Team

How to Break-through Stress During this New Normal

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Learning how to break-through your stress impacts the quality of your results.

2020 was a stressful year and not much has changed now that we’re into 2021. With the drama of the inauguration behind us, let’s focus on looking and moving forward. Your business projects, profitability, and teams need your attention more than ever.

Learn how to breakthrough your stress and guide your team to manage their stress too is critical. It will impact the quality of your results.

6 Successful Ways to Transform Stress into Positive Results

1. Breathe. Yes, breathe in for a count of 10, pause, then, exhale for a count of 10. Do this at least 3 times. You’ll be amazed by easily this works and impacts your results.

2. Get the facts. Instead of worrying and becoming stressed about every headline you read, get the facts. When you allow a small reaction to grow into a larger one, stress will follow. Start by clarifying the core problem. Talk out the facts with one or two trusted advisors and your executive coach. Now, with a clear perspective, talk it out with your team. At this point, you and your team are ready to create the new goal and focused action plan. Make sure to get into action within 24 to 48 hours.

“Stress can be a gift telling you to slow down and breathe…but only if you’re willing to listen!” Jeannette Seibly

3. Have the tough conversations instead of avoiding conflict. When you and/or team members become offended by someone’s choice of words, hand gestures, or facial expressions, stress occurs. BREATHE. Then, have a conversation to understand the true issue. Remember, handling conflict now, reduces gossip, stress, and hurt feelings. Failure to do so sabotages your team’s results, now and in the future.

4. Keep a private journal. Many people keep a journal about what isn’t working, past failures, and upsets. Instead, use journaling as a way to create a positive future. Write down “brags” about what has been working. Include “I am grateful for …” Write about your future and goals. Write down anything that helps you remember why your dreams and desires inspire you. Include the results you want to have at work (e.g., become a better boss). Encourage your team members to do the same.

5. Focus on something different. When you and your team hit a wall and are stuck in a project or task, or on how to handle a relationship, stress increases. Focus on something else by walking away. Then, after 20 minutes with renewed energy, look and take responsibility for what was missing (e.g., failure to listen, acknowledge an idea, allow a team member to talk, address a detail, etc.). This really works.

6. Be present with people. Multi-tasking is a myth. Stress will occur when you and your team don’t listen and value each other’s ideas and concerns. Learn how to be fully present (mindful resilience) in every conversation. It starts with an openness to hearing other’s points of view! I promise, you and your team will learn something new and life will be less stressful. As a bonus, your results will improve too!

©Jeannette Seibly, 2019-2021

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Breaking Through Stress from Jeannette. 2020 was a stressful year and 2021 hasn’t gotten off to a good start. With the drama of the inauguration behind us, let’s focus on looking and moving forward. The first step is, learn how to breakthrough your stress and guide your team to manage their stress too. It will impact the quality of your results.

How to Use Adversity to Make You Stronger

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“Want to take advantage of new opportunities this year, then, learn from 2020.” Jeannette Seibly

Many leaders, bosses, and businesses experienced difficult challenges, hardships, and misfortune during 2020. This includes closing companies, losing top talent, and facing financial hardships. And, many also dealt with health and family challenges.

It takes brave and committed leaders to use adversity as a launching pad to transform a situation, project, and/or relationship. Doing it the right way makes individuals, teams, and businesses stronger.

Working through adversity is never an easy process, especially when it’s forced on you. But the good news is, you can do it.

A year from now in 2022 when you look back to 2021, you will see how you turned adversity into a great opportunity. You’ll also experience how it made you, your team, and your business stronger.

Now, not tomorrow, is the time to do the right work and use 2020 adversity to make you stronger.

“Seeing situations from others’ points of view make it easier for people to feel heard by you.” Jeannette Seibly

6 Tips to Make You and Your Team Stronger

Get Real About What Happened. Everyone has experienced failure and unexpected adversity. There’s no shame in it. Breakdowns in projects and relationships can be due to things you did or didn’t do. Some catastrophes were beyond your control. (COVID) Regardless, it’s important that you stop and assess what truly happened and tell the truth. Putting frosting on mud pie and calling it a cake doesn’t change it from a mud pie!

TIP: Infuse objectivity into conversations by completing the year, project, and/or situation. Complete this exercise: What Worked? / What Didn’t Work? Then, ask, “What were the lessons learned?” This exercise must be done before you can move forward powerfully.

Develop Empathy. This can be difficult when you have little empathy for yourself and others. But it’s important during 2021 and beyond to develop emotional intelligence (EI). Seeing situations from others’ points of view make it easier for people to feel heard by you. It will also make it easier for them to listen to you!

TIP: To develop your empathy skills, talk with a qualified coach or therapist, and do the inner work required.

Develop Inner Confidence. Fake it until you make it is an old cliché where people imitated confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset. The problem is today, fake confidence can be easily spotted. Instead, develop true inner confidence which in turn creates success.

TIP: To develop your inner confidence, work on a project with your team. Hire the right coach to guide you and the team along the way to ensure success and keep everyone focused.

Be Responsible for What You Are Saying and Sharing. Today’s focus on transparency can backfire when relying on TMI (too much information). It can damage relationships and the ability of people to trust you! This includes what you share with customers and top talent.

TIP:

  • Keep a private journal and write down your thoughts and feelings. Not everything needs to be shared.
  • Develop mindful resilience by forgiving yourself and others. (This is an inner exercise for you only. Do not tell others, “I forgive you.” Why? Because doing so only creates more adversity.)
  • Work with your coach and craft conversation points to share with your team and customers.

Focus Forward. Stop rehashing what happened by completing your “What Worked? / What Didn’t Work?” exercise. Remember, emotionally strong leaders lead the way by focusing on what’s next, not in the past. Look for new opportunities inside adversity.

TIP: Work with a trained facilitator to guide you and your team through this inquiry. In the process, you will uncover new systems, products, and services for 2021.

Practice Thanks!  Everyone loves appreciation. Saying “please”, “thank you”, and “great work” is important. When done authentically, your teams grow and your customers feel valued.

TIP: Get your copy of “It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition”. Learn how to brag in a business-savvy manner. Then, share with confidence the successes you, and your team and customers have had without sounding like a braggart!

©Jeannette Seibly, 2021

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Using Adversity to Make You Stronger from Jeannette. 2020 was a good year for some and a bad year for many. Stop lamenting about the awful things that happened. Instead, get unstuck and focus on moving forward. 2021 will be a great year if you learn from adversity and become stronger as a leader. Now is the best time to get started!

2021 Is Here … It’s Time to Get Unstuck for Success

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“2021 will only be as good as your willingness to do the work.” Jeannette Seibly, The Leadership Results Coach

Many of you have thought about your goals and resolutions. Some of you have written them down. Far fewer of you have taken focused action steps to make them happen.

One of my long-term goals has been to write a novel. I even have over 100,000 words written. Over the past decade, I’ve updated. Made changes. Added and deleted characters. Et cetera. Et cetera.

Yet the novel remains safely hidden on my hard drive waiting to be published and see the light of day!

My current excuse is “Writing a novel is different than writing a business book. It requires different writing skills.” While this is true, it is still an excuse. There are classes and writing activities designed to help authors get their ideas published.

So, I’m stepping out! I am declaring, “This year is the year!” (GULP!)

What will I do now that I’ve been unwilling to do in the past? I’ve made it one of my top 3 must-get-done priorities in 2021. My support includes being part of a weekly author coaching group and attending monthly author events. My focused actions are scheduling time to write and then, writing. (Whether I want to or not!) These actions will provide me the inspiration I need to write and the coaching I need to stay unstuck. Plus, my other coaches will keep me in focused action! (NO EXCUSES IN 2021!)

Questions for You to Get Unstuck

Where are you stuck? It’s a great place to start instead of “why am I stuck?” Is it making a declaration? Is it making the time? Is it finding the money? Be clear and be real. If you’re stuck, write down on one page what, when, where, why, and how you feel stuck. Don’t beat yourself up. This is simply an inquiry. Now reduce it to ONLY ten words. When I did this exercise, it was eye-opening.

What do you really really really want to have? Here’s a simple yet challenging exercise my friend, Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd, has her authors do every year. Take four pieces of post-it size paper. On each piece of paper write down your goal in one or two words (e.g., publish book, lose weight, exercise, get a new job, retire, buy a home, etc.). Now you have four pieces of paper, each stating a goal. Here’s the challenging part. Remove the piece of paper you are least likely to do, want, or have. This will tell you the other three are more important. Now, remove the second piece of paper. Now, remove the third piece of paper. Drum roll …. The last piece of paper is your #1 goal for 2021. Now, it’s time to get busy!

“Doing what you’ve done before will have you stay stuck while hoping for different results.” – Jeannette Seibly, The Leadership Results Coach

What is the end result? People do things when they feel motivated to do them. What is motivating you to fulfill your #1 goal? Why is it important? Doing what you’ve done before will have you stay stuck while hoping for different results. Hope is not a viable strategy. It absorbs energy and makes you feel bad about yourself and your capabilities. When this happens, get your brag on! Yes, becoming present to your past successes works! (Especially when selling yourself in a job interview or asking your boss for a raise)!

What new possibilities are there? Look at your #1 goal from a 180-degree perspective. Here’s what I mean. Start with the goal and list key milestones backwards that must be met back to today. Doing this helps you see new possibilities to achieve your goal. So while many of us focus on only our limitations, our creativity and innovation are stifled. Remember, the longer you stay stuck and indecisive the more the next step seems elusive.

Are you waiting until the right time? If you’re waiting for the right time, stop waiting. Remember inspiration comes and goes like rain. It’s never predictable. The added challenge is, when it is raining, are you willing to do the work right then and there? Or, do your excuses get louder? (It’s important, to tell the truth!)

Here’s the million-dollar tip! Hire the right coach to help you stay focused on your #1 goal! Then, be coachable. Both of these are commitments are required to get and stay unstuck. And, you know staying focused can be difficult when life circumstances get in the way. But here’s what I want you to consider: One year from now will be 2022. Do you still want to be sharing your excuses…or sharing your successes? Another way to look at it is, if you have 6 months to live, would failure to achieve your #1 goal be your greatest regret?

Here’s to an amazing 2021! Who’s willing to get unstuck and join me?

©Jeannette Seibly 2021

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Honoring Your Goals from Jeannette. Goal creation and resolution-making are common activities for individuals and businesses each year. Yet the problem remains that these goals are rarely fulfilled. Don’t start 2021 as another year with great goals, ideas, and promises with no structure for fulfilling them. Make 2021 the year you actually make them happen!

How to Be a Better Boss When Your Team Believes You’re a Bad One

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“Being a good boss is an inside job. It requires mindful resilience and emotional intelligence to succeed.” Jeannette Seibly

Being told you’re a bad boss isn’t fun. But it can be a gift. Remember, it took courage for your team member or team to tell you they hate your bad management style.

It’s 2021 and time to get busy. Use the feedback as a great opportunity to get real about how to manage your team members. It will improve your results and make you more coachable.

7 Important Tips to Become a Better Boss

Listen to Learn. This is key! Usually, bad bosses are poor listeners. They listen to defend, minimize their responsibility, and blame others. STOP! Don’t fall into that trap. You’re better than that. Remember, listening is a lifelong skill that you must develop each and every day.

Value Feedback. Complete a 360-degree feedback assessment. Then, review with each of your team members. Do this to learn about how they feel about working for you. This is NOT to find out who said what about you. This very important feedback can advance your career if you’re willing to listen and learn. Remember, your team members may feel hesitant to tell you what they really think. Give them permission to tell the truth and DON’T HOLD IT AGAINST THEM!

  • First, ask, “What’s the #1 thing I do that upsets you?” Listen to understand, not defend or out-talk them.
  • If you’ve offended them in the past, apologize.
  • Then ask, “How do you believe I should handle this type of situation differently in the future?” Listen to understand, not defend or out-talk them!
  • Thank them.
  • Now, talk it out with your coach about what to do next

Learn How to Delegate. Too often we give our favorite team members the best assignments. These may not be the ones with the best skills to get the job done. A good boss delegates to people’s strengths and gives them opportunities to expand their skills. Your focus as the boss is to manage the process and coach your people to grow and succeed while meeting customer deadlines and budgets. Note: If you’re a micromanager, stop it! Learn how to trust your team members to get the job done and focus on managing the results.

Developing your people is one of the key job responsibilities for any good boss, manager, and/or leader.

Develop Your People. This is one of the key job responsibilities for any good boss, manager, and/or leader. What are you doing today that is helping your team members excel? What do they need from you to help them achieve their personal and professional goals? What can you do to provide them the necessary resources to excel? Ask them … never assume you know the answer.

Stop Hiding Out. When things get tough, and they can at inconvenient times, be ready to get involved. This normally requires resolving conflict, project snafus, and/or customer upsets. Plan on rolling-up your sleeves and become your team members’ assistant. Focus on uncovering the issue and providing needed resources to resolve it, not assessing blame.

Set Expectations. One of my expectations as a boss was for employees to get along. And, they did. Whenever one person would come to me with an issue, I’d ask if they had talked it out with the person. Then, added, “If you need me to get involved, let me know. But I know the two of you can resolve this.” Normally they resolved it better than if I had gotten involved. One of the keys for this to work is being clear about your expectations. Keep them real and not pie-in-the-sky. Also, remember, if you expect your team members to get along, you need to get along with others too. 

Hire a Coach. If you haven’t done so already, hire the right coach immediately. Successful bosses have coaches. Have the coach include a qualified assessment as part of the process. This high-quality assessment uncovers your blind spots and provides insights to overcome them. Plan on talking with your coach weekly to ensure you’re moving forward. It’s easy to go off into the weeds when you attempt to use an approach you found on social media.

Remember, becoming a good boss is a process, not an event. Make 2021 the year you enjoy the journey.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2021

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Being a Good Boss from Jeannette. Becoming a good boss isn’t easy. Many companies make the very costly mistake of promoting their best team members into boss roles. Too often these are not the best career paths for these once successful employees. Work with the right coach to help you learn the skills necessary to manage people. If this isn’t the best job for you, move on once you can. But use the time to learn how to work with and through others to achieve win-win-win outcomes. It’s a priceless skill.

Are You Ready to Make 2021 Amazing?

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2021 is just around the corner … are you ready?

Are You Ready to Make 2021 Amazing?

Recently I enjoyed my end-of-year conversations with clients and business associates. From some, I heard about their off-the-charts year! They excelled!

Being curious, I asked why? At first, they focused on external factors. But with some guiding questions, they uncovered the inner beliefs they had transformed. They had stopped viewing themselves from a limiting perspective and stopped doing things that didn’t support their forward movement. Overall, they had their best year ever.

Here Are the 7 Key Points Shared

1. Self-Care. This was #1 on everyone’s list! Need I say more?

2. Gratitude. Each person was thankful for their inner growth and the results they achieved by staying focused on doing the right things.

3. Shifted Beliefs from “I Can’t” to “I Can.” This may sound like a simple mind shift. But it’s not always easy to do since it reflects a big internal change. At first, many were not present to this shift. They attributed their success to external factors (e.g., presentation style, being in the right place at the right time, openness to learning, etc.). The truth is, success is an inside job. They had transformed the little voice in their heads from “I don’t know if or how I can do it” to “I can do it and I did it!”

4. Held a Strong Inner Conviction When Challenges Appeared. When each person shifted to I can, their brains automatically focused on the “how to get it done.” They didn’t concentrate on the obstacles. Most got in communication with the right people that could help them succeed, including their coach. They didn’t entertain, “it’s too much work,” “I don’t have the money,” or “my boss wouldn’t approve.” They just stayed in focused action.

 “Want to achieve an amazing year? Hire a coach to stop you from believing in your limitations.” Jeannette Seibly

5. Developed a Mindful Resilience. When failures or major mistakes occurred (and they did), they didn’t sugar coat them or hoped they would magically go away. They knew hope was not a strategy. Instead, they did the work to complete any problems with integrity.

6. Aligned Their Goals with Their Values. Several had to get real about “how” to conduct their business due to the pandemic. For example, one inquired into what she needed to change to be happy. She found a program that pulled her out of her comfort zone and enrolled as a student. Naturally, as she transformed, so did her clients. 2020 was her best year ever!

7. Got Real About Job Fit. When your work responsibilities align with who you naturally are, amazing results can happen. As an executive coach for the past 28 years, I love getting people unstuck and in action for real results. I use the PXTS assessment as the first step in the 90-minute process with my clients. Afterward, most are ready to pursue their dreams and goals with clarity. For example, I recently worked with a super salesperson who was suffering burnout. Why? He believed he had to be a sales manager to grow his sales team! His sales suffered and turnover was high! The PXTS results showed his strengths were in selling, not in managing people! He immediately felt a big-huge-tremendous sense of relief. My coaching to him: Go sell! Stop trying to be someone you are not. When you’re ready, we’ll talk through how to build a sales team that excels.

 Where are you stuck? What do you need to move forward and have 2021 be amazing? Contact me for a free confidential conversation. You, your career, and your business goals will thank you!

©Jeannette Seibly 2020

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a free confidential conversation.

A Note About Achieving Success in 2021 from Jeannette. Getting out of your own way can be a challenge. We’ve been conditioned to do things a certain way and view ourselves from a limiting perspective. Make 2021 your year to let go and achieve amazing career and business successes.

Don’t forget to hire a coach to accelerate your growth and keep you focused on the right things for an amazing 2021!

How to Say Thank You to Others Right Now!

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Receiving acknowledgement is something we all say, “I hate!” Many have the same sentiment when others say, “thank you” or “I appreciate your efforts.”

As a result, we end up being stingy, Grinch-like, when it comes to letting others know we appreciate them.

Yet the truth is, we secretly crave acknowledgement and thanks! (Stop denying it!)

Today it’s important that leaders, bosses, and team members say, “thank you.” This simple expression lasts longer than bonuses or other perks.

7 Often Overlooked Ways to Say, “Thank YOU!”

Listen to Their Ideas. Yes, this is a silent way we say, “I appreciate you.” It only requires we set aside our internal mental chatter and electronic distractions. Just listen!

Ask for Their Ideas. Introverts are not as likely to volunteer ideas and solutions. But it doesn’t mean they don’t have good ones. Be sure to ask each and every team member for their input before making decisions. It says, “I value your contributions.”

“Appreciating others’ efforts provides a greater reward than anything else you can do!” Jeannette Seibly

Coach Them to Solve Problems. Every job has its challenges. When team members share their frustrations, ask, “How would you recommend resolving it?” Then, coach them to implement the recommendation. Be sure to follow-up to hear about the outcome. This follow-through speaks volumes and lets them know matter.

Let Them Make Decisions. Allow each person to schedule time off, sign up for training programs, set up brainstorming sessions, or create team get-togethers without asking you for permission. Trusting others is an important way to “acknowledge others.”

Give Praise More Often Than Not. Too often we’re not mindful of the effort required for a team member to get a project or job done. Take the time to be open and curious. It lets you know about any Herculean efforts. Give praise for their ingenuity, commitment, and perseverance to build their self-confidence.

Encourage Participation. Whether it is for a service project, leading a team meeting, or attending trade/industry association meetings, encouraging participation makes a difference. Provide feedback and be available when they feel stuck.

Say “Please” and “Thank You”. These magical words seem too simple to make a difference. Yet they carry an inherent reward when you let team members know they are valued. Say them frequently.

©Jeannette Seibly 2020

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Appreciation and Acknowledgement from Jeannette. Letting others know you appreciate them can be difficult for many leaders. But you cannot hide behind the excuse that you’re too busy or it’s just their job to get it done. This mindset only encourages team members to seek out other leaders to work for. A simple, “Thank you” is all it takes to get started and can become a fun part of your job! Hire a coach if you are unable to appreciate others…get it resolved…it could save your career!

What Do You Do When You Fail to Honor Your Commitments?

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“Commitment: an agreement or pledge to do something in the future.” Merriam-Webster

Making commitments to teams, projects, and even ourselves can be difficult for many of us. Especially when we don’t feel we have the power to control the outcome or the ability to get the job done. The added challenge is we fear failure and making mistakes.

The truth is when you fail to honor your commitments, you stop trusting yourself. And, others stop trusting you. It limits your ability to get the job done now and develop career opportunities for the future.

As a leader, your commitment is your word. It’s your reputation. It builds trust. Trust is crucial for the team and company to deliver on promises made to each other and customers. Honoring commitments creates a workplace culture where people trust each other and thrive.

6 Tips to Restore Your Ability to Make Commitments and Honor Them

Listen with Intention. Too often you’re not listening to others, or yourself! Stop the internal mental chatter and put away your electronic distractions. Focus on listening. Before agreeing to a solution, ask questions to ensure you understand the problem.

Be a Parrot. This ensures you are clear about your commitment. Take the time to listen to what you’ve promised. Repeat back to the person what you’re promising. Ask the team or person, “Just to be sure we’re on the same page can you repeat back what I promised?”

Write It Down. Get confirmation. Many times, you believe you’ll remember what you’ve promised. Yet you are too busy to remember everything. Write everything down, especially the details, and schedule it now! Ask others to write it down too.

No matter how well you believe you’ve documented a conversation, team members may come back with a different version. For example, Bob, a business owner, made an offer to John, a sales rep, for a base salary of $30,000 for one year. Neither wrote it down. A year later John was surprised when his base salary stopped. He thought it was for the full length of his employment. Both believed they were right. And, John left soon after. If you don’t write it down, it can cause problems and hurt feelings when you forget and memories can be faulty.

“Making a commitment to your team requires more than just showing up.” Jeannette Seibly

Remember, It’s a Team Effort. Together with the team, create the ideas and actions required to resolve the problem. Now, you’re ready to make your commitment and honor it.

Ask for Help! Successful leaders are unafraid to say, “I need help!” If you need help to fulfill the commitment, ask for it now or along the way! Don’t wait too long. Memories fade and unfortunately, some people may manipulate the situation in their favor.

Make Commitments You Can Deliver. It’s how you keep great customers and employees. Making mindful commitments and over-delivering on your promises builds trust. Stay in communication after you’ve agreed on a specific time and date to get back in touch.

Doing this every time makes a profound difference in attracting and keeping great talent and customers.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2020

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Commitments from Jeannette. Commitments are difficult for many of us. We don’t like feeling obligated to deliver on time and within budget. Yet, this is how you build trust in yourself, your boss, team members, and customers. Hire a coach and learn how to make delivering on commitments a fun part of your job!

How to Raise Your Visibility and Get Positively Noticed

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Business-savvy bragging builds natural confidence and attracts new opportunities.

Everyone would like to believe that working hard and getting assignments done on time will get them positively noticed.

But the truth is, it doesn’t!

Bosses think, “Of course s/he gets things done on time…it’s what I pay her/him to do.”

If you want to be considered a high-performer and/or leader, you need to step up your visibility in a positive way.

6 Keys to Get Positively Noticed!

1. Learn How to Brag! Bragging or self-promotion in a business-savvy manner makes a big difference. Saying you’re great, wonderful, and fabulous only has your boss (and others) stop listening to you! And, seen as a braggart! Instead, get the book, “It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition” and raise your natural confidence and ability to brag to become positively noticed?

2. Talk with Your Boss. Whether you like your boss or not, s/he is the key to getting positive attention. Have a weekly 1:1 meeting, come with a written agenda, ask questions, and listen. When you’re discussing what’s working and what’s not working, make sure you don’t blame or complain. Instead, this is the time to listen, learn, and offer solutions.

 Questions to Create a Dialogue (remember…listen more than talk!)

  • What is your opinion about …?
  • Can you help me understand …?
  • What do you recommend …?

3. Be a Solutions Provider. Come prepared. Read agendas and minutes from previous meetings before scheduled meetings. This allows you to listen and hear new ideas offered by others. This simple preparation will help you develop the ability to create win-win-win outcomes. And, help build a positive reputation.

 Questions to Uncover Issues/Concerns (remember…. listen more than talk!)

  • “What is your #1 concern right now?”
  • “Tell me more about it.”
  • “Why is this important?”
  • “What solutions do you recommend?”
  • “How can I help you achieve this goal?
BizSavvyBrag.com

4. Create Positive Relationships. Integrity, communication, and speaking well of others are important when creating good relationships. This will also enhance a positive visibility. And, while you may not agree with someone or frustrated by their actions, take the higher road. Make sure to get both sides of the story without passing judgment. Plus…don’t burn bridges.

5. Hire a Coach. When you move up the company ladder, old habits can become bad habits. And worse, you may not even be unaware of them! (aka blind spots) Hire the right coach to uncover the bad habits and build the good habits, skills, and mindsets needed for positive visibility.

6. Build a Results-Oriented Team. “Only 10% of teams achieve intended results!” (Prichard) Bragging about your team and your results will have you gain high visibility.

Here are 3 ways to do it:

Remember, hard work alone isn’t enough to get positively noticed and valued. Use these 6 keys to raise your visibility and get positively noticed.

©Jeannette Seibly 2020

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Getting Positively Noticed from Jeannette. Again, as mentioned in this article, grab the book, “It’s Time to Brag! Business Edition”, hire a coach, and follow the above-referenced tips. These will get you the positive visibility needed to be promoted, improve job satisfaction, and make more money!

Feedback Is the Gift of Sharing Your Experiences

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“Many leaders hesitate and avoid giving needed feedback out of fear of retaliation.” Jeannette Seibly

Why do many of us hate giving or receiving feedback?

Because feedback triggers our brains for flight, fright, or freeze. When our boss (or someone else) provides feedback, our point of view about ourselves typically feels threatened. And, too often, feedback has people avoid one another out of fear that their self-perceptions are wrong. Yes, it’s unwarranted. But it happens way too often.

Why feedback is important:

  • It allows us to grow as successful leaders
  • Our projects to go from so-so to having stellar results
  • We broaden our perspectives about working with different people, including “difficult team members”

As a leader, be open to sharing experiences that only feedback can provide you. This mindset sets the tone for your team members to do the same. Remember, feedback requires tact and diplomacy. Otherwise, you will escalate conflict or create hurt feelings.

“Giving and receiving the gift of feedback creates stronger leaders.” Jeannette Seibly

6 Tips to Develop the Gift of Giving and Receiving Feedback

Be Open to Receiving. People will provide feedback, regardless of whether you ask for it or want it. Strong leaders listen, regardless of their feelings about it. If you don’t, you may miss some important information. Ask questions for clarification without sounding defensive. Then, review the feedback with your coach before making any changes.

Use a Qualified Job Fit Assessment. This type of assessment addresses your thinking style, core behaviors, and occupational interests when you embrace this feedback. You will gain job insights into how to effectively work with others, while appreciating their differences. Objectivity helps you accept the things you cannot change, while improving your effectiveness.

Value 360-degree feedback assessments. Use these quarterly, annually, and/or after major projects. These tools are great gifts for feedback when developing leadership strengths. The problem is many companies create their own 360-degree surveys. Because these tools lack objectivity and confidentiality, they fail to offer valid feedback that makes a positive difference. Make sure to select the right tool that has the validation and reliability for providing laser-like feedback.

Ask for Feedback. After a project or meeting, ask for feedback from several key employees. Start by asking “What worked? and “What didn’t work?” Listen. Take notes. Then, review with your coach before attempting to put any changes in place.

Develop a Straight Talk Approach. When offering feedback, talk straight. If you filter too much, you camouflage the true issue.

For example: A VP-HR provided feedback to the VP-Finance about gossiping. During the next coaching call, his coach could tell the VP-Finance didn’t understand what the VP-HR had said. The VP-HR had sugar-coated it. Straight talk is important when behavioral changes must happen…no matter how hard it might feel.

Learn Different Feedback Methods. The same approach doesn’t work for everyone!

2 different approaches to get you started:

  1. Direct approach works for people who want to know the truth. Be clear about the facts and share them, after getting their permission to do so.

For example: “Josie, are you open to feedback from your presentation this morning?” She nods yes. “Super. There was too much information on your slides and you read it to us. It’s important to engage the audience, not lecture them, when we need to learn about these new safety procedures.”

  1. Sandwich approach is for less tough-minded people. Share 2 positives, 2 specific areas that need improvement, and wrap-up with 2 positives.

For example: “Joe, you’re a valued member of our team and we appreciate your involvement.” (2 positives)

“However, we need you to read the minutes before each meeting and put away your phone during the meeting. It’s very distracting when you’re not fully engaged in the conversation. Remember, multitasking is a myth.” (2 specific areas for improvement)

“Again, we appreciate your commitment to the company and achieving our goals.” (2 positives)

These 6 tips will provide you the opportunity to share your experiences while giving and receiving the gift of feedback.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2020

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. She is an expert in guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Using Assessments from Jeannette. Scientifically validated and reliable assessments are the key to a great 2021.

They can help you:

  • Meet company and employee needs
  • Improve your hiring, coaching, training, and managing processes
  • Sleep better at night

Contact me now for a confidential conversation.

How to Change BAD Habits that Impact Your Success

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“You are in control of your habits.” Jeannette Seibly

As a leader, are you questioning why your teams are not excited to work with or for you? The answer is, you’ve allowed “your bad habits” to get in the way.

Your bad habits will diminish the value of your words, the quality of your results, and the ability to attract and keep top talent.

4 Bad Habits that Must Change NOW

Poor Listening Skills. If you’ve been following my posts, you know that I mention the value of listening often. The reason? Listening is the foundation of any leader’s success. Checking emails during meetings, insisting on being right, and/or multitasking will derail your leadership. It shows that listening to your team is not important.

First, put away electronic distractions. Then, focus on what the person is saying and allow him/her to talk without interruption. When you listen, you make better decisions and hear important information.

Fear-Based Comments. Threatening others when the job is not getting done as you envisioned it, is a bad habit for any leader. It never builds loyalty or produces intended results. If someone is not achieving the intended outcome, take time to review your communication style and expectations.

Then, conduct an objective review of what is working and what is not working with the team or team member. Listen to their concerns and address them. Together, create a focused action plan. Now you’re ready to coach them one step forward at a time. Don’t forgot to acknowledge their efforts and brag about their accomplishments!

“Your habits as a leader speak louder than your words.” Jeannette Seibly

Being a Control Fanatic. A leader who must be in control at all costs tears down trust. When you believe you know it all and micromanage your team, mutiny will occur.

Instead, trust the process. Yes, life and projects are processes…not events! There is never a straight line toward achieving your goals. Mistakes happen. Your ability to handle these issues impact the quality of results and outcomes.

Being a Proud DIYer!  Many leaders, even today, are not coachable. They want to do everything themselves. But consider the do-it-yourself approach will get in the way of team success every time. When proud DIYers fail to hire a coach and listen to ideas that are not their own, they will often fail!

Instead, hire an executive coach. Brainstorm ideas, ask the hard questions, and listen to what you don’t want to hear. (Yes, please read that again.) Remember to listen, learn, and be coachable. These 3 skills will help you develop the confidence required to lead your team.

Once you do the work to change these 4 bad habits, you’ll see the dynamic results you’ve always wanted.

©Jeannette Seibly 2020

Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She has been an award-winning executive coach and keynote speaker for 28 years. Her expertise is guiding leaders and their teams to get unstuck and achieve dynamic results. Contact Jeannette for a confidential conversation.

A Note About Change from Jeannette

Change is happening whether you’re ready or not. Change can be daunting when you’re not prepared. It leads to frustration and turnover. Now is the time to get ahead of this curve for 2021 when hiring, coaching, managing, and training your employees, managers, and leaders. Contact me for a confidential conversation. We can talk about ideas to get you moving ahead with ease and confidence.