Category: leadership development
Generational Coaching at Work
4 Steps to Sustain Peak Performance by Scott Peltin/Keith Ferrazzi
Scott Peltin, author of Sink, Float, or Swim, teaches companies and their employees how to think differently and take better care of themselves. Typically he finds that only 5 percent of any given company are sustainable high-performers who know how to maintain their peak over time.
Recently Scott lead an RMA masterclass around creating new habits in four key areas – mindsets, nutrition, recovery, and movement – so that brain and body can stay at their maximum capacity.
Peltin points out that you make 1000 choices a day and each of them either increases or decreases your brain’s performance. Many of us make bad choices out of habit; Peltin’s goal is to shake that up. Here are four ideas you can put into practice immediately.
1. Mindset: You have over 60,000 thoughts a day. Reframe thoughts that drag you down. Instead of thinking “I’m overwhelmed, “ think “I am present.”
2. Nutrition: FORTY PERCENT of how you feel right now is due to your last meal. Did you eat a meal that set you up for success? Make sure that every meal you eat fuels you properly for your activities of the next three to four hours.
3. Recovery: Take breaks! Plan small downtimes during the day. The brain can only work for about 90 minutes without needing a break. Plan your schedule in 90 minute blocks, and take a break at the end of every increment.
4. Movement: Add more movement to your schedule. It doesn’t need to be hard-core exercise, just anything that increases your body’s range of motion. For help, download 10 simple “daily prep” movements, all tied to breathing exercises, at tignum.com.
What’s your best tip for sustainable peak performance?
Career Synergy is SOLD OUT!
Career Synergy is officially full! Please contact me for details about next month’s event. Hope to see you there!
Accomplishing Your New Year’s Resolutions
The New Year arrives, so you set goals that you plan to work on, yet come the end of January they’re forgotten. How do you ensure successfully achieving your New Year’s Resolutions?
Make it Visual: Write it down. Put it somewhere you’re going to see it daily. We are all visual learners that remember more when we see it. Create a vision board. Put a post-it on your bathroom mirror. We are creatures of habit. Once we get in a routine, it’s easier to follow through.
Weekly Goals: The grander your goal(s), the more it needs to be broken into smaller pieces. Set weekly benchmarks and chart your progress. This will increase your motivation to accomplish what you set out to do. Use a digital calendar or your smartphone to send a reminder. Think of weekly goals like “steps” towards your destination.
Accountability: There’s added incentive when you know someone is holding you to your promise. Positively, you want to keep your word or negatively, you don’t want to look that person in the eye and admit you failed. Either way, it helps significantly to have someone keep you accountable. This could be a friend or up the ante and hire a professional.
This year do what you say and say what you’ll do. Writing it down, setting weekly goals and having an accountability partner will ensure successfully completing your goals. You have a daily choice to move towards or away from your vision.
Are you ready to make 2011 one to remember?
Are you an Invisible Leader?
Inspired by a post written by Kevin Ding, Lakers Reporter for the OC Register, “Invisible Leader” refers to Lakers Coach Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant.
In today’s world, being an invisible leader is key to success. Let me explain…
Leadership starts with a Vision. When Phil Jackson was initially hired by the Lakers, his goal was clear: win multiple championships. He knew the talent was there, but he needed the players to buy into his philosophy (no pun intended). No matter what position you hold, your vision has to drive your actions. People cannot follow, if they don’t know where to go.
Culture is the embodiment of vision. Once the vision is set, there needs to be a clear structure and set of behaviors to implement the strategy. Phil and Kobe had a rocky start to their relationship, but Phil never stopped teaching. Creating a strong culture means showing people how to do things the right way. Effective leaders model what is right, then expect others to do the same.
Empowerment is carrying out the culture. Leadership does not happen by force, but by giving responsibility and releasing control. In recent years, Phil doesn’t have to do much teaching since Kobe has become an extension of his coach. Kobe trusts Phil and Phil believes in Kobe. The heart of leadership is developing others. Imagine a relay race. Leaders pass the “baton” and cheer on their prodigy.
Being an “Invisible Leader” means putting others first. Plant a seed of hope. Focus on doing things the right way. Look for ways to help others shine. Invisible leaders choose to be in the background, but their followers definitely “see” and “hear” them.
How can YOU be an Invisible Leader to someone today?
How To Get A Raise
One of my favorite success stories happened with a client a few years ago. Initially, she was skeptical, but 5 months later she became one of my biggest advocates. Here is how she got her raise in 5 steps:
1) Shut Your Mouth
Nobody likes a complainer, especially your boss. If you feel you deserve a pay raise, you’re going to have to prove it with your actions, not your mouth.
2) Work Hard
Actions speak louder than words. Your results and work ethic are your active resume. Do your work better, faster and push yourself.
3) Ask For More
More work precedes more money. Start by asking for more responsibility. Check with your current supervisor. Volunteer for another department. Use your time wisely, because you’re always being watched.
4) Prove Your Worth
Stand out from the crowd. Give your boss a reason to look at you. Work for the job you want, not the job you have. Show you can handle the next level. Don’t expect better compensation until you prove it.
5) Approach Your Boss
After at least a month, you now have the credibility to set up an appointment with your supervisor. Share with him/her how much you want the promotion and highlight what you have accomplished. Do research and present a proposed increase in salary and explain why you deserve it.
There’s no guarantees, but this process worked before my eyes. Proving yourself before opening your mouth is always a good strategy.
Any thoughts? Experiences? Please share!
A Demand for Career Help Sooner?
The reality is: a college degree is no guarantee for a job.
Students are starting to look for career advice earlier because of the urgency the economy has created. I’ve done career coaching with students in high school and college to help them determine a target (career choice) before a school of choice. Why apply to a college that doesn’t have the field you want?
College should be fun, but you’re not paying those big bucks to NOT prepare for the real world.
The earlier you find a career you’re passionate about & love, the better prepared you’ll be to be successful in it!
Statistics say 80% of people are unhappy with their jobs. Are you part of the 20%?
Which 5 Powers is your Favorite?
Five Powers that Get Ideas off the Ground
I’ve had to experience #5 on a weekly, if not daily basis. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to give up, then thinking about what I really want to do, then going back to grinding away. I keep telling myself “greatness takes time.” If I want to do it right, it’s going to take a lot hard work. It also speaks to your resiliency. Keep fighting and be persistent and things will eventually happen…
Which Power is your Favorite?
Is Your Brain Lopsided?
One side of your brain is not bigger, but most likely your left brain is more utilized than your right. How would your life be different if you developed your right brain more?
Let’s start in elementary school. Besides recess and lunch, what do you remember? Math, Science, English, etc. Those subjects process in the left side of your brain. Art, Music and Sports (all right brain activities) weren’t pushed as much. What effect did that have on you?
Did you know your right brain is responsible for vision, emotion, creativity and risk taking? Think of how your body responds to lack of movement. It becomes atrophied and weak. All those years of not using our right brain leads to be deficiency.
Take drawing for example. When you were 4 years old, you drew freely and willingly. As you grew older your drawing skills stayed the same or got worse because of lack of practice. What was considered “great” at age 4 is “terrible” at age 18.
What are the future implications? Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future argues that right brain skills are necessary to succeed in the new economy. Left brain functions such as logic, verbal skills, organization and analysis are necessary; but the new worker needs to be innovative, empathetic and bi g picture thinking to thrive.
Are YOU developing Your Right Brain skills?
Growing Forward 