The Sky is the limit!
Here’s a little thinking exercise to keep that positive emotion going more:
· First, think about how you are feeling- start with the joy or hope
· Then think about where you feel the feeling in your body.
· How does that feeling feel in your body?
Read MoreKeep on going! You and your startup matters!
Startups are hard, but worth it!
I can tell you from my own experience, so here are some ideas to keep your startup business sustainable.
Who are YOUR people? What is YOUR business? Where is the MONEY going to come from? Who is on YOUR team? What will sustain YOUR ups and downs? Consider getting a coach.
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Besides taking care of your body, there are three (plus one) other things we can learn to do more: be grateful, savor the present moment (and be mindful), and have a positive hope for the future. (Those PPFs, again!)
The “plus one” is having a few close relationships.
Read MoreI have had several things on the burner, and not much on the back burner, so it has been a juggling process since the beginning of September and it will continue this month, but November looks free-er and I will have time for new clients and different projects.
First, there was theEASCannual general meeting and then the online congressshortly afterwards. I, of course, participated in both as a board member and I alsogave a workshopon resilience, burnout and sustainable work
Read MoreDo what you can, and then turn your focus away from what you can’t. It helps with worry, which is not at all helpful.
This works for most instances, especially for work. You can also think about how to work when things seem stuck…
Read MoreReturning to work from a longer break can be emotionally and even physically difficult, especially if you have really had a mental “break” from your every-day schedule for longer than two weeks.
Returning to work after a longer break can also be something work related, but not every-day such as being on a work training or retreat besides holidays, family time or just R&R in the garden.
Returning to the regular pace of work can feel like you are a deep-sea diver coming to the surface again, facing a foreign world from where you have recently been.
Read MoreReflection Check-up for midsummer, including decision-making.
It is after midsummer and perhaps you and I should take some time for a reflective check-up. It is important to regularly reflect upon our goals and check our progress to make changes and keep on your chosen course.
First you must ask yourself questions.
Ask yourself
Read MoreSummer is a lovely time of great weather, outdoor and water sports, vacations, music festivals, barbeques, weddings, soirées and general fun. But one can get distracted in the middle of the fun and forget our business – and life goals. We need an easy way to keep on track when we are trying to focus.
Read MoreA while ago I got together with coaching and supervision colleagues and I was reminded of one of my favorite (negotiation and decision) interventions: The H.I.T. list, where you have three questions:
· What is your Have-to-have?
· What do your Intend (or would like) to have? And
· What can (or must) you Trade ( or give up) to get your Have-to-have (for sure) and possibly your Intend to have?
When you think about this, then you can decide what is not on these lists, and discard - or delegate.
Read MoreSafe travels, colleagues!
I am thinking a lot about (mostly business) traveling as I will be on trains and in hotel rooms off and on for the next weeks. I will be travelling to the middle of Switzerland soon – where the lakes and mountains meet. Even if it is “business”, I look forward to seeing my colleagues and to the meetings meals together. Later next month I look forward to some EASC Board meetings and to seeing my colleagues in person once again.
What about security for myself, especially as a woman alone a lot of the time? What can I do?
Read Morehow do I know what I can change in a stressful situation - what I have to deal with - and live through?
Let’s begin with some things you can do, even when the stress is not ongoing.
First, when you see that the programme is too full or is getting too full for your liking, try to, if you possibly can, put in time buffers. Do it ahead of time. Say you see that the next few weeks are full of ”heavy duty” activity, then do not plan something in the evenings, if possible – even if it is a fun activity and plan only fun activities (and one per day) at the weekend. This will help keep your brain and body from being on overdrive.
Learn to say no and feel good about it.
I am very serious about that.
Read MoreLong Term (or ongoing) Stress is the most difficult for us to have as it affects our bodies and minds (& spirits) more.
I have a few clients with long term stress and they are suffering.
Here are some symptoms:
· You are always tired and rather forgetful
· You are irritable and maybe self-medicate to stay afloat
· You have physical symptoms such as headaches, body aches, stiff muscles (especially in the neck, shoulders and jaw), stomach and other digestive problems, and sexual dysfunction
Read MoreThere are many ways to prevent burnout and to increase resilience. Increasing resilience.
Usually it starts with a wee “no”.
Maybe you even still must “do it”, but hopefully your boss or co-worker has finally heard that you actually do not want to do something. Maybe they will think a second time before just assuming you will do that thing.
Read MoreChecking off that to-do list fast enough?
I am chugging through my list, but must remember the BIGGER things, too.
Like making time for work (and personal) reflection.
Like preparing for a talk on connection, communication (and, of course, conflict)
Like writing (and reading)
Like preparing next year’s school lectures
How do you plan on getting things done?
Do you make time for reflection – at the end of the day, at the end/beginning of the week, at the end of the month and year?
But in the end, keeping one word in my “view” at all times, really helps me get things done - maybe it will help you, too!
Read More…“tough-minded optimism” – is a blend of creativity in ideas, strong convictions about what works and about doing things for the “common good”, and resilience, especially when it comes to the need for change. To quote, “The future is not shaped by people who don’t really believe in the future,”…
Read MoreIt is what it is … or is it?
What can we control?
What can we influence?
What is out of our control?
What we can control (usually) is my response to what I can influence and what I cannot control.
Read MoreWhat are you reading?
Two books I read for my upcoming talk on Stronger Network THIS WEEK: (https://www.strongernetwork.com/strongerconference ) are Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin and Rework by Freid and Hansson.
I am reading a few books on connection and human relationships for a talk later on in 2023, too: Belonging by Geoffrey Cohen, Connections (again) by Larry Crabb, and The Love Prescription by John and Julie Gottman. There may be other books I read, if I have time.
In 2022 I read The Extended Mind by Annie Paul and I am still reading Radical Leadership by Sprenger (with a client)
Read MoreWe have talked about the seven deadly sins, and their “opposites”, the seven virtues and now I want to tie in EQ – Emotional Intelligence.
But what is Emotional Intelligence? It is composed of four areas:
1. Self-awareness (know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses- this could be the virtue of humility)
2. Self-management (this would include the virtues of diligence, temperance, and chastity)
3. Social awareness (this would include the virtues of charity/good works and kindness)
4. Relationship management (this would be the virtue of patience but also include the virtues of charity/good works and kindness)
Read MoreLast time I talked about the seven deadly sins and how they are pernicious in our present culture. Now I want to talk about the opposites and how to cultivate them in our lives and promote them in society. First, here are the deadly sins once more:
Sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, and pride.
The virtues to cultivate are:
chastity, temperance, charity (or good works/love in action), diligence, kindness, patience, and humility.
Read MoreHere’s my annual blog with the traditional addendum of a time of personal reflection for you at the end. I hope your year has been as full and profitable as mine!
Here are some of my recent activities:
· General business coaching and career coaching (including transitions)
· Start-up coaching
· Leadership Supervision
· General Supervision mostly in my “intervision” groups (yes, I attend two, now)
· Burnout and Resilience Coaching and Supervision
· Executive and management coaching, specifically for owners and leaders of SMEs ….
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