| Welcome
to POWERFUL SOLUTIONS!
Our commitment is to produce a newsletter that is informative
and worthwhile. I'd like to invite you to send in any stories or quotes
that you find inspirational and helpful.
_________________________________________________
In This Issue...
A Message from Phyllis
Upcoming Appearances
Feature Article: WHAT DO YOU “NEED”
TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
_________________________________________________
 A
Message from Phyllis
Dear Readers,
As summer approaches, we often plan vacations and time off from work.
School is winding down, associations take a break, and the environment
seems less stressful. Do you have plans in the next few months to take
time for yourself?
I spoke at a company last week about happiness in
the workplace. I didn’t get people into small groups and have
them brainstorm ways to be happier. Instead I talked about getting your
needs met outside of work. Many people need acknowledgement and appreciation.
They often don’t get their emotional needs met at work. So, why
not create ways to get your needs met outside of work.
One woman shared that she loves to cook. She said
she hasn’t taken a cooking class in over ten years. My suggestion
was that she find a school and take cooking lessons again. If she has
something to look forward to every night, her days at work will be more
enjoyable.
Do you need to be appreciated?
Appreciate yourself and do something special for “you”.
Take a course, plan a trip, go sailing, go hiking, play golf, and find
something to fill a need of yours. If you have the perfect boss, that’s
great. It’s also rare. Figure out ways to get your needs met.
What would really be fun for you, but you’re not taking time to
do? Take the first step this week and make it happen.
Warm Regards,
Phyllis
_________________________________________________
Upcoming
Appearances
Hadassah Leaders Initiative 6/7/06
"How to be a successful Leader"
The Law Center- Date TBA
Private Law Firm 6/15/06
Client Development Strategies
National Speakers Association Convention
7/21-7/26/06
Orlando, FL
Meet me for coffee if you attend.
**************************************************
This
Month's article
WHAT DO YOU “NEED” TO BE
SUCCESSFUL?
Needs are like food and water – basic conditions
that must be met for us to be happy and successful
Have you ever stopped to think about what your needs
are? Most of us never really think about it, but everyone has needs.
Needs are as basic as food and water. If the need is not being met and
we are hungry or thirsty, we get irritable. We also have emotional needs
that must be met in order for us to be successful. When your needs are
not being met, you will probably feel resentful, unappreciated or angry.
And unmet needs hold you back from success! For example, if you need
to be appreciated, but are not getting the thanks you require, you will
feel resentful and it will affect your work. By realizing you need appreciation,
you can develop a system to get that need met.
Identify your needs
The first step to getting your needs met is to identify them. Look at
the following list of needs and see which ones jump out at you. To be
accepted, included, respected, appreciated, complimented, understood,
heard, informed, acknowledged, flattered, esteemed or to be in control.
If you are having trouble identifying your personal
needs from the previous list, here is another way to approach it. Think
about the times when you have been less than your best. Perhaps you
did a favor for someone and they didn’t thank you or show appreciation
and it really bugged you. What is your unmet need? To be appreciated.
If you can identify your top four needs you can set up a system to meet
them.
Design a system to get your needs met
Once you have identified your needs, you will want to design a way to
get them met. Your business coach, friend or spouse will help you with
this system, which involves setting boundaries, raising your standards
and asking for help.
Ask three to five people who care about you to help
you get your needs met. I had a need to be appreciated. If I went out
of my way for someone and they didn’t show any appreciation it
really bothered me. If I did a favor for a family member and they said
“thanks” I found I wanted more than that or I felt unappreciated.
Being appreciated was my key need. I asked five people who care about
me if they would be willing to help me to get my needs met. They were
happy to support me. I asked for a note, voicemail or email message
telling me that they appreciate me. I asked if they were willing to
do this once a week for 4 to 6 weeks. The cards and messages came in
and it was great. I’m not saying the need is completely gone but
it doesn’t drive me like it used to.
If you have a manager who calls a meeting, but is
always starting late he might have the need to control. To get his need
met he keeps everyone waiting and starts the meeting late. He then inconveniences
everyone. If he could recognize that he has the need to control, he
could also set up a way to get it met (and if he doesn’t you can
put this newsletter in his mail slot). One who needs control often has
difficulty delegating. It could be helpful if he would start by setting
up a system of delegating with guidelines for frequent feedback.
A salesperson that needs to win might antagonize the
other salespeople by being very competitive. The manager, however, might
see him as not being a team player. If that salesperson could get his
need to win met by playing in a tennis league or playing poker regularly,
it would serve him better. For his manager, team building exercises
would be helpful. Perhaps that salesman could be the team leader in
a new sales effort.
The important thing is not to expect others to know
what you need. Whether at work or at home, when it’s appropriate,
verbalize what you want. A spouse or coworker might not realize how
much you need to be acknowledged, respected, etc. Be specific. Also,
don’t feel that if you have to ask for it, it doesn’t count.
That’s not true. Asking to have your needs met doesn’t make
it less effective. Don’t hesitate to ask for what makes you happy.
Remember, needs are like food and water. They are
basic conditions that must be met for us to be happy and successful.
Have a great month!
Phyllis Sisenwine
Master Certified Coach
Published by
Phyllis Sisenwine, Master Certified Coach, Motivational Speaker and
writer. She works with
clients to earn more money, improve time management and stay focused.
To schedule
a powerful coaching conversation send an email. Her website is located
at www.powerfulcoaching.com
Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Phyllis
Sisenwine, Master Certified Coach
POWERFUL SOLUTIONS, INC. Inspiring Excellence...in You.
|
