http://www.yourlifecoaching.org/news/ http://www.yourlifecoaching.org/executive-coaching-and-the-bottom-line/ <p>Even high-potential successful managers (both executive and middle management) can benefit from the candid and constructive feedback from a coach. There are two primary goals for an executive coaching process. Firstly, the clients learn to more accurately assess his or her strengths and development needs, both in relation to interpersonal issues as well as to tasks. Secondly, the manager sets and achieves challenges and goals which build on strengths while remedy weaknesses. An executive coaching process may last from 3 to 12 months and are often initiated with a written agreement with regards to confidentiality and expectations.</p><p>At the outset of an executive coaching process it is crucial that learning and performance goals and indicators of success are formulated. Ultimately the goal is to keep improving the bottom line, but often the issues at hand are less tangible. For instance, clients may be hesitant to initiate change and have difficulty coping with change in general, which is often one of the reasons that a collaboration with an executive coach is sought in the first place.</p><p>The method is dialogue and the coach will reflect back to the client crucial expressions and point of views that the client may not be aware are obstacles to change and/or represent a limiting outlook. The coach is hence a mirror for the client, who may not always like what they see. However, this is probably one of the most powerful aspects of the coaching process. Although empathy and support are the staples of an executive coaching process, at some point the coach may have to call on the client to take a step away from the old patterns and really make a change by altering behavioural patterns.</p><p>This can be achieved in numerous ways depending on which learning and performance goals that the client has formulated with his or her coach. Many executive coaches use a 360° feedback system as a way of identifying areas of development. This involves interviews or questionnaires to colleagues, friends, superiors and subordinates on how they perceive his or her management style and weaknesses and strengths.</p><p> If the development goals involve issues related to interpersonal communication e.g. with business partners, colleagues, subordinates or superiors, one of the best ways to change language use is through role playing. As a way of imitating reality the coach and the client will take turns in playing and replaying different roles from particular situations, which the client has experienced as being difficult.</p><p>In this way, the client will not only experience how he or she may come across, but will become more aware of how the other parties look at the same issue, and gain an increased understanding of his or her own reactions. Finally, this is an excellent way of practising listening skills, and expressing thoughts and emotions in a collaborative way.</p><p>An executive who is aware of how to utilise his or her own strengths and remedy weaknesses can pass this on to the rest of the company and ultimately have a healthier bottom line.</p> Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:11:00 +0000 http://www.yourlifecoaching.org/executive-coaching-and-the-bottom-line/ http://www.yourlifecoaching.org/life-coaching-a-change-of-mind/ <p>As a professional and personal life coach with a background in Linguistic Psychology, I work closely with my clients on a range of issues that are hindering them in living the life that they dream of.</p><p>During a life coaching process most often basic life skills are the ones that appear to be causing the most difficult obstacles. Most of us are familiar with the wording: “A positive frame of mind”. Our main assets to make a lasting change are a basic positive and constructive frame of mind toward the challenges we face. This is of course easier said than done; however, by entering a life coaching program you gain an awareness of how to change your present mindset to one that reflects your goals.</p><p>Changing your mindset means exploring how you really see your self – your self image. By paying attention to the language you use to describe yourself, your goals and your challenges, we can find out how you handle your challenges, how you relate to your surroundings and how you see yourself in those situations. Language is then the link between your inner and outer world. When we have an understanding of how you see your self, your challenges and goals, we can then work toward rephrasing these descriptions to ensure a positive and broadened frame for taking action.(This kind of coaching is also called “Conversational belief change” by Robert Dilts (see “Sleight of Mouth – The magic of Conversational Belief Change”). Reformulating what is perceived to be problems or negative judgments to desired outcomes and positive perceptions is one of the cornerstones of belief change.</p><p>A life coaching strategy through analysis of language will furthermore provide you with good communication skills necessary when facing your challenges. The most challenging can be to establish fruitful communication with your surroundings whether it is with your spouse, children, other family members, colleague, business partner, client, competition, friend and foe.</p><p>There are some useful rules for effective communication, which you can apply in any dialogue you may be part of. Below I have listed 5 tips on how to improve your communication skills and hence, improve your relations:<br />Good communication skills entail far more than just about being able to formulate your message in a precise manner. Below you will find tips that are useful to keep in mind when working on your communication skills. These tips are all based on the notion that language and communication is interactive:</p><p><ul><li>Intentions don’t count: It is never enough to let your good intentions guide you when communicating. A key tip is to imagine that you would be receiving that message yourself in order to find out how it may be perceived. Are you coming across as attacking, hostile, or open and friendly?</li></ul><br /><ul><li>Listening skills. Pay attention to the following: choice of words, emphasis, tone of voice, silences, body language. When listening, make sure that you show the other person that you care about what they say.</li></ul><br /><ul><li>Paraphrasing: To ensure that you have understood what is being said to you, repeat: “So, if I have understood you correctly, what you are saying is…”.</li></ul><br /><ul><li>Pronouns: Use “I” instead of “you” when explaining an issue or your point of view to someone who</li></ul><br /><ul><li>Pronouns: Use “we” when working on solutions and problems solving.</li></ul></p> Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:59:00 +0000 http://www.yourlifecoaching.org/life-coaching-a-change-of-mind/