Coach Andrea

Coach Andrea’s Intro

There’s so much negative press about meetings and how they are a waste of time.   I was intrigued when I read this week’s Tip by Jill Geisler about when meetings are beneficial.

Quote of the Week

“A great strategy meeting is a meeting of minds.”

Six Good Reasons to Call a Meeting

By Jill Geisler

1. To provide timely information.  These meetings involve announcement or status reports shared among colleagues.
2. To give direction. This is the huddle before the play; the review of roles, responsibilities and goals.
3. To make group decisions. These confabs give people a voice in a pending matter.
4. To produce a product. The team is together to create something right there, or produce some part of it.
5. To generate ideas and solutions. The group is brainstorming or problem-solving.
6. To observe rituals.  People gather to celebrate, share, bond and make memories (p. 280).

From: Geisler, J. (2012). Work happy: what great bosses know. New York: Center Street.

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

Your Call To Action

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

What’s the best way to acknowledge someone?  This week’s Tip by Loren Ekroth provides suggestions on the use of praise to reward people.

Quote of the Week

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

How to Reward People with Words

By Loren Ekroth

What gets rewarded (like good work) will continue, even increase.

Where? In the workplace, in the classroom, and in the home.

Although people like to be lauded with general words such as “Good job,” specific praise is more effective.  Example: “I really appreciate you being prompt and well-prepared for our meetings.”

Such compliments are best delivered in a timely way. For example, shortly after your employee turns in her report and you’ve had time to read it.

Then (not the following week) you tell her “Your report was wonderfully written, very clear and succinct. I really value the care you give to these projects.”

When a manager, parent, or teacher is on the lookout to “catch people doing something right,” they’ll notice more of these instances of excellence.

In the home, offer genuine praise for jobs well done at the time they’re completed. “Billy, thanks for finishing your homework without my having to remind you. I know I can count on you to do it on your own.”

Such instances are countless, and here are 3 common examples:

• Student A tutors student B on how to solve a math problem.
• Employee suggests a way to save his company money.
• Without being asked, husband prepares an excellent family meal.

When someone meets ordinary expectations, simple acknowledgements will suffice. “Thanks for being back in your seats so we can get started on time.”

When a person performs “beyond the call,” they deserve a genuine compliment. “Great job in handling that difficult customer, Joe. You kept your composure, and he went away satisfied.”

When a person does something extraordinary, they deserve to be celebrated in front of others: “I want to acknowledge Susan for her magnificent planning for our annual meeting. Because of her efforts, the meeting went smoothly, and we came away with great results.”

A few caveats when praising others:

1. Be genuine in your words. Don’t flatter.
2. Praise judiciously, even sparingly. Praising overmuch cheapens the effect.
3. Be willing to share negative comments when behavior has not met the expected standard. (“You can only say ‘yes’ as loud as you can say “no.”)

An example of “too much undeserved praise.” I have noticed in some elementary school parking lots that the majority of cars have bumper stickers that say things like “My Child Is a Star Pupil at Wilson Elementary.”

Really? Are all those kids “honor students”? I doubt it. Even the kids know better — that they are not consistently “wonderful” or “excellent.”

Remember the “self-esteem movement” some years ago that recommended adults only affirm young people? It didn’t work then, and it doesn’t work now. People — employees, students, and family members alike –see through this.

So, when you praise others, be genuine, specific, timely, and selective.

From “Better Conversations” newsletter by Loren Ekroth.  Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2013. All Rights reserved. Dr.  Ekroth is creator of information products to improve conversation, such as “Small Talk Success Tips” and a free newsletter at www.ConversationMatters.com.

Coaching Call To Action

I have worked with clients who expected good work from their employees and acknowledged them by continuing to employ them.  As you can imagine, there wasn’t a lot of loyalty from the employees.  Are you the type of leader who acknowledges the good work of others verbally?  What could you do this week to provide even better feedback and praise?

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

I love a good story!  Don’t you?  I agree with what Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch share in this week’s Tip about using storytelling to share your leadership vision.

Quote of the Week

“Over the years I have become convinced that we learn best – and change – from hearing stories that strike a chord within us … Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.”

Become an Inspiration Broker

By Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch

In the day-to-day hustle and bustle of executing our roles, it’s easy to lose sight of the reason we do what we do.  We get distracted by information, slides, facts and figures, features, regulations, etc., and forget where we are headed and why.

As a leader you define a vision.  You must then inspire people to act in ways that may, at first, seem unfamiliar or unnatural to them on the journey to that vision.  To motivate, reconnect people to their mission, purpose and passion.  You motivate through emotion, not analysis.  You touch the heart, not with PowerPoint slides, facts and figures, but with stories.

So, start telling stories. Too often, leaders act as information brokers.  We take in information; we process, translate, add to and subtract from that information. Then, we put that information on a slide and disseminate it.  Boring!

Tell a story and give people a reason to care. Let people cast themselves into the plot.  Use stories to celebrate and illustrate heroes, hope, struggle, accomplishment and perseverance.

You don’t need to tell stories of Herculean accomplishments.  A regular story told at the right time can be just as effective.  And, remember to be yourself.  People respond to authenticity.  Tell stories of overcoming challenges, lessons learned or how you came up short.  What motivates you probably motivates those around you.

This article was provided courtesy of Lead Star – a premiere leadership development firm. You can learn more about leadership by visiting their website at www.leadstar.us

Coaching Call To Action

Are you a good storyteller?  How did you hone this skill?  Please take a moment to share your ideas with other Tip readers below.

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

The words a leader uses can empower people or cut them down.  This week’s Tip by Helio Fred Garcia asks you to consider the effectiveness of your communication.

Quote of the Week

“Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”

The Power of Communication

By Helio Fred Garcia

Words matter.  Words shape worldviews.  Words provoke action and reaction, which in turn provoke more words.  Getting the words right is critically important.  Getting the action right is also critically important.  And aligning the words and actions is even more important.

The late Steve Jobs was one of the few business leaders who was able to connect with consumers in powerful ways that had positive impact.  He was in a league of his own.  Most business leaders are not as good at connecting, at communicating, or at understanding what will get and keep an audience’s attention and earn the audience’s loyalty, trust and confidence.

But they can be.

Communication has power, but like any powerful tool, it needs to be used effectively or it can cause self-inflicted harm.  Harnessing the power of communication is a fundamental leadership discipline (p. 2)

From: Garcia, H. F. (2012).  The power of communication: skills to build trust, inspire loyalty, and lead effectively.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson Education, Inc.

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

Coaching Call To Action

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 high, how would you rate your communication skills?  Do you connect in a positive way, building trust and confidence?  If you feel you have room to grow, what will you do differently this week to move up the scale on your communication ability?

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

“How do I share my ideas so that my team sees what I see?” James asked at the beginning of our coaching session last week.  This week’s Tip by Peter Jensen discusses the importance of communicating using imagery to enhance performance.

Quote of the Week

“Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.”

Paint Clear Pictures of What is Desired

By Peter Jensen

It is common for coaches to tell people what they don’t want them to do, but it’s often difficult for them to articulate what they do want.  This seemingly simple concept – tell people what you want, not what you don’t want is so easy to put into words, but so hard to put into action!  Remember that people can’t do things they can’t imagine.  Once we understand, at the cellular rather than the intellectual level, that imagery truly is the language of performance, everything opens up for us in a different way.  We begin to realize, for example, that we must communicate so that people can create clear pictures in their minds of what we want, if we are going to get them to do what we want.  And when we say “communicate,” we don’t mean just through the words we use, though our choice of words is important.  If we want our people to perform in a particular way but don’t behave that way ourselves, the picture we are creating can get very blurry, no matter how clear our words may be (p. 116)!

From:  Jensen, P. (2012).  The winning factor.  New York: AMACom.

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

Coaching Call To Action

Are you sharing what you want or don’t want when you talk to your team?  Sometimes to be able to articulate what we want, we need to start by taking thinking time on our own to address what we don’t want.  Once we see those conditions, we can then move to defining what we do want.  What is your process for creating imagery for your team?

Gift Certificates Available

Looking for a unique gift for a friend, colleague or family member? Giving the gift of coaching partners the recipient with a professional coach with real world experience.  Your gift provides one-on-one coaching to help them sift through their conflicting priorities and demands, determine what’s most important and take action.  The coaching will help them focus, gain clarity, problem solve, and get results.  What better gift is there to give someone you care about!

Please call Andrea at 508-231-0766 or email Andrea@CoachAndrea.com for additional information.

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

Here in the U.S. next week is Thanksgiving. This week’s Tip by Loren Ekroth provides suggestions for having meaningful conversations during this holiday.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Thank you for sharing your ideas, thoughts, feedback, challenges and successes with me. I am honored to be included in your life.  

There will be no Coaching Tip of the Week on November 23, 2012 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy this time of thanks and gratitude. Our next Tip will be issued on November 30, 2012.

Quote of the Week

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

4 Thanksgiving Conversations

By Loren Ekroth

When you get together as family and friends for Thanksgiving, you are so busy that you may not make room for talk. Hustle and bustle in the kitchen can be exciting but hardly allows for deeper talk.

Here are 4 conversations to consider having this Thanksgiving:

1.  Make time for a walk with an elder for a slower, less hectic quality talk.  Or draw aside an elder, perhaps an aunt or uncle, for a rich conversation.  Ask them about most memorable Thanksgivings of times past.  Ask them about their lives.  Show real interest.

2. Phone someone you’ve needed to thank for their friendship and support.  A teacher?  A pastor?  A coach?  An old friend?  Perhaps in a quieter time during Thanksgiving week you’ll think of various persons who have known you and helped you.

My old friend Professor Sheron Dailey sent me this quotation:

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”  (Anonymous)

Take time to contact such an old friend and thank that person.

3. Circle the family for story-sharing.  Set aside an hour that allows your family or friends to share stories of their lives. You can record these if you wish and send the CDs or DVDs to those who couldn’t attend your gathering.

Or, to set the tone for the gathering, bring your guests together and with one person acting as a scribe, ask everyone to mention what they’re thankful for this year.  Use a flip-chart or a white board to list their items. You may get hundreds of gratitude items in a half-hour.

Note: I have created a low-cost “Better Family Conversation Kit” available on my Conversation Products page at www.conversationmatters.com. It’s downloadable, and it’s rich in ideas.

4. Record your elders for posterity.  With an audio recorder or a camcorder, you can easily record your elders one at a time in the manner perfected by Storycorps.org. You can find many intriguing questions at the Storycorps site. Then, for example, you can find a quiet, private place to turn on the recording equipment and ask questions that draw out many interesting stories.

I’ve often had people tell me regrets like this: “I wish I’d asked my grandfather about his experience emigrating to the U.S. from Latvia. Now he’s gone, and I’ll never know.” You can avoid those regrets by recording these interviews at your family gatherings.

Best wishes to you all for a warm and grateful Thanksgiving!

From “Better Conversations” newsletter by Loren Ekroth.  Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2012. All Rights reserved. Dr.  Ekroth is creator of information products to improve conversation, such as “Small Talk Success Tips” and a free newsletter at www.ConversationMatters.com.

Coaching Call To Action

Remember my 91 year old mother I spoke of in Don’t be a Hero! Why It’s All Right To Ask For Help?  One of the suggestions that came from my family was to record her telling stories so we have these memories in her voice.  What conversations will you have this Thanksgiving to make it the most memorable one you’ve ever had?

What’s New?

Thursday, November 29, 2012 – 9 am to noon  EST
Pounce on a Project IV

You have 1.5 more months to complete the goals you created for 2012. What project would you like to get on top of and accomplish this month that will help you hit those goals? Come to Pounce on a Project IV – - 2012.

Join me on Thursday, November 29th, from 9:00 a.m. to noon Eastern. We will join as a group by phone and declare what you want to accomplish: marketing calls to hit your numbers, adding a shopping cart to your website, or cleaning your office so you can find the goals you created in January.

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 energy and focus.

To sign up or learn more, call or e-mail me by noon on Wednesday, November 28th. 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.)

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

In last week’s Tip, I talked about the impact of a simple heartfelt salutation.  This week’s Tip continues the theme of communication with the time saving tactic of being concise.

Quote of the Week

“Vigorous writing is concise.”

Be Concise

By Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

Concision. (Sounds like I made up another word.) It’s the idea of being concise in our ongoing communication with others, both written and oral.

Many take forever to say so little. These are the same people who spend a lot of time in meetings. Some who may have little to say use lots of words to say what could be said in a few words. It is boring. It wastes time. It reduces productivity. Theirs and yours.

I do not suggest that all of our communications ought to be reduced to one or two words. There ought to be time in the workplace for idle chat.

It leads to relationship building and a better quality of life. However, it is sometimes more productive to simply say “blah” rather than “blah, blah, blah”.

As a practical matter, it is becoming more and more important to be concise as we drown in this era of information overload. We get more information impressions in one day than our great-grandparents 100 years ago got in a lifetime. Think about it. 100 years ago, you may have looked at a seed catalog, a shared newspaper, and an occasional book, if you owned one. Today, we have information coming at us from all directions.

The average working businessperson receives, on average, 150 new communications each day via telephone, voicemail, mail, fax, and email.

When email became available a few years ago, it was supposed to take the place of a lot of other communications, including first class mail. The truth is, all other forms of communication have held their volume (or even increased) and we now have email to deal with on top of it all.

Want to be more concise in your communications and save time? Here are two suggestions.

1.  Think before you communicate. Before you make that call or meet with someone, think out what you hope to accomplish. A lot of extended, unnecessary communication is in search of a purpose of the communication in the first place. When you know what you are trying to accomplish, when you achieve it, it is over and you can move on.

2.  Practice. When you write an email to someone, look it over before you send it. See if you can say what you need to say in fewer words. I use this technique in a communications class I teach for MBA students. I ask them to write a five-page paper. They submit it, I return it, and ask they re-write the paper in four pages, but cover all the essential points from the five page paper. They later re-write the same paper as a three, two, and one page paper. Each must contain all that was covered in the original five-page work. It’s a tough assignment but with practice, they get better at saying more with fewer words. You can too. If you write something, re-write it several times, each time making it shorter than the previous attempt. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.

Copyright (c) 2012 all rights reserved.  Don Wetmore can be reached at http://www.balancetime.com

Coaching Call To Action

I once took a workshop with renowned story teller Jay O’Callahan.  He shared the way he honed his stories, choosing the exact word to convey the picture he wanted listeners to see and feel.  This week in your communications, think about the result you want.  Hone your message to get there.

What’s New?

Monday, September 24, 2012
New Service – Additional Articles on Weekly Tip Topic

Starting Monday, September 24th, I’ll be sharing related articles on the prior week’s coaching Tip topic on Facebook and Twitter.  They will appear on the four business days (Monday through Thursday)  after the Tip.  Follow me on Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss out!  Click the icons on the left sidebar near the top of this page.

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

What would happen in our political campaigns if candidates lead with heartfelt salutations?  Would it bring unity?  This week’s Tip by Stephen Lundin and Bob Nelson shares the origins of this idea from the Ubuntu.

Quote of the Week

“When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness. Our seemingly separate lives become meaningful as we discover how truly necessary we are to each other.”

A Durban Morning: Explaining the Ubuntu Philosophy

By Stephen C. Lundin and Bob Nelson

The sun is low on the horizon on a lush and brilliant South African morning.  The hills in the distance shimmer with a hundred shades of green.  On a dirt footpath paralleling a dusty rural road outside of Durban, two men approach each other from opposite directions.  Their history could be the history of men and women meeting on dusty roads anywhere in the world.  Each man brings a tribal heritage or past that includes at least one violent chapter.  Today, as they near the point of intersection, each is aware of the past difficulties between their tribes, and there is an instant of anxiety.  The moment passes quickly, replaced by something much larger.

As the men pause for a moment of greeting, the harsh history of the conflict between their clans and the more recent and equally harsh shared memories of apartheid become simply background for their wide smiles and heartfelt salutations.

“Sawa bona,” says the first – “I see you.”

“Sikhona,” replies the second – “I am here.” And with this simple exchange they bring each other into existence, for it is their belief that a person is a person only through human connection, through recognition of one another.

In this magic moment, one member of the human race has acknowledged another, and an ancient African philosophy that is stronger than past conflicts and more powerful than the pain of apartheid: the unifying spirit of Ubuntu.

From:  Lundin, S.C. & Nelson, B. (2010).  Ubuntu!: an inspiring story about an african tradition of teamwork and collaboration.  New York: Broadway Books.

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

Coaching Call To Action

How will you truly “acknowledge” those you meet this week?  For me – pause, look in their eyes, pause.  My intention is that I see each person and they feel seen.

What’s New?

Thursday, September 20, 2012 – 9 am to noon EDT
Pounce on a Project II

Welcome back from the summer break! I hope you all took some time to recharge. What project would you like to get on top of and accomplish this month? Come to Pounce on a Project II – - 2012.

Join me on Thursday, September 20th, from 9:00 a.m. to noon Eastern. We will join as a group by phone and declare what you want to accomplish: preparing a marketing plan for Q4, starting the talk you have to give in two weeks, getting your website finished, or getting rid of the piles of completed projects that grew over the summer.

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 me by noon on Wednesday, September 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.)

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

It can be difficult to maintain your cool in the middle of a confrontational conversation. This week’s Tip by Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch reminds us of the benefit of putting your best manners forward.

Quote of the Week

“Nothing is less important than which fork you use. Etiquette is the science of living. It embraces everything. It is ethics. It is honor.”

Please Be Kind

By Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch

There are many experiences that we, as professionals, share with others:

- We all are busy
- We all have priorities
- We all have deadlines to meet
- We all have people who depend upon us

As we move about our business, please keep this in mind: Be kind to others, no matter who they are, what they do, or how they act.

It is very easy to match rudeness with rudeness, or anger with anger.  These negative emotions can rule our worlds because they are very easy to latch onto when our stress is high and our to-do list is long.

When you feel frustrated, annoyed, or anxious challenge yourself to put your best manners forward and rise above the drama du jour so you can be kind and gracious. Remember that nothing defuses negativity quicker than courtesy and respect.

Today, focus your energy on simple acts of kindness.  We promise that a little of this will go a very long way.

This article was provided courtesy of Lead Star – a premiere leadership development firm. You can learn more about leadership by visiting their website at www.leadstar.us

Coaching Call To Action

Summer is over and work is back in full swing.  As you look for opportunities to show kindness to those around you, think about incorporating daily kindness into your overall leadership style.  What would that look like for you?

What’s New?

Thursday, September 20, 2012 – 9 am to noon EDT
Pounce on a Project II

Welcome back from the summer break! I hope you all took some time to recharge. What project would you like to get on top of and accomplish this month? Come to Pounce on a Project II – - 2012.

Join me on Thursday, September 20th, from 9:00 a.m. to noon Eastern. We will join as a group by phone and declare what you want to accomplish: preparing a marketing plan for Q4, starting the talk you have to give in two weeks, getting your website finished, or getting rid of the piles of completed projects that grew over the summer.

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 me by noon on Wednesday, September 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.)

No Comments »

Coach Andrea’s Intro

In this week’s Tip, Kathy Frank asks a great question: How do we sense, read or interpret the invisible, but powerful, forces that pummel us each day of our lives? The question reminded me to think about how each of us is a force through our actions, words, and thoughts.

Quote of the Week

“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”

An Invisible, But Powerful, Force

By Kathy Frank

Last year I was watching the final round of the British Open being played at Royal St. George’s Golf Club. The club sits on the southeast coast of England near the cliffs of Dover. That day the wind was howling off the English Channel at about 30mph. One of the commentators said that the wind was an invisible, but powerful, force that would have a tremendous impact on the outcome of the golf tournament that day.

The phrase about an invisible, but powerful, force stuck in my mind as I began thinking about the many such forces that we encounter in our lives every day. At least with the wind, while we may not see it, we can feel it through the broad sense of touch. How do we sense, read or interpret the invisible, but powerful, forces that pummel us each day of our lives?

Each of us is constantly thinking … sometimes consciously and, frequently, subconsciously. These thoughts are invisible to others until we express them or act on them; but they certainly have powerful influence on our lives and often on the lives of others. Even then, our ability to capture and accurately articulate our thoughts is not always on point. When we express our thoughts through our actions, it may be an even murkier message for our fellow human beings to understand and interpret.

So too, the spoken word is invisible but can exert great power as the expression of our thoughts about ideas, events or people. In the complex make-up of human beings, there are many other powerful, but invisible, forces such as emotions, motivations, biases and viewpoints which we may not even be conscious of because they have been ingrained in us since childhood and have become part of our “unexamined life.”

Just as the golfers had to read the invisible, but powerful wind and adjust their play to it in order to succeed in the tournament, so too must we read the many invisible, but powerful, forces that come at us daily to succeed in our human relationships. This is the challenge of human communication and understanding! It is the thrill we get from great literature or even good books which, in communicating a story, give us some insight into, and understanding of, human thoughts and emotions.

And we should not always externalize this process. At times, we should turn it inward to examine and understand our own thoughts, emotions, motivations, biases and viewpoints. This will help us to better understand who we are and what we truly want and need for happiness and fulfillment. It will also enable us to communicate better and thus lead richer, fuller lives. May we all become better readers of the human winds!

Excerpted from “Breakdancing On A Balance Beam” Authored by Kathy Frank | Copyright © Angur Inc. 2012. Kathleen Frank is the President of Augur, Inc. http://www.augurinc.com

Coaching Call To Action

This week consider where you are being an invisible, but powerful, force.  Is it helping you create and foster successful relationships and communications?  If not, what changes will you make?

What’s New?

The Metrowest Daily News | South Edition, August 13, 2012
BUSINESS LEADER PROFILE – Andrea Novakowski

Name of business: Coach Andrea; Address: 39 Lakeview Terrace, Ashland; Phone number: 508-231-0766; Website: www.coachandrea.com

In three sentences, tell us how you ended up in this line of work.

When I left my corporate job, I took time off to consider what it was that I wanted to do next. I started coaching with a vision of creating extraordinary relationships among people in the business world, helping people grow and develop as leaders in their organization and life, and giving back to others. Coaching fit the bill by allowing me to help people accomplish what they want by holding their vision and helping them find ways to get there.

What are two memories from your career that stick with you the most?

One, when my client told me that because of our coaching together, she turned her dream into reality – she created a life outside of her business that honored her values. Two, being inducted into the International Coach Federation of New England’s Hall of Fame this year for my coaching skills, contributions and impact in promoting coaching to the business community.

What do you most like and least like about your work?

Like: I love helping people find solutions to questions they have and helping them move past places where they are stuck in work or life. Least like: I wish companies valued their people more by providing resources, experiences and support to help them be more successful.

What makes your business unusual?

I’m a business coach and I specialize in working with people who own their own businesses. I’m a business owner and have been for 25 years. During that time, I’ve built two companies, one of which was sold to Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts in the mid-1990s. I know what it’s like to juggle a lot of moving parts to keep things working day to day. In addition, my work with clients focuses on helping them sift through their conflicting priorities and demands to determine what’s most important, and then take action.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to open a business?

Always focus on your business and use some of your enthusiasm and excitement to take care of yourself and your health outside of the business. You can only work 24/7 for so long before you burn out.

No Comments »