Executive Coach and Executive Coaching Articles

Can you train yourself to be compassionate? A new study says, yes.

So many Christian people learn that a career in business means starting in sales – a job that often carries a reputation for manipulation and dirty dealing. Is it possible for a principled, religious person to take a sales job and feel good about it? Is there a moral approach to selling? The answer to that question is “Yes.” A Clean Heart, an attitude of service, and the Golden Rule are key. Yet, even with a high-integrity approach to selling, there’s another problem.

Adducology, the career and student consultancy, offers a number of career services which can help people achieve more. The aim of the career services area has always been to help people reach their potential. This is achieved via education on how to persuade employers, interviewers and HR. The art of writing a CV and the reason for success for the CV Writing Service are simple. It’s hard to be both objective, flattering and honest all at the same time. People always find it

Own Yourself How is life treating you? Are you creating all that you want to create? Are you fulfilling the dreams you have in your heart? Are you blessing those you want to bless? If you are not able to answer these questions the way you would like to answer them, I have some suggestions for you. Are you Owning Who You Are? After you take inventory of all the skills, talents, abilities, education, life experience and everything you have, are you truly standing up for yourself and owning who you are?

Being predictable is a part of being human. Our brains are actually wired to embed habits, increasing the number of things we can do on autopilot. Our ability to operate on autopilot, to be aware of our environment and solve problems, has been the key to our survival. John Medina describes it this way:

And the Oscar for best coach in a supporting role goes to…… Well, that will never happen. First of all because we are not in the motion picture industry and second of all because generally coaches don’t want to be in the spotlights. Great coaches usually don’t have big ego’s. They shine by enabling others to shine more brightly. By definition coaching is all about the coachee and never about the coach. The ego of a coach and the coachee should never occupy the same room.

The elements and field conditions are always a factor in athletic competition. Athletes are often under the mistaken perception that these conditions not only enhance or impair their performance but dictate it. Beliefs such as: green grass, clear skies and no wind “help” your game and rain, mud, extreme heat and cold “hurt” your performance. This is a broad generalization that leads to convenient excuses. You often hear athletes explain away bad performances: our team isn’t b

Recently, I read several articles on mentoring as I prepared for a session with one of my new mentees. Prior to reading the articles I gave a self-assessment worksheet to the Mentee to complete prior to our session. As I refreshed my skills to prepare for the task as a mentor, I reflected on the skill sets that my mentors passed on to me. Now I must let you know that I am from the Baby Boomers Generation and so is the mentee. It was a new experience in that I was mentoring and individual that has no similar career track as mines. She is a License Mental Health Therapist and Psychiatrist.

When I say NUTs I am not referring to some of the crazies my clients tell me are hanging around their workplace. I mean Nagging Unfinished Tasks. You know what I’m talking about, those things you are going to file (electronically or physically), the calls you should make, the networking you should do, the recertification courses you plan on taking, the upgrades, clean-up and ramp-ups you have on some list or swimming in your brain. They are not complete and truthfully driving you nuts.

For a sports team to be successful it takes more than just a superstar player, a strong roster of talented young backups or even state-of-the art training facilities. While all of those can be important factors, none of it would result in a winning unit without the help of one person: the head coach.

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” ~ Steve Jobs I think the most idyllic situation would be to be 100% self-sufficient and expect nothing from any other, but life just isn’t like that, is it?r

Giving presentations, typically PowerPoint, is mostly a routine matter for CEOs and top managers Business leaders extensively use PowerPoint for a multitude of purposes including showcasing their strategies, presenting their business plans, declaring their financial results, persuading investors to put their money in their business or conducting different training sessions.

From Paper to Podium: Rehearse your way to prime time Think back to the last conference you attended. While an event’s keynote or session speakers may be subject matter experts, most are not professional speakers. If you’ve ever wondered what makes one presenter sparkle while others fall flat, I’d bet you the difference is the time each speaker spent rehearsing. Many speakers believe that their presentations are ready for prime time the moment the toner's dry on their PowerPoint printout.

Youthfulness is a way of being, and the vitality of the young is frequently enviable. Healthy children embody youthfulness not only because of their age, but because of their natural inclinations which have not yet been shut down, along with the fact that they don’t accept most forms of limitation. Observe any healthy child’s behaviors and outlook, and it is there that you will find the secret to their exuberance, and possibly a way of restoring your own.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” ~ Herman Cain How did your parents encourage you to achieve success in your life? Are you using the same methods with your children? Do you know if they are the best methods? Our children are each born with the potential to achieve, but if your dreams for his achievement push him too hard, or don’t push him at all, how can he reach his achievement knowing full well it was him that achieved it and not you pushing from behind?

The greatest misnomer is to think students' GPA is indicative of their intelligence. Nothing is farther from the truth. Some of the smartest people I know scored poorly on tests, not because these students weren't smart, but because they were lazy and refused to study. Hence their grades were also low in keeping with their laziness and lack of focus. Your GPA points to your focus and ability to stay on target, on point with your academic curriculum. Many intelligent people

A couple days ago I attended a meeting and a light bulb suddenly went off in my head. One of those “Aha” moments, you know what I mean? As I looked around the room I saw many people with a common goal, to become financially wealthy. Needless to say there is nothing wrong with the desire to become financially wealthy; it was the behaviors I observed over the next hour that were so interesting to me. To me, having the desire to become financially wealthy says that you are not f

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. ~ Khalil Gibran There is something special about the significance of "a new dawn, a new day." It's the end of a period of darkness, and revitalizing surrounded by light is just all that more appealing, don't you think? If I asked you to visualize the time of day when you felt most fresh, most positive, most self-assured, wouldn't it be morning vs. night time?

You know you’re a comfort person if being comfortable in every way, (physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially), is your top priority. ~ Joan Chamberlain Are you the type of individual who has a need for comfort? Do you sleep, watch TV, go to the movies, shop, eat, sit in the hot tub, drink, and visit the spa as often as you can? Is your main effort toward feeling relaxed, feeling good?

Are leaders who enjoy their work the lucky ones, or do they make better choices?nnHuman nature is to feel a bit of envy for those who do work they love. The majority of us were taught that work isn’t meant to be fun—it’s supposed to be hard or stressful. In fact, we are meant to feel lucky just to have a well-paying job, regardless of whether we like it or not. Because these standards are so low, we don’t even look for work that would fulfill us. Inste

Remember the days of marketing your business before social media came onto the scene? I bet you’re thinking it was way less complicated to market a business back then. Well don’t confuse ‘less complicated’ with ‘easier’ because social media makes it easier than ever before to get people talking about your business!

The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another. ~Quentin Crisp Parenting teenagers can be particularly challenging for a parent. On the one hand, you have years and years of cherished memories beginning with that first magical moment when you looked into their baby eyes at birth. On the other hand, you are now faced with their efforts to become self-sufficient where their ideas look far superior to yours and they aren’t shy about telling you that.

As a part of an engagement with a client (an insurer), I walked the executive leadership team through a discussion of company strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. I stood at the white board posting their answers as the discussion migrated to an assessment of the independent insurance agencies that represented them. The chief marketing officer, who is an effervescent, optimistic guy, commented that “our agents love us.” When I asked if I

“There’s no passion to be found playing small — in settling for a life that is less than you are capable of living.” ~ Nelson Mandela

There are a myriad of reasons that people change. Pain, joy, and hope are a few reasons. Debts, a friend's tragic story or a great movie, etc., are a few more. These reasons may inspire us to take action. Yet, whatever our reasons to change, how we perceive information relates to our belief in ourselves, and, ultimately, how successful we become.

Complimentary International Trade Tips: Did you know that according to US Customs regulations CFR 111.91(d), a person who is not a broker who intentionally transacts Customs Business can be imposed a monetary penalty of $10,000 for each transaction or violation. 1. Non-Commercial importations means merchandise imported for an individual's personal or household use, or as a gift but not imported for sale or other commercial purposes. 2. Any record relating to a drawback claim shall be kept until the third anniversary of the date of payment of claim.

When we were born, we arrived with a list of things that we needed. Many of our needs were provided for by our parents to one degree or another. Many needs got added to our list as we matured into adulthood. I’d like you to think about what you may need in the following categories. Are you taking care of what you currently think you need? What steps can you take to fulfill the ones you haven’t yet addressed? • Emotional Needs • Spiritual Needs • Physical Needs • Financial Needs • Success Needs

“Stress is the trash of modern life. We all generate it, but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.” ~ Danzae Pace In today’s busy, challenging lifestyles, stress seems unavoidable. Stress can be very damaging in the long term if it is not nipped in the bud, while burnout is more detrimental to the inner spark of motivation that gives life meaning. Over time, much like stress, burnout can cause a catastrophic loss of passion, and may ultimately lead to depression.

How many proposals do you or your team write in an average month? And how many of those proposals generate even $1 of revenue? As an international sales consultant, I’m learning that typical proposal success rates for services providers are often in the range of 10% … which means that 90% of proposals FAIL! What can you do about this terrible drag on your success?

Danielle was an account executive with Forman and Company, a professional services firm that conducted high-end research, primarily for Fortune 500 companies. During her career, she had sold products and services ranging from time-shares to computer software and consulting – all with outstanding results. At some point in her career, she migrated from “rainmaker” to “game changer” status. As contrasted from rainmakers – the name given to top salespeople – game ch

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” ~ Mark Twain We have always valued men and women of high principle – those for whom integrity is held aloft as a standard. But we have seen our so-called leaders caught in many lies publically in the news and this destroys our ability to continue to hold them in the same place of value. They are human beings such as we are, and although they seem to be held to a higher standard, what kind of standard are you holding yourself to? Do you always exercise integrity? Do you permit “little white lies?”

Your Mission Critical Business Growth Plan There are many roadblocks and obstacles that stand between you and success. Running a business isn’t easy, but one thing that is for certain is that defeating your demons and overcoming those gremlins that stand in your way can be the hardest part of growing a business.

Being the Change in your life is not a magical, instantaneous event. Like Life itself, it is a journey and not a destination. Be the Change is a process that can be accomplished while you life your life, go to your job, raise your children, love your pets and take vacation. It is like playing an exciting game in the background while you do the things you merely do. It’s a colorful extension you can play with the “I” of you silently while your kids swing on swings, while you mow the lawn, while you make love, while you drive to work, while you go to church, while you read a book.

Miracles show up in the most ordinary of circumstances. In the smallest of ways we can see the greatness in others and ourselves. I believe to declare the desire to coach, to make a difference in the world, first requires us to make a difference in our own lives. We must know without a doubt ...

When we were small children, in an effort to control our exuberance, many of our school teachers sought to encourage conformity. We had to present our paperwork in a particular way. We have to behave in the prescribed manner. Our parents encouraged conformity also. We arose at the same time. We ate our agreed-upon diet. We had a prearranged place for sitting at the dinner table. These early lessons about conformity required discipline on our parts.

“Teaching children how to set boundaries helps with both peer pressure and time management.” ~ Patricia L. Perryr As children develop, they learn that each day has a structure. Developing a sense of time can help them understand what to expect, to know when to move to another activity, and to anticipate exciting events. Learning how to utilize time as a child becomes very useful when the child becomes an executive who has to both prioritize and plan his work, so it’s wise to begin early in your child’s life to teach him about time.r

In the old days I used to drop $30,000 a year to be listed in 5 different Yellow Pages and Super Pages phone books. Like so many other business owners, I did that because it used to be that most people would pick up the phone directory when they were looking to hire and fill a need. The sad part is that in 10 years I spent $300,000.00! — which turned out to be a tremendous cost (not a worthwhile marketing investment at all). You commit to one ad which you cannot change for a full year — not a smart offer by the phone books.

There' s no question that Twitter has become the next big thing in internet social networking. Yet to this day, less than 10% of North American internet users actually "Twitter." But unique visitors the Twitter website has grown over 1300 % in one year. So what exactly is Twitter? Twitter is ...

nnI have coached executives for more than 20 years. In working with successful leaders and professionals, I have found that making lasting impressions on the people you work with is pivotal to your advancement. Here are some tips to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.nn• Look the Part:n“One of the easiest things you can do is look the part. However talented you are, if you don’t look like a professional, manager or leader, others may, rightly or wrongly,

Is Depression Real? Real or not how can we defeat depression? Submitted by Jack Bass, B.A., LL.B. Do you have a choice? s depression a true mental illness requiring years of diagnosis to uncover and then deal with childhood trauma or is it subject to a faster resolution? Reality Therapy forces you to accept the context of examining your behavior in the here and now. There are many persons, therapists and patients alike, who are witness to the face that not all illness or diagnosis requires drugs or years of counseling to effect positive results.

Remember the time you decided to take a 15 minute coffee break from work and sat down reading a newspaper in the cafeteria? Later on you got up feeling very well informed about current affairs but realized an hour had passed and you had to rush back to your desk to complete the tasks on your to-do list. Or the time you decided to clean your drawers on a weekday to search for a piece of paper and ended up redecorating the entire room with your son?

“The extent to which two people in a relationship can bring up and resolve issues is a critical marker of the soundness of a relationship.” ~ Henry Cloud Life is not about who we’re with; what we’re wearing; where we live or how much money we earn. It is all about unfolding an understanding about your Self and about Life itself. One of the speediest ways to unfold understanding is through your relationship. In no other way is who you are and what you think exposed as in a relationship.

We’ve all had family television shows served up as a model for us over the years. You all remember The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family. The book Little Women influenced many families. As a mom today, you still have the influence to proactively transform your family dynamics. Your instincts and insight are always in-tune with the people you love. If you ever feel that things can be improved, then go for it!r

In the 2007 World Health Statistics Report, the World Health Organization identified depression as one of the most significant global public health problems. World wide events such as recession, the effects of climate change, and terrorism events and alerts have increased the general level of anxiety throughout the world. Employers and managers face, on a daily basis, bad news and its psychological impact on employees. How can we prepare people for psychologically stressful events and resilient recovery? Are some people just naturally more resilient and optimistic?

Need more time? Have enough time to get everything done? Are there things that remain on your to-do list -- for years? Stuff you never get around to tackling, oh, like exercising, finding a new job or actually having friends? It's a modern predicament many of us face. But here's a strategy that ...

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.” – Carl Jungr Our days are filled with productivity, and this can sometimes sap us out of leisure and playfulness and lead us farm from the spontaneity we had as children. Although the weekend is our outlet after a full week, fun doesn’t always have to wait until Friday evening. There are many ways to anticipate short breaks in your day where pleasurable activities can be worked in.r

Your job is to create, align and sustain aspiration, inspiration and perspiration! Many of today’s leaders, however, have become convinced (often times with the instigation of OD gurus), that management is no longer important, and that aspiration and inspiration are sufficient to propel organizational success. The truth is that they ARE absolutely necessary. Without management controls, however, results WILL NOT HAPPEN! Performance management is a process effective managers

Just like any parent of a young child, these days I’m training my daughter to appreciate others and their acts of kindness by saying “Thank you”. We’re all trained to be sincerely grateful for good luck, blessings and gifts from people and the universe. Yet, oddly enough, we rarely get into the habit of thanking ourselves.

Last week I shared my one line response to a popular questio I am often asked — “What’s your advice on achieving fast business growth?” “Never try to do it alone” is always my response. If you enjoyed reading about the 3 powerful leadership principles that helped operations manager Beth to bring out the best in her people, here are 3 more powerful leadership principles from my coaching work with Bob. Case Study #2. CEO continues to get pulled into every problem that comes up.

Imagine for a moment the struggle and doubt the Wright brothers faced as they made attempt after attempt to create a “flying machine”. They financed their scheme with the proceeds from their bicycle shop, they toiled after work hours in oblivion. Later, when the brothers started to have some success with their flying efforts and gained notice from the press, Europeans accused them of lying. Others ridiculed them. It was a harebrained scheme and there were plenty of others with far more resources than they. What gave them the audacity to think they could out maneuver Dr.