from Harvard Business Essentials: Negotiation

“If you want to keep a relationship on an even keel, manage it as you would any other activity that matters to you.

• Create trust. Trust is created when people see tangible evidence that one’s words and actions are in harmony. So avoid making commitments you may be unable to honor, and always do what you have committed to do. Trust is also created when you acknowledge and demonstrate respect for the other party’s core interests.
• Communicate. The different parties should communicate their interests, capabilities, and their concerns to each other. For example, if you agreed to complete a customer survey for the marketing vice president within thirty days but have hit a logjam, communicate that information to him.
• Never sweep mistakes under the rug. Mistakes are bound to happen. Acknowledging and addressing them – quickly – is always the best course of action.
• Ask for feedback. If everything appears to be going as planned, never assume that the other side sees it the same way. Be proactive in uncovering problems. The other side will respect you for it (Harvard Business Essentials: Negotiation, 2003, p. 118).”

Reference: Harvard Business Essentials: Negotiation. 2003. Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation.

Reprinted with permission from the OSU Leadership Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, (614) 292-3114, http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu.

This week choose a relationship that you want to improve. What steps can you take to keep that relationship on an even keel? What steps will you take?

May 14, 2006
Moms, Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday is Mother's Day. Elizabeth Stone has a wonderful point, "Making a decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." Enjoy your day. Celebrate this important role you have.

May 15, 2006
Simple Habits That Transform Workshop Series
May 15, 22; June 5, 12, 19—Monday evenings, 6:45-9:00
June 26 and July 10: Teleconference Support Meetings: 7 – 8 PM
Marion Freiberg, Andrea Novakowski, and Sandy Davis

Have you read the books and attended the workshops—but not gotten any “traction” yet? Are you ready now to finally transform your daily life by taking action? If so, join Coach Andrea and two other certified coaches for the 9-week “Simple Habits That Transform” workshop series. You, and a supportive community of like-minded folks, will experience and put into practice three of the most powerful daily habits you can do to revitalize your body, mind and spirit. Come to learn, play, and do. Work together to remove the roadblocks. Build a plan that fits where you want to go and what you want to become. Put yourself at the center of your life by incorporating these powerful new habits while supported by experienced coaches.

Even when we know what works to re-energize and renew ourselves, we may hesitate to act for any number of reasons. “No time”, “I’ll do it later”, “I don’t know how”, “I’m not the type”, “I’m too old”, etc. Come together with experienced coaches and an enthusiastic group to break through your limiting beliefs and move into action. In this workshop, you will learn simple new skills that can powerfully shift your energy level, expand your enjoyment of life, and increase your ability to deal with its ups and downs. You will explore and expand your creativity, your resilience, your health, and your energy.

This course spans 9 weeks so that you have time to incorporate these skills into your daily life, and enable them to really take root.

To ensure you get enough attention, this interactive and energizing course is led by three experienced, certified coaches: Marion Freiberg, Andrea Novakowski and Sandy Davis.

This workshop begins May 15th from 6:45 to 9:00 PM at Unity Church in Amesbury, MA, $150 fee. Limited to the first 20 who register. To reserve your place or learn more, call Andrea at 508-231-0766 or e-mail andrea@coachandrea.com.

May 22, 2006
Pounce on a Project V -- 2006

Last month we had some great results including getting a business card scanner loaded on the computer and getting a financial summary done that had been sitting on the to do list for months. The ideas, energy and support were flowing. A new participant said, " Wow! I had to keep working on my project or I wouldn't have anything to report on during our check ins. The accountability was very effective to get the project moving."

What project would you like to get on top of and accomplish this month? Come to Pounce on a Project V -- 2006. Join Coach Andrea on Monday, May 22nd, (note the different day of the week this month) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Eastern. We will join as a group by phone and declare what you want to accomplish: getting your website finished, clean up that corner of your office that is looking really scary, finish an article early for Tuesday's deadline or make cold calls.

During the morning, the group will gather by phone a few times to check progress and get any support needed to finish with a bang. At noon, the group will celebrate their accomplishments. Who says projects have to be boring and tedious? Bring your lightness and fun and join us for the energization. To sign up or learn more, call or e-mail Andrea by noon on Friday, May 19th. Feel free to share this with friends and co-workers, the more the merrier. (Cost of the program is only the cost of long distance phone calls.)

Coach Andrea's Coaching Tip of the Week is brought to you by Andrea Novakowski, Master Certified Coach who provides Business and Personal Coaching to Executives, Small Business Owners, Professionals and Managers. Andrea is a professional coach who partners with people to set goals and create momentum to produce effective results in their business and/or personal lives.

Andrea is available for individual coaching. If you are serious about reaching your goals and living with greater fulfillment and satisfaction, consider using a coach. To schedule a COMPLIMENTARY initial consultation, send an e-mail to Andrea at
andrea@coachandrea.com.

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Coach Andrea
Focusing your vision, achieving results

email: andrea@coachandrea.com

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