I facilitated a workshop today inside of a pharmaceutical company on the topic "Stress Management". There was a health fair going on in the office as well and staff had the opportunity to get chair massages, meet with a rep from a gym, get their eyes tested and learn about shoe fitting.
Stress Management is a becoming more mainstream in companies who really focus on keeping their employees healthy, which impacts the healthcare costs of the company, in a positive way. It doesn't have to be hard to put a process in place in the company giving employees tools, ideas, opportunities to learn more about managing their stress. Just the simple technique of taking deep breaths will lower stress which we did during the workshop. Most importantly, it has to start at the top with leadership who "walk the talk" and see the value of making sure stress is managed in the company environment and they too participate.
Today the staff wasn't interested in talking too much about what stress is, what the signs are, etc. They wanted to know how to manage and control it. From a coaching perspective, it's a very personal thing as we are all wired differently with different life experiences, culture driven habits, physical and emotional make up. The big challenge most in the room experienced and needed help with was around exercise and how to integrate exercise in their busy lives. This is especially hard for young working mothers who have to juggle children, being a housewife and working. I gave them some ideas but also more importantly wanted them to reflect on what they could manage and implement into their busy lives.
Regarding exercise, if you can't afford to join a gym then maybe taking family walks or walking by yourself sometime during the day may help bringing exercise into your life. Maybe investing in a treadmill or bicycles for the family may be an option. Here in South Florida, we have the beach which is free. People play volleyball, talk walks, go swimming or run. If exercise is important and needs to be in your life, think about what the benefits will be and what needs to change to allow some time for this most important part of keeping you healthy. I love to ask "what are your options?" "let's get creative and think outside of the box and look at all of your options. If "I don't have time" comes into the conversation, I ask people to monitor how they spend their day for about a week, writing down every little detail without judgment and then look at it and see if there is a pattern of activity or Doing that could be shifted a bit into adding a stress re-leaser or bringing some personal pampering into their life. It's good to have an accountability partner or a coach to help make this shift happen and keep the person on track for change.
I love this work and hope to get more of it. People simply need to slow down, get out of their minds and into their hearts and just enjoy life. Smiles, laughter and gratitude show up more often. Try it.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Business Case for Executive Coaching- International Coach Federation (ICF) ROI Study
Great reading on the value of hiring an executive coach. Helping leaders become more effective their style of leading thus leading to success. Proud to be a certified coach through the ICF.
The Business Case for Executive Coaching- International Coach Federation (ICF) ROI Study
The Business Case for Executive Coaching- International Coach Federation (ICF) ROI Study
Monday, August 20, 2012
Ideal Job - Organizational Change
In my coaching practice I have a combination of one on one clients conducting executive coaching; conducting workshops inside of organizations and companies on corporate wellness with a focus on stress management and work/life balance; and team coaching on breaking down silos and creating a more transparent, collaborative style of communication between the leadership team and employees teams. I really enjoy facilitating meetings as being the outside, impartial person I don't get caught up in issues, positions, perspectives or this is the right way of doing things thinking. Listening to what is being said, giving people the opportunity to speak their voice w/o judgment and brainstorming on new ideas is really what good coaching is all about.
While walking the other morning, a thought came to me on what would be an ideal coaching assignment to add to my client mix. I would like to be hired on a monthly retainer fee (negotiable) to work with a company once a month for a few days or one week a month focusing on change with the people. Facilitating meetings; working with teams; breaking down barriers between departments; helping companies evolve from good to Great; corporate wellness programs are some examples where I could bring benefit. I especially like working with sales teams and in fact, coach a few sales managers (remotely I may add) once a month. My focus is helping them become better at communicating with their teams, brainstorming on increasing their margins and new ideas for business development, etc.
I love to travel and could do this anywhere in the country. The biggest challenge is that many leaders don't see the ROI on focusing on their staff or becoming better leaders themselves. Many companies send people to motivational or educational workshops or webinars. These are great knowledge sources but what do most people do when they get back to the office......throw the material in a drawer and don't make any changes to their behavior or areas of responsibilities. Coaching focuses on why change is important, what needs to change and how change will be implemented. Action and accountability figure into the process and the best part, a good coach becomes the guiding partner to make this happen, always in service of the client. Hmmm, I am going to have to find opportunities to incorporate this into my practice.
While walking the other morning, a thought came to me on what would be an ideal coaching assignment to add to my client mix. I would like to be hired on a monthly retainer fee (negotiable) to work with a company once a month for a few days or one week a month focusing on change with the people. Facilitating meetings; working with teams; breaking down barriers between departments; helping companies evolve from good to Great; corporate wellness programs are some examples where I could bring benefit. I especially like working with sales teams and in fact, coach a few sales managers (remotely I may add) once a month. My focus is helping them become better at communicating with their teams, brainstorming on increasing their margins and new ideas for business development, etc.
I love to travel and could do this anywhere in the country. The biggest challenge is that many leaders don't see the ROI on focusing on their staff or becoming better leaders themselves. Many companies send people to motivational or educational workshops or webinars. These are great knowledge sources but what do most people do when they get back to the office......throw the material in a drawer and don't make any changes to their behavior or areas of responsibilities. Coaching focuses on why change is important, what needs to change and how change will be implemented. Action and accountability figure into the process and the best part, a good coach becomes the guiding partner to make this happen, always in service of the client. Hmmm, I am going to have to find opportunities to incorporate this into my practice.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Gift of a Grandchild
My granddaughter was here for five days and it was so blissful to have her around. She is 19 years old this month and has grown into a beautiful young woman both outside which is noticeable and inside which is far more important. She is at the age of engaging in conversation rather than yes and no answers or being too busy texting to her friends.
We really enjoyed ourselves with the typical mani/pedi day, lunches, Zumba class, bike riding. shopping, etc. But we also simply enjoyed each other's company. She is my only grandchild and even though she doesn't live in the area (moved away with her parents when she was 10) we are very close. Looking back over the past 19 years, we have had some very fond memories. She shared living space with me when her parents moved back to the states for about 8 months. I loved her little bracelets that she made me (still have them), her rearranging my jewelry and trying on my heels. I went to all of her dance practices and recitals, soccer games and volleyball games when she got older. She is a great athlete and is on a volleyball scholarship now. We have swum with the dolphins, we have stayed in little boutique hotels in cool towns and had dinners and breakfast together just the two us and these memories will continue into the future as she grows in her adult years.
I am very proud of her, love her unconditionally, wish only for the best for her and have taught her to embrace life and never settle. I am grateful for this child.
We really enjoyed ourselves with the typical mani/pedi day, lunches, Zumba class, bike riding. shopping, etc. But we also simply enjoyed each other's company. She is my only grandchild and even though she doesn't live in the area (moved away with her parents when she was 10) we are very close. Looking back over the past 19 years, we have had some very fond memories. She shared living space with me when her parents moved back to the states for about 8 months. I loved her little bracelets that she made me (still have them), her rearranging my jewelry and trying on my heels. I went to all of her dance practices and recitals, soccer games and volleyball games when she got older. She is a great athlete and is on a volleyball scholarship now. We have swum with the dolphins, we have stayed in little boutique hotels in cool towns and had dinners and breakfast together just the two us and these memories will continue into the future as she grows in her adult years.
I am very proud of her, love her unconditionally, wish only for the best for her and have taught her to embrace life and never settle. I am grateful for this child.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Self Reflection
While I was laying on the floor in yoga this morning, a thought crossed my mind regarding my current client makeup. I trust my intuition more and more as I have gotten older so I felt it was important to take a few minutes after I left the class to reflect a bit on this message.
My current practice includes working with several sales managers and leaders and their staff in the non-profit world. To many people these two "categories of personality types" would clash with each other as there is a general perception that sales people are focused only on "getting the deal, closing the sale, it's all about me, I bring the most value to the company because if it weren't for me, we wouldn't keep growing, etc", completely opposite of charities. In the nonprofit world, the people who work in this field are passionate about helping others - selfless, giving, being, compassionate, etc.and would struggle in many parts of a sales environment given how they operate.
I lived in the world of business development/sales for about 16 years. These assumptions were not how I operated as a successful sales person. I built long-lasting relationships with my clients and it was always all about them, including the in-house clients (employees). I was trained and practiced never to be pushy, slick, close the deal at all costs or be self-centered. Sales people are typically extroverts and we like being with people so we typically build relationships with others easily. Our self-confidence and self-motivated styles can sometimes be perceived as selfish or self-serving but in many cases this is not true. Because I lived and breathed sales for so long and was well trained as well, I really enjoy coaching sales professionals and their staff. Our energies match very easily; I love pushing them to think outside of the box and have them dig deeply to think about what's really important in what they are doing and how they are perceived as a leader and success.
Since I was very young, giving back in the service of others has always been very important to me and should be for every human on earth. We are all born to this world to be in the service of others and many still need to figure that out. I started out volunteering with the Red Cross in my twenties. So another natural fit for me is the area of non-profits, helping the leaders be great leaders, helping them create cultures of excellence and getting outside people to be involved with the charities.
So sitting back and self-reflecting, I find it rewarding that I see the value of what they bring to me as a human and as a coach. There are lots of great lessons being learned and practiced that benefits both groups of people.
My current practice includes working with several sales managers and leaders and their staff in the non-profit world. To many people these two "categories of personality types" would clash with each other as there is a general perception that sales people are focused only on "getting the deal, closing the sale, it's all about me, I bring the most value to the company because if it weren't for me, we wouldn't keep growing, etc", completely opposite of charities. In the nonprofit world, the people who work in this field are passionate about helping others - selfless, giving, being, compassionate, etc.and would struggle in many parts of a sales environment given how they operate.
I lived in the world of business development/sales for about 16 years. These assumptions were not how I operated as a successful sales person. I built long-lasting relationships with my clients and it was always all about them, including the in-house clients (employees). I was trained and practiced never to be pushy, slick, close the deal at all costs or be self-centered. Sales people are typically extroverts and we like being with people so we typically build relationships with others easily. Our self-confidence and self-motivated styles can sometimes be perceived as selfish or self-serving but in many cases this is not true. Because I lived and breathed sales for so long and was well trained as well, I really enjoy coaching sales professionals and their staff. Our energies match very easily; I love pushing them to think outside of the box and have them dig deeply to think about what's really important in what they are doing and how they are perceived as a leader and success.
Since I was very young, giving back in the service of others has always been very important to me and should be for every human on earth. We are all born to this world to be in the service of others and many still need to figure that out. I started out volunteering with the Red Cross in my twenties. So another natural fit for me is the area of non-profits, helping the leaders be great leaders, helping them create cultures of excellence and getting outside people to be involved with the charities.
So sitting back and self-reflecting, I find it rewarding that I see the value of what they bring to me as a human and as a coach. There are lots of great lessons being learned and practiced that benefits both groups of people.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
What the Olympic Games are all about
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympics said "the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
This certainly wasn't practiced this week on two occasions. One from the ladies badminton matches involving three countries (China, Indonesia and Korea - though not sure north or south. The participants were removed from the games, rightfully so. The Japanese soccer coach (while in Scotland) had his team not score any points for fear they would have to travel for their next match. Instead were able to play their next match in Scotland. He didn't get sanctioned which really surprised me, again certainly had his own agenda on what was important in being part of the Olympics.
Integrity and ethics certainly are not priorities in these situations. Thank goodness the majority of countries send athletes to the games to show the world what good athletes they are after working very hard on their skills and natural ability. Thank goodness officials are stepping in and taking action against the unethical practices stopping some of these transgressions.
I Love watching the games, seeing the excitement on the faces of the winners, the parents, countrymen and women and the coaches. I very much appreciate the games. Especially proud of the United States and being an American. We have some great athletes this year, representing our country.
This certainly wasn't practiced this week on two occasions. One from the ladies badminton matches involving three countries (China, Indonesia and Korea - though not sure north or south. The participants were removed from the games, rightfully so. The Japanese soccer coach (while in Scotland) had his team not score any points for fear they would have to travel for their next match. Instead were able to play their next match in Scotland. He didn't get sanctioned which really surprised me, again certainly had his own agenda on what was important in being part of the Olympics.
Integrity and ethics certainly are not priorities in these situations. Thank goodness the majority of countries send athletes to the games to show the world what good athletes they are after working very hard on their skills and natural ability. Thank goodness officials are stepping in and taking action against the unethical practices stopping some of these transgressions.
I Love watching the games, seeing the excitement on the faces of the winners, the parents, countrymen and women and the coaches. I very much appreciate the games. Especially proud of the United States and being an American. We have some great athletes this year, representing our country.
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