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Want to manage your emotions better?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

How would training like an athlete affect your performance at work? Did you know productivity is linked to your body and emotions? Let’s look at how physical, emotional and mental energy determines your peak performance:
 
1) Physical
Your body is your fundamental source of energy. How you treat it determines how you will perform. Try exercising 30 minutes daily (preferably in the morning), eating healthy and sleeping 7+ hours each night. Your endurance will skyrocket immediately!

2) Emotional
How you manage your emotions either drives or drains your energy. Athletes use music as a pre-routine to calm them. Be aware of your body language; it illustrates your confidence level. Strengthen close relationships and it will add to your positive energy.
 
3) Mental
Your mind utilizes the available energy from your physical and emotional state. Enhance focus by visualizing your desired outcome. Think positive thoughts as it actually reprograms your mind. While working include taking short breaks each 90 – 120 minutes for mental recovery and to sharpen focus. 
 
Athletes spend a tremendous amount of time training and resting to promote peak performance. Experts point to lack of recovery (rest), not stress, as the main culprit of poor execution. Next time try training your body, emotions and mind like an athlete for optimal results!

Want to “train” like a Corporate Athlete?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Effective communication is about the receiver understanding the message. Books like Presentation Zen & Back of the Napkin are great examples of the power of visual communication. The next opportunity you have to present an idea, remember these three steps:

1) Right beats Left
We are better at visual recognition than we are at verbal description. This concept it based on verbal overshadowing. Our left brain thinks in words while our right brain thinks in pictures. When explaining, use visual cues to clarify your message.

2) Tell a Story
It’s much easier to listen to a story than comprehend bullet points. For example, when using PowerPoint engage your audience with high quality photos. Don’t bore them with data. Images supplement your story. Take them on the journey with you.

3) Imagine…
Did you know this is most powerful word in the English language? “Imagine” registers the most powerful emotional response. (Why do you think Disney uses it so much?) Include this word in your talks to paint the picture of the ideal future.

Selling yourself is about the package and the product combined. That means how you present is as important (if not more) than what you present. The next time you pitch an idea, remember to show, don’t tell!

Ready to become a visual presenter?
Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence!
E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

Scientifically, the blue part of the flame is the hottest. In business, the blue flame is where passion meets ability. Let me illustrate this point by using Kobe Bryant & LeBron James as examples:

Passion
Kobe Bryant’s work ethic is unmatched. He is not the most physically gifted player in the NBA, but he is the hardest worker. He prepares to succeed. When it comes to your career development, what areas are you extremely passionate about? Imagine waking up each morning energized for work…

Ability
LeBron James is arguably the greatest athlete to ever play in the NBA. He’s a basketball player in a football player’s body. He is physically far superior to others. In your career, what are you talented at? Where do your strengths lie? Envision what do you do better than anyone else…

Blue Flame
Aim for the heart of Kobe & the talent of LeBron and you can achieve greatness in your career. What do you love doing? What gets you excited every time you think about it? Once you figure that out, identify what areas you are truly gifted in. Passion + Ability = Blue Flame.

“Figure out what you love doing & are great at, then find a way to get paid for it!”

Want to find your “Blue Flame”? Partner with Coach Scott to identify your strengths, accomplish goals faster & boost your confidence! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

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We all need to be coaches in the workplace for the organization to succeed. Here are three suggestions for communicating feedback to increase performance:

1) Feedback Loop
Have a conversation – Ask: “What is one thing you did well? What is one thing you can improve to enhance your performance?”

2) Performance Feedback
After the employee’s shift is over, communicate one thing they did well and one area to improve upon that you observed.

3) Direct Feedback
In the moment, pull the person aside and give gentle reminders. Speak from, “Would I hire that behavior?” Treat situations like this as if it were an interview.

Providing feedback is coaching proactively. Feedback is communication with a purpose. Everyone benefits from guidance when improvement and growth is the intention.

Need help Implementing your Plan?
Partner with Coach Scott to increase employee engagement, boost motivation & maximize performance! E-mail Scott to start Growing Forward today!

In my experience as a Coach of Millennial Workers, I’ve observed the challenges placed upon them by Gen X & Baby Boomer Management. Let me decode the following unspoken expectations for Gen Y employees, based on generational differences in the workplace.

1) Work Ethic. Translation: We expect you to work as hard and long as we did. Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers earned their positions through hard work and sacrifice. They expect the same from you. As a Gen Y’er, you most likely value work relationships, autonomy and efficiency. When you finish your assignment early, ask your supervisor(s) if you can work on a new, innovative project.

2) Ownership. Translation: Take responsibility for your mistakes and think about the company’s benefit, not yours. I’ve heard numerous complaints about Gen Y’ers not taking enough initiative. Management expects you to solve the problems in front of you, even if they fall outside your job description. Think of yourself as a business: What solutions can you work on today?

3) Interpersonal Skills. Translation: Spell check your e-mails, engage in conversations and carry yourself as a professional. The downside of technology is it rots our communication skills. As an employee of a company, you strengthen or weaken the company brand based on each interaction with customers. Take time to review all the details, learn how to improve your EQ and perform for the job you want, not the one you have. Remember, you represent more than just yourself.

Bottom line: Being professional is understanding what is expected of you, then surpassing the standard. The more adaptable (without losing your authenticity) you can become provides greater opportunities and positions you as an invaluable asset.

Want a Competitive Advantage? Work with Coach Scott to achieve your career goals, boost self-confidence and work to your full potential! Just e-mail Scott and he’ll take care of the rest!

It’s 2010…time to be inspired. In Dan Pink’s book, Drive, he talks about the 3 things that motivate people. Take a look at the list below and see if you agree:

1) Autonomy. Nobody wants to be micromanaged. It feels like someone’s spying on you. Pink states we must be actively engaged, yet self-directed in our work. Sure we need accountability for our results, BUT we also need the freedom to achieve it our way.

2) Mastery. Who doesn’t want to get better at what you do? (If you don’t it’s probably a sign that you need to change careers) This is about intrinsic enjoyment. Imagine how our jobs would differ if we gave ourselves honest, monthly, performance reviews? We all strive to achieve in some area of our lives. That’s why career coaching is essential in development. If we’re not improving performance, we become a liability.

3) Purpose. Why? Your purpose is bigger than you. It’s about significance and meaning. We all want to make a difference and contribute. What is your current purpose at work? If you believe in your purpose, you’re most likely engaged at work. If you don’t, you’ve considered quitting before.

I’d argue that you need all three to be fulfilled at work. When they are not available to us, we feel stifled. Evaluate your current situation and see how many of the three you have working for you now. Start this new year off right by being driven at work!

Need help with motivating yourself? What better way to start the new year than with a personal coach to help you clarify your goals, boost self-confidence and work to your full potential! Just e-mail Scott and he’ll take care of the rest!

Imagine how much more successful you can be with the help of a coach!

Last week the NBA Finals concluded and a new champion was crowned. In sports, each team has a MVP. This player gets the most out of his teammates and leads by example. In the business world, we all have the ability to be MVP’s. Here are three ways to help you become your team’s MVP:

1) Motivation.
Nowadays we look to “outside forces” to keep us motivated, yet to be a MVP you need to be self-motivated. You can’t depend on others to keep you driven; that’s your responsibility. You have a choice: to be a catalyst or an antagonist. Being motivated means developing a sense of urgency. It says, “there’s no time to waste, we must start now!” MVP’s don’t wait to get motivated, they inspire others to move with their passion. MVP’s have an internal fire within them burning with excitement.

2) Vision.
What are you motivated towards? Every MVP has a goal they are chasing. Having a vision means you have chosen a direction. MVP’s are focused because they know where they are headed. They set their sights on the prize and become relentless in their pursuit. Every great vision has tremendous obstacles along the way, yet overcoming those barriers builds character and resilience. Every great leader starts his/her day with their vision in mind. Vision provides us the motivation to keep fighting.

3) Progress.
Being motivated and having a vision is essential, but results are achieved through making progress. It’s helpful to start at the end and work you way backwards. Start with your vision in mind, then create markers to measure your forward progress. Breaking your larger goal into smaller steps creates attainable momentum. Along the way, make sure you enroll others to join you on your journey. Nothing great has ever been accomplished alone. MVP’s need other strong contributors to fill in their “gaps.”

Being a MVP starts today. Get motivated and act with urgency. Picture your vision being accomplished. Achieve your desired results through daily progress. Focus on being the best of who you are. A MVP creates their own momentum, then is smart enough to surround him/herself with others to cheer them on along the way. Start applying these principles to your life and listen to the chants: MVP! MVP! MVP!

When is being second better than coming in first? Try business – it’s hard to be first and successful. Pioneers have no one to learn from and everything is based on trial and error. Nike, Apple and Starbucks were not the first in their industries, but they capitalized on their predecessors’ mistakes to win big. Look at these three steps that prove sometimes second really is best!

1) Study your Competition. Don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to. Look at an established industry leader and follow what they are doing. Most likely they are catering to the same target market as you are. Notice their trends in marketing, customer service and profits. In today’s market, we put value on transparency. Take advantage of this by visiting your competitor’s website, blog and location (if they have one). Know what you are up against and plan accordingly.

2) Learn from their Mistakes. All the information you gathered from above is only valuable if you apply it. See what’s working for them and try it. Simultaneously, assess what isn’t working and create a solution for it. Most success stories are not original ideas, but improvements on existing products/services. Use the data that you’ve collected from your competitor to differentiate what you offer. Learning does not happen in a vacuum, so get out there and attempt various ways to solve a need!

3) Do it Better. Many people have great vision, but poor implementation. We can analyze a situation thoroughly, but action is what creates results! This is where feedback and test marketing works well. Share your ideas with others and see what they think. Don’t hide your invention, offer it in return for personal opinions. Collaboration ignites innovation. Nothing great is accomplished alone. You are only as great as the team that surrounds you. There’s nothing fool-proof, but the more open you are towards taking constructive feedback, the greater chance to avoid complacency and succeed. When you do something at a level of excellence you get recognized. Who cares what “place” you started in?

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, but be smart and learn from those who came before you. The best have a great appreciation and knowledge about their industry leaders. They study what their competitors do, then make improvements. The next time you make a significant leap, look back at those who came first and realize sometimes second really is best!