reflect


Finish It Up Friday:

When you set up your own coaching business and become “your own boss” there’s lots of ways you can organise your time and business. In today’s guest post coach Jaynine Howard shares one aspect of how she organises one day a week …

Finish It Up Friday:

Why I Don’t Require My Team to Work on Friday

By Jaynine Howard

Finish It Up Friday By Jaynine Howard

Friday – oh how that word can invoke a series of fleeting emotions ranging from dread to delight.

I have coined the phrase Finish It Up Friday as a way to make a mindset shift from dread to delight. It is the day to sleep in an extra hour. It is the day to enjoy that first cup of morning coffee knowing there are no real deadlines for the day. There is no better way to start a Friday than listening to the birds chirping, reading morning inspiration, and enjoying that first cup of coffee.

I and my team work long arduous hours Monday through Thursday. We do not prescribe to a normal 8 hour day. My day is typically starting by 5 or 6 am and ends around 10 or 11pm. My team works diligently providing fabulous services and meeting deadlines so that I meet my deadlines so my clients meet theirs. Much of what my team does for me is often not seen by others. They are busy researching and gathering statistics for my clients or for whatever program I am currently working on. They are busy writing media releases, preparing marketing materials, proofreading and taking care of the invoicing.

Just as many of us observe Sunday as a day of rest I and my team observe Friday as a day of rest. Adopting a casual Friday allows me and my team to recharge our batteries. When we have a fresh brain we are more creative. Also, since they know that I do not expect them to be available on Friday they know they can schedule personal appointments and plan their time off accordingly without fear that there will be work that needs to be completed.

Not much quality work gets completed when you or your employees are mentally exhausted. Using Friday to follow up with clients, finish up a few tasks or projects, and plan for the following week is a great way to unwind and prepare to enjoy the weekend. I am usually only at my desk a few hours on Friday morning taking care of loose ends. Making time to review my week and self-reflect on what went surprisingly well and what was a bit off provides me growth opportunities. I learn from the lessons of the week.

Designing a plan for the upcoming week has shown to increase productivity and increase income. Taking time to plan the tasks I will delegate, prepare for client sessions, and set aside time for writing also reduces the stress that would normally be felt if I had not planned to enjoy a successful week. I have learned when planning what I will delegate I must set up my emails to my team so they do not post until Monday morning because they are so very dedicated they will work on the tasks over the weekend regardless of the due dates.

Finish It Up Friday is a great way to self-reflect on your week, finish up projects or tasks that didn’t get completed, and prepare for the new upcoming week. Know your energy level and planning for self-care is key to success. I encourage you adopt a Finish It Up Friday and allow your employees extra time off. They will reward you with continued hard work, an increase in productivity and creativity as well as loyalty.

About Jaynine Howard

Coach Jaynine is the owner of Dream Catcher Business and Career Coaching. Jaynine uses the knowledge and skills she acquired during her 20 year career in the United States Marine Corps, working as a Psychologist in a locked mental health hospital, and being an entrepreneur to help medical and mental health professionals, small business owners, and medical spa owners grow their businesses by teaching them her five step process for attracting their ideal clients and turning them into paying clients. You can learn more about her signature program and download her free ecourse My Five Steps to Networking Success by visiting http://coachjaynine.com/

Article Source: Finish It Up Friday: Why I Don’t Require My Team to Work on Friday

EzineArticles Expert Page: Jaynine Howard


Awaking the Sleeping Giant Within

In today’s guest post Coach Diane Dutchin shares her expertise and knowledge to benefit both you and your clients.

Awaking the Sleeping Giant Within

by Diane Dutchin

"Awaking the sleeping Giant within" by Diane Dutchin

“Sleeping never moves you forward, it’s the awakening process that stirs you to action”

(DianeD)

I know, the title to this topic is not the usual you come across in your mail box like “how to uncover and tap into your niche”, or “how to attract more clients”. However, stay with me, this is an appropriate fit because it’s about you the coach and your client.

My intent is to deliver a one two punch of relevant information to empower you to reflect, to reapply methods of being and doing in your journey as a coach, and hopefully lead to a revival, renewal/refreshing to both you and your clients.

Let’s start with you the coach:

Reflect: when you first started your practice what was your attitude like? Aside from the excitement of finally doing what I felt I was created to do, I was focused on uncovering what areas of life I was deeply passionate about and connected to.

Forget about what the experts are saying you should or shouldn’t do, and what the latest niche is. What fired you up and awakened your spirit? Is that fire still there or is it a dying ember? Or, are you more motivated by external realities than your internal convictions? Stay consistent to your internal convictions. Here are some steps I follow to help me awaken sleeping giants in my journey

Revisit/Reapply: your core values and your personal beliefs. Revisiting my values gives me the opportunity to assess my present state, and how much of my values/beliefs are still in line with my living, and make adjustments where needed. By doing that you sharpen:

  • Your talents – what you know you’re really good at
  • Your passions – what you deeply care about
  • Your purpose – what is it you want your life to count for
  • Your impact – what is the outcome you’re looking to achieve

By incorporating your basic style of coaching with fresh ideas, tips and tools you can strengthen your practice, and find yourself at the advantage of serving with excellence.

Revive: your truth, your internal realities, and your purpose – not someone else! It’s easy to place too much emphasis on what others are doing, and dismiss what convicts and motivates your particular style. Yes, it takes someone with courage to stay consistent, recognize opportunities, and accept the calling to be a coach of positive change. I am not saying to ignore growth, but don’t throw out the baby with the bath water by neglecting the fundamentals you established your practice on.

Renew/Refresh: your life, your vision, your focus, your practice and your delivery. By taking the time to reflect, revisit/reapply and revive areas, thoughts, actions or saying about your life and practice, you could experience a welcomed renewal that can improve your delivery add deep refreshing to you and your practice.

All about the client:

Seeing that you’re in the coaching profession, I am going to automatically assume part of your focus when working with your client, is to:

  • Guide them towards the door of awareness
  • Empower them to open the door,
  • Challenge them to step into the journey
  • Motivate them to discover their answers, solutions, etc. in specific areas.

So, why is it some coaches overcomplicate this process? As a coach you want to remain mindful of lining up your words with your actions. I would rather have someone under promise with their words and over deliver with their actions, instead of over promising and under delivering.

Clients come to you because they have a need, and are drawn to you based on a number of factors:

  • What they’ve read on your site
  • What they heard through a referral
  • What your past clients said/testimonials
  • What was felt through the initial connection

In my experience I’ve found my most effective encounters and results came when I avoided the flashy and fancy approach. People aren’t looking necessarily for how much credentials are behind your name, or how many hundreds of clients you’ve served – all they care about is “can you help me with______?”

The basic foundational questions still works and can be extremely effective to get the journey of awareness, and empowerment to change started:

  • Why, when, where, what and how? (in whatever order)

You still have opportunity to ask other questions like:

  • What are your internal/external realities?
  • How important are values and beliefs to you?
  • On a scale ____? How do you feel about____?

My experience is that this way such questions will automatically fall into place!

There should be a natural flow when serving your clients. Be cautious of “trying” a new thing you read about, or what happens to be the “new style of coaching”. If not, it could show up during the session and mat be the last one with the client.

As a coach you can awaken and elevate areas of your personal and professional life to higher levels of fulfillment, and stir your clients forward to have a more impactful, and life transforming experience.

How do you know when an area in your life needs to be awaken, and what action do you take to revive it?

You are your Greatest Investment!

About Diane Dutchin

“Diane – life coach with a passion for living her best life and motivating others to do the same. I provide quality coaching and facilitating services to clients and coaches on a personal and professional level. I work with people to improve the quality of their lives on a personal and professional level.

Check out my site at www.makethemovecoaching.com and connect for a free 1 hour strategy session.”