Business Owner

The art of listening and building solutions can be learned by anyone.

As busy business owners, executives and entrepreneurs, it can be hard to listen when we don’t want to hear what someone is saying. We blame it on our busy-ness, ever-present distractions and the other person’s irritating communication style.

However, it’s important to remember, our employees, customers and vendors provide the greatest value in helping us build solutions and profitably grow our businesses. It’s on us to listen and learn, while hearing and providing what the team needs to win.

It’s Profitable to Listen

Be open to other’s contributions. Your team, customers and vendors are valuable sources of information. Encourage them to rock the boat with their potential solutions. Then, work with your team to determine how these solutions can strategically build a positive outcome and ROI. One successful business owner stated, “My team and customers come up with 100’s of ideas, only a couple that can be actually implemented profitably.”

Talk straight. This sounds easy, but, it’s not. One business owner loves to rely on his emotional reactions when making decisions. As a result, his decisions constantly change, making it hard for others to get a straight answer. Using the 5 W’s (why, when, where, who and what) deep dive into asking questions without interrogating anyone.

Listen for what you don’t know. Yes, this can be hard on the ego. It’s also the reason many companies are struggling today. An executive believed he could intuitively tell the “right answer” without objective data. As a result, the company is struggling to grow and become profitable due to his “know-it-all” attitude. Avoid quickly rubber stamping any ideas, or automatically dismissing any suggestions based on your emotions and lack of real objective data.

Welcome brainstorming. The true art of brainstorming will not allow you to disregard off-the-wall comments as these can elicit the best ideas from others. One executive loved to play the game of pretending to listen to other’s ideas, but, would only implement his own. As a result, he was fired for ignoring key information.

Learn from everyone’s mistakes. No matter what we do to avoid them, mistakes and failures happen … to everyone. Instead of assessing blame and engaging in gossip to feel better, seek solutions. Objectively review what worked and didn’t work. This process will minimize the emotional roller-coast. It also provides clarity to address overlooked action steps that seemed unimportant, but were critical to success. Do NOT be distracted by the shiny object syndrome that naturally occurs when you need to resolve current challenges. One business owner loved her new ideas and used them as a distraction to avoid working through her business challenges. When she listened to her business coach, she saved time and money, and was able to strategically focus to build a profitable business.

When you start to really listen, you will hear valuable solutions and opportunities that you would never think of on your own. This is the least expensive and most profitable way to grow your business.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2018

Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert for the past 25 years. As an executive coach, speaker and author, she provides straight talk with dynamic results.  The art of listening for and building solutions can be learned by everyone. Take the time to find out why you don’t always listen to what others have to say. Don’t wait! Contact Jeannette now for a preliminary confidential conversation.

Change occurs around us daily, whether we know it or not.

Many of us fear the impact change can have on our jobs and in our lives. Often, we feel helpless or become resigned.

Success anywhere in our lives must embrace change, not for the sake of doing or thinking differently, but, because it is required to achieve our intended results. Embracing change allows us to be open to new ideas, explore outside our comfort zones and seek new career opportunities, financial options and ways to improve the quality our lives.

Traps We Often Fall Into

While many people refuse to let go of long-held beliefs, even when they get in the way of our success, it’s important to transform our points of view to achieve intended results.

Procrastination. Waiting until the proverbial perfect time or until life intervenes with dramatic events is time wasted. Making important changes now will create a happier, healthier and more successful you.

Boredom. We often allow distractions and disruptions to get in the way of focusing, being silent and listening because we are bored. Disengaging from old patterns of thoughts and behaviors is required to create new pathways for results.

Fear. To avoid addressing our fears, we often unconsciously calculate a risk-aversion formula that keeps us feeling safe and secure.

When I was a kid, I hated cooked peas. While my enjoyment of these tiny green vegetables hasn’t changed, the risk/reward ratio is also very low. However, the risk/reward for engaging in difficult conversations with coaching executives offers greater risks … and provides greater rewards. My natural confidence boost and career satisfaction have been amazing … and, they have greatly benefited too!

Embracing Change Is an Inside Job

Remember, life is a process, not an event. When old habits reappear, practice self-compassion, don’t beat yourself up and move on!

Self-Insightfulness. Mindfulness, meditation and awareness allow us to address the “why” of our past, release these unconscious emotions and make changes more easily. Work with a coach or therapist to guide the creation of new personal and professional practices.

Forgiveness. Forgive yourself and others for what you have done or not done. While it may not be easy, let go of regrets when memories resurface. For example, if you need to repay a person, work out a plan to do so (e.g., repayment of money borrowed). Apologize if you upset someone. Get back into focused action after you’ve failed in a project.

Change the Energy. Revitalizing yourself is easier when you also make physical changes in your life. Change or alter your office, desk or cubicle … and, your personal living space too. Drive a new way to work. Greet each person you meet with a smile and “Hi!” Get a new job. Changes allow you to create new opportunities, and they can be fun and rewarding too.

Walk, Talk and Write It Out. Exercise, talk confidentially with a couple close friends and journal your thoughts and activities to make it easier to let go of the old and welcome the new. Remember, change may require modifications to your life (e.g., adopting a new puppy will require pet proofing your home).

Inner Power and Strength. Naturally developing these inner beliefs takes time and awareness. Resilience, acceptance and compassion are the keys to stop the old feelings of “helplessness” or “being controlling.”

Success anywhere in our lives must embrace change to transform our results.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2018

Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst for the past 25 years. As an executive coach, speaker and author, she provides straight talk with dynamic results. Do you need to make changes? (Hint, everyone does!) Uncertain as to what to do? Don’t wait for the unintended consequences! Contact Jeannette now for a preliminary confidential conversation.

SeibCo’s 2018 Business Survey Results.  Get your free copy now: “How to Achieve Success When 2018 Is Not Business as Usual“

“Workplace etiquette creates a better working environment for everyone.” Jeannette Seibly

Millennials enjoy working in pods, impromptu meetings in hallways, team lunches and brainstorming in huddle rooms, according to VTS Blog. Offices and cubicles have effectively disappeared from the millennial-focused workplace. This can create difficulty for some employees that rely on privacy, personal space and the ability to concentrate to get work done.

It’s important for all employees to be aware of how workplace etiquette impacts everyone.

Ask, Don’t Assume before Creating Standard Policies

In a confidential survey ask, what is working and what is not working before making any changes. Many companies use online survey systems (e.g., SurveyMonkey.com) for easy distribution and review of responses.

Concerns Most Often Addressed

Dress Code

• -Wear appropriate clothing, jewelry, shoes, etc.
• -Safety is important.
• -No personal grooming at the desk or in the common areas.

Code of Conduct

• -Talk with individuals promptly in a professional manner to address specific complaints.
• -No pop-over the walls to ask questions, instead walk around to talk.
• -Knock before entering someone’s work space.
• -Don’t interrupt conversations or meetings.
• -Take all personal calls in private areas.
• -Use speaker phones and schedule conference calls in rooms with doors.
• -Designate areas where meetings may be held.

Smells

• -Setup a common area for employees to eat and discourage eating at desks.
• -Ban certain foods that can cause dreadful smells.
• -Fragrance-free, smoke-free and pet-free environments support those with allergies and sensitives.

Sights

• -Have a standard for desk décor and neatness.
• -Ban political, sexual or religious displays.

Sounds

• -No pacing around while talking on cell phones.
• -Turn off ringtones, buzzers and alert sounds from electronic devices.
• -Remind staff to lower voices or send private messages when conversations are too loud.
• -Encourage use of headphones to reduce noise.

Positive workplace etiquette creates a better working environment for everyone.

(c)Jeannette Seibly, 2018

Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst for the past 25 years. As an executive coach, speaker and author, she provides straight talk with dynamic results.  Creating a healthy workplace environment attracts and retains productive employees.  Contact Jeannette now for a preliminary confidential conversation.

 

I was reminiscing with a former coaching client last week and we were laughing at the many stories we had created during the 5-year time period we had successfully worked together.

One of the most powerful stories was, he never seemed to worry about anything … when maybe he should have!

The story we created together: There could be a fire in the building and he would sit and roast marshmallows instead of running around upset or worrying about the fire. His response when this happened in his life, “I understand that maybe I should be worried … and I am concerned … but, I don’t see how running around will change anything.”

Many of us worry about things when there is a perceived “fire.” We believe we have no control over our reactions to it. And, instead of investigating the facts, taking proactive actions or appropriately waiting it out, we worry that worst things will happen.  Or, if we stick our heads in the sand, we can falsely believe everything is fine and do nothing.

While worrying does hinder your ability to achieve results, being too calm can get in the way of doing what needs to be done.

3 Ways to Minimize Worry and Improve Results

Remember, we all have times we worry about our jobs, clients, employees, family members, driving, projects, etc. When we get caught up in this vicious cycle of the bad things that may happen (and many times never happen), it diminishes our ability to make the right decisions, take the appropriate actions and move forward.

1. Minimize disruptions and distractions. Many of these can be avoided. And, you do have a say in making this happen. Remember, when you react to newsfeeds, rings tones and gossip over coffee (to name a few triggers), you are training your brain to overreact … creating a bad habit.

Ideas:

• *Limit your time on social media and hide negative postings.
• *Silence your phone for a period of time, or use a different ring tone for those calls you really do need to answer.
• *Don’t participate in the gossip mill.
• *Seek factual information.
• *Address the worry with your coach or mentor, then, take immediate action steps where appropriate.

2. Practice mindfulness. Being present to what you are doing, who you are talking with and what you need to focus on is important. There are many books and podcasts available to talk you through how to become mindful. Read one chapter of a book or listen to a short podcast each day on this topic.

3. Focus. When you have a goal you are committed to achieving (e.g., being a great boss, partner or spouse; getting the job offer; creating financial stability; etc.), do not allow circumstances to get in the way. Create a daily intention to support your goal (e.g., I am open and accepting. I believe in me. My employees are great. I am a great boss.). Work with your coach to clarify and focus on the next right actions to take. This will improve your results.

To minimize worrying and improve results, be aware and recognize when you should take different actions due to a real “fire,” or when you should sit and enjoy roasting marshmallows.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2018

Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst for the past 25 years. As an executive coach, advisor and consultant who provides straight talk with dynamic results.  Remember, you can achieve your intended results with help from your coach, regardless of the circumstances. Don’t wait! Step up now! Check out her website, or contact Jeannette for a preliminary confidential conversation.