Coach Andrea’s Intro Want to be more productive? In this week’s Tip, a new contributor, Natalie M. Houston, shares a great idea on how to protect your focus and attention during your “always on” day. Quote of the Week “The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence.” ~ Robert J. Shiller Are you Leaving the Door Open? By Natalie M. Houston Would you leave the front door of your home wide open all day? Would you allow strangers, colleagues, and friends to walk in that open door at any time, and start asking you for directions, assistance, a snack, or a hug? Would you [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro It is springtime here in New England!  Trees are blooming, plants are growing and weeds are starting to appear.  This week’s Tip by Simon Tyler reminds us to take some time for light weeding – remove the negative clutter and provide a fertile ground for the growth of what’s truly important in your business and life. Quote of the Week “It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.” ~ Whitney Young Jr. Some Light Weeding By Simon Tyler I have a great garden, yet would not describe myself in anyway as a gardener, [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro Spring is a great time for us as leaders to look at ourselves and see what we can do to improve ourselves.  Chris Widener’s article will encourage you to do just that! Quote of the Week “Walk through life eager and open to self-improvement and that which is going to best help you evolve, because that’s really why we are here: to evolve as human beings.” ~ Oprah Winfrey Spring Cleaning for Leaders! By Chris Widener Many of us are up to our eyeballs in spring cleaning around the house and yard, but how many of us give ourselves a personal and professional “spring cleaning?” Here are [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro Is there value in promoting conflict? Encouraging differing opinions, yes.  Conflict, no.  If you are noticing conflict is becoming more prevalent in your company, consider David Cottrell’s tips on how to minimize the potential conflagration of conflict. Quote of the Week “Conflict is going to happen whether you want it or not. People will be butt heads. Sometimes when you least expect it.” ~ Jimmy Bise Jr. Ways to Prevent a Conflict from Escalating By David Cottrell Get all the facts and clearly identify the problem. Encourage people to challenge the status quo often so that alternatives are continually being evaluated. When others explain their intention and [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro Adrenaline is robbing us of our health. If you run on adrenaline, please consider other ways to get energized.  In this week’s Tip, Steve Straus provides healthy alternatives to adrenaline. Quote of the Week “This art of resting the mind and the power of dismissing from it all care and worry is probably one of the secrets of energy in our great men.” ~ Captain J. A. Hadfield Beyond Adrenaline By Steve Straus Adrenaline has its benefits. And its costs. Great outcomes have been accomplished using the adrenaline tool. It is one of the most popular drugs-of-choice for driven achievers. A source of ready energy, it provides [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro If you are thinking of starting a business partnership with another individual, this week’s Tip is for you. In addition to analyzing the viability of the business idea, it’s key that you address how the two of you will work together. Quote of the Week “Successful people in this world are those who get up and look for circumstances they want. If they can’t find them, they make them.” ~ George Bernard Shaw How to Have a Successful Business Partnership By Andrea Novakowski You and your friend have a great idea for a business. Your business plan is already half done. You can’t wait to get started: [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro The topic of “managing my reaction” to events comes up with many of my coaching clients. I liked Alan Zimmerman’s article this week because he provides a formula for determining what your reaction will be.  You can make a difference! Quote of the Week “One must fight for a life of action, not reaction.” ~ Rita Mae Brown Avoid Rejection By Changing Your Reaction By Dr. Alan Zimmerman Roger Miller said, “Some people walk in the rain. Others just get wet.” He’s so right. Have you ever noticed that two people can experience the same thing on a sales call, like getting a simple “no,” but react [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro While it’s been a mild winter for us New Englanders, spring fever can still hit when the sun is strong and temperatures start to rise. Here in Massachusetts, the thermometers registered 70 on Monday.  This week’s Tip by Don Wetmore, Time Management Guru, advises what to do when you are bitten by spring fever. Remember, his work is about being more productive! Quote of the Week “A little Madness in the Spring is wholesome even for the King.” ~ Emily Dickinson Spring Fever By Dr. Donald E. Wetmore You develop your jam packed “to do” list the night before. You awake to the new day ready to [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro I particularly enjoyed this week’s Tip by Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch due to its honesty – some days you just don’t feel like a leader.  They provide their recommendations for “damage control” on those days. Quote of the Week “Focus on remedies, not faults.” ~ Jack Nicklaus Not in the Leadership Mood? Here’s what to do. By Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch While everyone loves leadership concepts and practices, it’s fair to say that there are days when you wake up and you’re not “feeling it.” You know those days … those days when it’s going to be pretty tricky to influence outcomes and inspire others [...]

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Coach Andrea’s Intro Is someone at work pushing your buttons?  Does this lead you to frustration and anger?  This week’s Tip describes a simple process to follow that changes your reaction and the outcome. Quote of the Week “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes–ah, that is where the art resides!” ~ Arthur Schnabel Business Coaching and the Power of the Pause By Andrea Novakowski Cara was a manager at a Providence, RI consulting firm who could always be counted on to get the job done. She had a hard-driving style that got results, and her boss recognized how valuable she was [...]

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