Categories
All
This section will not be visible in live published website. Below are your current settings: Current Number Of Columns are = 1 Expand Posts Area = Gap/Space Between Posts = 10px Blog Post Style = card Use of custom card colors instead of default colors = Blog Post Card Background Color = current color Blog Post Card Shadow Color = current color Blog Post Card Border Color = current color Publish the website and visit your blog page to see the results |
Ordinary People Taking Action
Back to Blog
Soft Skills are like Software.4/26/2018 When I coach people, I often stress the importance of ‘soft skills’, which I define as empathy, communication, resilience, leadership, stress management, collaboration, teamwork and self-confidence. I believe there is a difference between soft skills and emotional intelligence. I know some use the terms interchangeably, but that is for another post.
Unfortunately, these qualities tend to be grossly undervalued in the workplace relative to ‘hard skills’ such as technical ability. On a more positive note, however, I’m seeing evidence of an overall uptick in awareness about soft skills.
0 Comments
Back to Blog
The Wrong Conversation4/25/2018 I’ll start by saying this. I believe we are having the wrong conversation about millennials. I promise to explain why, but you’ll need some context first. So let’s back up several years.
Approximately 10 years ago, I found myself in an interesting professional niche. I was a little older than 30 and found myself easily connecting with senior-level leads at large organizations, such as Microsoft. Around that same time, I found myself easily relating to recent college graduates who were new to the professional world – the mid-20-somethings. It didn’t take long before this dynamic led me to take on the role of “coach”, bridging the communication gap between millennials and the executive team. Consistently, what I’d hear from the executive team, primarily 50-something men at the time, was that the millennials were “hard to manage,” “entitled,” “self-absorbed,” “uncommitted,” and a long list of additional not-so-flattering words.
Back to Blog
Hello! We are just ONE WEEK away from our book club with Joshua Miller! Hopefully by now you have purchased the book and have read it (or have plans to read it this week). As we prepare for the upcoming book club, Josh has a message for you all:
Back to Blog
Be who you are.4/18/2018 Just shy of two business days in, I can already say that it’s been an interesting week. As I write this it is only Tuesday afternoon.
As I have expressed in previous posts, I am someone who truly views feedback as a gift. That hasn’t changed. But right now, the daily feedback, whether asked for or spontaneously given, feels overwhelming. It’s as though I have reached the limit of my ability to accept the gifts being offered. What have I been told? For starters, I have been told that I care too much about others and I need to put myself and my needs first. It’s a message I’ve now heard from five people in two days. That is a confusing message to hear because for more than fifteen years, I have been told that putting the needs of others first is the way to approach business, to lead a team.
Back to Blog
What would it mean to help illuminate the underlying thinking patterns that drive behavior and thereby gain access to new choices and possibilities? We all have a trajectory of development that is defined by stages. Stages 1 and 2 happen in our childhood and teenage years, and 75% of adults never go beyond stage 3.
We are shaped by the definitions and expectations of our personal environment – drawn to seeking alignment between our “self” and our surroundings. Because of this, in stage 3, we tend to surround ourselves by “like-minded” individuals. We identify and externally validate ourselves by our work, relationships, achievements, and possessions. While this is not necessarily a bad stage to stay in, it can become limiting. For example, we might feel inadequate or start to settle. There are a bunch of psychologists who dig a lot deeper into this than I just did, if you’re interested.
Back to Blog
Guest Post By: Tom Perry, Founder, Engaged Pursuit The tech market is hot, but finding an engaging gig takes focus, patience, and positivity. But most importantly it takes hustle. Here’s the story of Ryan’s longer-than-anticipated path. Clients are often surprised when I tell them that finding a new, more engaging role takes time. Sometimes a lot of time. Even in Seattle’s hot tech market (with still over 60 cranes across the skyline), clients quickly learn that the competition is insane and organizations are super-picky. “Finding the right match for you is going to take both time and hustle,” I tell clients. “It’s not going to be easy.” Ryan found that advice spot-on.
Back to Blog
If it scares you, do it.3/12/2018 Back in November, I had coffee with a long-time colleague, who said to me, “If it scares you, do it.” Afterward, his comment stayed with me. It made me think of all the times I’ve heard that same, recurring theme. If it scares you, it’s meant to be. If it scares you, you’ll learn from it. If it scares you, opportunity is right there.
Back to Blog
Spinning and Coaching2/8/2018 Needing something to jumpstart my workouts, I joined a spin class a few months ago. It was, and actually still is, a hard workout. If I’m signed up in advance for spin class, I show up. When you know you’ve made a commitment and someone is expecting you, skipping class is not an option.
Weeks in, the routine has become somewhat familiar. Warm up, gear somewhere between 3 -5, RPM 80 – 95. Increase the gear 1 or 2, RPM up to 110 Gear between 10 – 12, RPM 62 to start the hill. We cycle through intervals of hills, standing in second position, third position. We incorporate tap-backs, four corners, elbow bends. There is a song dedicated to arms and the connect song (which I love). Typically, there are random team races. Finally, active recovery. And, always a supportive coach not only telling us what to do and how to do it, but also cheering us on.
Back to Blog
When Justin’s mom broke the news that she’d scheduled him a meeting with a life coach, he was skeptical. I’m 17! Why do I need a life coach? But he knew from experience that fighting Mom on this would be worse than sitting with a strange lady for ninety minutes. Before his meeting, Justin painted a mental picture of the coach. He envisioned her super old, horribly dressed, managing to take already boring information and make it even less interesting, just like his third period history teacher. |