid of speaking in front of people for so many years? A lot! Here's the thing about fear - it's not real. It's something that we imagine. If I do this, then that might happen. What's the worst that can happen anyway?
When you have fears that you don't want to face, not only are you wasting energy by trying to suppress and hang on to those fears, but think of all the ways in which they are holding you back. All the things you're not doing because you're afraid. Do yourself a big favor - identify and face those fears now. Here are some tips to help you do so:
· Make a list of things you're afraid of - this could include something you've always wanted to do but haven't done because something's holding you back (even if you don't know what's holding you back yet)
· Think about how much time, energy, opportunity you've wasted by hanging on to these fears
· Pick one and decide to face it and let it go
· Get support - find others who will help you to overcome your fear (if there's nobody you know who would support you, contact me - I know people who will support you)
· Take action - but always make sure you have supportive people around you when you do.
When you finally do the thing you are most afraid of, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. There really is nothing to fear - except fear itself.
Linda Binns provides practical information, tools and guidance to people interested in personal and spiritual growth. Join her free membership program for access to great resources and gifts at http://www.HarmonyInandOut.com
Linda Binns is author of Feng Shui for Your Relationships: Changing Your Environment to Create Better Relationships and The Energetic Edge: How Changing Your Surroundings = BIG Success (http://www.TheEnergeticEdge.com)
By J Randy Hall
As an executive coach I have the privilege of working with some amazing business leaders. It's extremely satisfying to help these executives make a small shift in their perspective and then watch them use their new outlook to make changes, sometimes dramatic, in their own behavior. Sometimes a very simple idea can make measurable changes in how they operate if they are committed to improving and open to feedback. And they wont get too far as an executive without those two attributes anyway.
I was working with a senior executive not too long ago who had gotten some feedback from his peers that he wasn't speaking up enough on conference calls and in meetings. This leader had some solid ideas and opinions and was more in touch with customer needs than many executives I've worked with. Most of his peers and especially his superiors, wouldn't have described him that way though, because he was keeping that knowledge all to himself.
After a few discussions, it became clear that while this leader had valuable information and ideas that would add to the meetings, he didn't believe that was the case. He had conditioned himself to think that someone else would probably contribute the same thing eventually and that his ideas my not be as good or as relevant as the other executives in the room.
Once we identified the mental roadblock he had created for himself we worked to shift it so he would add more value to the business as well as his career. This executive needed a constant reminder that he possessed value that would never be realized by the business if he kept waiting for someone else to add it. We created an index card for him with three thoughts that he needed to keep clearly in mind while participating in meetings.
1. My knowledge and experience will add value to this meeting.
2. People in this meeting want to hear my thoughts and ideas.
3. Our business and my career will benefit from me being heard.
The executive kept this card with him at all times. He would set it in front of him on conference calls and slide it discretely out of his binder and look at it during meetings. Not only did he feel better about contributing to the discussions over time but the feedback about him shifted from "He's very reserved in meetings" to "He's in touch with the business and our customers." It didn't happen overnight but by consciously changing his mindset by using the card before and during meetings, he gradually became more vocal and created a new behavior for himself. He also created a more accurate perception among his colleagues of his knowledge, abilities and value to the organization.
What's interesting is that this executive already had the skill he needed to contribute effectively in the meeting. This wasn't about teaching him any new skills. He simply needed to believe that he brought real value to the discussion and once he created and reinforced that conviction for himself, the new actions then followed.
There are many ways to change a mindset you have that is limiting you and often, coaching executives is more about removing the mental roadblocks than it is teaching new skills. No matter what actions or behaviors you are trying to change for yourself, creating a visual reminder that helps you consistently raise awareness will engage your brain and help you make the shift. Over time, the conscious effort becomes an unconscious habit whether it's speaking up in meetings or achieving your own personal goals.
What's holding you back from being your best? Here's one thing that you can be sure of, if there's something holding you or any of your business leaders back, then it's holding your business back as well.
Randy Hall is the founder and principal of 4th Gear Consulting. He is passionate about developing amazing leaders and thriving, principled organizations. He believes that nothing will have greater impact on our economy, our communities, our lives and our kids' lives.
For more than a decade Randy has worked for and with organizations to help them realize more of their potential. His most recent roles in the corporate world were Senior Vice President of Learning and Leadership Development at Bank of America and Global Director of Learning and Development at Pfizer. Prior to moving into leadership development, he spent several years in sales and led his own high performing teams.
You can contact Randy at randy.hall@4thgearconsulting.com or visit him on the web at http://4thgearconsulting.com You can also read more of Randy's articles at http://bit.ly/22A0QZ
========================================================
Attitudes and Behaviours For Success in Business
By Liz Makin
Business owners running successful small and medium sized businesses have a range of attitudes and behaviours that contribute to the success of their businesses. The good news is that these attitudes and behaviours can be learnt and you do not have to be born with them.
We have identified below some of the key attitudes and behaviours that business owners of successful small and medium sized businesses display for you to consider:
Keep focused on the business vision, the goals and the strategy that they have set for the business and its financial performance. They direct their minds and all the business activities to achieving the business vision, goals and strategy and maximising the financial performance of the business.
Look for business opportunities at all times. They are constantly aware of the changing business environment and are always looking for business opportunities.
Take responsibility for making things happen in their business, being proactive and accepting blame if things don't go according to plan. They look at how things can be improved, reflect on what the business can do differently and always retain overall responsibility for the business.
Communicate effectively with everyone they deal with. They are emotionally intelligent, use good communication skills, vary these in line with who they are communicating with and are sensitive to the needs of others.
Take action. They plan how they are going to achieve their business goals and strategy and then ensure the action is taken that is needed to implement the plan, without procrastinating. They exhibit a can do attitude.
Take manageable risks in the business. They assess the risks of the actions they plan to take and minimise the risks in advance. They do not take risks that are out of proportion to the size of the business.
Are passionate and highly motivated about the business and are inspired and motivated about what they are doing. In turn they inspire and motivate those around them.
Are open and receptive to people, ideas, learning and information, both within and outside of the business. They are also happy to share information and pass on their experience and advice to others.
Think positively. They maintain a positive attitude and those around them pick up on their positive energy, they feel in control and confident and perform at their best. Everyone in their company feels positive and customers want to do business with them.
See the business from different perspectives. They understand how the different stakeholders in the business see the business and what their needs are, including customers, suppliers, shareholders, staff and even their competitors. They focus on meeting the needs of the different stakeholders.
Are versatile and adaptive to the business and the environment the business operates in. They accept that things do not always go to plan and adapt to external forces and changing customer needs. They embrace change and do not panic when the unexpected happens.
Develop their social capital. They develop good business relationships, both within and outside the business, focusing on building a good network, the reputation of the business and their standing in the community.
Learn from experiences. They learn from all their business experiences, including both success and failure, and focus on continuous improvement in their business.
Have perseverance and resilience. They persevere and do not give up, exhibiting an inner well of determination and resilience, but they are not arrogant or pig-headed.
Are happy to delegate and outsource business functions and tasks for the benefit of the business. They do not persist in doing everything themselves, instead developing and leading those around them to achieve their potential and to maximise the business performance.
Show respect to all the different people they deal with, including their competitors. They take everyone seriously and are willing to give them time and attention.
Believe in themselves and their business. They have a high level of self belief and also believe in the direction they are taking the business. However they are consciously aware of what is happening in and outside their business.
Draw on the help and support of others. They locate themselves in an entrepreneurial environment and draw on the help and support of others where they don't have the relevant expertise or where they need a sounding board or support and motivation.
You may want to compare the above with the attitudes and behaviours that you display and see if there are areas that you want to improve or adopt. In thinking about these you may want to consider successful business owners that you know and what attitudes and behaviours they display and consider modelling yourself on them.
If you would like further information or to use any of our services please refer to the Makin It Happen - Coaching, Mentoring & Stress Management website at http://makinithappen.co.uk or contact Liz Makin at Liz@makinithappen.co.uk.
This article first appeared in the April 2009 edition of the Makin It Happen - Coaching, Mentoring and Stress Management newsletter. Please click here to Sign up for our email newsletter.
=======================================
Overcoming Fear
By Linda Binns
What are you afraid of? We all have fears of some kind, whether it's fear of public speaking, heights, change, failure or success, there's usually something that we're afraid of. Sometimes we know what it is, but sometimes it's buried deep within. This fear can be sabotaging us and holding us back, yet we never quite know why because it is so deeply buried.
People often tell me that they can't change something they're afraid of. "It's just who I am," they say. Yet I know from experience that's not true. I used to be so afraid of public speaking that nothing would have convinced me to stand up in front of a group of 2 people, let alone 2,000 and yet now I do it regularly. How can that be?
There are many other things I used to be afraid of or uncomfortable with - change for example - and yet now I embrace change and actively move towards it.
I think the first step in transforming any fear is to realize that you have it and secondly, how it's holding you back. I've been very fortunate in my life to have been around people who saw things in me that I couldn't see in myself. One boss I worked for many years ago obviously saw that learning to speak in public would improve my self-confidence tremendously. How he saw that I could do this I don't know. Up until then I had successfully avoided any situation where I would have to speak up in front of a group or even be the center of attention anywhere.
I was working in the Marketing department of a company and my boss was sending some of his marketing executives on a course to improve their presentation skills. He decided to send me with them - I hated him for it at the time! I can't describe to you how terrified I was. I wasn't just uncomfortable with it, I was really terrified. But what, exactly, was I afraid of? Many things I think: saying something wrong, appearing stupid, being 'seen' (I liked to be invisible and work behind the scenes).
One of the worst things about this course, from my perspective, was that our presentations were being video-taped so all the participants could offer feedback on each other's presentations. You know how they say that many people fear public speaking more than they fear dying? That would have been me at that time. Death seemed like a very welcome alternative to me at that point.
Of course initially I sat there, watching other people give their presentations, just dreading the time when they'd get round to me. Then something happened. One of my colleagues, a marketing executive I'd known for several years as very confident, charming and never at a loss for words, was giving one of his presentations. For some reason on this occasion he stumbled over his words. He couldn't think what to say. He stopped. He smiled and apologized, people muttered words of encouragement, and then he continued and finished his presentation.
At that point I started to see things differently. Even though he had stumbled over his words and forgotten what to say, people didn't ridicule him, they were supportive. He didn't feel like a failure and nobody thought of him that way. He handled it with grace. I suddenly watched the other presentations in a new way. I started to realize that I could be at least as good as many of the people there. I started to have hope that I could actually do it without looking totally ridiculous. I did several presentations over the two-day period that we were at this course. I wasn't the best, but I wasn't the worst either. I survived. People still spoke to me. What had I been afraid of all those years?
I'll never be a slick, put together motivational speaker, but then I don't want to be. I'm just me. When I stand in front of a group of people to make a presentation I focus on them and on the information I'm presenting to them. I make mistakes sometimes, the equipment might fail sometimes. It doesn't matter. I can handle it.
How much energy did I waste by being afraid of speaking in front of people for so many years? A lot! Here's the thing about fear - it's not real. It's something that we imagine. If I do this, then that might happen. What's the worst that can happen anyway?
When you have fears that you don't want to face, not only are you wasting energy by trying to suppress and hang on to those fears, but think of all the ways in which they are holding you back. All the things you're not doing because you're afraid. Do yourself a big favor - identify and face those fears now. Here are some tips to help you do so:
· Make a list of things you're afraid of - this could include something you've always wanted to do but haven't done because something's holding you back (even if you don't know what's holding you back yet)
· Think about how much time, energy, opportunity you've wasted by hanging on to these fears
· Pick one and decide to face it and let it go
· Get support - find others who will help you to overcome your fear (if there's nobody you know who would support you, contact me - I know people who will support you)
· Take action - but always make sure you have supportive people around you when you do.
When you finally do the thing you are most afraid of, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. There really is nothing to fear - except fear itself.
Linda Binns provides practical information, tools and guidance to people interested in personal and spiritual growth. Join her free membership program for access to great resources and gifts at http://www.HarmonyInandOut.com
Linda Binns is author of Feng Shui for Your Relationships: Changing Your Environment to Create Better Relationships and The Energetic Edge: How Changing Your Surroundings = BIG Success (http://www.TheEnergeticEdge.com)
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