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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.
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In This Issue...
A Message from Phyllis
Upcoming Appearances
Feature Article: PROMOTING SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT
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 A
Message from Phyllis
Dear Readers,
Well, summer is half over. How is it going? Did you have a plan or an intention for July and August? The summer is a great time to recharge your batteries and to design the business and life that you really want. The pace is usually slower in the summer and colleagues are taking vacations and going to fewer networking events. It’s a great time to clear some clutter and to reorganize your office. Let’s look at making some positive changes in your business plans. Is there a new product or service that you would like to provide for your clients? Is it time to create an outline for the book you have always wanted to write? Is everything going exactly as planned and is it time to read that novel that has been on your nightstand for months? Think about what results you want by September and let’s start today.
Have a great month!
Warm Regards,
Phyllis
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Upcoming Appearances
National Speakers Association Convention 7/21-7/26/06
Orlando, FL I'm an attendee and would love to say "hi".
Meet me for coffee if you attend.
Adath Jeshrun 9/17/06
Elkins Park, Pa.
NJAWBO Lawyers 9/20/06
"How to get what you really want in record time!"
Beth El Sisterhood 9/25//06
Yardley, Pa.
"How to clear the clutter in your life"
Law Firm Partners Retreat 10/13/06
"Market You Must"
Bnai Aaron 10/23/06
"Clear the clutter in your life"
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This
Month's article
The first part of this article, first published in Professional Speaker magazine in May, appeared in the June 2006 newsletter in response to requests from clients in my programs who want to use coaching skills in the workplace. Both parts address how coaching may be used as a tool to achieve personal and professional goals.
PROMOTING SUCCESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Identifying Energy Drains
The coaching conversation then turns its attention to what is getting in the way of the client creating his or her ideal life. Where are the energy drains: clutter, disorder and procrastination? The client and coach co-create a plan with clear action steps to eliminate these roadblocks. Co-creating the plan is the key. A coach isn’t a consultant. Coaches don’t tell people what to do nor do they do it for them. In coaching the goal is for clients to come up with their own answers. After probing and asking good questions, coaches certainly share their wisdom and experience, but it is the powerful questions and the listening that gets the client to access their own wisdom or unique abilities.
Support and Accountability
Take a look at Hal, for example. He is a manager who needed to add to his staff, but he had no confidence in his interviewing skills. His coach asked him, “What would it look like if you conducted a good interview?” “I’d have good questions prepared,” he replied.
That simple, but powerful exchange was the catalyst for a plan to prepare for the interview process. What’s more, Hal realized that even in college he couldn’t wing it. He was much more successful when he was prepared. He struggled with interviews, because he didn’t have a plan and that caused him great anxiety.
Coaching sessions are about giving support so the client follows through. Most people have the best intentions to do the things they plan, but life gets inthe way. Weeks fly by and nothing changes. With support and accountability, the client takes action and changes happen. And that’s what happened for Hal. He created a script and a list of questions, and his confidence grew. He hired two excellent people and no longer dreads the interview process.
Providing support and accountability are particularly powerful when coaching busy executives or entrepreneurs to complete a project. Books have been written, new products developed and businesses launched with the weekly support, accountability and feedback of a good coach.
Looking at the Client’s Needs
After a client’s values and wants are defined and some of the roadblocks are eliminated, coaches support clients in looking at their needs. This is where change can happen very quickly. Just as the physical needs for food and water must be met, emotional needs must also be met. It is not an option. Margaret, the executive, never had time for herself because she worked very long hours, her door was always open and she was constantly interrupted during the day. In identifying her needs it was obvious that she needed to be liked and appreciated. She was proud of the fact that she was always available to her staff. This need was driving her and costing her more time than she could spare. She agreed to a plan to close her office door for two hours every day. It wasn’t easy for her to do that but after a few days she was more effective and agreeable to take further steps. She had never looked at her emotional needs and how they affected her life.
Some common needs that drive us are: to be appreciated, accepted, heard, loved, needed, independent, in control, secure, and perfect. We must set up a system to get our emotional needs met. Meeting our needs is not an option. We either get our needs met or we get cranky. A coach works with a client to identify needs and to create a plan to get them met. When people get their needs met they have more self-confidence and they are happier. This often requires setting boundaries. Our executive Margaret had a need to be appreciated and she sacrificed her own time by always being available to her staff. When she realized she had to keep the door closed for several hours a day, she worked on setting that boundary.
People come to coaching because they want to improve their lives, increase their business or get support needed to complete big projects. But, to be successful at anything is an inside job. Coaching is effective because within this powerful relationship, clients are allowed to express their deepest wants, receive support in living their values and get permission to get their needs met. Coaching conversations are client driven. The effective coach asks powerful questions, listens deeply and gives honest feedback. With that kind of support, people can do great things.
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.
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