Coaching to improve focus

Coaching to improve focus
Keep your eye on the...

Imagine I was coaching you on something as straightforward
as catching a ball. We might conclude that keeping your eye
on the ball would be a useful quality to bring to the task.
Let's consider four ways I might try to help you do that.

1. "Watch the ball!"
2. "Are you watching the ball?"
3. "Why aren't you watching the ball?"
4. "What do you notice about the ball as it comes towards
you?"

Let's consider the impact of these. 1 is a command. It does
not actually give you anything to try in an effort to focus
on the ball and if you don't like me or feel under
pressure, you'll probably elect to look at something else.
2 is a closed question. You will probably answer, yes, but
I won't know if you were truly watching the ball or not. 3
is an interrogative question and likely to be met with a
defensive, justifying response. Only 4 is a coaching
question because you cannot answer it without paying
attention to the ball.

Now imagine I was coaching you on something complex like
selling. We might conclude that asking your customers open
questions would be a useful quality to bring to the task.
Again, here are four ways I could try to help.

1. "Use open questions!"
2. "Are you using open questions?"
3. "Why aren't you using open questions?"
4. "How would you rate the quality of the open questions
that you ask?"

Contrast approaches 1 and 4. 1 will create anxiety and
tension or fatigue and resentment. 4 will have me thinking
about the questions I'm asking and deciding on what basis I
would rate their quality. I really have to think about my
questions to do this and so I'm going to be learning about
questions to a much higher degree than normal and in my own
unique way. Powerful stuff.

Which approach will promote best focus on the qualities
you're seeking to develop? In the same way that the ball
can teach us how to catch, our customers can teach us all
we need to know about selling our products and services.
Similarly, our staff can teach us all we need to know about
how to get the best from them. We just need to become keen
and attentive students. We need, in other words, to focus
on the right things. Using coaching questions creates focus
infinitely better than commands and instructions, we've
just become used to a command and control world. Time to
develop some new habits I think.

What do you notice about.....?

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Matt Somers is a coaching practitioner of many years'
experience. He works with a host of clients in North East
England where his firm is based and throughout the UK and
Europe. Matt understands that people are working with their
true potential locked away. He shows how coaching provides
a simple yet elegant key to this lock. For a bumper load of
coaching tips and tricks - including FREE resources - visit
http://www.mattsomers.com

Projector Screens

Projector Screens
Besides a projector, the most important purchase that a
business can make is to acquire a high-quality projector
screen. Spending thousands of dollars on a projector makes
little sense if the images will be plastered on nothing
more than the boardroom walls. A projector screen, whether
it is portable or permanent, makes any presentation as well
as the individual presenting it, look that much more
professional.

Projector screens come in a variety of sizes and prices,
and are often made of different materials. Choosing the
screen that is best for a company depends on everything
from the type of projector being used to the distance of
the projector from the screen.

Before purchasing either the projector or the screen,
consider the characteristics of the room. Think about
where the screen and the projector will be placed, as well
as where the individuals in the room will sit. Consider
the lighting in the room as well before deciding on any
type of projector screen.

Decide if the screen will be a permanent fixture in the
room, or if it will be moved from room to room. The main
advantages to selecting a portable screen are the fact that
it can be taken and placed in just about any location
within a building or office, as well as having the ability
to fit in rooms of various sizes. Fixed screens offer a
more professional look to a board or meeting room, but they
lack the portability and adaptability of portable screens.

The surface of the projector screen is designed to add to
the overall quality of the picture being projected onto the
screen. Typically, consumers can choose screen with either
a matte white or matte gray finish. White screens provide
viewers with higher "gain" (returned reflected light) and a
wider viewing angle than gray screens do.

Size, in terms of projector screens, depends both on the
quality of the projector as well as on the source of the
output. 16:9 and 4:3 formats are the most popular, but
some screens can be as wide as 15' (measured diagonally).
Since most presentations for business purposes are
typically made using a computer or laptop, a screen with a
4:3 format is a good choice, as most computers still make
use of this output format. However, today's computers also
give users the choice of changing to the new and popular
16:9 format output, which most people refer to as a
widescreen format.

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Learn even more about the wide selection of projector
screens available online and make a shortlist of the ones
that best suit your needs and budget. An easy to use list
can be found at:
http://www.av-audio-visual-projectors.co.uk/projector-screen
s.htm

Socialising with Clients and Colleagues

Socialising with Clients and Colleagues
While socialising with clients is by no means necessary, it
can be a good way to strengthen contacts made in the more
formal atmosphere of the boardroom. This is especially true
in the run-up to Christmas, with festive parties and events
providing a rare opportunity to get to know your clients in
a more relaxed setting.

I have coached women working in various organisations
across the country where male colleagues will often take
male clients out to golf, dinners or even strip clubs as a
means of strengthening allegiances. The women I work with
value their clients and careers but also value the time
they have in the evening with their families and friends.
While these activities may seem a necessary evil, I have
yet to meet a woman who doesn't think twice about how
"socialising" might be misconstrued.

Women value forging stronger business relationships but
often feel odd inviting a male client on their own for
drinks or dinner. As the number of women in senior roles
increases, so should the number of creative ways to
network, thank clients and generally build these bonds,
without compromising comfort levels . There are ways that
you can become more adept at choosing when and where to
socialise, which will help you build relationships with
your professional integrity intact.

Tips for Business Socialising

1. Business dinners feature more wine (or normally do!)
than lunches or certainly breakfasts. If you worry about
how well you will present after a G and T or three, perhaps
scheduling business meals earlier in the day would be
better way of getting more done without any potential
misunderstandings about your intentions or sexual innuendo
from the client or other colleagues - not to mention
skipping the hangover!

2. As part of a growing emphasis on corporate social
responsibility, many companies now support charities by
taking tables at various events. Find out if there are any
opportunities for you to host clients at dinners or
fun-days of this kind, as the atmosphere is virtually
always very "wholesome" whilst showing you and your company
as concerned corporate citizens -a win/win for many of my
clients - and good for the charity too!

3. If your company does not yet host clients at many
events, suggest they do and even offer to do some
research-that way you can help influence where sponsorship
money is spent whilst showing your initiative at the same
time. Many companies sponsor or take marquees at Ascot, the
Chelsea Flower Show, even Newmarket Nights or summertime
concerts and are given free tickets for their clients in
return for their sponsorship.

4. If you belong to a smaller company or non-profit, think
about how you might use Christmas celebrations to your
benefit. If you are an academic, think about inviting a
client or sponsor to dinner at the university or college.
Think creatively about what type of events both you and
your clients would like to attend rather than assume it has
to be tied up with the old- boy network of sporting events
or golf days.

5. Give yourself a break -it's easy to stress about what
you are missing when you are not around for after hours
socialising, but remember, very few deals are signed on the
dotted line after a boozy night at 2am. Getting drunk at an
event is never a good look, either in front of your boss or
clients, though it is a mistake many red-faced junior
employees make around this time of year.

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To find out more and add your comments, please visit
http://www.doylemorris.com

Five Biggest Ways Leaders Sabotage Acquisitions

Five Biggest Ways Leaders Sabotage Acquisitions
Actually, there are at least a dozen ways to sabotage an
acquisition, but for the sake of brevity, and to stay
focused on the areas in which I can speak from the most
experience, let's explore five of them:

1. Grossly underestimating what it will take to integrate
people, processes, and systems. I've seen few successful
acquisitions of any size without a dedicated integration
team. At a minimum, you need full-time, dedicated
resources in IT, integration of different business models
and processes, facilities, and change management, by which
I mean how to get all of the people moving in the same
direction, not the processing of change orders related to
the acquisition process.

2. Moving too slowly to reorganize the company. Some
people are going to lose their jobs. Better sooner than
later. That's not as cold as it sounds. When you prolong
confusing, duplicate, and overlapping roles, you increase
cynicism, frustration, and the fear that the acquiring
organization's leaders are inept, indecisive bureaucrats.
This is often the most painful step for executives and
managers alike, but it's better to move quickly than to
keep confusion and fear hanging over everyone's heads. I
particularly like the effectiveness of a reorganization
that takes weeks, not months. It's so painful and
exhausting for everyone involved (even me, and I'm just the
outside consultant), but the results are worth it.

3. Viewing "acquisition communication" as the stuff you
announce to people about the acquisition. Depending on its
size, an acquisition can be a small change or an enormous
one. The tendency is to make announcements and think
you're communicating. The most successful large-scale
changes involve a two-way process, and it's given the
respect it deserves by being somewhat formalized and
measured for its contribution to the success of the change.
It's certainly a lot more than saying to your managers,"
So, how are your people doing? Be sure everyone announces
the latest news at your next staff meeting."

4. Putting lipstick on a pig and telling people it's
beautiful. Do not put a positive spin on obviously
negative developments. Be honest, and share your plan to
address the issues, or at least your timeline for pulling a
plan together. Your people are living day-to-day with the
consequences of these negative developments. They're
probably even the ones who brought the problems to your
attention. You will kill your credibility, particularly
among the employees of the acquired organization, who have
no relationship with you, and therefore no particular
reason to trust you in the first place.

5. And from deep in our unconscious selves...Telling the
employees of the acquired company how lucky they are now
that they are part of your company. Of course, these days
no one is so crass as to literally say this out loud, but
the fact that we don't say it out loud in no way addresses
the fact that we feel it, if that's what we feel.
Attitudes and emotions leak out all over the place. But
reverse this attitude quickly, because if the undertone set
by the acquiring company's leadership is in any way
superior, the employees of the acquired company will pick
it up, along with their bags, as they head toward to door
to your competitor. You'll also lose out on all you could
have learned from the employees who stay, because you're
demeaning their knowledge, skills, and expertise. I recall
the time I found myself sitting in the regional sales
office of an acquiring company. When the SVP of Sales
announced the acquisition of a close competitor, the sales
team cheered and yelled, "We win!" At that moment, let's
just say I knew I had my work cut out for me. The
acquisition turned out to be a stunning success, in part
because the SVP had the good sense to say, "Cut it out, you
guys. Each of these people is part of our team now. We're
all in it together and frankly, I've seen their numbers and
they're every bit as good as you are."

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Jennifer Selby Long, Founder and Principal of Selby Group,
provides executive coaching and organizational development
services. Jennifer's knack is helping clients navigate the
leadership and organizational challenges triggered by
change and growth. She knows firsthand that great plans
often fail because companies don't take into account the
human factors that come into play when implementing them.
Visit Jennifer at: http://selbygroup.com

If you don't have a Clear Vision, it's hard to do marketing.

If you don't have a Clear Vision, it's hard to do marketing.
My Vision for my Ideal business and life wasn't always
clear. Maybe you've been in that situation, too. I had so
many things going on, and so many ideas (I'm an Idea person
and Visionary) that it was hard to know what to focus on
first. Or which idea would be the most successful and bring
money into my business.

Over the past three months, it's become very clear. And one
of the things I noticed immediately was -- now that I have
a Clear Vision, it's easy as pie to do my marketing.
Really! It wasn't always easy to tell people what I do, or
create my 30-second introduction, or even to know what was
the best Niche for me. I didn't always feel comfortable
talking to decision-makers about my business or why it was
best to choose me for their consulting or mentoring. And I
kept putting off promotional e-mails because they weren't
easy to write. (It was more like pulling teeth!) I got it
done, though it wasn't fun, and the words didn't seem to
flow onto the page.

Now it's almost as easy as saying my name or writing a
letter to a good friend.

What are the things that helped me get a Clear Vision?
I'll tell you now, and you can do the same thing with your
own Vision for your Ideal business and life.

1. The Hand Analysis by Beth Davis
(http://www.handanalyst.com). This is not fortune-telling
or anything like it! Hand Analysis is an ancient art from
India that Beth has studied extensively. It's the science
of handprints and finger prints that she uses to tell you
your Life Purpose. What I found in working with Beth is
that a lot of what she said confirmed things that I thought
in the back of my mind and had never acted on. Now I am.
Two of the most valuable things she told me in analyzing my
hand prints are that my hands show that I'm an inspiring
communicator, and meant to be speaking to large groups of
people. And that I'm all about success and results. If you
know me, you know how true that is! Everything I do for my
clients and myself is success and results-oriented. Now I'm
taking steps to do more speaking and to set up live events
where you can come to clarify your Vision, and know your
Top 3 Focus Areas, Priorities and Next Action Steps. Watch
my website for more information.

2. Being here in Colorado over the last year or more, when
my mother's health has not always been good. It has really
focused me and made me realize that life and relationships
with people are fragile, to be appreciated and not taken
for granted. Ever. Here's my advice to you: DO NOT wait
until you realize this for yourself! It may take years.
Learn from me and my experience. Get focused - BIG time!
NOW!

Your Next Action Steps:

3. Take an hour and start writing your Vision story. Write
it like a story, and as you write, picture yourself as if
you're in a movie living your Ideal life and running your
Ideal business. Be sure to write it in the present tense -
"I am . . ." "I wake up every morning and hear the birds .
. ." "I earn $XXXXXXX each month and $XXXXXXXXXXX each
year."

4. Do one thing each day to live your Ideal business and
life. For example, take 10 minutes each day and figure out
something you can do that day that's directly related to
your vision and dream. It may be contacting people, or
writing that letter to update people about what you're
doing now, or research on the Internet. The 10 minutes a
day keeps your dream alive, and the success you see
inspires you to keep going. So does the progress you make.

5. Have FUN with this!

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Jan Wallen works with companies that want significant sales
results. Jan is action- and results-oriented. Once you
start working together, she is 100% committed to
significant sales results for you. To learn more, call
(646) 485-4059 or go to http://www.janwallen.com

Be a Life Giving Dynamo - The Path to Work from Home Business Success

Be a Life Giving Dynamo - The Path to Work from Home Business Success
In order to achieve real work from home business success
you are going to need successful relationships...plain and
simple.

It is going to be almost impossible for you to realize your
dreams by going after them alone; you needn't be an
individual in the world of business.

To achieve successful growth in your relationships with
others, one way is to be life-giving to all whom you come
into contact with.

Quite simply whenever we meet a person, we either give
their life a boost or drain life from them; it's either one
or the other.

I'm sure you know exactly where I'm coming from yes? You
must know at least one person, at least I hope you do, who
you feel stimulated by just by spending time with them.
After your time with that person is over you feel
invigorated and completely energized ready to take on the
world.

On the flip side of this there are some people who simply
sap you of your bounce, and your drive. If you desire to
achieve untold work from home business success, it's an
obvious question when I ask: Which type of people do you
believe you should spend more time with and which less time?

Speak with any successful person and you will find that
these people are like a walking dynamo, able to recharge
and lift your spirit.

How can you become a more life giving dynamo? One of the
many ways is to begin offering praise, to commend people.

By praising people you are driving positive energy into
that person, you are lifting their confidence levels,
raising their level of motivation, and this will raise
their self-esteem.

This change isn't just apparent in them, no; you will feel
a change in you and in your relationship with that person.

What's very important to understand at this point is that
you mustn't go around offering your praise as if it were
confetti at your best friends wedding! No, what you must do
is honestly search for and commend positive characteristics
and deeds of those around you. Never deceive anybody.

If that person is in the wrong, help them to correct it,
when they have achieved something right and just, that's
when you should offer your praise and admiration.

Chris...can you help me to understand ways I can start to
praise people and what the benefits would be?

Great question and I'm so glad that you asked.

Let's start with the benefits:

1) Firstly, once we get into the habit of offering due
praise - emphasis on the word 'due' - your relationships
begin to develop and prosper and your work from home
business success depends on those valuable relationships
forming. It all takes us and that person that little bit
further down the road of success.

All great leaders have the power to positively influence
and energize their followers...often in an instant. The
amazing Al Pacino locker room speech in the film 'Any Given
Sunday' is one of the best examples of leadership I've ever
seen. Within 4 minutes he takes a room full of grown men
from having their head in their hands to literally tearing
the locker room door off of its hinges. Amazing leadership.

As a great leader, your greatest influence in the lives of
your followers will be determined by your ability to raise
people to the bar, to have them willingly fight their way
into the light.

2) Your relationship grows in strength. The new-found
loyalty that person you praised now has for you - because
you showed them that you are there 'for them' - builds that
strength.

3) Joyful, more accomplished people. Napoleon Hill once
wrote: 'There is but one dependable method of accumulating
and legally holding riches and that is by providing useful
service.' Be that service unto others, help them to raise
their game - they will often welcome it with open arms and
in so doing, you will raise your own game and chances of
work from home business success.

It would not be a wasted life to simply invest in the lives
of all whom we touch by praising and positively influencing
them. This is what is honest, right and just. There are
always going to be an abundance of energy destroyers,
instead be the one who keeps people at the top.

Now how you can actually do the praising:

Firstly, what you need to focus on with other people is
their positive characteristics. For example, who do you
know who is cheerful, dedicated, or genuine? Make a start
by bringing their characteristics to their attention,
stating that you respect them highly for it. Congratulate
them. Thank them for bringing extra goodness into this
world.

Probably the best way that you can do this is by doing it
face-to-face with the person. To simply send them an email
for example you are taking the lazy route and it looses
heaps of effectiveness. Face-to-face takes literally
seconds to complete and over time the outcome is truly
inspiring.

Take deliberate action on this sooner rather than later,
don't just let this slide. Even if you are paying somebody
to complete a task for you, the money isn't 100% of the
reward that you should give them for a job well done. Add
to that a few kind well thought over words, you'll find
that the respect they have for you will sky rocket because
fairly often you may be the only one thanking them
face-to-face.

Start today; spread your message of praise where it is
warranted. Be the life giving dynamo that is so much needed
in the work related arena and witness the growth in your
work from home business success.

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Chris Curwen has recently teamed with the direct marketing
giant, Jay Kubassek, who together are seeking ambitious and
willing entrepreneurs of any age or past experience, to
join them on their mission to create real prosperity and
true financial freedom - AT LEAST 100 millionaires over the
next 3-5 years. What if YOU could be one of them?
Go to: http://www.FreedomThroughAction.com for more details
on this unique online business opportunity.