Yesterday I received a reminder of why I love being a coach so much. One of my career coaching clients was describing to me her “A-Ha moment” where seemingly from out of nowhere she discovered the type of work she wants to be doing. She eloquently described how this type of work made so much sense for her because of its connection to her values, interests and skills. I was genuinely happy for her. Because of her hard work, her willingness to listen to herself, and to stand up for who she is as a person I believe she was much more prepared to be ready for that “A-Ha moment.” I haven’t gone so far as to create an elaborate “A-Ha theory” but I do believe that sometimes these ideas come to us unsolicited, while other times we need to put ourselves in a position to look at things in a different light. That is where coaching is a big help because you’re doing a lot of introspection and with your coach exploring new possibilities. You never really know when or where that “a-ha” is going to show itself to you, but when it does, are you ready to listen?
Growing up I idolized Ernie Banks. By the time I was old enough to start caring about whether the Chicago Cubs won that day (an affliction I still suffer from) Ernie had moved from playing shortstop to playing first base. But he was still Ernie! Still Mr. Cub! He brought a boyish enthusiasm to the game, best captured in his quote “Let’s play two.” Reflecting a message any boy could understand, on a day as beautiful as today, let’s play two games of baseball. I don’t recall ever seeing Ernie Banks not smiling, except maybe when he was about to put a ball out on Waveland Avenue. I’m in my 40s now, still obsessed with the Cubs, and I still idolize Ernie Banks. I keep an Ernie Banks autographed baseball on my desk in my office. It reminds me of the enthusiasm, hope and sheer joy that Ernie brought to the ballpark every day, and through his actions, lifting the spirits of legions of adoring Cub fans. That autographed baseball reminds me of my sincere desire that we all could feel the same way about our work. That as leaders we create that environment for our teams that energizes them. As employees we must be vigilant about giving our all to the team. As job hunters we should seek out work that engages our head, hands and heart. Thank you Ernie Banks! Let’s play two!
The focus of my coaching business is on creating inspiring workplaces leading to an engaged workforce. Most people that I talk to about my business think that it sounds great in theory, but view my position with a healthy degree of cynicism. Truthfully, many meet it with an unhealthy degree, stating they would be happy just to have people seem slightly interested or spending less time surfing the web or a litany of other bad behaviors. So they ask…. how do you do that? I usually reply, “Simple, build bridges and remove barriers.” Remove the barriers that stand between you and an engaged workforce, and build bridges that connect the paths of organizational vision and employee interests. Stop treating people like they showed up to work that day inspired to give their least. If they in fact have, you’re clearly doing something wrong! Your job as a leader in an organization answer is to inspire others to give their best each and every day. Looking to improve morale? Take a look and the strength of your bridges and the size of your barriers?
In the past couple of weeks it seems I am running into a lot of people looking to shift their career focus without paying attention to what type of work best suits them. Don’t get me wrong, they have a final destination in mind (a job) and a path they plan to follow (work they feel qualified to do) but they are ignoring the most important part of their search, themselves. I am a huge fan of doing what you love, but how many of us take the time to think about what that is? How many of us are willing to even listen to ourselves think about that without letting all kinds of “mental chatter” take over the conversation. You know the kind of “chatter” I am talking about. The voices that tell us we’re not good enough or we wouldn’t get paid enough, or it would be foolish to go back to school. They chase us away from our ideal job before we even get a chance to recognize it as a dream job. The temptation for many people is to just skip to a solution “the job” in the manner that seems most efficient to us “work we are qualified to do.” My advice is make some space to listen to yourself. Get a glass of your favorite drink to relax with, whether it is a cup of warm tea, your favorite merlot or a glass of something stronger. Put on some music that will help you free your mind. Then just listen to yourself. Be playful. Suspend critical evaluation and just hang out with your thoughts…… with yourself. Then you can start on the plan to get there.
Tis St. Patricks Day and so to all who may read this I raise my glass and say, Sláinte! That is a traditional Irish toast that means “health.” What are you doing for your health these days, emotionally and physically? How are those New Year’s Resolutions coming along? The weather has begun to warm up here in Chicago and soon we weekend warriors will be out and about working in our yards. Ibuprofen sales will correspondingly spike I’m sure. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can make preparations now. How are you making space in your life for things that are important to you? Feeling overwhelmed about by life? That happens to all of us. What’s your plan to deal with it? Health takes a lot of different forms, mental, physical, emotional, financial etc…. Struggle though we may to deal with them all (Lord knows I do) looking for a healthy balance in our healthy life is important. So my friends, at this early hour of St. Patricks Day I raise my coffee mug (non-spiked) to you all and say Sláinte, may it be found in abundance in every aspect of your life.
I have spoken to two people in the past week who were unhappy enough with their current employer to choose to quit their job. One acted to save their sanity, the other acted to get out of a really bad situation. Both people knew that in this economy, their decision was a risky one. Yet both felt so aggravated about the situation they were in that leaving seemed the best option. I know both of these people well enough to know their decision was not made without careful consideration. These were not impulsive overreactions to a bad situation. Every month more than 500 people click on an ad I run on-line that simply says “Feeling Stuck.” It is designed to reach out to potential career coaching clients. 500 people and that number is increasing each month. That’s just the number that choose to click on my ad and my ad only appears when people are searching for career coaching. How many people might be feeling stuck in their job in your company right now?
I understand that not everyone is a good fit in your organization and for some leaving is the best option for all parties involved. That’s not true of everyone though. You know it, I know it. How productive is an employee that is feeling stuck likely to be? How many employees being half as productive as they could be can your business tolerate? What are you willing to do about it? We both know if you had equipment that was being half as productive as it could be you would invest the time and money to get it running at maximum speed. Why treat employees with less attention than our equipment then?
I am not taking a stand for either side (employee or employer) in this blog as much as I am taking a stand for talking with each other. For creating a workplace in which your employees can flourish. They win and you win when you get to that point. Act now, before the really good ones become fed up enough to leave.
I have spoken to two people in the past week who were unhappy enough with their current employer to choose to quit their job. One acted to save their sanity, the other acted to get out of a really bad situation. I admire them both, as I admire anyone willing to act on the courage of their convictions. Both people knew that in this economy, their decision was a risky one. Yet both acted with a self confidence that assures them they will get through this and enough awareness of their personal values to know that for them not taking action was their least preferred option. Both understand that they want their work to be important to them. They want to put forth their best efforts on work that has meaning for them. A lot of people would look at them and say they are crazy. I think they are heroes. Heroes that will soon be looking back on that day when they made a stand for themselves and wishing they had done it years ago.
Our refrigerator at home is covered with magnets reminding us of places we have been, service providers we have used and sayings and witticisms that have particular meaning for us. But I never thought they would offer to me insight on what many of my coaching clients go through. Hold two magnets close to each other and the magnetic force from each will repel the other. Move them incrementally closer together and they will lock together with a force as strong as the strongest super bonding glue. So which magnetic force is more indicative of your job search? Are you so repelled by your current situation that any job will do? So enthused and attracted and clear on where you want to be that your strength and dedication will pull you to it and keep you there with a bond that few can break? What role do you want this job to play in your life? Is it something better than what you have now? Is it a rest stop on the way to some final destination? Is it the job you want to stay in forever? Clarity around what you want from your work will bring you closer to creating that lasting bond and landing where you want to be. If you don’t believe me, go ask your refrigerator magnets.
Spring Training is upon us bringing with it the hope and excitement of a new season to baseball fans all over this country. As a life long fan of the Chicago Cubs, I have gone through this cycle of excitement ending in disappointment many times in my life. At this time of year, it’s a thrill just to see people throwing a baseball or swinging a bat. It brings about some visceral reaction that takes me back to my childhood. Waiting for the snow to finally melt from the near by park and the ground to become dry enough that all the kids in the neighborhood were willing to risk not getting too muddy playing ball. I can only imagine what it must feel like as a professional baseball player or a coach on a professional team. There is nothing but possibility at this time of year, and questions, and wonder. Will the rookie phenom be all he is expected to be? Does the grizzled veteran have one more year in him? Can the talented player who has always been a bit of a “head case” get it together enough this year to play to his potential. The excitement at this time of year is all about the anticipation I think. What does this have to do with coaching, or leading? Hell I don’t know. I have baseball on my brain. Come to think of it, I guess there is a lesson here for leaders and managers though. What are you doing to build up that level of excitement and anticipation with your employees? At the end of the project, or fiscal year, or whatever the relevant time frame might be… how are they likely to feel? Do the end the year with the euphoria of feeling like a champion? Do they walk away discouraged like so many Cubs fans at the end of another year of disappointment? Its up to you to guide your team to fulfill their potential. it starts today. Play Ball!
Zoom-Zoom were the words on the cover of the brochure. I am pretty sure there was a car rounding a curve with the ocean off in the distance but I’m not positive. After all it was several years ago I would have been leafing through that brochure. I am certain that I carefully studied the words and the images on each page, looking to convince myself this was the right car for us to buy. Your resume plays the same role as that brochure I described. From the summary of qualifications at the top to the rest of the story told throughout the document, each word choice should be purposeful, truthful, and get the reader excited. Ideally, the reader will salivate a little by the time they are done reading, but that is not absolutely necessary. Your resume is your sales brochure. It is the key that encourages a potential employer to kick the tires and take you for a test drive. Most people tend to understate their achievements. You would be wise to make sure your resume is presenting you in the best possible light. Zoom Zoom.