Blog: Sylva Leduc

Picture this...

You are in a nice restaurant for lunch.  You're meeting someone for the first time and you want to make a very good first impression. After scanning the menu you find something that looks delicious and which you know won't make a mess when you are eating. 

After all, you do want to impress the person, don't you?

Your lunch parter orders his/her lunch and you both settle back and start talking.

The waitperson brings over a breadbasket and sets it on the table.  There's an incredible variety of breads and rolls, and they all look absolutely delicious.  Within seconds, the fragrance of fresh bread engulfs your table and you can feel your mouth start watering.

Mmmmm, you hardly wait for the first bite.

But, again, you want to make that important first impression a positive one, so you don't grab the basket and take the best for yourself.

What happens next shocks you and makes you really wish that you had done just that!

Your lunch partner picks up the basket, but instead of offering it to you, proceeds to pick through the different rolls and buns, picking up several, turning them over and even taking a quick sniff of a few. The rejects are placed back in the basket

I bet you think this couldn't possibly happen, don't you?

Well, guess what?  It happended to me last week. I immediately lost my appetite. Both for the bread and for working with the person.

Be sure that you don't make any similar mistakes when you are meeting with a prospective employer.  Because, like me, they may lose their appetite for working with you.

Sylva

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Executive Coach & Leadership Strategist

Coauthor, Roadmap to Success
Get your free copy at
www.SageLeaders.com

 

 

Imagine this: You’ve been asked to give a presentation.
Congratulations! This is your chance to shine.

If you are like most people, you probably don’t like being in the spotlight and presenting. You may even have read somewhere that public speaking is the #1 fear of most people and that it's rated even higher than the fear of dying.

Should just the thought of public speaking make you cringe, I have good news.

You can deliver confident and powerful presentations!

All it takes is preparation, practice, and a winning mindset. How do I know? Because the first time I ever had to present in front of a large group, I thought I was going to faint. Through preparation, practice and intentionally placing myself in front of opportunities to present, I grew to enjoy speaking in front of large groups. And now, it's one of my favorite ways to connect with people.

That's a picture of me presenting to a group of people.

I'd like to share some strategies you can use to conquer your worries. With these simple tips & tactics, you’ll be ready in no time, feeling confident, and fully prepared to speak to a group of any size.

First, there are a few things to point out:

1. If you were asked to present, it's because you can do it—otherwise you wouldn’t have been asked in the first place.
2. Some of the best, most well known speakers and actors have confessed that they really don't like presenting. So, when you look at your audience, know that you’re in good company because they are probably admiring your courage and want you to be successful.
3. The words that come out of your mouth contribute to only about 10% of what is communicated. That leaves 90% to non-verbals. If your body language, expression and gestures communicate confidence, you will come across as confident.

But, just how do you create this confidence?

Here’s the secret: being prepared; practicing; and identifying (beforehand) instant solutions for de-stressing.

One of our favorite mottos is, “If you think you can, you can.”

Here are five strategies (with their tactics) to learn how to be prepared, stand confidently in front of your audience, and knock their socks off!

Confidence Builder #1: Know Your Content

Identify your key messages—bullet them in order so they tell a clear story.

Jot down cues for your key messages (e.g. on index card, flashcards, paper, etc.).

Have them ready as back up (but remember to refrain from reading them word-for-word while presenting).

Enhance your messages with supporting tools, and interesting visuals—it will be a perk for your audience, and it takes the spotlight off of you.

Be sure to tap into your resources—know a graphic design expert? Ask for their advice.

Confidence Builder #2: Practice Makes it a “Piece of Cake”

Practice delivery of your lines. Do this in the mirror. You might feel funny talking to yourself, but it works.

Or, use a Flip Video, record your presentation and review yourself in action.

Watch your body language.

Find your “confident look.”

Stand up straight, be sure to use smooth hand gestures, and limit unnecessary movement (e.g. rocking back and forth from one foot to the other).

Practice until the words flow like water.

When you’re ready, practice in front of a friend or two.

Ask them each for 3 things you did well and 1 thing you could improve.

Confidence Builder #3: Set the Stage with a "Winning Scene"

Visualize yourself delivering your presentation.

Then see your audience’s reaction.

What does that “winning scene” look like for you?

Visualize it over and over until you can see it so clearly that you know what color of socks your boss is wearing!

Confidence Builder #4: Go For It!

Identify ways to calm your nerves before you even begin: take deep breaths, or find whatever works for you (e.g. picture everyone in funny pajamas).

Squelch any negative thoughts or concerns by envision your “winning scene.”

Think positively. Remember: “If you think you can, you can.”

As you present, maintain eye contact with as many people as you can—this also conveys confidence. While we don't want you to stare at anyone for longer than three seconds, we also don't want your eyes darting around the audience. You'll look shifty!

Here's a quick tip: If it helps, determine a shape in your mind and make eye contact around the room as though you were creating that shape with your line of vision.

Confidence Builder #5: Build in a Success Support Mechanism

When speaking, be sure to keep your pace s…l...o…w.

Many of us tend to speedtalk when presenting. That means often what might sound slow to us sounds just right to the listener.

I am often guilty of speedtalking, so I learned to build in a support mechanism. When I make a presentation, before I begin, I'll ask someone to give me a hand signal if I start to pick up the pace and begin to speak too quickly.

There are many other strategies we use when we coach leaders and business owners in the development of their presentation skills. If you implement these five strategeies, you'll be able to start coaching yourself.

When you are well prepared you will make your points confidently, answer questions clearly, and start to look forward to your next opportunity to be on stage If it worked for me, it will work for you!

Looking forward to seeing you on stage,
Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC of SAGE Leaders Inc.

Want to know some quick & practical methods to increase your confidence? Without further ado, here are some great ideas:

1. Think about someone who is confident. Act, talk and walk like him or her. Model their mannerisms and behavior. If it works for them; it will work for you.
2. Smile more often. That doesn't mean putting a silly grin on your face! But smile when you walk down the street, when you meet people and generally be happier even if you’re not feeling that way.
3. Learn from the past; don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s gone; it's never coming back. Instead learn from your experiences for next time.
4. Give yourself a makeover. Buy yourself some new clothes, get your hairstyle updated, treat yourself to something new. It will make you feel better and will give your ego a boost.
5. Are you prepared for situations? Are you prepared enough to meet any challenge that may come up? Are you prepared for that meeting, that presentation, that job interview, when you meet someone for the first time? If not, get to it.
6. Play to your strengths. Know what you are good at and expose yourself to these opportunities whenever possible – because you’re good at it, you’ll enjoy it and have more confidence.
7. Improve your weaknesses. Know and appreciate what these are and put a plan in place to improve them over time.
8. Learn how to say "No" - at least occasionally. You don’t have to say yes to everything that comes your way.  Especially something not related to work that will soak up your time. Just watch the reaction after you’ve said it the first time and there will be no going back.
9. Be positive. Look on the “can do” side of things rather than the “can’t do”. You’ve accomplished lots in your life and you will accomplish lots more in the future.
10. Be in charge of your thoughts at all times. What is a thought? It’s just a question that you’ve asked yourself and the thought is you’re answer. If you’re thinking negative thoughts, you’re probably asking a negative question. Change the questions to be more positive.
11. Whenever you feel a negative thought coming, STOP, THINK, and say, "Is this really important in the grand scheme of things?" A lot of the time it isn’t. Many people in life major in minor things!
12. Do you let the words of others affect you? Do you mind what they think of you? Remember that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. It’s not what they say to you that’s the problem it’s what you say to yourself after they have stopped talking that’s the problem. Change the way you think.
13. List the words you use on a consistent basis when you feel let down or annoyed. People use different words to mean the same thing and depending upon the intensity of the word – this will have an effect on your confidence. Instead of saying “I’m enraged about this” say, “I’m a little annoyed.” Make a substitute list for the words that you use. Make sure they are lower in intensity and then use them. You’ll be surprised with the results.
14. At the end of each day list your achievements and successes throughout that day.
15. Be appreciative of what you have to be thankful for in your life right now. Who do you love? Who loves you? Who do you help out?
16. Every morning when you are getting ready for the day, play over in your head the events in the coming day as though they have already happened and were a success. Visualize all of the meetings you had, the people you talked to, the outcomes. Visualize success and confidence and it will be so.
17. Improve your body language. The way you move your body has a massive impact on your confidence levels. Move your body assertively and walk with your head up, shoulders back and as though you’ve got somewhere very important to go. Feeling low in confidence? Change your body language.
18. Emotion is created by motion. As in #17, make sure you move around consistently. This creates energy and gets the blood pumping around your body – it makes you feel better and more confident.
19. Learn to brag about yourself. Yes, you heard me! Talk about your achievements and successes more often. Not to the point where all your conversations start with I, I, I.  Just make sure that you give yourself credit for what you have accomplished.
20. And finally – you only live once, so any time that you are down just ask yourself, "In 10 or 20 years, will what I am worrying about now really matter?"

 

 

 

 

Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Get a free copy of "Roadmap to Success" with indepth interviews of Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, myself and others in coaching/consulting.  Visit Sage Leaders and click on the book cover. There's a nominal cost to cover S&H.

 

Anyone who has been reading my articles on the Jobing.com blog knows the name of my company is SAGE Leaders. 

But, do you know that SAGE is an acronym for "Setting A Great Example" and it's what leaders need to do consistently. 

Why?  Well, think of the Geico ads with that catchy little jingle, "somebody's watching me" and the kinda' creepy MoneyEyes. 

 

 

 

 

Hey, leaders, guess what?  Somebody IS watching you.  All the time!

The past couple of weeks have shown an appalling lack of civility on behalf of leaders & public figures in politics, entertainment and sports.  And we've all been watching.  We saw a lot of leaders who were not setting a great example.

If you are a leader, or have intentions of becoming one, then don't make the same mistakes. Even if what you say/do is not captured live (TV), recorded on video (YouTube) or audio (e.g. as an "off the record" comment), remember that Twitter has a very long reach.

And people have long memories.

Have a great weekend,
Sylva

 

 

 

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist & Executive Coach
Sage Leadership Strategies

 

 

Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Get a free copy of "Roadmap to Success" with indepth interviews of Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, myself and others in coaching/consulting.  Visit Sage Leaders and click on the book cover. There's a nominal cost to cover S&H.

When managers are asked why people leave an organization, the most common answer is that it's because of money.

But, when departing employees are asked the same question, it's typically less about the money and more about the manager.  They quit their jobs because their manager doesn't  appreciate what they do.  Sometimes they say their manager is a bully or tyrant.

Just because someone is a good manager, it doesn't mean he/she is a good leader. Leadership is important for many reasons and employee retention is one of the most important.  A good manager/leader gets things done with people.

Watch the video from a recent conference where I talked about leadership and why it's important. 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

www.SageLeadershipStrategies.com

Job Search for Introverts

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with a colleague about what it’s like for shy or introverted people to embark on a job search. 

One word describes how those folks often feel  -  Terrified!

In the earlier stages of my career I could easily be described as a shy introvert. I have many first-hand experiences of how mentally challenging it was for me like to conduct a job search.  It was agonizing until I learned a few tips and tricks.

Here’s a quick story about the very first job I ever applied for and for which I was hired.

When I graduated from high school, I wasn’t sure of my career path, so instead of heading directly to university I decided to work for a year.  I thought I’d laze around for that year but my parents had other plans.  They said if I wasn’t going to continue my education then I’d have to get  a job.

That meant I’d have to apply for jobs and go on interviews. Gulp!

I didn’t know where to start, and even worse, I didn’t WANT to go on interviews. I can  fondly remember my very first interview.  My best friend’s mother worked in a small, family-operated retail store.  She knew they were looking for a clerk so invited me to speak (i.e. interview) with the owner.  I screwed up my courage, took my mother with me and went on the interview. 

Yes!! You read that right, I took my mother along on my interview.  As a Baby Boomer I've heard that only Gen Ys drag along family members to interviews. Says who? 

Anyway, I digress.  

Did I get the job?  Yes!  Was it easy for me to go through the interview? No!  After the interview, there was so much adrenaline pumping through my body that when I got home I promptly threw up.

If my experience seems to be an extreme reaction to an interview, it’s not.  At least not for an introvert.  I’ve coached many introverts through the years and when I share my story they always nod.   We know what it’s like to be an introvert and go through the agony of looking for a job.

Anyone who has completed a Myers Briggs Type Indicator knows the MBTI categorizes people as either Introverts or Extroverts.  What people may not understand is that the Myers Briggs Type Indicator looks at how people process information.  An extrovert thinks out loud while an introvert thinks before speaking. 

However, being an introvert does not automatically mean the person is shy.  There are varying degrees of introversion, from the deathly-shy introvert to the gregarious introvert.   When I came out of high-school I was a very shy introvert.  Now, as a gregarious introvert who speaks in front of large groups,  I appear to be more of an extrovert. 

Here’s something else you may find surprising: Research with the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) shows that introverts actually outnumber extroverts, 50.8% to 49.3%. And, more men (54.1%) than women (47.5%) are introverted.  What that means is there are a lot of introverts who have learned how to adapt to an extroverted world.  

When it comes to introverts conducting a job search, here are a few survival tips:

1. First, focus on your strengths.  Introverts are great researchers.  They more apt to find out information about a company before applying for a job or going to an interview.    Take advantage of your researching skills to tailor your resume or cover letter.
2. Network both online and offline. Social networking sites like LinkedIn are ideal for introverts who want to spend time thinking about how to respond to questions.  But, of course, you can’t live online all the time and at some point you will also have to see people “live.”
3. Introverts are also great listeners.  The advantage is that when you network and meet people, you don’t have to dominate conversations. Just ask questions and listen.  Really listen.   People will be happy to share information with you.
4. Prepare for interviews ahead of time.  Practice by answering those interview questions, over and over and over, until you are comfortable answering a variety of questions.  Initially, you can write out your answers or just think about how you would answer.  Then …
5. Buy or borrow a Flip Video and record your answers to those practice interview questions.  With a Flip you can hold the camera at arms-length and record yourself for a couple of minutes.  Then play back your “interview” to watch/listen to what you are doing well and where you need to improve.
6. Once you’ve gained the confidence, ask a friend to interview you to see how you can handle other questions.  And, once again, be sure to record those mock interviews on a Flip Video or camcorder.

While I could continue to list even more tips for introverts I’d rather direct you to a new job search book written by a fellow introvert, Wendy Gelberg.  Wendy’s book is called The Successful Introvert.  Find out more about it at www.GentleJobSearch.com


Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist & Executive Coach
Sage Leadership Strategies

Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Get a free copy of "Roadmap to Success" with indepth interviews of Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, myself and others in coaching/consulting.  Visit Sage Leaders and click on the book cover. There's a nominal cost to cover S&H.


P.S.  Yes, even extroverts can learn from these tips.  Especially using a Flip Video to practice their interview questions. 

 

UPDATE:  a coaching colleague in Europe read this post and let me know about a great slideshare presentation on networking for introverts.  Click on the image below to view:

Better Late Than Never?  What Do You Think?

For the past month I have been traveling.  I fondly started calling this my “working vacation.”  I was flying/driving to different cities to see family and friends (aka the vacation) and meeting with the executives whom I coach (the working part). 

Every person I met along the way (family, friends, clients and even strangers) received a copy of my new book, “Roadmap to Success.” So the time evolved into a "working vacation, mini book-tour."

Armed with my laptop and cell phone, I thought I had all the details and contingenicies worked out for staying on top of commitments while I was gone, including writing this weekly Jobseekers Tip.  But I was wrong!

About half way through the trip, my laptop would no longer connect to the internet except through wifi hot spots.  So I had to resort to finding places where I could log-in to my web mail account to check e-mail.

That meant finding coffee shops where I could access e-mail through their (paid) hot spots, finding unsecured networks or begging people to let me use their computer to acccess my web mail account.

This past Friday, I even conducted an early morning teleseminar from a client's office. I reveled in the luxury of having access to a landline AND a computer. I could relax knowing the call wouldn't be dropped, there was no cell phone echo and I could work the controls from the computer.

But, for the past two Thursdays, I was either flying or driving and not able to get online to post the job seekers tips.   Therein was my dilemma:  was it better to be late or to not post at all?  My decision was to forego the postings for that week rather than be late. 

Right now, I can just imagine that someone is thinking, “Okay, Syl, what does this have to do with jobseeking?” 

Well, the similarity lies in applying for a position.  If you see a job posting, when is a good time to apply and when is it is too late?  If you are past a deadline, should you submit a resume anyway?

Here are this week’s simple and straightforward tips about applying for a job:

1. Prepare your written materials in advance.
2. Have a backup plan or at least back-up your materials.
3. Don’t wait until the deadline because you never know what can go wrong.

For jobseekers, create several resume templates you can fine-tune if necessary (read Eric Knott's previous posting about using MS 2007 templates). Prepare several cover letter templates which you can customize for each job.  Keep back-up copies of everything on a CD or flash drive.

For me, next time I will have my weekly posts written before I leave and save them in draft mode.  I'll also keep them on a flash drive for portability in case I have to use someone else's computer again.

Until next week, happy hunting!

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist & Executive Coach
Sage Leadership Strategies

Author, "Roadmap to Success"

Get a free copy of "Roadmap to Success" with indepth interviews Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, myself and others in coaching/consulting.  Visit Sage Leaders and click on the book cover. There's a nominal cost to cover S&H.

P.S., I'm curious about what other people think about applying late for posted positions.  Have you ever done that?  What were the results?

I am on a working-vacation for the next couple of weeks doing a mini-book tour while visiting clients and friends.  Since I'm living the life of a "digital nomad" this week's tip is short and to the point.

Do you know that, "Tell me about yourself," is one of the most commonly-asked interview questions?  It allows the interviewer to ease into the interview (i.e., reduce the interviewer's own stress) while allowing the interviewee an opportunity to lay a foundation for the rest of the interview. You can read lots of books about what to say in your "tell me about yourself" interview question. 

What I haven't seen anyone else recommend, though, is to practise your introduction by recording what you say and then listening with the ears of an interviewer.

Here's the easiest way to do that:  phone yourself and then leave a voice mail message with your introduction.  You'll automatically have to keep it short (2 minutes maximum).  The benefit is that you can listen to your voice inflections to discover if you sound interesting, have a flat monotone voice or if you drone on too long.

My recommendation is to your record your introduction and then wait until the next day to listen to what you say.   That way you separate yourself from your message and can listen to it more objectively.

Have fun interviewing yourself,

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist & Executive Coach
Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Sage Leadership Strategies

For a free copy of "Roadmap to Success" - the new book with interviews of myself, Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard and others in coaching/consulting, visit www.SylvaLeduc.com and click on the book cover. There's a nominal cost to cover S&H.  

Last week I indicated that I would be writing about one of the most unforgiveable errors a job seeker can make – spelling someone’s name wrong.   

I am particularly sensitive to this faux pas because both my first and last names are somewhat different and it is not at all unusual to have either name mangled when pronounced  or to have my name misspelled in a variety of ways.   A few months ago, I even set up an alternate website with a humorous message for one of the most common misspellings.

 Curious?  Then visit http://www.SylviaLeduc.com.

Spelling errors and typos in your resume or cover letters show carelessness and lack of attention to detail.  Misspelling someone’s name is an egregious error and may elicit an automatic “three strikes – you’re out!” response on behalf of the hiring person. 

So, be extra careful.   A spell checker doesn’t catch every spelling error and grammatical mistakes may slip through as well.   For instance, do you know the difference between there, their and they’re?   What about its and it’s?  Do you know when it is correct to use the word as a contraction or in the possessive form? 

This is not a lesson in grammar.  If you are ever unsure, print a copy of your written materials and have someone else proofread them before anything is sent via e-mail or as a hard copy.

Above all though, make sure you spell every person’s name correctly. The job you save may be your own!

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist & Executive Coach
Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Sage Leadership Strategies

Last month I addressed how jobseekers can let go (of their old job) so that they can move on in the search for their new job (read it here).   For the rest of the summer, each Thursday, I’ll address an aspect of the job search process.  What makes me qualified?

Before I launched my own business in 2000, when I was still a corporate cog I changed jobs every few years.  Sometimes that meant I quit and moved to another company, and other times, I changed roles in the same company.  Plus, when I worked in the career development & outplacement industry for a decade, I coached many people in their job search.

Some of my articles this summer may be applicable to you immediately and some will be relevant at other times in your career.

Today I have a question that, while it may be obvious, is often ignored.

Here it is: When is the best time to network?

Yes, I know, I said the question is obvious.  Even so, many people network only when they lose their job, want to market their business, or generally when they want something from someone else. I call this “Seagull Networking.”  

It happened to me recently.  Someone I worked with several years ago found me on LinkedIn and asked to connect.  When we worked together I was living in Seattle, he lived in San Diego and we were consulting on a project in the Bay area.  I was  glad that he’d found me and happy to learn he now lived in the Phoenix area, too.  I accepted his invitation and the next thing I knew, I received a direct e-mail asking me if I wanted to get together to catch up. “Great!” I thought because I’d enjoyed working with this person.

So we met for lunch. 

But it wasn’t just the two of us.  It was my former colleague, me, and his Blackberry calls.  Between each call I listened to all the accomplishments my “friend” achieved in the past 10 years.  Did he ask about me and what I’d been doing for the past 10 years?  What do you think?

After lunch we said our goodbyes and promised to stay in touch.  Next day, I followed up with an e-mail and sent some information that I thought would be helpful in his search. He got back to me the following week with a cryptic “Great to see you” but didn’t respond to my question in the e-mail.  And, he spelled my name wrong!   

Why am I telling you this story?  Because I don't want you to be regarded as a seagull networker.

While the research consistently shows than nearly 80% of all jobs are found through networking, great networkers don’t wait until they need something from someone. They maintain connections along the way.  Then, if the unforeseen happens (i.e., “I had no idea my department was going to be shut down”) they are not regarded as a nuisance who swoops, makes a lot of noise and then disappears until the next time they need something.

Comments?

Next week:  Are you paying attention to what’s important to someone else.  For example, do you know how to spell/pronounce their name?

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist
Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Sage Leadership Strategies

In the mid-nineties, I worked in the outplacement industry for many years and coached people who were downsized (aka, right-sized, reengineered or made redundant).

So what did "downsized" really mean? Back then, in many cases it was a euphemism for, "we are letting you go because you don't fit in here anymore but we don't have the courage to be honest." Often it was because the person didn't get along well with his/her supervisor and it was easier to use the euphemism than to be truthful.

In this current economic climate, the reason for downsizing is more likely because employers truly can't afford to keep as many people on payroll.

Regardless of the reason, when it comes to a job search, it's important to let go and start searching for your next workplace adventure. Otherwise you can waste time - lots of time.

I remember one manager whom I coached several years ago. I was asked to meet with this individual because he was "stuck." Within a few minutes of meeting him I learned that he had not gotten over the anger after losing his job. So, instead of spending his days looking for his next job, he wasted a lot of time writing letters to his former manager, to the HR department and to the CEO of the company where he used to work. His missives would alternate between being scathing comments about what a stupid decision it was to let him go and then back to attempts to convince everyone to rehire him.

By the time I met him, he'd spent several months vacillating between anger, remorse, guilt and pleading. Several wasted months.

If you are reading this and recently lost your job, I commiserate. I know what a blow it is to the ego and how hard it can be to stay positive. If you are feeling stuck, my recommendation is the same one I gave to this former client. It’s a recipe for letting go of what happened and starting on your job search.

Seven Steps for Letting Go and Moving On

Step 1: Get a pad of paper, a pen and a glass of your favorite beverage. Find a private place where you won't be disturbed.

Step 2: Write a "Letter to … (name the person)" stating exactly how you feel about losing your job. It’s important that you write this letter by hand, not on your computer. Express all the anger, grief and fears. Remember to write down what you liked (or loved) about your job, too. And, be sure to include feeling words. If you are so inclined, yes, you have my permission to use any expletive(s) of your choosing.

Step 3: Read the letter to yourself. Read it out loud.

Step 4: Then, either burn the letter, or bury it, or shred it.

Step 5: Have a sip of your drink and toast your new beginning.

Step 6: Write down a list of all your great qualities and strengths. Think about examples for each of these qualities/strengths.

Step 7: Reread your list the next day and begin crafting your new resume.

The purpose of this exercise is to help you remember you can’t change what happened. You can only be responsible for your future.

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist
Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Sage Leadership Strategies

In celebration of April 22, 2009 as Earth Day, I want to propose a provocative proposition.

Coaching is the original green profession.

Think about it. Over the past decade or two, most coaches have worked with clients who are geographically disbursed.  I’ve coached people all over the world.

For the most part, clients do not have to travel to their coach's office to meet with them. As coaches, we often communicate through telephone conversations and e-mail. With group coaching, we can get on a bridge line or webinar. By coaching people remotely, coaches continue to reduce congestion on the roads.

As an occupational group, weren’t coaches the first major tele-commuters? Some might even call coaches the first Green Collar Professionals.

I’ve been an environmentalist all my life and teased many times for being a tree hugger, especially when I would cajole co-workers into digging paper out of the garbage and putting it in the recycling box. When I moved to Arizona a few years ago, I was sadly surprised by some people’s laissez-faire attitude about the environment, including recycling and water wastage. While I’m not saying I’m totally green, I try to be intentional.

For more than a decade, as an internal coach in both small and large organizations, I coached hundreds of people.  When I first became a coach back in the 90s, we almost always met people face-to-face and most of the time they traveled to see us. The costs for real estate, travel time and fuel were enormous. I’m embarrassed to admit that when I lived in Canada, each week I would fly by helicopter between Victoria and Vancouver to see the executives whom I coached. Talk about a wasteful use of resources.

In 2000, when I opened my own coaching company, I designed the business to be as green as possible: through intention not through accident.  I’ve been a strong advocate of creating paper-free work environments for decades, so when I launched my business I knew I didn’t want to replicate the process of maintaining physical files.

I found a way to capture information without killing trees:  use software programs. I was such an advocate of creating paper-free workzones that my partner and I founded Client Compass software, a program designed for professional coaches to track their clients’ successes and to manage their businesses.  I would emphasize to other coaches the importance of designing their own paper-free zone. Not everyone would agree because they preferred hand written notes. However, having been a corporate cog for many years, I could see the long term consequences: filing cabinets overflowing with paperwork.

Here’s something interesting about the acquisition of our software company. We were bought out by John Wiley & Sons, one of the world’s largest publishing houses.  Yes,  my “paper-free” company was acquired by a book company.  How ironic!

By the time we sold the company, more than 3,000 coaches around the world used Client Compass software. Just imagine the volume of paperwork that would have been generated if each of those coaches kept track of everything on paper and then stored it away in filing cabinets.  Ouch!

Okay, here’s another thought about environmental responsibility: assessments are green.

Well, at least providing assessments for people is a green service – now.  But it wasn’t always this way.  In the early 90s, when I still lived in Canada, I worked for an organization where each new client received an assessment. The person would receive a paper form and s/he would mark choices by filling in the boxes with a pencil. Each Friday, we’d gather all the assessments for that week and ship them to California via FedEx. Then we’d wait for the assessments to be shipped back to us.

Were the results instant? Hardly!  It would take at least a week for them to be returned.

Was it frustrating for people having to wait so long to receive their results? Absolutely!

Was this a green way to provide assessments to people? Are you kidding me?

Fast forward, to 2009, where most assessments are now completed online.    Coaches provide a multitude of assessments to help you learn about your communication style, your values, your personality preferences and whether you are a great leader (or not) through 360 degree assessments - all without having to travel anywhere or resort to handling paper.  If you want to learn more about yourself, your coach sends an e-mail with a link to a password protected webpage where you can complete the assessment online.

Your coach receives the results immediately and continues to maintain a paper-free zone by sending another e-mail which includes a PDF attachment of your assessment. You open the PDF and learn more about who you are.   Fast and clean. No fossil fuels are required and no trees have to be cut down.

Of course, this is a simplistic example because somewhere there are fuel/printing costs, just not to the extent as in previous decades.

So, what do you think, is coaching the original green profession? What are other examples about how coaching provides a green gift to the world?

Greenly yours,

www.SageLeadershipStrategies.com

About the Author:  Sylva (or, Syl, as many people call her) has coached executives and leaders around the world for nearly two decades.  In 2007, she was a chapter recipient of the PRISM award from the International Coach Federation.  A strong advocate for positive change, Sylva recently launched the Coaching Stimulus Plan as a call-to-action for leaders. 

Contact Sylva Leduc at 480-515-5511 or syl@sageleaders.com

I recently had the pleasure of listening to Victoria Crawford talk about her new book, titled The Art & Practice of Trust.

Victoria was a recent presenter at the Phoenix chapter of the ICF -- the Greater Phoenix Alliance of Coaches.  Through her presentation and guided discussion, we explored why TRUST is one of the foundations of coaching.   To me, the subtitle of her book, “Finding Your Way Through Uncertainty, Change & Transition” provided a central key. 

When people venture into unknown territories, they are often filled with trepidation.  Fear subsides when they realize they're not the first ones to go into the unknown. And, confidence builds when they discover there is a pathway to follow.  The pathway Victoria described is elegant in its simplicity. 

We may venture into the unknown with a coach, a friend, a mentor, or only have our self to rely upon.  In any case, what we tell ourselves, and the actions we take, determines how we handle change and uncertainty.  

Think about the last time you faced a new challenge.  Initially, your heartbeat may have quickened while your breathing became more rapid and shallow.  So, even though blood was pumping through your veins, you were starving your brain (constrictive).  Not a great combination for taking effective action. 

As Victoria shared from her years as a yoga instructor, when facing new situations it’s vital to take some deep breaths, the kind in which you can feel your diaphragm go in and out (expansive).  Only then can you begin to explore options.  It's the willingness to explore options and increase your awareness that leads you to trust your decisions and take commited actions. 

As I was leaving the ICF meeting (which was held at Jobing.com), I saw some walls covered with handwritten comments.  Someone told me they are left by former employees, as well as, by people who visit Jobing.com.  What struck me was they seemed to be like signposts or markers.  Just like those telltale markers we see on hiking paths: the ribbons tied to trees which indicate others have gone before us.  Instead of hurrying out the door, I paused, took a deep, full breath, read a few of those messages and then smiled.   

In times when the media seems to offer nothing but bad news and dire warnings, it was good to remember others are on this path with us and that trust (in oneself) is the key to success.

Cheers,
Syl

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Executive Coach & Leadership Strategist
Sage Leadership Strategies