Year of Meaningful Growth

December 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Each year I create a theme for my year.  This theme underscores the efforts I take personally and professionally and in my business.  It’s a great way to be more focused in your efforts, and to be clear on what you want to achieve.

In 2018 my theme was ACTION!  After more than 18 months away from my business, I was back in the saddle and taking action to rebuild my business and pivot its direction required constant and persistent action.  After looking at my list of accomplishments I was amazed at how much I had accomplished, and the year is still not over.

Now that we are about to enter into 2019 I am making a pivot in my focus.   Action will still be a critical component to achieving my goals, but will focus more on creating growth– more specifically, meaningful growth.

What is meaningful growth?

It is growth with a purpose and clear focus.  It is growth that resonates with me and my clients, and supporters.  For me, meaningful growth is grounded in my values and is good for me, my business, and the world around me.  My MoreThanGreen™ approach to business underpins this concept well.

In fact,  “by connecting growth with purpose, leading companies make their growth agenda meaningful. And with that meaning comes bolder strategic choices and stronger ambition” 

I’m all in when it comes to bolder strategic choices and stronger ambition!

My recommendation for setting yourself up for a successful 2019.

Start by recognizing your 2018 accomplishments.

  • Sit down with a pen and paper and write down all of the accomplishments you achieved in 2018.
    • Don’t screen your thoughts — just write them all down.
    • Include things you tried but may not have worked.  Implementation (regardless of result) is an accomplishment.  Failures are learning opportunities too.
    • Include relationships you have built, or reestablished, or kept going.

How does this list make you feel?  Take time to celebrate all of these wins!!

Now, think about where you want to be 1 year from now.  What do you want to be celebrating?

  • Create your goals based on what you want to celebrate next December.
    • What do you want to achieve?
    • How will you feel?
    • How will you get there?
  • Post your goals in a conspicuous place so you see them everyday.
  • On a weekly basis, review your week and determine if your actions have been consistently moving your toward your goals and are providing meaningful growth for you.
    • If not, what do you need to change?

Participating in a Mastermind Group is an ideal way to keep yourself accountable and on the right path so you achieve your goals.  I invite you to consider joining me in Coffee and Conversations Business Mastermind, starting in February.  This program was overhauled to better meet the needs of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and professional practitioners.

Book an Ignition Session to explore how a mastermind can help create meaningful growth for you!

Filed Under: 2018, Business Success, Goals, Mastermind Groups, Small Business Tagged With: , , ,

I’ve taken the TELUS Wise Pledge Against Bullying

June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
, will be kind and respectful online, will not engage in bullying and will help if I see it happening.

And to protect myself in our digital world:

Inspire others by sharing a message

Tell us what this pledge means to you (optional):*
As a leader striving to create a better world through communication, leadership and in teams, I believe its important that we create a zero tolerance to bullying and harassment. In doing so we can all take action to end disrespect and fearmongering. This in turn enables each of us to move our community, country and the world forward with a strong foundation built on trust and respect that fosters learning, growth and prosperity.
* If approved your comment may be shared on the TELUS Wise Digital Pledge Gallery Page.

Did you know?

TELUS Wise Digital Pledge

Together, we can create a positive, friendlier world online. Stand with us and your fellow Canadians to help make our digital space safer by taking the TELUS Wise Digital Pledge.

For every Pledge taken, TELUS will give $1 to support #EndBullying programs across Canada.

 

Take the Pledge Today

Filed Under: 2018, June Tagged With: , , ,

Win with a Positive Mindset

February 27, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Did you have an opportunity to watch the gold medal men’s hockey game on Saturday?  This game had the underdog, Germany, playing the overwhelming favourite, Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR).   Prior to the game, the discussions focused on the amazing feat of the German team to knock out strong medal contenders to get to the gold-medal game.  In fact, the German team didn’t qualify for the Sochi games in 2014 and have not won a medal in men’s hockey since 1976. How would the Germans would perform against the stronger and more experienced OAR team? Would it be a one-sided game?

Well, the game was definitely not one-sided and it was probably one of the best gold medal games since the Canada vs USA game in Vancouver 2010.   The game went into overtime and OAR came out the winner of the gold medal.  The Germans won the Silver medal.  A pretty successful outcome.

If we look at how a definite underdog could dig deep and be a strong contender we can identify one key trait — the Germans believed they could win.   In fact, one team member started a group chat in the Fall of 2017 and called it “the march to gold”.   They say they began to believe they could really be contenders.

Positive Mindset

When we talk about a positive mindset, what do we mean?

Positive thinking is the process of creating thoughts that create and transform energy into reality.

It is amazing how our mind can be the catalyst to inject energy and focus to our efforts.  A positive mindset offers each of us so many benefits

  • more energy to pursue our goals
  • better decision making ability
  • improved resiliency to the ups and downs
  • a strong and positive belief that things can become true – this is reflected in innovation and sales.

 

Be a game changer.  The world has enough followers.

 

Steps You Can Take to Get More of What You Want

One thing we all face in business is the recurring pattern of ups and downs.  Everyone faces them.  In fact, some of the most successful business leaders have faced some catastrophic downs yet they turned their fortunes around.

How can you create a positive mindset if you’re feeling like a failure or are frustrated with the constant ups and downs we can face in business?

  1.  Create a vision board.  The visual images you assemble on your vision board make those ideas, dreams and goals in your mind more concrete and achievable.  The purpose is to know exactly what success looks like to you.
    1. Close your eyes and see what it is you want to achieve, how you want to live, or how you want to feel.
    2. Grab a corkboard.
    3. Now, convert those images in your mind into pictures, sayings, or words you can place on your vision board.
    4. Hang the completed vision board where you will see it several times a day.
    5. Everyday, look at your vision board and focus on what actions you must take today to make these images a reality.  Your vision board is a visual representation of your goals and you are reminded about your goals every day.
  2.  Create a vocabulary of positive statements and responses that will help you reprogram your brain.   For example, when someone asks how you are, respond with “I’m great”, “I’m well” rather than “Hanging in there” or “I’ve been better”.   When facing a challenge, tell yourself “I can do this” instead of “It’s impossible”.
  3.  Start each day with a positive affirmation.   An affirmation is a statement that helps you rewire your brain and reset the vibe you will feel all day.
    1. Stand in front of a mirror (yes, this is important), look at yourself and say something positive.  Use the present tense about what it is you want to have happen.  Examples include ‘Today will be a great day”, “I am confident as I take new steps to push outside my comfort zone” etc.
    2.  Download our deck of positive affirmations that you can draw upon to help you reprogram your thinking.   Add some of your own too!

 

Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.                Jack Canfield

Filed Under: 2018, February, Productivity, Small Business, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Grind it Out

February 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

This week the PyeongChang Olympics have the Canadian Women’s Curling Team facing challenges we, as Canadians, are not used to seeing.   Skip Homan and her team lost their first three games and then began to turn things around.  In contrast, the Men’s team, skipped by Koe, won 4-straight before a losing skid.

To help add some support and words of encouragement, Mike Babcock, former Team Canada Coach for Men’s Hockey in Vancouver and Sochi phoned the women curlers.

 

What we do and what they do is exactly the same thing. The ability to execute under pressure is so important. You think it’s going to go good and it doesn’t go good. You have to find a way to grind.

I always tell people the difference between good and great is your passion and your ability to stick with it. Keep grinding. To me that’s what champs do.

As business leaders, Babcock’s words are wise ones for us to follow as well.  How many times have you faced obstacles in your business?  In my 25 years, I have weathered the economic ups and downs, shifts in client demands, lost revenue due to extended medical leave and more.  Yet, no matter what situation seems to step in my way I find a way to grind it out and come out better and stronger.

As an Executive Coach, I am often asked to work with business leaders to tap their true potential so they too can grind through adversity.  The advantage of working with me, is the ability to look at situations with different perspectives, run scenarios and optimize the solutions.   Together we become a team with a goal and the passion and determination to overcome the challenge and create a new outcome.

As Michael Jordon once said:

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.         

Michael Jordan

The one thing we know is that Olympians have worked long and hard, navigated large and small obstacles and rise above them to be the best they can be.  Most importantly they haven’t faced these challenges alone.  They have a team surrounding them — coaches, family, friends, team mates and supporters.

In business, our own success requires we face adversity with the same dedication and persistence to learn, grow and deliver on our goals.  It also requires us to create a team that is there to support us, work with us and teach us.  The route we take to get there may have to be adjusted or take a little longer, yet dedication and perseverance and a strong team can be the difference maker.

By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.   

Christopher Columbus

 

Executive Coaching offers leaders the ability to add to their support team.  In fact, an Executive Coach can assist you in fostering better performance so you grow, learn and lead effectively.  It can also help you develop high-performers on your team.   Book a call to explore how we can assist you and your team.

Filed Under: 2018, Coaching, February, Leadership, Motivation Tagged With: , ,

When Teams are Fractured

February 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

This past week has been an interesting case study on the impact of team dynamics on the ability of that team’s ability to achieve optimum outcomes.

I was speaking with a potential client on the challenges they are facing.  What bubbled to the surface was high turnover, poor communication, and a lack of perceived value in what they do.  From the outside, this group offers amazing value that has the potential to have a significant impact throughout the organization and beyond yet internally they lack the culture to clearly recognize and reveal their value.  This results in fractures between the team.

Later in the week I heard a discussion on the radio in response to two statements made by members of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team.  When some players dedicate themselves to a solid preparation routine and others don’t, performance suffers and cracks show.

What do you think?   Is there a real connection  between the ability of a team to work toward a common goal and preparation, communication and perceived value?

My response to this question is definitely YES.

Preparation is a critical component to long term success.  In the case of athletes, they create routines for practice days as well as competition/game days.  These routines prepare them to be in top condition, to have the right mindset and to dig deep and deliver their best when it counts.  In the business world, preparation can include having the right mindset, knowing the subject matter, having the right tools to do the job when called upon, or showing up prepared to work.

Teams, whether in sport or in business, have the challenge of pulling together several individuals into one cohesive unit.  When team members change, fail to get the job done as planned, or when communication breaks down, the team can experience setbacks, lost productivity, lost confidence and in some instances, a loss of trust.

The ultimate goal is to be a high performance team where each member of the team is valued and trusted to do what it takes to bring their best to the job.  They know their role, and are committed to contributing to the goal.  Leadership is more fluid – shifting as needed to drive results.  Productivity is high and the culture is strong and cohesive.

What steps can you take with your team to build a strong culture where every team member is valued equally and results reflect the great environment?

 

Ignite Leadership is committed to turning dysfunctional or challenged workplaces into one that is built on trust, strong leadership, effective communication, good processes and systems and positive team dynamics.   How can we assist you and your team?   Book a call to explore options.

 

Filed Under: 2018, Communication, February, Productivity, Team Dynamics Tagged With: , ,
RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
Instagram