Synergistic Coaching

My daughter has started her first job after college. As I watch her on her first days of work life, I'm reminded of my days as a manager and mentoring young employees who are full of excitement yet naive of life in a large bureaucracy.

As a manager, I used to take pride in mentoring my employees to success in an organization.  So the next series of meandering will cover some of these basics and learning as I'm reminded through my daughter's eyes and experience.

I have found that I have tended to draw clients to me who are experiencing work-life transitions. Either they have started new jobs due to workforce reductions or had job responsibility changes including promotions. I guess you could say that I continue to mentor in a different way an executive coach.  My methods are different, but the focus is similar.  In either case, I always remind clients to get back to the basics.

Get the Lay of the Land

First off, get the "lay of the land." Be all eyes and ears. Learn and ask questions. Your brilliant ideas and better ways of doing things must come much later as you get acclimated, unless of course you were brought in at the top of an organization or department to make drastic changes (in that case, ignore this wisdom, it is expected that you'll make brilliant additions more quickly). Ask questions of those who have had history in the organization and learn from them...about the company, the job, the people (remembering to reserve judgments about all after your own experience, but the information will come in handy in spite of your final assessment). People love to be asked their opinions and they expect questions early on from you. Later, they may appear as a weakness if they are too basic. But initially, you have a honeymoon period of nativity.

Get "Joined Up"

Secondly, always set up an "orientation schedule". This is a critical step in your "Joining-up Process".  Typically, your manager will have this planned for you...co-workers to meet, functions to understand, customers/clients to meet, etc. However, it is not uncommon that this important step may be totally missed and assumed to occur naturally. This is a huge assumption. The orientation will include identifying all information you need to do your job. For professionals starting out, this will be very task oriented. For seasoned managers, this will include talking to many people to ascertain expectations of you in your job from not only your superiors but your peers and employees reporting to you as well.

Your Map is the Organization's Strategy, Mission & Values

No matter where you are in the organization, knowing the strategic direction, mission and values of an organization are paramount to understanding what in turn is expected of you and where you fit in.

What, you don't know what is expected of you?

I'm always surprised to find out from employees who are put on notice of performance improvement needs that a large part of the problem is not understanding their job duties (their job description) and what is expected of them. So the basics are never unimportant, no matter your level in the organization.

Build on the Basics!

You'll get points in numerous ways, plus build many networking opportunities by taking initiative early on to make sure you are appropriately oriented and "joined-up" and knowing what is expected of you. As in anything, you must "build on the basics," not step over them.

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It's important that we can look each other in the eye and feel good about our relationships.  Recently the theme in my coaching has been about relationships.  We often get caught up in the drama of situations and lose sight of the importance of having an authentic, trusting relationship in the end.

All relationships are important and must be handled as a treasure, whether its a significant other, friend or a peer and superior in the workplace. 

I have found there are 5 important keys to keeping the trust level high.

1)  Simply keep to the truth and avoid exaggerations.

2)  Don't fall victim to gossiping or chatting about others around you.  Others will see that that violation may occur with them as well.  Character assassination is one of the most dangerous traps to find yourself in.  It in turn reflects badly on yourself as well as the one you are attacking.

3)  Look for body language and unspoken signals that the interaction with another may be fragile.  Being sensitive to others will help to encourage them to stay true to you in their feelings.   Gently encourage them to be open with you.  If they are saying what they're feeling...not just verbalizing their thoughts, you will get the complete truth.

4)  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Think before making a statement or commitment and then stick to it.  Everyone is watching for your integrity.

5)  Lastly, be generous with compliments and credit.  Let others know that you recognize their competence, abilities, characteristics and contributions.  At all cost, don't take credit for their work.  This is also very true in personal relationships.

Trust is earned, not an automatic.  Be authentic and true to yourself and you will likewise be that to others.

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Synergistic Coaching

  "What are you enthusiastic about?
     The root of the word enthusiasm is entheos. It literally means 'God Within.' Just think, when you feel enthusiastic about your dreams it means that God is speaking through you and saying "yes" to your goals! The feeling of enthusiasm is one of the ways your intuition speaks to you. What makes you excited, happy, delighted? What do you look forward to each day? Do more of it!"
  (This excerpt comes from a book by Lynn A, Robinson.  Divine Intuition: Your Guide to Creating a Life You Love , The Top 10 Ways to Use Divine Intuition In this book,  Lynn discusses the idea that this wisdom does exist - it comes through the whispers of your soul via your intuition.)  

As an Executive Coach, I have started to record my thoughts and "intuitions" by way of this coaching "blog" in lieu of a formal newsletter. I had another thought last week that I had planned to share, but just as this excerpt proclaims, I listened to my intuition.  A summary of Lynn's book came before me this morning by no coincidence.  My intuition was moved to ponder this a bit more deeply and to share this insight as it may have meaning for you also this week. 

Most of my pondering is related to work and living out our careers as part of our overall life.  A topic I have much enthusiasm for. One very powerful side of all of us is our spiritual side.   My Christian faith is strong in the belief of God.  I know everyone must have some sense of a spiritual being out there that is guiding their life. 

Isn't it powerful to think that your enthusiasm for a dream can be so connected that it is divinely directing you.  If you have talked with me for any length of time, you know that I waited 40 years to live one of my dreams...having my own horses.  (The picture above is Julie, one of my Paint Horses.)  What a joy I have spending my free time trail riding and just being outside with nature and my horses.  Additionally, I have taken up scuba diving and enjoy that with my family.  I definitely have enthusiasm for these activities and it has rounded me as a person!  

Work has always been a central part of my life and I have designed my profession to focus on the most enjoyable part of my previous job as an human resources executive...coaching people.  It's great that my circle of interests seem completed.

You too can have that.  Now think of your own dreams.  Are they with family, at a special place, working in a certain field or on a certain product, doing your favorite activity?  I can just feel you becoming enthusiastic just in your internalized thought process!  Now think about what the divine message "within" is telling you.  So follow your intuition; follow your dreams; and be enthusiastic!  We all know how to care for ourselves if we just listen. 

Warmly,
 
Gerri
Gerri Steadman
 SynergisticCoach.com
Success is always intentional, so why not be intentional about your life!

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“Coaching with Gerri is like gaining a creative dynamo for your life. She brings fresh, mind-expanding possibilities with smart intuitive style. If you’re ready to test the waters for what your life could be, Gerri is your coach. Gerri is the ultimate guide for discovering new horizons for your business, life and beyond. If you’re ready for an executive coach that challenges you to map out your greatest potential, you’ve found her. Gear up for the adventure of a lifetime with Gerri."

Cara McLauchlan

“The Portable Red Hot Momma"

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Whenever Native Americans come together in groups with things to discuss, there are certain rules that we always observe. Those unspoken rules show whether the participants were reared in a good way. No one has to make a comment about another person's behavior; it is evident through their actions. Listening is the foremost rule that determines a person's integrity and substance.

Talking Circles are what we use to bring problems out into the open, to find solutions, to share our feelings and experiences, and to honor the Sacred Points of View of every person present. To interrupt a speaker is to bring dishonor on his or her words, to bring dishonor on one's upbringing, one's family, Tribe, Clan and Nation.

Among other cultures, this practice may seem alien because words are not considered part of the Sacred Breath of Life that holds a person's Sacred Point of View. When people are talking, they are not listening. When one person interrupts another, the lack of respect is apparent. When people are constantly talking about anything that comes to their minds, it is a sign that they have no self-reflective skills and do not feel the weight or sacredness that their words carry. If the words that are spoken carry no commitment or carelessly hurt another, the speaker is not in tune with Oneness. Anyone can claim to be spiritual. The truth of how far they have come on the Sacred Path is noted by simply seeing how they listen and how they speak.

Earth Medicine - Jamie Sams  

 Gerri
Gerri Steadman
 SynergisticCoach.com

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Synergistic Coaching

Executive Coaching for Fast Track Executives

Do you sometimes find it difficult to stay out of the "drama."  Do you ever feel like someone else has it out for you?  Do you find yourself spending time talking to others to help air your case based on what you believe are the motives of other's?  Do you wish you didn't have to rely on other's?   Some simple guidelines for yourself may help you avoid these pitfalls and build a reputation of integrity for yourself.  The following summary points from the book  The Four Agreements  might give you some food for thought that will help you avoid the drama and encourage positive self-talk and improve realtionships at the same time.    

Summary From The Four Agreements  by Don Miguel Ruiz

This book speaks to the fact that we make agreements within ourselves about how we will behave.  These agreements are sometimes prompted by circumstances and the behaviors/comments of other people in our lives whom we trust to tell the truth.
He suggests that we make the following agreements with ourselves:

Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity.  Say only what you mean.
Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.  With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.  Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret nothing.

Warmly,
Gerri
Gerri Steadman
 SynergisticCoach.com

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