To start reaching your goals, you need to put good habits into place.
Set very small steps (see SMART below) and work incrementally. I also use mental contrasting for myself, for my students and my clients.
What is it
: a kind of self-regulation:
A way to swing between goals and obstacles in a way that helps you overcome the obstacles and reach your goals.
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Whatever the transition, whether small or heavy, we must work through the stages of grief so that we can really function well in life. This means we much actually face the situation, the feelings of anger, disbelief, the deep sadness we might feel, so that we can begin to try and live again. It’s won’t be a linear process, but a back and for of all those emotions. Emotions are good; they are what make us human. We shouldn’t be afraid to cry with our friends who are mourning. In fact, it may encourage them, and even help them feel that we are a “small part” of their grief process. When you have a transition, take your time and feel your feelings when you grieve a loss.
Read MoreAre you having problems with getting back to work from a great holiday time? My husband and I have been, AND we have some ideas to help - maybe you can do them too!
Start back on a Wednesday, or even Thursday (my son tried to do this on a Friday, recently)
This is what I am doing a week ago.
Make your first work-week lighter by only working a few days, or perhaps schedule something “fun” first, such as a training day, or a team building day where you have no choice but to ignore your email list.
What about you? Can you re-start midweek?
Start slowly, with lowered expectations
Read MoreSkipping your 2024 vacation because you have too much to do?
It’s now proven that stressed employees cannot produce as well as rested and relaxed employees.
Going on holiday can be a critical management strategy for you as a business leader, especially in today’s “always-on culture”. While it may seem counterintuitive that taking time away from the office can benefit a company, the reality is that strategic downtime can enhance leadership, creativity, and overall organizational success.
Read MoreHappy August 1st!
On this day all over Switzerland you can go to Farmer Brunches, attend speeches and fireworks, go to the forest and have a bratwurst over the fire. You can do all these and more – and we are a direct democracy, and so far, it is working. Thank God.
But today I remember places where democracy is threatened or non-existent.
I remember, Myanmar, Sudan, DRC, and of course, Yemen, Palestine/Gaza/Israel.
I also remember Venezuela today, on August first.
Read MoreHow have you set up your life so that your habits help you to do what you know?
After all we can know what is good for us to eat, for example, and then go to McDonalds several times a month. We can know that exercise is good for us and then sit in front of the computer every evening after work. You get the idea.
Our minds are stronger than we think, though, so, not just what we know but what we think at any given moment can change our emotions and our direction.
Read MoreLiminal spaces: There are physical liminal spaces: waiting rooms at the doctor’s office, airport terminals, airplanes in flight, hallways, bridges, in the car driving somewhere, and doorways…
I was waiting at a bus stop on a rainy evening recently, wondering about all those other people I saw. Their stories, but also all “on hold” until their bus came.
Liminal - waiting for something new to begin.
For the new to come something needs to end.
There was an end of something, a meeting, a job, a visit, a holiday, a relationship.
Read MoreBetween all the client meetings, teaching, exam corrections I have been doing quite some networking – Friday is one more: a MidSommer dinner Fest. I love it! Next week I get to get ice cream with a group of people I have joined for a year of networking together- and the venue is even in my own village, for once!
What about you? Your best referrals will come from people you know, no matter what. So, you need to expand your network to find business, get referrals and maybe, for those of you looking, get a job. Let’s do it!
To find the people who will refer you will have to network. A web presence is nice and kind of like a “calling card”, and that’s where your referrals go to “check you out”, most people do not find you that way (so, there are way too many people spending time and energy on this, in my opinion) find you”. Well, usually that’s the case from the people I know.
Read MoreAre you starting a business because you need a new direction after recovering from burnout? Here is a success story:
My client wrote me from out of the blue that he wanted to start a business and that RAV (the Swiss unemployment service) would pay for me to coach him.
So, we started a journey that helped him to look at his product, the market, and even how long he could invest in the enterprise without much financial return before he would need to get back into the regular business market.
Read MoreI just ran into a former client who was looking for a better job and could not get past the “Swiss system of hiring”.
She was well qualified and young and energetic, but as a trailing spouse, felt left behind regarding her own career path.
After some CV-checking and somne caching, she found her way and just today I ran into her and it was refreshing to see how well she is doing!
Maybe you need direction, or re-direction in your job search?
OR…
Have you successfully gone through a burnout phase but need to get back to work somehow and feel daunted? A certified coach may help you in this better than a therapist.
Read MoreThe temptation is to keep on working, or even work while on holiday, BUT it is NOT sustainable, nor is it healthy.
Many of us are tempted to skip our vacation, or at least check out work emails daily (hourly?) while away.
After all, nobody wants 1,000+ emails to go back to work to.
But psychologists have found it vital for our health and well-being to completely “shut down” for a while, even if it’s a 48-hour break from emails, and a change of pace and scenery.
Read MoreA few weeks ago a friend asked me what exactly is executive coaching and I though of this success story:
Are you a business leader who has been under pressure for a number of years?
Have you not taken a vacation in months or years?
Do you feel close to burnout?
Here is a client success story (names and ülaces have been changed to protect them):
Read MoreLast weekend a friend asked me what supervision is and how might it apply to them.
First and foremost, supervision is for the helping fields and I work primarily within my fields, names with coaches, supervisors and educators, but I also work with business leaders and help them with their personal development. Today I am going to focus on a smaller field: supervision of coaches and supervisors:
As a qualified supervisor, I support coaches and supervisors after their training and in their ongoing professional development.
Are you:
· A practising coach or supervisor who wants to grow in your personal and professional development?
· Are you setting up your own practice?
· Are you currently undergoing a transition in your career in some way?
If yes to any of the above, here are the reasons why you may need and want a supervisor…
Read MoreChanging your perspective on stress and negative emotions will help you be healthier. How you SEE things is really a game changer. How you see your situation and your stress can be the path to ill health OR a path towards resilience and SUCCESS!
I have a few clients with long term stress.
It happens to all of us, and for some it is a “given”.
Read MoreYou are looking for that particular someone.
Or you are looking for “your People”.
Or you are looking for a coach, a counsellor, a mentor, …
How do you choose and what do you look for?
How do you know that they are trustworthy?
This is important for any business or other relationship: TRUST!
Research has shown that mutually supportive relationships are key to stress reduction and resilience.
Read MoreStress is “fought” best by being resilient.
How resilient are you?
Resilience has a lot of factors, and one is focusing on your strengths (not your weaknesses).
What is your superpower?
Read MoreThere is a time when your stress level tips. Then the stress begins to hurt your body.
What is that bad stress and what can you do about it?
Read MoreAre you stressed? It is normal and CAN be a good thing!
Stress is a normal part of life and without it you really would not get anything done.
Those deadlines (unless there are too many all at once) are actually helpful.
Even having a visitor over can stress you enough to finally pick up and clean a bit.
Stress can also tell you what is important in your life.
What you value can stress you out – this is important to know!
I have a friend who often says, “I don’t care anymore.” But of course, she does.
The stress you have can point to what you care about (often what you care about most). This a good place to start (and end): reflection! What do you value?
Read MoreResilience is what you need to help prevent burnout. It is a key to thriving, even if you are underwater and the to-do list keeps getting longer.
So, what really helps you get up and keep on going when something happens that is a set-back, whether big or small? What makes you resilient?
You’d be surprised.
Read MoreMondays are my days to get organized and productive.
Fridays are the days I plan the following week. Then I try and shut down for the weekend but sometimes I do work on a Saturday. I even gave a presentation yesterday on mentoring, but that was an exception.
This Friday/Monday rhythm of planning and preparation helps me to be more intentional with my tasks and not let my tasks manage me.
How do you stay productive, not doing something that is on the list, but getting really important tasks done – without burning yourself out?
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