Bridges

Edition of 5/8/2009

[Bridges]

Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel, Executive and Career Coach & Human Resource Consultant. My goal is that these newsletters include practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you found the newsletter helpful, please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.

For those who ask me what it is that I do, I offer Executive Coaching and Human Resource consulting in the following areas:

- Business Consulting and Executive Coaching - As an unbiased resource provide advice on business development and business transition, on staffing issues, on developing emerging talent and helping managers sharpen their communication and management skills.

- Career Coaching helping people advance their careers, make career changes and/or career transitions.

- Not for Profit Consulting - provide Executive Directors with independent sounding board, consulting on staff issues, board relations and staff development.

If you would like to take advantage of a consultant or executive coach, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com for a complimentary coaching session or visit my website -
www.coachrobinfogel.com

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INTERRUPTIONS
Clients and colleagues are constantly telling me how difficult it is to get things done because they are always being interrupted. Between the people interruptions and technology - laptops, cell phones, emails, websites, Blackberry alerts, Twitter tweets- it is probably a miracle that any work is getting done. So what can you do about interruptions?

First it's important to recognize that not all interruptions are of equal importance and there are different types of interruptions. Interruptions can be technology, people - your clients, your boss, a family member, or they can be ones you create yourself. How often have you stopped what you were doing when you thought of something you needed to tell a staff member or your boss? How often are you interrupted by technology - the beeping from your computer or a voice mail?

The Wall Street Journal recently reviewed a new book entitled, "Rapt" by Winifred Gallagher. The author writes on what "science has to tell us about the mind's capacities for paying attention". Or said more simply - why it is so hard to stay focused and what we can do about it. The author wrote that some people are prone to distraction and that some may even need to be treated for attention deficit disorder. The rest of us are affected by bad habits and technology overload. We need instead to "expand our capacity for focused attention". One way to do that is to cultivate willpower. She writes that "self-control is like a muscle: it gets stronger with each effort". So think of what you can do to take control and put a plan into place to deal with those interruptions. And, if you have a favorite tip for dealing with interruptions, email and let me know what works for you.

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WORKPLACE TRENDS

For months I have had an article in my file called "Optimism as a Management Tool", which reports on new research by the Gallup organization. Their research showed that folks with higher levels of "optimism, resilience and confidence" are more productive and have better performance and job satisfaction. It reported on a number of companies who have put programs into place to more fully engage employees and help build a culture that embraces a positive management philosophy.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples don't count on harvesting golden Delicious. - Author Unknown
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