Coaching to Success

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Building confidence within the workplace…

Whether it be others or the simple state of economy and job security, all too often I’m finding people uncertain about taking a risk. Which has taken an effect on both morale and confidence so how can we turn this feeling around?

What are the signs? Consider the following:

  • Making excuses or giving a reason for actions taken. Sometimes aligned to being self-conscious which in its own turn can contribute to self-doubt.
  • Being antagonistic when replying to criticism! Productive criticism, can actually boost one’s confidence if you refrain from taking it as a personal slant against you.
  • Body language! Crossed arms and legs, stand offish posture. Much along the lines of being over defensive in verbal and physical positioning.
  • Wanting things 100% as opposed to settling for anything less. If we believe that this is the only acceptable level, we set ourselves up to fail and reduce our own levels of confidence.

Now let us start the positive side towards self-confidence:

GET A NOTEBOOK: Record all good things that you manage to accomplish. By writing down everything that you do well at work or home, you will start to gain a decent level of self-confidence. Whenever you feel uncertain, open this notebook to read your evidence based notes.

BODY LANGUAGE: Consider your posture! For example, if slumped, raisr eyes forward, back straight, keep your head high.

SET GOALS: If you do not have goals, then how do you know which direction you are heading? Set goals in every area of your life. Every area! Work, personal, social life, health and fitness, and everything else that is important to you. Set goals that are very clear and have a deadline. Make them SMART (Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Relevant-Timely) too.

EXPAND: One of the simplest confidence building exercises is to expand one’s knowledge area. Try to find areas that you need to work or at home and become better at these. Once you start improving in the areas that you need, you will also gain self-esteem and confidence in your own abilities. The more you know the better you will feel. Get out of your cozy comfort zone and move to build your confidence! It’s not hard to regularly read a couple of pages from a coaching blog, watch videos or Listen to audios. Surround yourself with what you want to learn and you will become a true expert in time. With competence, comes confidence

COMPLIMENT YOURSELF: Have you ever complimented yourself on a daily basis? Talk to others about the great things you have achieved today, this week, in the past. Say things like: “I am truly amazing! Just to think of how fast I solved that problem!”, “Wow, Fred came to me to help him as he knew I could help and I did”

EXERCISE AT WORK: You will have noticed areas you do better than others. Maybe others tell you that you have a special something about what you do? Admit to yourself that you can do this better than others and commit to becoming even better at it. Read books on the subjects, talk to experts in this field. Get to know it and be seen as the go-to person.

THE MINDSET: Become a person that rarely says “No”, “I can’t do this”, “Have to”, “Must”, “I’ll do it later”.  These words are toxic for your self-confidence. Use strong, motivating words like “I will do this”, “I am doing it”, “Sure”, “Yes”, “Of course I can do it”, “I can”.

SELF-HYPNOSIS: Repeat positive affirmations. Search or create your own such as this one for the beginning of the day

 “I feel amazing! I am certain that today will be one of those days that I will remember for a long time! I feel self-confident and sure that I will do great things! I am a person who does things! I am a winner!”

Make sure that you outwardly verbalise when awakening as this is when we are most receptive or, in the past tense when we are ready to sleep and let the subconscious absorb.

Self-confidence will not happen overnight. There are many factors to take into consideration, the biggest being yourself! How much do you won’t to change? How much effort will you put into the process? How much can you believe in yourself to accomplish this?

It is not a simple journey either, otherwise you would have done this some time ago and support can also be lacking. Should this be the case for yourself or someone you know, take the first step by contacting Neil on 07761 187238 or email neil@coachingtosuccess.co.uk, where you will be assured a warm, friendly welcome and the chance to discuss ways we can work together along with the motivation to build that confidence to an all-time high.

The payback of perseverance …

I spent a gruelling bank holiday weekend building a defence barrier against a stream at the bottom of our garden with extremely heavy railway sleepers. Fortunately at intermittent times, I had family and friends to add moral and sometimes physical support to see it through to the end.

In this instance, it was physically exhausting but I could see and remained focused on the long term objective and benefit it would bring. Much like business, I was looking to stop things slipping away in an eventual landslide as a known factor, in this case running water!, could take control if I didn’t see this through.

Perseverance to see things through to the bitter end can be exhausting. If we remain unfocused and unmotivated it can easily be lost. Procrastination steps in to offer her enticing wares to steal you away. Interest can wain and attack the psyche as to how important it now is and conspires with procrastination taking you off the well thought plan.

So how do we battle with these two enemies of our mind? Here are a few guidelines to consider and work with:

  1. Clarity: Know the reasons for reaching your objective. If unclear, get the clarity you need so you have purpose.
  2. Intention: Don’t base it on a whim. Work out what and who you need to help achieve it. What is the strategy? Establish the timeline. Not just the end but for each step along the way.
  3. Recognition: Know and acknowledge what you have achieved against your time frame. The goal is 100% and at the beginning you will be full of energy to reach it. If you get past the middle, the end is in sight. The middle is the tricky area where continued focus and recognition is required. Share your successes with others and have the courage of your own conviction to see it through.
  4. Live now: All too often we dwell on the past. That has gone and changes cannot be made so live now. Negative memories do not contribute to our moving forward so let them go. Refrain from allowing these emotions or feelings to keep a hold over you.
  5. Review: Check daily on how you are progressing. What areas need tweaking or have slackened. How well are you doing against targets and celebrate each passing goal reached.
  6. Regeneration: I learned a long time ago the importance of making time for yourself. Move away from the task or project completely for a spell. Easier said than done when the pressure to complete is mounting but the best thing you can do is take a scheduled break. Do some exercise (I practice martial arts to get my frustrations out, I apologise now to my training partners!). Work on your sleep and what you eat/drink. Listen/read articles based on stress release.
  7. Optimistic: Remain positive along the journey. Check in with others who know of your objectives and each day, or at least every other day, write a note to yourself on how well you’ve done to date. One client used to write these positive affirmations at the end of each day and stick his successes in a jar. At the end of each month, he would tip them all out to read which helped keep the morale going.

Back to our wall by the stream. It was completed and the sense of achievement still fills me with pride days after having built it and will for some time yet as the garden takes a different form resulting from what has been achieved.

Henry Ford once famously stated “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” So the biggest aid to perseverance is Positive mind talk. In this time of assumed negativity, buck the trend and start thinking positively! See how things start to happen for the better.

If you are feeling downtrodden or your team has lost that spark, contact Neil on 07761 187238 or email neil@coachingtosuccess.co.uk, where you will be assured a warm, friendly welcome and the chance to discuss ways we can work together to get that drive back once more.

Is it time to make a ‘Career Path Plan’?

So we take the first step on the career path and have a vague idea of where we are heading but how many of us created a ‘Career Path Plan’? Are we sticking to it? Have we discovered it’s not the path we expected or some pretty hefty unknown obstacles were thrown in the way?

Nothing is set in stone where so many external influences can affect the outcome, however, Benjamin Franklin was attributed to the saying “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” and Winston Churchill came up with “Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.”

So the simple answer is to plan ahead and learn from our mistakes!

Historically, career pathing was associated with the process used to chart a course within an organisation for a given career through self-development. The attributes involved in this were based around knowledge base, skills, character and experience. Once clarified, a path, whether promotion, laterally or transfer would be worked out. Now this can still be the case but with the onset of such diversity and uncertainty along with more people being self-employed compared to years gone by, we need to be honest with ourselves where career goals are actually at and whether we have the necessary attributes to reach it.

There is a lot more to creating one and reviewing it than can be written in this short blog but if nothing else, this will get you on the right path (excuse the pun) and Coaching to Success can help you with the details whether creating one for your team members or for yourself at a later time.

Much like travelling, you plot a route (or your SatNav does) and sometimes the obvious route is blocked but with some lateral thinking and change of course, you will eventually head back on track.

Here are some simple steps starting with the first and hardest element to start your course:

  • Ascertain what your desired job is. Sometimes this may not be apparent but give it some serious thought. If self-employed, where do you want your business to be within a given time-frame and what role will you play in it?
  • What jobs, departments, areas of businesses do you need to plot a course through to get there? Speak to your line manager, HR department or research others to find the most likely path that will let you achieve your goal.
  • What skills do you need to develop? What course of action do you need to take to obtain them? What channels of development are open to you and what experience do you require to achieve the objective?
  • Where can you get mentoring, supervision or coaching from to help you with this transition in your development?
  • Consider where you can obtain, or if there are career professionals you could turn to (even if researching the web, books, audio or video files – there’s plenty out there) to find focus.
  • OWN IT. This is Your career path, not somebody else’s and once realised, it gains body and momentum. By all means, welcome help given by others and search for a mentor/coach. Apply for those jobs and don’t get disheartened through lack of response but rather seek information to turn knockbacks into a learning exercise but always remember, this is yours and only you can drive it forward, no one else will care about it as much as you.
  • Let the decision makers know of your interest and intentions. Make it very clear to all who have the power/authority to help you get there know what your intentions are. Employees want to see who their next opportunities are within the organisation and showing off your plan makes it very clear. And don’t be afraid to ask for their assistance whether it be gaining more experience or increasing your knowledge or skill especially if looking to move laterally.
  • PUT IT IN WRITING. Then share it. Line managers, supervisors, family, friends, whoever will hold you accountable to reaching your objectives. Writing it down then insuring others are aware of it is an integral element to making it work.

If working within a large organisation, speak to HR or senior management to obtain knowledge of the following to incorporate within your plan. Then use this to plot your path:

  • Job descriptions (and locations)
  • Formal planning process (if applicable)
  • Application process
  • Competency levels
  • Learning/Training/Development courses pertaining to role
  • Shadowing and access to people currently doing the job
  • Access to mentor/coach
  • Lateral roles that are associated with you path or potential transfer opportunities

Coaching to Success believe in the power of the individual so whether you are the employer looking to help bring team members on or an individual looking to move up the career ladder, then take your first step to gaining clarity and contact Neil on 07761 187238 or email neil@coachingtosuccess.co.uk, where you will be assured a warm, friendly welcome and discuss what it is you wish to achieve.

Stand out and promote ‘Your Personal’ brand!

Understanding the importance of ‘Branding’ is crucial. Not just a logo but what it stands for. The stones in Coaching to Success are about taking steps (that get bigger and stronger) to reach your goal and will be found on all their correspondence.

On a personal level, look at your LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook profiles. What IS your branding? Your recognisable trait?

Question… how do you want to be thought of when your name is brought up in conversation? Are you the go-to person, knowledgeable in your own field of expertise? The vivacious up-lifter or motivator? The studious completer? You will have a ‘brand’. Consider how promoting your personal brand will obtain a great ROI whether it be looking for a career, or standing out from others.

Now you have started thinking of yourself as a brand, how do we go about promoting it?

  • Study – Get to really know your industry or subject. Become the expert. Immerse yourself in all the latest updates as well as current matters. Sounds obvious but often people get to a level and stop!
  • Match taking with giving! Be a humble expert. Build working relationships with others where you can give equally as much as taking. Stephen Covey refers to this as Win:Win, an expression we have all heard, meaning to allow the other party to contribute which accordingly encourages them to speak favourably of you adding value to your brand.
  • Avoid camouflage – Be seen, refrain from hiding behind an office door or computer monitor. Attend networks and industry conferences. Open Social Media channels so others can see you and comment. Write features (like this) about your area of knowledge. Paint your picture for all to see and soon your style will stand out.
  • Align your brand with existing strong examples – This isn’t to say copy, but associate with established brands who emit similar beliefs to your own, e.g. “GoPro: Helps people capture and share their lives”, “Marriot Hotels: Quiet luxury. Crafted experiences. Intuitive service.” and how can you associate who you are to them?
  • Be charitable – Whether this means your time or finance. People remember selfless acts adding immense value in the eyes of others. There is no shame in marketing this on your social media or web sites either.

This is not only a start on a road of self-awareness allowing you to recognise how each of us have ‘branding’ but also understanding how you go about enhancing it. Once you truly get to know how people see you, you can then look to market the qualities you wish to be made more visible, enabling others who may not know you that well (or at all), to seek an association with you.

Coaching to Success know how to dig deep and help you extract what makes you stand out from others, to look for that USP. When you are ready to create your own Brand to compete with the best and stand out from the rest, contact Neil to discuss how he can help by emailing neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or 07761 187238.

And why not get a feel for this person’s branding style by checking out our short ‘interview’ video at https://youtu.be/RvCwOL4hPco

Building on past setbacks. How to develop your resilience…

People often refer to how Thomas Edison persevered over others’ scepticism of his diversity. There are others, such as James Dyson, who likewise fought through challenges. Taking 15yrs, 5100+ attempts creating a bagless vacuum.

Resilience is the ability to get back up when knocked down or not going to plan. So why is it so important?

People often comment on how I overcame throat cancer diagnosed in Feb 2008. I use this as an example for most wouldn’t even know I suffered with it or the hard work it took to be able to eat the simplest of meals but this is another form of resilience. I would not be beaten, so now enjoy a wide variety of foods that otherwise I would not have had if not for resilience.

In business/life, it is critical that we neither dwell upon nor wallow on how things appear unfair. Resilient people acknowledge and learn from mistakes or situations, using this as ammunition or stepping blocks to forge forward.

Resilience is as much about the mindset and self-talk as it is about viewing the glass as half full, not empty (or as some have said, “Neil, your damn glass is overflowing”!). It is about how you perceive life and situations. We will always be subjected to knock-backs but it is how we deal with these that our strength of character and persistence originates. Here are some areas that I noticed the aforementioned people used:

GOAL SETTING: Obviously, as a business coach, I believe this to be one of the most important areas. You can set SMART goals and make sure they align with your beliefs as well as values to insure a higher chance of success.

PERSPECTIVE: put things into perspective. They may seem overwhelming but assess what affect this may have long-term. Incorporate these areas into your goals and know how to break them into manageable or relevant parts.

POSITIVE THINKING: Consider how you talk to yourself or mind-chatter when something goes wrong! Do you focus on the negative or look at it as a lesson to be learned? Convert to the positive, eg “That didn’t work” to “knowing that, how can I…”. Reframing the way you talk externally and internally changes the mindset.

SELF-CONFIDENCE: Believe in yourself and work from the success you have achieved including those at school, college, University and the workplace. Self-confident people will also learn to take risks (as did Dyson). Confidence encourages taking these necessary risks from as early as taking the stabilisers off our bikes for the first time!

LEARN: Mistakes can be painful. The first fall once the stabilisers have been removed, but we move forward by getting back on (excuse the puns) and learning from the experience. Never stop learning and always find ways to improve from reading, watching experts, observing others and taking risks.

FLEXIBILITY: Kodak, Encyclopaedia Britannica and Woolworths ignored how the world was changing. Sticking by the old format and failed spectacularly. Constantly refer back to your objectives/goals making sure they can bend to accommodate new elements for development. It is important to work to a plan, however, constantly review and change where necessary.

RELATIONSHIPS: A great asset to have in building your resilience is a strong network of friends, family and colleagues. Stephen R.Covey wrote about ‘Interdependence’ emphasising the importance on building strength through experts around us who support us in areas of uncertainty or needing help.

REACTION: Bad news or negative actions can have a devastating effect on how we respond. For example, going back to the cancer, the news was not only shocking but impacted on the future. Treatment options were considered and chosen, developing a positive plan.

SLEEP & EXERCISE: As much as releasing endorphins, which stimulate positive thoughts, exercise helps stress-management. Being in a sedentary job, I go out walking at least 5 miles per day, helping clear the mind and giving focus when I return to work. Whether it be the gym, walking, cycling, a sport or, as is my other love, martial arts, find an exercise you enjoy and insure you get quality sleep to rest your body and mind too.

This is an area Coaching to Success are well versed in so if you or members within your team are finding Resilience to be out of reach or slipping through your grasp, then contact Neil to discuss how he can help by emailing neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or 07761 187238.

And why not get a feel for the person by checking out our short ‘interview’ video at https://youtu.be/RvCwOL4hPco