We’ve all had that moment. The one when our inner critic decides to go all Rambo on us and fill us with self-doubt. I witnessed just such an event recently; an executive client was discussing a new strategic direction when WHAM, out of the blue, she stopped talking and looked utterly defeated. I suspected her inner critic had hijacked her thinking. When I asked her what was going on she muttered, “Maybe I have no business running an organization.” Just…
Courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to act despite it. This week, we would like you to notice how courageous you have been in your life. Too often, because we felt afraid, we dismiss our acts of courage. And yet, that is precisely what the definition of courage is – the ability to take action on your (or someone else’s) behalf despite being afraid. Think of all of the things that make us (as humans) afraid. Afraid…
We know that you know this but … for you to be your best you need to be properly fueled. Life is generally better if you have taken the time to fuel yourself emotionally, spiritually and physically. Many of us are more thoughtful about how we fuel our cars than we are about how we fuel ourselves. Working with people who strive to be high performers, we see over and over again, how critical it is to pay attention to…
In our work as executive coaches and consultants our goal is to help people find direction, meaning and satisfaction in their lives. A key ingredient to living a more satisfying life is being a person of character. The Oxford Essential Dictionary defines character as “the collective qualities or characteristics, especially mental and moral, that distinguish a person; moral strength.” In the United States, there is a sense that personality – charm, a quick tongue, fashion or style – is the…
Good Morning. It is time to wake up, not just to your day, but also to your passion, your power, and your life. Many of us walk around tired, stressed-out, and numbed to our moments. We are running as fast as we can, taking care of family, work and friends, and barely taking a breath. This week’s assignment is to carve 5 – 15 minutes out of each day, and do something that will wake you up and make your…
It’s that time of year again, the time when we suggest that EVERYONE pull out their resume, dust it off, and update it to reflect who you are today. Make sure that your summary of talents and accomplishments reflects the skills you want to offer moving forward, delete old/irrelevant jobs, and consider if there is a way to include something about yourself that adds a little color and brings you to life on the page. Then print a clean hard…
In the last few weeks, we’ve explored how to receive and integrate feedback that you receive on your performance or behavior. Today, we are going to look to the other side of the equation and explore how to provide effective feedback to others. As with receiving feedback, there are specific steps to take that will help you to provide feedback to another person in a way that will minimize defensiveness, create an opportunity for discussion, and allow for the greatest…
Significant transitions and changes are incredibly stressful for almost everyone. There are those few who thrive on big change but most of us find transitions difficult and taxing. There are some things you can do when going through a transition – whether a job change, a reorganization at your office, a move to a new city, a divorce, or the death of a parent – to take the lead in caring for yourself and increasing your ability to succeed and…
In the first Integrating Feedback with Skill and Grace post we outlined the 3 key steps for integrating feedback about your performance: Work with what you’ve heard Prepare for the next meeting Meet again Last week, we looked closely at the second step Prepare for the Next Meeting and today we’re going to focus on the final step: Step 3. Meet Again By now, you should have finished the first two steps of the process of integrating the feedback. The…
In last week’s post, Integrating Feedback with Skill and Grace, we outlined the 3 key steps for integrating feedback about your performance: 1. Work with what you’ve heard 2. Prepare for the next meeting 3. Meet again Last week, we looked closely at the first step Working with What You’ve Heard and today we’re going to focus on the second step: Step 2. Prepare for the next meeting The goal in the follow-up meeting is two-fold. The first is to…
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Carpenter Smith Consulting is a Women Business Enterprise, Oregon Cert ID 7047.
