Coaching to Success

Our business is your success

Goal-Setting

Perseverance … The key to Success (Part 1of2)

 

Having recently presented to a group on how better to manage work in the available allotted time, someone commented on how they started actions but gave up when it didn’t reap the rewards. We then explored the fact that immediate results were expected which brought about this feature focusing on perseverance.

This is quite a deep subject matter. How can you discuss a subject that insures long term approaches are met in just a few words? To give it the attention it deserves, we will split this into two parts, with the intention that you can start focusing on the areas important to your success and then re-visit to finish importing the remaining ideas. You know, persevere with this!

How many times have we all started a project, only to give up fairly quickly? And here’s an interesting statistic, it is alleged that 91% of millennials or Generation Y (people born in the 1980s/90s) stay in a job for less than 3 years! They are more prone to move and find what they enjoy rather than sticking at things long term. Maybe from a leadership point of view, they feel undervalued or they simply aren’t scared to take the risk.

But one thing is for sure, all successful business people all have one thing in common, and that’s perseverance.

So let us take some tips from these experts and list some out here for us to look at.

  1. Obvious step 1 – Work intensely: Unless you have rich relatives or a windfall, the only way you will become financially successful is to work hard. Malcolm Gladwell popularized that 10,000 hours of practice can turn anyone into an expert. Now there is some disputing argument in the science world but nonetheless, practise and more practise is important.
  2. Take responsibility: We live in a blameless society. It is always somebody else’s fault why we didn’t get that job role or win the contract. Take responsibility. Learn from this as opposed to offsetting the negativity onto others. Go that extra mile and remain happy and focused.
  3. Preparation: Benjamin Franklin Quoted “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. As well as the bigger projects, start your day by planning ahead what you are looking to achieve by the end of it. Look at when you will check emails or social media posts. Understand their worth and if it doesn’t add value to what you need to do, turn them off.
  4. Originality: Don’t jump on the bandwagon as that ship has already sailed! How many more sayings could I use but you get the idea. I write for the Southern Echo so for other coaches, that slot has gone. Be different, Be creative, Be a risk taker and don’t imitate others. Learn from them by all means but don’t copy them.
  5. Mind chatter: some would say to avoid the negative thoughts, that voice of resistance but I happily encourage it with my clients as this creates opportunities to address potential barriers. There is a game we play called mind chatter which encourages ALL thoughts (imaginative, cautious, adventurous etc) to have internal dialogue in our heads but to recognise them and then give them names (such as Brother inspiration, Aunty reassurance, Mr. Ridiculous, My eccentric friend) and allow your mind to chat away with the ultimate aim of finding a realistic outcome.

That’s the first 5 of 10, look out for the next feature where we will look at the remaining five elements.

Neil Nutburn of Coaching to Success is renowned for his motivation and holding clients accountable for actions they agreed to carry out. If you would like to find out more about how he can help you persevere and reach your goal, contact him via neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or 07761 187238 to arrange a free consultation on how Coaching to Success can help you. Also, to get a feel for the person, check out our short ‘interview’ video at https://youtu.be/RvCwOL4hPco

Finding that internal Motivator

I was recently asked to do a presentation for a group of business professionals based on the subject of improving the level of determination, or as we would refer to it ‘Motivation’.

Those who know me often comment on how motivated I am. Those who know me well will know this hasn’t always been the case. Pressures of work, those who influence moods, lack of direction are all contributing factors to how I was affected. In today’s climate, so many people, possibly including yourself or those you work with, also feel pressurised through work or personal issues.

How do we address this? Self-motivation is complex, but there are four main factors acting as the driving force behind the drop in motivation.

  • Confidence
  • Positive thinking
  • Focused and Tangible goal setting
  • Motivating environment

It is vital to consider all four to drive self-motivation forward.

CONFIDENCE

Exercises to help boost this:

  1. BREATHE: When you are nervous, you should not talk, but breathe until you calm down.
  2. GET A NOTEBOOK: Record all the positive items that you manage to do.
  3. BODY LANGUAGE: Eyes forward, back straight, keeping your head high.
  4. SET GOALS: If you do not have goals then how can you know where you are going. Set goals in every area of your life. Every area! Work, personal & social life, health and fitness, and every area that is important to you.
  5. EXPAND: One of the simplest confidence building exercises is to expand one’s knowledge area. Find the essential areas for work or home and improve your skillset at those.
  6. COMPLIMENT YOURSELF: Have you ever complimented yourself on a daily basis? If not, set about changing that.
  7. EXERCISE AT WORK: What skills do you have over others and with no effort? Find them. Admit to yourself that you have them, then commit to furthering these skills.
  8. SELF-HYPNOSIS: At night, as you feel sleepy, lie in your bed and repeat simple affirmations along the lines “I can do anything. Anything. Anything that I set my mind to do. There is no one and nothing that can stop me”

POSITIVE THINKING

All too often when feeling challenged, our minds slip into what we are fearful of and these negative thoughts feed themselves. Look to aspire towards positive objectives as opposed to the negative of having to ‘Give up’ something.

GOAL SETTING

Realise your goal/objective, write it down. Check through all the areas that may interfere, timescales, people etc. Consider ALL options, even the most ludicrous (they may eventually have a place)! Write down actions for selected options that will be most beneficial to act on now. Set a time to START each and a completion time. Be accountable to someone for each.

MOTIVATING ENVIRONMENT

Surround yourself with people and resources that will remind you of your goal. Which will, in turn, help with ‘internal’ motivation. Be careful not to rely on them. To begin, you probably will. As you get more comfortable, competent & confident, your self-motivation will mean you’ll rely on them less frequently.

That’s the skill of your business coach, to hold you accountable and create that belief in yourself that you can do something but this is backed by actions and plans, not simply the arm around your shoulder.

So if you are prepared to move forward and need help in the early days, then contact Neil, neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or 07761 187238 to arrange a free consultation on how Coaching to Success can help you. Also, to get a feel for the person, check out our short ‘interview’ video at https://youtu.be/RvCwOL4hPco

An alternative ‘Coach’ to ‘driving’ your career forward…

Everyone experiences a moment in their career path that raises questions about whether they are suited to the role they are in, whether they wish to continue in the organisation they are currently working for or the fact that we sometimes simply feel stuck, not progressing as others appear to move forward.

There are two types of coach … one has wheels and transports you to your destination, the other has belief in you reaching your destination by your own actions. In case you were wondering, I’m the latter!

So how can I help you drive yourself forward? Read on for some useful guidelines that will start this journey.

Firstly, look at your situation from an outsider’s perspective and then ask yourself:

  • How do you see this person in relationship to their job/role
  • What could they do to better themselves
  • Where do they need to go to carry out this improvement
  • Who can they call upon, use, hire to help this improvement happen

Look at things objectively and attempt to move your emotional self away from the equation.

Consider these areas:

  • How has my career progressed
  • Where is my career path heading
  • How is my relationship with my line manager
  • What is my fit within the company
  • What opportunities for career development are there within the organisation (Think objectively and realistically, which can be hard if you dislike your current role)
  • What do I anticipate my place to be within 5 years’ time

From here, list what you believe to be your Strengths. What areas in your life are you proud of and what are your good qualities.

Ascertain what Weaknesses you may have. What areas need to be worked on or improved?

Establish what Opportunities are there for you or that appear interesting. What openings are there within your own business? What associations or network groups that you could explore?

Consider what Threats there are outside of your control but be truthful about whether you can change that outcome? How strong is the likelihood that this will affect your objective and what can you do about it?

It would help to ask others to contribute to your SWOT analysis. Ask friends, Family and work colleagues. State you are looking to improve and understand that this could be a useful tool to help you along the way. If you are looking to develop within the organisation, let the relevant parties who can help you along this path know and ask them.

Now look to set goals relating to your future journey:

  • What is your Goal – be specific
  • Steps needed to take move your career forward
  • What do you need to learn/develop to reach your goal
  • What is your drive and motivation
  • What is the timescale
  • What are the true barriers in the way and how can you overcome them
  • What sacrifices are you prepared to make to obtain your goal
  • Your CV … how current is it and how specific is it towards the career path you wish to take

Answering these questions and truly looking at yourself is just the start of your career journey. Once you start travelling this path, you can really focus on where you want to be.

As a coach, I help numerous people from a variety of walks of life to move forward in their chosen career path both internally and also outside of their organisations.

If are looking for help in moving your career forward, then take the first step and contact Neil at neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or 07761 187238 to arrange a free consultation on how Coaching to Success can help you. Also, to get a feel for the person, check out our short ‘interview’ video at https://youtu.be/RvCwOL4hPco

Once you’ve decided what needs to be changed, here’s how to make it stick…

So how many of us have made those promises to change something we do or behaviour we have? How difficult is it? We start with an idea that sounds simple enough but once we put it into practice, damn it’s hard!

Often though, it is more about how we approach it rather than just getting on and doing it then letting it slip because thought hadn’t gone into it at the offset … Oh, and I’ve been as guilty as the next person in years gone by for not achieving what I initially set out to do!

So here are 7 ‘Nutburn’ tips on how to achieve those resolutions.

  • Set ‘Realistic’ targets – All too often we aim too high and as we move along, we realise this and rather than change, we simply let it slip by the way or we set too broad a goal! To make it work, set simple goals with small steps that can be increased as each becomes achieved.
  • Outline what you wish to achieve – To change, you have to take yourself outside of your comfort zone, otherwise you would have done it some time ago, wouldn’t you? Do a Pros and cons list so you can see the benefits and also check what hurdles may crop up? Set out a plan to check on progress/targets.
  • Is it something YOU wish to do? – Insure this is something that you want to achieve and not something to conform to someone else’s wish or expectation.
  • Accurate and Specific! – Rather than stating that you wish to lose weight, for example, be specific, ie lose a stone by year end. This may seem daunting but break it down into further specific and achievable slots such as 2lb each month by the end of March then 1lb Apr etc thereafter. Now it’s realistic whilst being specific.
  • Become accountable to others – Make it public. Tell family, friends, those on your social media contact lists what it is you’re aiming to achieve and give them updates on your success. As a coach, it’s amazing how my clients achieve what they set as a result of making promises to me.
  • Reward achievements – No matter how small or large, set rewards along your path. When you hit a target, reward yourself.
  • Handle Failings – Remember, you are creating new habits, it’s reported that it takes 21 days to create new habits and 6 months for it to become part of your psyche, so there is a likelihood that you may slip up along the way. It is imperative not to berate yourself over this, get up, dust yourself down and get back on with it.

This is but a start and Coaching to Success can help you keep on track by supporting you and making you accountable for the outcome. We can help you turn the tables and insure you stay on track. Simply start the journey by contacting Neil at neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or 07761 187238 to arrange a free consultation on how Coaching to Success can help you. Also, to get a feel for the person, check out our short ‘interview’ video at https://youtu.be/RvCwOL4hPco

Time for ‘Change’? Let’s ‘Manage’ it to secure the best outcome.

Those who know me will know a favourite expression of mine is “If you continue to travel the same path as you always have, you will inevitably end up at the same destination”.

If you want to …

  • Grow (in confidence or self-worth)
  • Improve sales and/or profits
  • Try different avenues within your business field
  • Have your team or team members take on different responsibilities
  • Change your direction with the path you’re currently on

It’s critical you manage the change, or as many will know “Change Management”. But is it that easy?

I recently worked with a CEO concerning an awkward issue and one that ultimately changed the direction that some people were already heading. By truly recognising what the barriers were (both real and presumed) we worked through a programme of events giving a very clear outcome making it not only real but also manageable.

Much like their situation, should you be in the process of or considering change within your company or personal life, but with so many other things stepping in the way to gain that clarity, this may well help get you on track for a successful outcome.

  1. Create a ‘Change Plan’ – Before you can start any changes, it is crucial that you formulate a project plan looking at why change is necessary, a timeline, the major tasks involved and how it will be implemented. Assess all the possible options available, then select the most appropriate. Keep any other ideas for back-up. Allow it to breathe so it’s a work in progress of which improvements can be introduced.
  2. Clear Direction (Establish a persuasive case and a sense of urgency) – It’s no good having changes just because you’re bored of the way things are! There HAS to be understanding as to why change is necessary and that a clear set of arguments for change is laid out. Not only this, but a planned ‘action’ timescale for it to be within. Although emotions will be involved, try to step away and look at it logically.
  3. Clear Leadership (& ownership) –Not only from the leader(s) but for the teams and members of the organisation too. Should there be more than one leader, then a united front needs to be forged to give a clear message to all affected. Once established, accountability is given to introduce ownership. ‘R.A.C.I.’ is a great model for this (Responsibility, Accountability, Consult, Inform). Coaching to Success are here to help with this.
  4. Consistent Communications (Early and often) – I have to admit that this is my biggest gripe with most businesses. With all the means to communicate, this is still one of the core problems affecting most organisations. Poor communication is the bane of many a working environment. It is critical that poor communication is NOT a factor when change is imminent. There’s an old adage that goes “Tell them what you’re going to tell them… Tell them… and tell them what you told them”. Make sure the message is as clear as day. People perceive things in their own manner which may well be different from the intended outcome. Keep re-enforcing and making sure everyone involved are kept up to date with progress. Do not simply rely on ‘email’ to get your message out. Use face to face through to conferences to presentations to text (if it helps!). To be kept informed insures that innocent comments or ideas don’t grow to uncontrollable monsters.
  5. Maintain & Measure the Progress – Once the change has been started, make sure the momentum is kept up and communications (as stated before) are flowing. If those affected by change don’t see what’s happening, they can easily ‘presume’ that the change will not be happening, or they presume the ‘Need’ has also dissipated! As part of the original plan, develop the relevant milestones which can be celebrated loudly at every juncture. This then keeps the process clear in everyone’s mind so that all can work towards it.
  6. Anchor New Approaches – People need to see the change and the leadership team’s role is to insure that this is embedded in. This can be brought about by recognising and reinforcing the positive behaviours in those directly involved; Insure the ‘Vision’ is kept alive by communicating it; Create the ‘We’ approach rather than the ‘Them or They’; Set challenging and realistic goals; Show clear links between the objectives set and the team success; Recognise those individuals or teams that do well and celebrate as a team. Finally, from the offset, make the ‘New’ way the ‘Normal’ way!

These are the outline areas for a successful transition of change. Each case of change is unique to the company or individual and helping to gain that clarity, as we did with the CEO, is what we’re about.

To gain this for yourself, contact Neil neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or 07761 187238 to arrange a free consultation on how Coaching to Success can help you. Also, our short ‘interview’ video can be seen at https://youtu.be/RvCwOL4hPco.