The Challenge for Today’s Manager

What do today’s managers have in common with yesterday’s? Despite progress and changes in the landscape of today’s modern business, the one constant, the one thing that has not changed, is that Managers are still playing the role of the middle-man… that go-between for upper management and the people they manage. The line they must walk is fraught with challenges and stresses, with each day presenting them with a new conflict of interests they must somehow deal with.

Managers are a species apart, expected to please all the people, all the time – which we know is impossible, right?

They must protect the interests of those they work for and those they manage. They must represent the view of those they work for and those they manage. When something goes wrong, guess who is in the firing line?

This is all in a day’s work for today’s Manager, who gets little thanks and acknowledgement, but plenty of criticism and blame.

But it doesn’t end there, in-house… (more…)

20 Ways to Find, Sustain and Share Happiness

Sometimes we get so caught up in the stress and pressures of juggling career and family commitments, building our business, networking, studying, budgeting, and so on, that we forget what is important. We forget that our basic birthright is to be happy, and that is such a simple concept that often it slips under our radar.

So let’s remember the basics and incorporate some happiness into our daily lives. And if Happiness was a soup, here are the ingredients… (more…)

Will Any Old Sales Training Do?

If the majority of sales training programs being were still as effective as the day they were first ‘designed’, there would be less sales people struggling in their chosen profession. While many training programs have good intentions, they are not applicable in today’s market; much of what they teach is rehashed from ‘yesterday’ and is presented by people who’ve no experience in Sales themselves.

This also applies to small business owners and any person or business who relies on the sale of a product or service to remain in business. In large organizations, whole sales teams struggle because they lack the skills and attitudes required for success in today’s market.

Another problem is acquiring the right kind of training. Many organizations prefer to use in-house training by their own staff who may, or may not, be “in Sales”. Sales Managers, themselves, are too busy to train their staff, and Human Resource departments can only teach “from a book”. (more…)

How Changes in Management Can Improve Bottom Line Results

By this stage I am probably preaching to the converted, but on the realisation that every year a new, inexperienced generation enters the workforce who face similar challenges to those with managerial aspirations who went before them, this information is still valid.

When change is introduced into the workplace there is often a degree of resistance, anxiety and sometimes even ridicule of the new methodologies. People equate change with difficulty and something to be feared. This is where open communication is so important and it starts right at the very top.

If you don’t have the full support and understanding from those in key management positions, any organizational changes being made are going to be thwart with difficulties. It is up to CEO’s and Presidents to champion the cause and ensure their managerial teams are also in full support, so that it can filter down through the ranks more smoothly.

Here are 5 areas where guidance and training can help: (more…)

How to Improve Your Selling Skills — with Coaching Skills

Face it. People don’t want to be sold.  They’re tired of being one of the “suckers” who are supposedly born every minute.  They’re suspicious; they don’t like parting with their money, and to many people, ALL sales people are the same.  They know you are after their money.  They know you do not have their best interests at heart.  They think you are pushy and arrogant… somebody who might sell their own grandmother if it meant a bonus!

But people love being coached.  It’s respectful and considerate of their needs.  it helps them focus on what is right for them.  In fact, it’s all about them – the client.  It doesn’t matter to you if you make a sale or not, and they appreciate that… in fact, they just may buy something from you after all… you’re so ‘nice’ and honest!

The days of the old-fashioned salesman/woman have long gone.  For many in the sales profession, they know what not to do, but they aren’t quite sure about what they should be doing.  And the answer is quite simple… (more…)

TIPS TO LESSEN ANXIETY

First, let’s not confuse the anxiety to which I refer with clinical anxiety disorders, which are a more serious matter requiring professional medical help.

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, anxiety is

1 a : painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill b : fearful concern or interest c : a cause of anxiety
2 : an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it

Approximately 13.3% of the adult population in the U.S. is affected by an Anxiety Disorder.  We agree, Coaches are not therapists or psychiatrists, and it is not our role to treat these disorders.

The anxiety I am talking about is that suffered by everyday workers, going about their business in a state of stress and discomfort.  This work related anxiety is persistent and causes you to worry excessively about events or activities or circumstances at work which may, or may not, even happen… but the fear is very real.

Stress feeds anxiety.  For example, in a day when job security is no longer guaranteed, quite often it doesn’t take much to turn a “worry” into an anxiety, bringing with it a string of very real physical (and mental) health symptoms.

Before I suggest some tips to help prevent anxiety, it might be helpful to know some kinds of situations that are known for producing anxious moments: (more…)

SELL YOURSELF FIRST

People judge the message by the messenger. It doesn’t matter if the service or product is the best on the market… if the person “selling” it doesn’t measure up…

Here are some tips to help you sell yourself successfully. (more…)

LIFE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR

Most entrepreneurs we coach tell us that they want to simplify their lives.  They are consumed with details, many of which don’t seem that critical, yet still have to get done.  They also say that they feel their lives are out of balance.  They live separate business and personal lives and often feel guilt over not being with their families and friends more frequently.

Here are some tips that entrepreneurs we coach have shared as part of their success in building more success at less cost: (more…)

Are You on a Merry Go Round or a Rollercoaster?

Can I show you that there are two types of people in the World?  Can’t you agree that there are those on merry go round and those who have gotten off a merry go round by CHOICE and have hopped onto a rollercoaster?

Will you allow me to explain? (more…)

Communication Improves When You Connect

The very first skill a coach learns is how to connect with a client.  This means we develop rapport and compassion as we listen and tune into the client.  This way of connecting allows our clients to feeeeeeeeeeeeel safe and to open up and share with us.

To connect to others with ease we first quiet any conversations going on in our minds.  As our minds get still and open we then pull our focus on the client.  We listen and don’t worry about what to say and we allow the other person to fully complete what they want to say before we respond.  We hear fully and deeply.  We also listen for the gifts and greatnesses and strengths and other positive aspects the speaker has.  We don’t judge – we simply listen and fully accept what is being said.

I believe that if everyone learned coaching skills and if we started coaching curriculum at early ages in our schools, people would be happier.  Being heard is a human yearning.  When we are heard we feeeeeeeeeeeel accepted.  People who feeeeeeeeeeeeel accepted don’t have as many problems as they have a strong sense of self-esteem.  I bet marriages would last; we’d have more friends that we really felt connected to and overall we’d be healthier mentally, emotionally, spiritually and perhaps physically.

What I want for my readers is to open their ability to tune in and to connect with others.  It is a gift that you can give to yourself and those around you.