Executive Coach and Executive Coaching Articles

Whether you are leading a major initiative, trying to get your team to the next level, or attempting to corral a group of volunteers, there are three important steps every leader needs to apply to ensure a positive outcome and invested participants. They are the 3 Fs — fuel, focus, and feedback. Let’s look at each.

Today, there is quite a bit of buzz about social media, what it is, and whether or not you should develop a social media presence. And, you have probably heard about a variety of social media sites, such as MySpace, Linked In, Twitter, and Facebook. Because the number of social media sites can be overwhelming, this article’s focus is on using Facebook, as a tool in your social media campaign.

Conversations with a number of coaching clients have focused on the need to network and develop a networking strategy. While job seekers may not want to “get out there in a big way,” they generally appreciate the role that reconnecting and meeting new people plays in identifying positions and landing the job they want and deserve. When I stress a minimum of 50% (or somewhere around twenty hours) of their job search time needs to be spent networking, clients fall off their chairs but reluctantly do it. The ones who master the skills tend to reap the greatest benefits.

Have you ever noticed a trend in the thinking patterns of successful people? Have you ever wondered why it seems like success comes so easily to some people and so difficult for others? It all has to do with your beliefs. People that achieve success in a consistent basis have one thing in common. Whether they are successful athletes, executives, business owners, or artists, they all know that they will succeed. They know this before they even attempt to achieve the goal they set out for themselves.

“I want you to discuss your accomplishments in the meeting, but please — no more than four slides.” That was the directive given to my husband last week as he prepared for a company performance review meeting. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. When did PowerPoint become our default communication mode? I fear that someday soo I’ll sit down to have a conversation and be expected to launch my slides.

“A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, healthy, and prosperous being; and happiness, health, and prosperity are the result of a harmonious adjustment of the inner with the outer of the man with his surroundings.” ~ James Allen

The Change Cycle was developed 16 years ago by A Sale o and Lillie Brock. Their work was originally distributed by Interchange International Inc. which is known today as CCMC Inc. Stage 1 – Loss • Feelings of Fear • Thoughts of Caution • Behavior is Paralyzed Stage 2 – Doubt • Feelings of Resentment • Thoughts are Skeptical • Behavior is Resistant Stage 3 - Discomfort • Feelings of Anxiety • Thoughts are Confused • Behavior is Unproductive Danger Zone Stage 4 - Discovery • Feelings of Anticipation • Thoughts are Resourceful • Behavior is Energized

Do we need to have some standard of competency required of our leaders? The recent failed track record of many prominent captains of industry and political leaders might lead us to think so.

I’ve spoken often about Be the Change. I love the idea of Change. Change is our privilege, a function of our free will, and it exercises autonomy in our lives when we learn how it functions and how to use it wisely and well. In order to change, you have to decide that’s what you want to do. There isn’t something in the Universe that sticks out a giant wooden spoon and stirs up your life. I know that sometimes we’d like to put the blame “out there” but sorry, folks, “in here” is where we need to look to Be the Change.

Remember the movie The Devil Wears Prada? In case you don’t, it’s the one where Meryl Streep plays the single minded magazine editor. She lives for her power within the fashion industry. She can make or break an upcoming designer’s career as well as the ones of her subordinates. Self serving and arrogant, she epitomizes the “bad boss”. She demeans her staff with a withering look and expects them to do whatever it takes to please her quixotic requests. Get a yet unpublished copy of J.K. Rowling’s latest Harry Potter tale by 3 p.m. today?

A new global survey reports that men are happier with wealth, while women find greater happiness in friendships and family, co-workers and their bosses. Yet the survey may not have asked the right questions. The online survey of more than 28,000 people in more than 51 countries by global marketing firm Nielsen, found that women are happier than men in 48 of the 51 countries surveyed in April 2008, and only in Brazil, South Africa and Vietnam were men found to be happier than women.

Time off gave me the opportunity to read and listen to more news and pop culture media than usual. The myriad of suggestions is staggering. I have chosen a few I found interesting and doable. Try some and you will be well ahead of the curve. In 2011 I will: - Backup personal data as regularly as my office work. - Start and end with veggies. - Begin each day with a visualization of how I want the day to end. - Drop a toxic person in my life. - Nurture a friendship. - Book all prevention medical appointments for 2011 now.

“My body needs laughter as much as it needs tears. Both are cleansers of stress." ~ Mahogany Silver Rain Although we tend to think of being stressed as an emotional state, there are actually many different types of stress. Paul Check has written about physical, emotional, chemical, nutritional, electromagnetic, and thermal stress. Each type of stress is a byproduct of either our thinking, our lifestyle choices, our environment, or our relationships.

We spend so much time at work, thinking about work, and commuting to work during the week that it’s pretty disheartening to find out just how many people are unhappy at their job. According to Gallup, only 32% of American workers were engaged with their work in 2015. Now, it’s unrealistic to expect most employees to be engaged at all times—work is work, after all. However, the negative impact of poor engagement and morale can be felt at every level of the company and ca

One of the things in our lives that we simply cannot escape is the role of heredity in our development. Whether we like it or not, our bodies, minds, and spirits bear some resemblance to one or the other (or both) of our parents. We may not like this resemblance, and the good news is that we can Be the Change about these inherited traits from parents as well as anything else in our lives.

“When you find the thing that makes your heart sing, do more of that. We need more radiant hearts singing their songs of joy, passion and purpose.” #michelemolitor My Wake-up Call I woke up in a cold sweat. Again. And it was the third time this week. I didn’t think I could take another stressed out, sleepless night, when the light bulb suddenly came on… I realized that I didn’t give a crap about building large, corporate websites. Too much stress. Not enough joy. But what was I supposed to do – quit my job??

Have you ever found yourself asking: “How do I work Smarter? Not Harder??? Wishing you had 30 hours in the day to get everything on your to do list done? Wondering how you can grow your business without working 80 hours a week? Or just plain flabbergasted questioning what needs to change so you can work more efficiently and effectively?! When you get the feeling that you’re pushing rocks up hill, spinning your wheels and not reaching your goals, it’s a good time to pause and see what’s working, and more importantly, what’s NOT working to grow your business.

Success Leaves Clues ~ Learn From Others Before You By Jodi Nicholson

I recently read an excerpt from Lee Iacocca’s most recent book, Where Have All The Leaders Gone? It is clear that he is not happy about the current condition of the U.S. economy and with our foreign affairs. Iacocca says that we should be outraged and screaming bloody murder for the mess we ...

While visiting a friend recently in Chapel Hill, NC, we attended a lecture on the University of North Carolina campus. When the speaker started presenting, I noticed that the audience — which ranged in age from 6 to well over 60 — was completely enthralled (including me!) from start to end. Intrigued, I decided to take a step back to see exactly how this presenter was creating such a powerful experience for his listeners. To tell you the truth, he wasn’t doing every single thing right — and somehow it didn’t matter.

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind. … If you change your mind, you can change your life.” ~ William James Some coaches teach that it is your attitude which governs everything. I believe this is accurate, and if it is, all you’d have to do to change a situation would be to change your attitude. Of course, to change your attitude, you’d have to change your mind, right?

May the roof above us never fall in, and may we good companions beneath it never fall out. ~ Irish Blessing Have you ever been in a building – frequently a place of worship – that feels safe and filled with peace? What about your own home environment: does it feel safe and filled with peace? Do you know what creates that sense of freedom, peace and safety, and would you like to establish that for your home? What IS a “Cleared” Home Space?

“As a teenager I was more of an anarchist, but now I want people to thrive and be harmonious.” ~ Nicolas Cage

Here is the second part of “Resume Essentials.” In this section, we’ll discuss some of the nuances of a resume and how it can attract the right people to you and your work history.

New S.E.O. Website Report by AboutUs.org review I feel that It is necessary for me to point out that I have written this review for AboutUs.org, and their in-depth S.E.O. website report, because I truly believe this to be an excellent service, and you should know that this is my own opinion, and I will not in any way be compensated for it. How would you like to be able to see with Google eyes, and be able to understand what your local business website is about? If Google does

Alte ative Stress Solution #1 Breathe for Your Life “Stand up straight, suck in your belly, chest out”, these are the instructions most of us have filed away in the folder marked good posture. When we are told to take a deep breath we instinctively contract our bellies back towards our spine. These are the roots of the poor breathing habits we developed in childhood that have marched us staunchly into adulthood.

YouTube videos satirize them. Bestsellers criticize them. And we all dread them. I’m talking about those dense, badly organized, put-you-to-sleep PowerPoint presentations. Why do people keep plodding down the typical tedious PowerPoint path? Here are a few possible reasons: ï§ That’s the way I’ve always done it!rnï§ They’re only giving 15 minutes and I’ve got a lot to say.rnï§ That’s the way my boss does it!rnï§ People will need all this information when they get back to their offices. (Be honest, how often do you go back to a PowerPoint for reference? Others probably don’t either.)

“Keep your best wishes, close to your heart and watch what happens.” ~ Tony DeLiso In our work-a-day lives, we are driven to achieve, to be successful. Work is just one focus in our lives. What about who you are in your own mind, what about your finances, and what about your vision for the future? It would be wonderful to have a Master Plan for your life and to include all of those topics. If you don’t have one, why not take a few moments and create one? Floating along IS one method, but the results are not quite as predictable.r

Pet peeves. Those mundane (yet infuriating) habits that get under your skin and drive you crazy! We all have them. Perhaps your pet peeve is drivers who don't use turn signals. No? How about someone cracking their knuckles...or noisy eaters? Admit it, you've got at least one. As 2012 comes to a close, I’d like to share three of my pet peeves -- presentation peeves, of course! Each is remarkably easy to fix and each an ideal resolution for sharpening your skills in the coming year – transforming a presentation peeve into presentation presence. #1. Avoid the weak “thank you” opener.r

Feeling trapped can leave us vulnerable to more and more dissatisfaction. I believe our lives should be lives of fulfillment and satisfaction, so let’s see what we can do to help you move away from feeling trapped? What makes you feel trapped? • Parental pressure? • A toxic past? • An old, fixed mindset? • Your relationship? • In a job you despise? • In a sick body?

Does marketing ever feel to you like you’re bothering people? Does marketing make you feel uncomfortable because you feel like you’re “selling”? People’s lives today have become so incredibly inundated with an avalanche of information, commercials and advertisements, so it is no wonder that as business owners and service professionals you can often feel like yet another unwanted interruption or worse, spam in your attempts at prospecting and marketing.

Executive coaching is one of the hottest practices in business today! As resources and budgets shrink by the day, organizational leaders find themselves in new territory which can be overwhelming and uncomfortable to say the least. Managing change is a complex process requiring new attitudes, ...

My mother once said that the older we get, the faster time flies. How true that is! In today’s fast paced world, we work, raise families, manage household chores, run errands, volunteer, help our neighbors and the community, etc. There never seems to be enough time in a day. Despite this, there are a few things you can do to better manage your day and still take care of yourself. 1. Realize that you do have control over managing your time and make a conscious choice to do so.

Everyone has come to parenthood with some hurtful or limiting belief about themselves. And for each one affected, each one has had his or her self-love challenged. It’s sad that it happens this way, but so many of us have become the change because of it, that I think it’s possible for you, too.r

In today’s high tech and global economy, mastering your craft isn’t enough to guarantee success. Top female corporate leaders are very good at what they do. But, there is something more that they do to stand out. The intangibles make them shine. It’s their power and presence that radiates from within that gets your attention and compels you to lean in.

“I work long days and never seem to catch up. I’m constantly distracted by thousands of things running through my head that need to get done. I’m full of anxiety. Help!” Many of the clients I coach have experienced this. Let me share a three-step process to bring order to your personal chaos. ...

There is a myth circulating in the workplace and neighborhoods. It goes something like this “Networking during (fill in the blank, Thanksgiving, Christmas, August, end of quarter, bad weather… ) is a waste of time because no one is around.”

News Flash #1: As the recession recedes, companies will start hiring more employees. News Flash #2: The people you choose to hire will be the single most important factor in the future success of your career. Of all the things you will do at work in the next six months, hiring the right people will be the most important. Now is the best time to find the very best new employees for your company’s future growth. Here are six keys to keep in mind. You are Hiring Behaviors Wh

Making a definite change in a career can sometimes be frightening and make you feel uncomfortable. As a result, you continue wishing for it, dreaming about it but not doing much. One of the reasons behind it can be the “definite” sound of it. Often in life if our options only entail optio A and optio B, (for example stay or leave, buy or don´t buy, speak or not speak), making a decision can be tough.

Polite Telemarketing- Can it be done? Loretta Collins rnThe phone rings, you’re nowhere near it, but do a remarkable impression of Flo Jo, reaching it just in time only to be greeted with “Hello, Francine, how are you today?” What is it about this phrase that screams, “Hi, I’m a telemarketer and will be taking up your precious time long after you’ve told me NO!” There are three necessities in getting a sale- timing, need, and money.rnAs salespeople we’re taugh

I've spoken often about Be the Change. I love the idea of Change. Change is our privilege, a function of our free will, and it exercises autonomy in our lives when we learn how it functions and how to use it wisely and well. It works especially well in the mind body connection, or the body, mind, and spirit realm.

"Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing." ~ Rollo Mayr Some people just have the gift of gab - the ability to chat up anybody – and with them, it appears to be effortless. Interacting successfully with a variety of people is not only necessary, but a highly desirable skill. A little insight into how others tick can make every interaction more fruitful – and pleasurable!r

Stress is draining the energy, productivity and profits out of companies all over the world. Stress, often called the “plague of modern day society,” causes more than one millio U.S. workers per day to miss work. It’s no wonder that there is a wellness revolution going on and many companies ...

In times of crisis, people's behaviors and perspectives--both in their personal and work lives--change irrevocably. Those that adapt to the changes have the best chance for success. As a result of the current economic crisis, our economic system will fundamentally change and will not return to the "way it was." Our organizations will need leaders who understand that and provide the kind of leadership necessary for the new era. The August issue of the Harvard Business Review provides an insightful look at managing in the new world.

It was a series of challenging events (to say the least) and an unexpected “course correction” in my role as creative director back at the height of the dot com days in Silicon Valley, that left me bewildered, dazed and befuddled as to what was my next career step needed to be. Stressed out to the max, I thought “I can’t do this anymore but what do I do instead?”

I hear it all the time from my coaching clients, “I want to get to the next level and in order to do that, I have to take on a leadership role.” “Really? And do you want to be a leader?” “I don’t know, seems like I have to if I want to get ahead.” This is a treacherous and potentially dangerous train of thought; one that could do more harm to a career than good. Why? Because, not everyone is cut out to be a leader intellectually, temperamentally, or with regard to energy and emotional strength.

First off, it’s not your fault! Have you ever heard impatient bosses ste ly demand that their people get out there and “MAKE IT HAPPEN!“ … OR ELSE…? Or, perhaps maybe you’re that boss. After all, as Peter Drucker so famously said, “Nothing happens until someone sells something.“

“Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” ~ Thomas Jefferson Life is a mystery, its challenges, many. How do you keep yourself going when you begin to droop a bit? Here are some suggestions to keep you fresh and moving forward away from stress, away from indecision, away from lack of decisiveness, away from gloom.

Do you have the mindset of living a life filled with promise and purpose or have you been lead down a path that looks unhappy and hopeless? I’ve know a few folks (fortunately, they’re in the minority) who view life through a film of gloom, an unwillingness to relinquish this mindset, and without work habits that will help them to change. Song lyrics from the musical South Pacific say “You’ve got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna make a dream come true?” Do you have a dream? Do you know what you want to achieve in your lifetime?r

A shocking report in the Los Angeles Times showed that single Baby Boomer women are at the greatest risk of living in poverty. Why? This is due because of lower wages, more spending and only bringing in a single paycheck. Many of us Baby Boomer women have to dramatically downsize our lives as we ...