Bridges Edition of 3/7/2005

Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel,
Performance Enhancement and Career Coach. My goal is that this newsletter be filled with practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you enjoyed the newsletter please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.

If you would like to know more about coaching, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com and/or visit my website - www.coachrobinfogel.com

Happy March. Spring is rapidly approaching. Don't you love the longer hours of daylight?

Last month I had the privilege of going to Boston to get certified to use Hay Associates Emotional Intelligence/360 assessment. In preparation for the program and in the time since, I have spent a great deal of time reading and studying about the field of emotional intelligence. The more I learn the more impressed I am with the potential EI can have to improve people's lives, both business and personal. The emotional intelligence tool I use has 4 focal points - self-awareness, social awareness, self-management and relationship management. It's often not enough to be smart or well-trained as you advance through life and work. When I look back at my growth through management, it becomes clear that a more finely developed EI could have shortened my learning curve. If you would like more information about EI, call or drop me an email.

LISTENING
In December I worked with one of my favorite colleagues, Natalie Gahrmann, at a professional development and team-building workshop for administrators of a large public school system. This is extracted from the section I delivered on communication, learning to evaluate your listening skills. Do you...

* frequently interrupt
* show impatience
* misinterpret what was said
* talk more than you listen
* suggest solutions before fully understanding the problem
* miss non-verbal messages
* show by your own non-verbal messages that you were uninterested in what was being said

Here are 5 Steps to Be An Effective Listener
1 Listen - say nothing while the other person is speaking. Don't interrupt
2 Really hear what the other person is saying
3 Use all your senses. Watch for nonverbal cues, body language, eye contact, hand motions such as fidgeting, drumming
4 Clarify - get more information if you need it, and agree on what is being said
5 Reflect back - use active listening skills

PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT COACHING

Your company may have an employee who has been identified as a rising star, yet one who could benefit from one on one attention. Performance enhancement coaching allows them to develop specified skill areas faster. Communication, leadership, and being better organized are only a few areas that can be developed. It's a win-win. Your organization benefits because the employee is ready sooner for additional or more senior responsibilities. The employee benefits and is delighted because you have demonstrated that you value them and think they are key to your organization's success.

Final Thought
We are born with our eyes closed and our mouth open ... and we spend our whole lives trying to reverse that mistake of nature.
-Dr. Dale Turner

I appreciate your comments and feedback on this newsletter, please keep them coming. If there are topics you would like to hear more about, email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com
COPYRIGHT: 2005, Robin Fogel & Assoc., LLC. All Rights Reserved. May be distributed and reprinted in its entirety with copyright, subscription instructions, and contact information intact. However, you may not copy it to a website.