From Ship to BIG

The Year of B.I.G.

Gotta love it when you read.  And learn stuff...and then figure out how to add it to your life - this would be called Application.

2016 is going to be the Year of BIG.  Those of you who know me, know that I select a word for the year.  This year, complements of Brene Brown, I have discovered that what I need to is to focus on B.I.G.

Boundaries -  what's okay and what's not okay

Integrity - doing what's right and sometimes difficult, instead of what's fun & easy - living my values

Generosity - work from the space that everyone is doing their best

I will share much more about this in the coming posts.  I know that in the last few months I have shared this concept, in its simplest form, with clients, family and colleagues, to which all have said 'ah-ha' or 'hmmmmm'.  There is something here for everyone.  And putting the all together creates a new lens through which to view my world.

Last year - good ol' 2015 - was the Year of Ship.  For the most part I did ship - I also learned new ways in which to Ship, and how Shipping can be different for everyone.  My unanticipated & welcomed change (that became a shipping obstacle for a while) came in the form of a discussion and actions I had taken all year long.  So I guess, sometimes, by living your work and loving your work & art, you are unknowingly shipping.  Lesson learned.

I take time with my clients to ask them about their word for the New Year - they have worked with me on my word, now its my turn to share that with you too.  

My clients have offered words such as 'shine', 'reconnect', 'reach', 'be' and 'focus'.

What will be your 1 word for 2016?

Slips, Trips & Falls

Let's start off 2016 on the lighter side.

Slips, Trips & Falls

Sometimes we cause them for ourselves - no one helps us slip or trip or fall.

Sometimes, something or someone comes our way and kicks the pedestal out from under us 

- making us realize that we are vulnerable and can't juggle everything all the time.

And sometimes, we help others with their slips, trips & falls ....

So as we head into a New Year - take a moment to think about how you will focus on the new, the good and avoiding the slips, trips & falls.

All the best for a fabulous 2016!

Review Your Work (last day of 2015)

We are all doing this.  We are reflecting on our last year and looking forward to the next.  After all, without reflecting on the past, how can we set goals, make plans or even learn?

By taking time at the end of the year (or project or quarter or month) to review and see what you accomplished, or didn't, you have the opportunity to relive (see them again in your mind's eye, enjoy/celebrate one more time!) some moments, and put others away (get closure, finalize, remove/delete).

Here is my ReLive List for 2015:

my sons graduating to their next level of education

• new clients that asked me to join them on their journey
• trip to the Bahamas - new spot to visit
• Las Vegas with my mom & dad!
• becoming part of a virtual team 
• new wineries to visit (numerous!)
• hosting The Art of Inspiring Conversation
• watching all of How I Met Your Mother with my hubby
• birth of a new family member
• new business opportunity (more on this next)
• reading 2.75 books per month - opening my eyes and my mind to new ideas
• starting a develop-myself trek by 'reading' while running - bless the inventor of the audiobook & the authors who read their own work!

Here is my PutAway List for 2015:

• falling off my plans for posting regularly
• not hitting 2 goals for this year 
• firing a client
• realigning my time to focus on what matters most - and then not sticking to the plan  (It was the Year of Ship....every year should be the Year of Ship....)
• arguments, fights and wasted time in toxic encounters
• tears of not enough, when we are all enough
• mistakes, misunderstandings and miscommunications
• realizing I still need to forgive and grieve in order to move forward (that one hurts still!)

Writing this out, I can see that the ReLive list certainly includes more other people than the PutAway List - that tells me something right there, doesn't it?

Part of getting this out is to help us see where we can make changes & grow.  The other side is to look at what behaviours, feeling and accomplishments do we want to repeat & how do we do that.  Starting tomorrow, it's all about finding the way to enjoy more, regret less; hope more, grieve less; ask more, be present, give back & be kind.

Time to Open Your Eyes

a revised post from an old post

The same person is now in charge of the project. This happens every time.  You are not happy because you have complained numerous times about their lack of organization and inability to lead teams and the fact that every other one of their projects is either off the rails or has been put back on the rails by a rescue effort.  You wonder what colour are the glasses your boss is wearing?  What is he seeing that you do not?  What is he seeing in you, or rather, not seeing in you?
What to do?
This one is easy.  And it is a 2-parter:

• Think about when you complained, did you offer any solutions or resolutions or alternatives that would have been better, or was it simply a complaint?  If it was only complaining- like sour-grapes, then re-think that strategy immediately.  You are not contributing by whining.  Always provide a solution or an alternative. This regular choice may be the go-to choice because they are unaware there is an alternative.
•  Ask why you are not being considered.  What is it that you have to learn/do/experience before you are given these types of assignments?  Showing that you are open to learning will no doubt give your boss something else to think about.  Your initiative can open their eyes.

An Impression & Validation

In private practice and working 1:1 with business owners, there are many different ways to know if you have left an impression.  Most of the time this deals with the goals my clients set, and how I hold them accountable to the steps they create to get there.

This Summer, one of my clients was travelling in Spain and took a photo of a bar that is completely covered in post-it notes - with names and locations of everyone who has stepped into the bar.  He said he immediately thought of me.

I work with flipcharts, post it notes of all sizes and apps of post it notes of all types depending on the client and project and its needs.  I was honoured that he thought of me while on his trip....he took this photo to share with me in his next session.  It made me feel that I had left a mark...I had influenced his thinking.  Funny to call it validation - it just feels good.

The Adventurous Life

So many words to contemplate - 

Try one thing each day to step outside your comfort zone, be a little on the daring side, opening up your heart, or putting your toe in....

You can never be sure where it will take you - the risk is always worth it, even when it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

In the end, whether you land on your feet or fall flat on your face, 

at least you can say 'I did'....and that is saying a lot.

The Sweet Spot

The sweet spot is described in many ways.

The sweet spot is where every single one of us, no matter who we are or what we do, play and work at our best.

The sweet spot is the combination of work and play - it feels good to do it - you can do this all day long everyday and still feel refreshed and energized.

Here the Sweet Spot helps us differentiate from our competitors.  In the currently trending personal branding space, this is what sets us apart from everyone else.

And in this last image, it truly is where the heart is - your passion, your focus and your ability to give to others from this space makes you who you are and provides you with your purpose.

Tomorrow is Loading

Most of us are really good at making a list for tomorrow, or saying we will start that tomorrow - whether it is work related, health related or anything-else-related, tomorrow always seems like a good time to start.

Well, leaders of the universe.....we start now.
We start now to commit to ourselves that we will do what it takes to share our experiences, build great teams through inspired communication, connect with like-minded individuals who want to change the world, while being grateful that we have hearts, minds and hands that can be put to the task - whichever one we decide to tackle first - and now, not tomorrow.

STOP!

What is that one thing you have been meaning to do?  Go.  Go NOW.  GO do it.

Tomorrow is always loading....and it never really gets here does it.  What would you do if you did not have a tomorrow?

(I am currently reading Becoming Steve Jobs, this book inspired my thoughts...and now inspires my actions)

80 Days Left

If you were to leave today, you could get around the world in 80 days, just like Passepartu in the movie of the same name.

If you left today, you would be back on January 1st, 2016.
The New Year.

So get ready to pack your bags.  If you were actually going to leave today, what would be the 3 things you needed to get done so that...
...your business could operate with you mostly disconnected from it?  (Or could it?)
...your team could handle the day to day, making decisions you would be confident that would reflect the brand, protect the brand and the client and move the organization forward?
...your life could continue in a new way upon your return?

With my coaching clients in the last 20 days, we have completed work on what we called the "100 day sprint"  ...what do we each have to get done/completed/wrapped up by the end of this year to start the New Year fresh.  This took some soul-searching because in this 100 days (and now 80 days), there are weekends that are tied up with 'stuff'; holidays; days off; committed days and more.  Time gets quite limited so you need to become realistic fast about what goals you must accomplish.

We spent a few hours focusing on 'the 100 day sprint' list & then pared it down to what was realistic.  As we evaluated some of the lists, it became evident that some of the items on the list were really steps to a more major item and we could group them together.

Example:  I am focused on getting my book published by the end of the year - my list included publishing the book, completing the images, completing the final draft etc.
 - publishing is the goal
- the image creation is a step
- the drafts are a step

By grouping together, and looking at each goal on the list, we were all able to develop and set an appointment (with ourselves if needed) to complete the next 1 step.  Our commitment was to plan the next step (step 2 or 3 and so on) after completing the first one.

So far, its working.  From client feedback it's working. (We report in to each other & hold each other accountable).  You try it....see if it works.  Let me know...and reach out if you want to talk it through.

Time for Change

 

 

 

 Happy Fall!

 

In Canada, it is officially autumn - and my 11th wedding anniversary.  A day to reflect on what the year has brought, in more ways than one.  And, to think about how grateful I am for each day of this year so far.

 

Once that is complete (which takes a long time and of course continues over days, runs, walks and cooking time), I start to list all the things that are yet to do this year.  It is a slippery slope that comes when this day arrives - so many events to plan, things to do, goals to accomplish/complete or revise.

 

Today is about Time Out. Will you take some time out with me for your own reflection and start thinking about the rest of the 100 days left in 2015?

 

Highly Engaged or Becoming Disengaged?

Check out this infographic - the percentages speak for themselves. 

    Think about your top performer - where do you need to help them?

How about your lowest performer - where do you need to help them?

Need to learn how to do this...or see if you are on the right track - reach out, let's chat.

Emerging Leaders Unite

You are an emerging leader.  You are really always an emerging leader...if you are not, you must have stopped learning along the way somewhere.

If you are new to leading in your organization (department, own business, team), then there are many activities in which you can participate to get going developing your leadership skills.

Here are a few ways to tap into the smarts around you  - all with leaders uniting for a common purpose:

1. Get a mentor:  many companies have mentoring programs so that you can build a relationship with another leader who has travelled the path you would like to travel.  Their main role in your professional life is guidance, to build relationships, open doors and help you navigate the waters of the organization.
2. Get a coach:  coaches work with you to help you achieve the goals you have set out for yourself - sometimes this is a skill-development goal, sometimes it is a numerical or business-related goal.  A coach can provide you with a sounding board, a safe space to explore ideas and hold you accountable to your commitments and action steps to reach your goals.
3. Get involved:  search out opportunities in your community to learn from others, join the conversations and become connected & self-aware at the same time.

Did you see what I did there?  I focused you on determining what to do to unite with other emerging leaders - with the common purpose of growing themselves as leaders too.  All 3 above ideas would not work if the people involved were not leaders themselves and of course, not open to learning from others....see always emerging!

A Rant...reprised

OK.  So I need to say this today.  This has been driving me crazy and I need to send a wake-up call out there.

GET OUT OF YOUR BUSINESS NOW!

I mean it.  You need to step outside of your business, stop working IN it all the time and work ON it!
Really, how on earth can you see what is going on, what the future of your business is or  if you are still on track with your mission by staying buried under the day-to-day tasks that really should go to someone else but you keep hanging onto them because no one else will do it like you do it - or so you think!

Can you tell I am frustrated?  I hear over and over again how hard it is to keep businesses moving forward, except there is no thought to actually checking to see the progress of the business.  When I ask how the business is being marketed or if there is a marketing plan I get 'the deer in the headlights' look.  Or, if I ask what the forecast is for the rest of the year, you would think I asked them to fly to the moon

Business needs leaders.  Business teams need leaders.
Innovation and new revenues streams come from leaders and their teams who are not afraid to challenge the status quo; from leaders who are not afraid to invest in themselves and their team to develop new ways of thinking, find new opportunities to leverage the strengths of others - inside their industry or from outside their industry.

Why are you not investing time and money in your own development? 

When you develop a new product or service it costs money.  You are the extension (and sometimes, the face and the feet) of your business - why are you stuck IN it and not working ON it and ON yourself? 

What is stopping you? 

Are you afraid to admit you don't know everything? 

Are you worried what people will think of you? Are you too busy (doing what I am  not sure) to take a few minutes to evaluate how you could be a better leader for your business and your team? 

Are you afraid to find out that you could do things differently, be challenged, given new perspectives and actually have to change your old ways for new, more productive and exciting possibilities that can make you even more successful?  Now that is a scary thought! 

You could actually be more successful if you decided to take action.  

When will you decide to tack action for yourself.....and work on you - the best part of your business, the reason why your business exists?!

Sure, it's a rant....and sometimes I just need to get things out.  I see it often, what I have described above, and while I would go to great lengths to ask the same questions of my clients (not in a rant of course), I felt the need to share this here.

Leadership is not easy.  Leadership is action.  Leadership is developing other leaders.  When are you going to take action to develop yourself....and along the way, your business and your team?

Bridging E-Learning to the Real World

E-learning continues to evolve as a go-to tech solution for onboarding, training and documentation of learning in workplaces around the world.

There are some great ways to use e-learning for tracking completion, quizzing/performance tracking, and of course, hours put into usage.

• E-learning is relatively low cost, once developed.
• E-learning is available on demand - wherever and whenever you need it, just sign in
• E-learning is accessible
• E-learning is awesome for technical training or mandatory training like policies.

Unfortunately, as with most things tech, they end up focusing on individual learning, scoring performance for an individual...and if everyone does not complete the assigned programs there is always a gap in who knows what, and when.

The disconnect comes with the fact that there is a lack of application - once I leave the computer, I may never use what I have just learned, or have to relearn from someone else.  Couple that with the fact that you basically have to hold me hostage so that I will complete all assigned modules by the given timeframe and I am already not in a learning space in my head - I am more focused on clicking through screens, passing the test (if there is one) and getting on with work.

What if we could make it so that we took the online learning and applied it into our work immediately - wouldn't that make learning a priority?  Even better, what if we were able to have a discussion with our team on what we are learning and create actions or commitments that would help us apply this in our workplace right away?

Imagine that?!  I can....and so can you.  I can show you how.

(I want to be perfectly transparent here - I work with Actionable Workshops as a key resource and tools that compliment my coaching practice.  I LOVE them, and my clients do to because they can see the measurable changes in their leaders and their teams....not to mention how this affects the way they conduct business.)

Join me at the Art of Inspiring Conversation, or drop me a quick email and I will happily take you on a tour of Actionable Workshops - a great way to bridge e-learning into real world application.

It's My Birthday

Today is a great day for reflection & celebration.

And Gratitude - 

I am grateful for the life I have...

that I can get up everyday, healthy & happy, with a wonderful husband and amazing kids + family, friends and so much more.

Thank you for being a part of my life.

Make It Stick

You have a great leadership development program.  Your Learning & Development Team spends a great deal of time working to facilitate great classes.  And yet, you still don't see the principles practiced with the team.

The words sound good, there is just no translation to a shift in culture.

What do you do now?

You find an innovative and inspiring way to create conversations.

In my practice, and with my clients, I focus them on tools and workshops that are actionable...and they come from Actionable Books.  You can see the details here & even sign up for a free workshop (value $300).

My practice is now 'powered by Actionable Books' - it is how to practice the coaching you get.  Plus you get to (and I get to) see your results translated into feedback, commitments from your team and changes in behaviour.

Ready to start?  Let's talk about your next step to make your Leadership Programs stick.

Are You a Dancing Guy or a Leader?

This set me smiling, brought tears to my eyes and made me think about how I nurture followers.

Have a great day!

I'm Baaaaaaackkkkkkk

Life is full of mistakes.
That is how we learn.
And so, with this latest mistake, I have decided to move my blog back here to Blogger.

Here is what I learned in attempting to change this location:

1. my website platform does not yet support the amplification I need
2. I would have had to spend more time, instead of less time, posting and feeding the feed - Blogger has that all wrapped up in one easy spot with a neat little feeder
3. you don't know until you try
4. you should really map out your steps before taking the leap (although I do talk about excellent versus perfect.)
5. and own it, fix it and move on.

So - I am back - and with a revamped blog, website and links.

Feedback always welcome!!

I'm Moving...well, I already have moved....

It's Official.

I am streamlining all my social media sites to get de-cluttered.  This has been a feat of growth for me as I have been procrastinating about it for a long time.

So here is what has happened in the last few months:

• I moved my social media post scheduler to a different platform
• I figured out how to consolidate my various email & Google accounts
• I created a new & in-sync blog on my website (Blog 2.0)

So what does this mean?

Yes:  I will still be blogging regularly

No:  I will no longer be blogging here - the new blog is on my website 

Yes:  You can still find me on Twitter @linxcoach

Yes:  You can still find me on LinkedIn

Yes:  You can find me on Facebook & I am becoming a little more active there now as well

Why did I do all this?

I have a few projects in the works that will be launching in the next few weeks and then over the course of the next few months so I needed to make space (in my head, in my networks) for clarity and solid easy processes...that means not skipping around to a million different sites to get work done. (I know this was a huge problem because I would end up chasing shiny objects aka online shopping/reading/listening instead of getting down to work - it was easy to do).

I feel more confident.  I feel de-cluttered.  I feel that you will have a better experience with me on the new Blog.

I want to thank you for being with me here since 2011 or even earlier.  

See you soon!  Posts are already live over at the new place.

The Difference Between Excellent & Perfect

The difference in time it takes you to get from excellent to perfect is a waste of your precious time. Period.

The difference in money it takes to get from excellent to perfect is a waste of money that could be better invested elsewhere.

The difference in what your customers see from excellent to perfect is invisible.

From the quote, and even from your own work, you can see it takes such a lot of hard work to get to excellent.  When everyone tends to interpret perfect in their own way, how will you ever succeed at reaching perfection? (Somewhere in here is the law of diminishing returns)

How are you calculating the wasted time & money that is spent on making a minute move from excellent to perfect that the most important people won’t even know exists?  And if do invest this time & money, how are you going to justify the upcharge to your customers?