Sometimes We Quit Too Soon…

“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.” – Anonymous

It is real easy to get sucked into an overnight success story. But what you don’t read right away is that it took that person a lot of years and a lot of hard work to get to that place. We live in what I call the McDonald’s Society. We want it quick, easy, and good. However, what happens is that we become very impatient with our quest for success and we give up way too soon.

Let me give you an example. In an effort to get healthier and gain muscular strength, I joined a local Pilates Performer club. OMG! Talk about a workout, but I absolutely love it. The whole premise behind the class is doing the exercises very, very slowly to get the maximum results. My instructor, Jessica, who is just a sweetheart and excellent teacher, favorite words are ‘Creep it, creep it. Tell those stomach muscles to do their job and don’t quit.’ Now I know you have an 8” x10” glossy mental picture of me sweating, straining, and trembling to keep going and not give up. Believe me, in the early learning stages it’s not a pretty picture, but I persevere.

Whether it is in Pilates or in life, intentionality is very important to your success. The intention behind going slow is that you concentrate on doing the exercise the right way to get the maximum results out of your efforts. In addition, you also find out what actions work and what actions don’t work for you, hence you reach your goals faster.

Who would have thought that a success lesson would come from a Pilates class? Every time the instructor says those words ‘don’t quit’ it reminds me of how many times I have become impatient or given up because I wanted results right now. Whether it is in your business or your life, the same principles apply. In order to reach your goals, you must remember three things: patience, consistency, and commitment.

PATIENCE – Since patience has never been one of my strong suits, this is one that I continue to work on. The thing that you have to remember is that you didn’t get that way overnight and you’re not going to change it over night. Stay the course.

CONSISTENCY – Whether it is a personal or a professional goal, you can’t just do something once and expect it to magically transform you. You’ve got to keep working those muscles, whether it is a mental confidence muscle or a stomach muscle.

COMMITMENT – The right mindset is everything. The key to success is to keep your vision of what you want in front of you at all times. It must be your goal, not something you think you should do because everybody else is doing it.

Success comes to those who are willing to work for it, however long it takes. If it is worth having, it’s worth working for.

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Cookie Tuminello is an unconventional, take charge, savvy and successful leadership and team building coach. She is the CEO of Success Source LLC, which she founded in 1999. For more information on Cookie and her programs visit www.CookieTuminello.com.

Careful… Your Professional Etiquette Is Showing!

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw

There’s so much buzz going around these days on developing the proper ‘netiquette’ when posting on the worldwide web that I wonder if we’ve overlooked the workplace where real professional etiquette is in danger of going the way of the dinosaur.

Professional etiquette isn’t solely what type of clothing you wear to the office although I do think that it is a very important factor. A favorite saying from my friend, Debbey Ryan, the Queen of Networking is, ‘Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.’

In this past month alone, I have had several requests for coaching and guest speaking on this very topic. Some professionals don’t have a clear cut vision of how they’re supposed to act or communicate with co-workers, clients, and team leaders. They struggle with unreal expectations and workloads. And to add to the confusion, we now have 4 generations of folks in the workplace.

Most of them are suffering from severe communication breakdowns due to the fact that the majority of communication is being conducted via email and that, my friends, leaves a lot of room for misinterpretations to occur between the lines.

While I think that the internet is the greatest thing since sliced bread, I also think it is one of the most abused areas of professional etiquette. While it may be faster, it is not always the best. That is why it is very important to be very clear about what it is you want to say and how you want to say it before you say it.

Here are 5 simple rules that I think will calm some of the chaos and confusion in the workplace:

Rule #1: Be respectful.

If your message is very important, deliver it in person, or at the least via the phone. Do NOT rely on emails or text messages to inform others of crucial pieces of information or worse yet, reprimand them about something they did or did not do, because I can guarantee you that at some point electronic messages will either become lost or be misinterpreted.

Rule #2: Set Boundaries.

If you’re not getting your work done during the day then take a look at where your time is going. Yes, I know that this may go against the idea of having an ‘open door’ policy, but that phrase doesn’t mean that people should be able to waltz into your office any time they like. By setting Open Office Hours (Follow Up/Questions/Meetings) and Closed Office Hours (Email/Phone Calls/Paperwork) you will find that you will be both productive and creative.

Rule #3: Learn how to present powerful ideas and handle difficult conversations.

If you’re due for a salary increase and it doesn’t happen, don’t sit and stew about it for weeks on end until you’ve worked yourself up into a towering inferno of suppressed anger. Schedule (there’s that word again!) some time to talk to your supervisor and go to the meeting with a clear-cut action plan. And stick to it! Many times we are so angry because we believe that our needs are being overlooked that we fail to maintain our objectivity when discussing our expectations with our boss. Face the issue head on and be ready to justify why you believe you are definitely due for that raise or promotion.

Rule #4: Bypass the office gossip mill.

Water cooler chit chat is always going to happen, but you don’t have to be a part of it. If you have a disagreement with someone, have a conversation with that person to clean it up. Remember that the person you cut down with harsh words or make fun of today could very well become your boss tomorrow! Nothing good ever comes out of idle gossip unless your employed by the leading supermarket tabloid publication.

Rule #5: Find a mentor to inspire you.

Charles Caleb Colton once said that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” and he was right! If you want to be a great manager or team leader, then observe how your favorite one acts, dresses, and behaves in general. I’m not suggesting that you literally stalk them at work; just take note of how they conduct themselves and try to incorporate their positive actions into your own business demeanor. Ask this person if they would consider becoming your mentor. Believe it or not, most people are flattered when asked this question and usually say yes to the request.

If you follow these 5 simple rules to effectively communicating with your team, leaders, and/or managers, I can guarantee you that you’ll have less confusion, more productivity, and see better results in your relationships and endeavors.

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© 2011 Cookie Tuminello – Success Source, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive monthly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See the Free Resources Page on Cookie’s Web Site

The Year 2011: Commitments vs. Confusion

“In beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in expert’s mind there are few.”- Suzuki Roshi

By now, most of you are coming out of the Christmas Cheer Coma and are back at work scratching your head and saying to yourselves, “Whew!” Now what?” Your doors are open, your butt’s in the chair, but you’re not too sure where you want to go yet.

And of course, with the New Year comes our infamous New Year’s Resolutions. You know the ones like, “I’m going to get healthy. I’m going to make a million dollars,” and so on. Unfortunately, the problem with most resolutions is that they don’t last as long as the hangovers. Why is that? I have learned that most resolutions are about what you think you should or should not do as opposed to what you choose to do, whereas making a commitment to change is a whole different ball game. Commitment is making a conscious choice to do something with your whole being. That type of commitment comes from your core, not your ‘Guilt Gremlin.’ If you do take this route, ultimately you don’t end up shooting yourself in the foot as often.

There is a quote by Suzuki Roshi that says, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”

If you are going to be about making changes this year, then tack this quote to your forehead. The idea of beginner’s mind is to empty your mind of old ideas and old beliefs that can keep you stuck so that you can be open and ready for new possibilities that will take where you want to go.

You can’t determine where you’re going in your business or your life unless you determine where you have been. And you can’t get there asking the same questions you asked last year. You need a fresh perspective. You have to do a little excavating. New Year + New Goals + New Questions + New Actions = Results and Success.

Here are 4 questions to ponder to get you started and pointed in the right direction for the new year. This is not a test but you may want to take out a note pad and pen and jot down your answers.

1. What were my accomplishments last year? Write them all down so you don’t forget them.
2. What worked and what didn’t work in last year’s plan? Be honest with yourself.
3. What are you going to have to do differently (action steps) in 2011 to take you to your next level of success?
4. What kind of support are you going to need to reach your goals?

Keep in mind, the only thing that changed on January 1st was the date. Now you have to decide if it will be a year full of opportunities and possibilities, or just more of the same old same old for the next 364 days. If you like what you are doing and don’t want to change, keep doing what you are doing. However, if you don’t like the way your business/career or life has been going, now is the time to make some changes to get it right.

The key is to get clear about what you want to change and your goals for getting there. And most importantly, enlist the support you need to get there. It really does help to have an outside perspective. Accountability is a key ingredient to attaining your goals and making sure you reach your next level of success.

And if you’re wanting to make 2011 your best year ever, give me a call or drop me an email and I will help you get there with less stress and more success.

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© 2011 Cookie Tuminello – Success Source, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive monthly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See the Free Resources Page on Cookie’s Web Site

You CAN Teach An ‘Old Dog’ New Tricks!

“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.” – Arnold Bennett

One of the biggest issues which have been cropping up consistently with my clients lately is that of accepting and even embracing change. Even when they know that the converting over to a new way of doing things will eventually in the long run save them time and money to say nothing of alleviating stress in their lives, they continue to kick and scream every inch of the way.

I believe the first thing you need to do in order to embrace change gracefully is to find out why you’re experiencing such an adverse reaction to this new request. For example, are you afraid of failure? Having a hard time trusting yourself to go through with the process, as in “Why bother? Nothing ever changes.” These conditions are all due to issues of low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, and resignation which you’ll need to work on at some point, but let’s take a look at the bigger picture here of why you’re fighting this change so hard.

At what point in your life did you become so entrenched in the ‘But that’s the way we’ve always done it’ dumpster? I know there are a lot of people who subscribe to the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” choir, but that saying has one major flaw in it: what IF it can be improved by making a few changes? Should you just sit blindly by and do nothing because you’re afraid of the work you’ll need to do to modify something? No way!

Here’s the thing about change. With change comes confusion, uncertainty, chaos, and not having all the answers. And not having all the answers is the thing that really rocks our boat. Because when we have all the answers, we can deal with those changes and it feels safe. Ah, but herein lies the kicker….there’s no room for growth there and you succumb to mediocrity and ultimately fade into the woodwork so to speak.

Change is the very thing that adds spice to our everyday life. Picture this: if you ate one kind of cereal every morning for 40 years, don’t you think you’d be a little bit tired of eating it at around day 14,610? (By the way, that number includes an extra 10 days for Leap years.) I’m pretty sure you just nodded your head yes at that one, right?

Change is the determining factor between having a thriving and bountiful life and business, or one that is merely existing and taking up space on the planet. Yes, change is hard to adapt to, and yes, it’s uncomfortable when you’re going through it – most of the best things in life do cause us some twinges of pain – but you need to realize that the immediate discomfort will soon pass.

So, the next time you’re faced with any type of change, ask yourself these two questions:

1. What will the end result look like once I embrace this change and reach the goa lpost?
2. If I do this now, what added benefits will it bring to my overall life?

We’re talking ‘big picture’ here folks. Think bigger – you just might like it!

And if you are still having trouble making the leap and would like to insure your success, drop me an email to schedule a FREE Get Acquainted Session at Cookie@CookieTuminello.com.

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© 2010 Cookie Tuminello – Success Source, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive monthly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See the Free Resources Page on Cookie’s Web Site

Are You Working On Or In Your Business?

“You have to see the pattern, understand the order and experience the vision.” ~ Michael Gerber

Yes, I know. The title of this article may sound confusing, so let me clearly state what the difference is between working ‘in’ your business versus working ‘on’ it. Working ‘in’ your business means that you’re handling everything all by yourself: all the accounting, sales generation, product/service development, website maintenance, writing, running errands and making coffee. In short, you think you’re Wonder Woman, flying around wearing your bright red cape while searching for that 25th hour in the day.

Working ‘on’ your business means that you’re in charge of making sure that you actually have a business to run! You have a clear vision of where you want your business to go and spend your time developing new strategies to get there. You aren’t afraid to delegate or hire additional personnel to help you achieve your goals as you know your own strengths (and weaknesses!), and focus your attention on growing your company.

Let me give you a clear cut example. I am not a numbers person and as such do not like accounting. That does not mean that I didn’t know what was going on in my business because I did, I just didn’t like the detail stuff. I decided early on in that this was one area which I wasn’t going to waste my time working on. Since it took me three times as long to get my month-end accounting and paperwork done as it did an accountant, I knew my dollars and time would be better spent hiring someone else to perform this function in my business. By contracting this function out, I spared myself from making 2 very costly mistakes: 1) I could now schedule my time to work ‘on’ my business by developing new programs, and 2) I avoided spending hours doing my accounting and kicked my procrastination on completing this task to the curb.

When you are starting out in a business or a new position of leadership, you do the little things because you have to. At some point, (and sooner than later I hope), you wake up and realize that your actions are costing you money, clients, and growth in your business. If you have been working ‘in’ your business and not focusing ‘on’ your business, you will wake up ‘out of business.’

Here are 3 strategic steps that will totally shift your business model for the better, make the most of your time, and keep you focused on your big picture.

1. Take a hard look at where you are spending your time. For example, how many networking events do you attend a week? Being involved in your community is one thing, but joining every organization for the sake of exposure is a whole different ball game. Here are some questions that will help you quantify your involvement. Are you strategically connecting for your business or are you just chit chatting? Are you committed to participating in this organization or are you just showing up? Can you quantify a Return On your Investment (ROI)? If not, you may want to rethink your perception of networking.
2. Set business development hours/days. I set aside one day of the week for business development. This is the time that I am planning, working on projects/articles, developing new products, scheduling workshops, or contacting potential clients. The whole day is spent in my office. I don’t schedule any appointments outside my office. I’m a woman on a mission.
3. Set hours/days for outside appointments/meeting with clients or networking. This is huge. You can’t concentrate on your work if you are interrupting the flow of your day. In other words, it’s real hard to stop the flow of energy and re-start it later.

Keep in mind we all get the same amount of hours in a day. No more, no less. You can work harder or you can work smarter – the choice is yours. The object of the game is to create long term sustainable foundations and results that are in accordance with your vision, values, and purpose of your business. And that, my friends equals success.

If you are having trouble creating a business model that creates more success and less stress, email me at Info@CookieTuminello.com to schedule a Get Acquainted session today.

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© 2010 Cookie Tuminello – Success Source, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive monthly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.

Is the fear of success holding you back?

“The greatest fear of success is the possibility of it.” – Arthur Tugman

It’s a brand new year and you’ve made some bold decisions on the direction you’d like your business to go, but something is definitely holding you back from putting your plans in motion.

I know. Some of you may think that’s a totally backwards statement to make as everyone loves to be successful, but that’s not always the case. Let me explain.

As I’m fond of saying, big risks require big actions, and those actions usually involve stepping way outside your comfort zone. Yes, you may know how to service your regional area, but how will you handle 3 regional areas if that’s one of your goals? And even more importantly, what happens if suddenly 30 companies are placing orders for your products or services? Are you equipped and ready to handle that increase in your business?

That’s what I call the ‘fear of success’ principle. It’s that big, “What will I do if this idea flies?” question that often stops entrepreneurs dead in their tracks. Their heart says, “I’m so ready to be bigger and bolder in my business,” yet their brain starts arguing with them and responds, “Yeah, but what if I achieve that goal and I can’t handle the added pressure? What’s going to happen to my business then?” I’ll tell you what happens next. You end up sitting on the fence getting splinters in your behind for not making a decision to either move forward with your plans, or you stay in the same, safe place you’re used to being in.

Ask yourself these 3 simple questions to determine whether you’re afraid of success or simply procrastinating:

1. Am I equipped to handle the ‘best’ case scenario? Do you have systems in place to accommodate the increase in your business? Have you laid the proper groundwork to quickly and easily bring on board additional personnel if needed to satisfy the demands of your clients? If your answer is no to this one, then you’d better start the process of putting together a firm foundation upon which to grow your business before you implement new programs or growth strategies.
2. Can I live with the added stress that business growth usually brings? If you’re already eating a bottle of antacids a day due to your already stressful life, then you seriously need to find ways to increase your coping mechanisms. Everyday life is stressful enough without taking into consideration what the additional requests for your time/resources will bring into the mix. Carefully look at what it will take to remove some of the stressors from your life now before the increase in your business happens. Being in peak physical and mental condition is key to surviving both the pitfalls and periods of growth in your company’s operations and personal life as well.
3. Am I managing my commitments or are they managing me? Yes, you heard right… commitments. Why? You can’t manage your commitments without know how to manage your time. No matter how you slice or dice it, there are only 24 hours in every day, 365 days a year, (and 366 on a Leap Year). If you’re constantly running late for client appointments, or rescheduling your calendar to try and fit in time to have dinner with your family, you definitely need to reassess where you’re spending your time. Trying to maintain an even work/life balance is hard enough when your days are running along fairly smoothly let alone when your business suddenly takes a big upswing in demand.

Failure is something that most all of us have experienced in one form or another, but handling success is a whole different ball game. Make sure you’re primed and ready to cope with all the downsides of success as well as the upsides of achieving those lofty goals before you set them in motion!

And if you need help conquering either your fear of success or failure, then email me at Cookie@CookieTuminello.com as we’ll work together to get you on track to achieve the success you want in 2010.

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© 2010 Cookie Tuminello – Success Source, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive weekly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.

Get a positive focus in your life for 2010…

Brrrr!

Winter has officially hit the South. Temperatures have been dipping down into the teens. For us Southerners that’s pretty chilly, but I love it. This past weekend I stayed in and did some reflecting and fine tuning on my goals for the coming year. I now have them completed for the year, but I also like to break them down into bite size pieces for more positive focus. So, I’ve decided to closely work with my mentoring coach to determine what I want to tackle in the next 90 days.

What about you? Have you got your goals broken down into doable realistic pieces? If not, you won’t want to miss my Smart Start Offer to get the support you need to achieve those big goals for 2010. The offer has been extended to Friday, January 15th so don’t miss out.

Just a Reminder! Starting February 2nd, Team Up With Cookie ezine will be published monthly. I will still be bringing you quality articles to motivate, inspire, and guide with proven business strategies to create the success you want and deserve in your business and your life – I’ll just be doing it monthly instead of weekly.

Also, in order to serve you, my valued readers, better, I’d like you to email me any questions that you’d like me to answer in future columns. You can send your questions to  Cookie@CookieTuminello.com and I’ll address them in my Ask Cookie segment.

This week’s Success Principle: It’s a brand new year and you’ve made some bold decisions on the direction you’d like your business to go, but something is definitely holding you back from putting your plans in motion. Is the fear of success holding you back?

Have a prosperous and productive week,

Love ya,

4 Sure Fire Signs You Need Additional Personnel

“Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should do, they never get around to what they want to do.” – Kathleen Winsor

Most business owners and team leaders hold off on hiring additional staff for their businesses until they end up totally exhausted and overwhelmed. And do you know why they do this? Three reasons: 1) because they think they can do it all themselves, 2) they don’t want to spend the money, and 3) they don’t want to give up control.

There comes a point where you have to learn to let go of the little things, bring in some qualified people, so you can focus on the big things that build your business. Here are 4 sure-fire signs that it’s time you need to start looking (and asking) for assistance.

1. Your inbox looks like 2 million ‘spammers’ have sent you mail… but they haven’t. How many important letters of interest emails (and sales) have you missed responding to simply because it was buried at the bottom of your inbox? If you’re the main contact person for your business, you can’t afford to let requests pile up unanswered and unread for days in your email accounts. Today’s consumer wants instant gratification and if you haven’t responded to their letter of inquiry within 48 hours, they’ll take their business elsewhere.
2. You’re double booking appointments and missing deadlines left and right. Dropping the ball with clients or prospective clients isn’t going to instill confidence in your ability to meet deadlines. Lots of my clients have unintentionally double booked appointments and then found out after the fact that they indeed missed one of them. If your schedule is getting so full of client or other meetings that you need a GPS just to navigate through your work week, it might be high time to hire an assistant.
3. You haven’t spent more than 5 waking hours in the last 5 days with your spouse or children, and your dog tried to bite you because he thought you were an intruder. I know this sounds funny, but trust me, this scenario does happen! If you find that you’re putting in over 60+ hours a week at your place of business, you definitely need to hire additional personnel. It’s time to make a detailed list of all the tasks you perform in one day and decide which ones you can delegate to another person. Freeing up some of your precious time will allow you to concentrate on what you do best, namely growing your own business.
4. The IRS called and they’re looking for tax receipts from 2000 and you haven’t a clue where they’re stored. This is when sheer panic will set in. Busy business owners tend to procrastinate on doing the ‘small’ things that may be tedious and time consuming, like simple filing and the organization of office paperwork. Yet these tasks have to be taken care of or else you can find yourself in a real bind when you need to find a contract or document and it’s buried in a three foot high pile of loose papers. It may take you 2 hours to find what you’re looking for and you’re still left with that mountain of paper. On the other hand, if you hired a part-time assistant and it took her 2 hours to set up your initial filing system, from then on it may only take 10 minutes to find a specific document.

In closing, another sure sign that you need to hire additional assistance is when you realize you haven’t had a real vacation in over a year, and you can’t see yourself taking time off for another 6 months. Whoa! Time to back the truck up and revisit the real reason you went into business for in the first place. I don’t think it was to work yourself into an early grave, was it?

If you’re having trouble figuring out what tasks to let go of and what tasks to keep, email me at Cookie@CookieTuminello.com to schedule a Get Acquainted session and we can work out a plan together.

 

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© 2009 Success Source, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive weekly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.

What Does A Coach Do Anyway?

“Coaching helps you develop your leadership skills, clarify your values and guiding principles, and build your reputation.” – John G. Agno

I’ve noticed that when I introduce myself to strangers at networking events, one of the first questions they ask me when learning that I’m a Leadership and Teambuilding Coach is, “How interesting. What does a coach do anyway?” I’d like to take time in this week’s newsletter to offer a bit of insight as to what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ in how I help my clients step up, claim their power and go from good to great leaders.

What is Coaching?

Coaching in my books is defined as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Coaching honors the client as the expert in his/her life and work and believes that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole.

As a leadership and teambuilding coach, my responsibility is to:

• Get clear about their goals
• Encourage client self-discovery;
• Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies; and
• Hold the client responsible and accountable.

How Do Coaching Sessions Work?

Coaching can be done over the phone or in person. The person coached completes a coaching prep form prior to each call or visit, describing the current challenges and the progress they’ve made since we last talked. The focus of the session is determined by the client and it’s my job to help them solve the problems and make the most of the opportunities. If a client is taking on a large goal, I help them design the project and provide the support and structure needed to make sure it gets done on time.

I strive to bring out the client’s best by offering feedback, helping them strategize, and celebrating the wins. There is often “fieldwork”, where the client is given a formula, new perspective or a challenge to try something in a new way. That forms the basis for progress and the next session.

How Can an Executive/Manager/Business Owner Benefit From Coaching?

Coaching creates an environment where there is freedom from judgment and freedom from expectations that the executive behave according to typical corporate mandates. In this environment it is safe to question, to appear vulnerable, to observe, to explore, experiment, to learn and to change. That allows the executive to use me as a coach to…

• Reach high targets and quotas. Accomplishing this consistently requires a manager who also coaches the team to work together to reach extraordinary goals.
• For business planning, budgeting and goal-setting.
• To integrate business and personal life for balance.
• To prioritize actions and projects.
• For training, developing and managing staff.
• To turn around a difficult situations.
• To handle business or personal problems.

Why Is Coaching So Successful?

Coaching works when there are two factors present: 1) The client is willing to grow, and 2) There is a gap between where they are now and where they want to be.

Successful coaching clients know the value of sharing ideas with someone who understands them and is subjective enough to want a lot for them, yet objective enough not to be biased or self-serving. Just talking about options with someone who can listen and offer constructive feedback is often enough to have the overall picture or direction for their business become very clear.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of working with a successful business/leadership/teambuilding coach:

• IMPROVE executives/manager’s ability to lead and delegate
• IDENTIFY big visions
• CREATE value based leadership skills
• BRIDGE the gap between goals and actions
• IGNITE productivity and effectiveness
• BUILD negotiating skills and manage conflicts
• DEVELOP a heightened sense of confidence
• COORDINATE action more effectively
• STAY calm and focused when under pressure
• MAKE sound decisions quickly and efficiently
• CREATE cohesive, productive, powerful teams
• CONQUER overwhelm
• REDUCE stress

Every day I work with women and men just like you! They have a burning desire to create successful businesses and productive teams… they understand the enormous value of working closely with a successful mentor… and they are eager to master powerful tools and tactics to boost business and team success.

Thank you for taking the time to read more about what it is that I do for my clients on a daily basis. I hope I’ve demystified what the process of coaching involves so that you, my valued readers, can decide if hiring a coach is a good fit for getting you to where you want to be in your business or career.

And if you’re still trying to figure out if coaching is right for you, email me at Cookie@CookieTuminello.com, to schedule a complimentary Get Acquainted Session today.

Love ya,

PS:  Keep up with Cookie during the week… Join my Facebook family!

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© 2009 Success Source, LLCWANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive weekly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See Cookie’s Blog

 

 

2 Steps That Will Motivate Your Team

“Teams do not go physically flat, they go mentally stale.” – Vincent Lombardi

In the midst of this recession in our country, company sales are down, layoffs are eminent, job security is dictated by numbers, and the remaining staff is overworked, overwhelmed, just trying to keep things going. And to top it off employee morale is at an all time low.

So, how do you keep employee morale up in a down economy?

Getting and keeping clients happy right now is always a number one concern, but what are you doing to make sure your employees are happy and productive? Your team members want to know two things: they want to know they matter, and they want to know, (and feel), they are making a contribution. If you, as a team leader, are grumpy, resigned, and basically on auto pilot and not paying attention, then what kind of message are you sending?

Now is the time for you to be having conversations to find out what excites and motivates them, what keeps them going. Because if you don’t, you could lose your key people and that is definitely not something you want happening in any type of economy. Plus keep in mind that businesses thrive on building and keeping win-win relationships, customers, and employees.

You can have all the incentive plans in the world in place in your business, but if you don’t know what makes your staff tick, you are dead in the water. If you want to know what it takes to keep them happy campers, then you are going to have to ask them.

There are three kinds of motivators: money, time, and recognition. Which one puts a smile on your team’s face?

Here are 2 basic steps to keeping your employees from going mentally ‘stale’ and unproductive:

1. Ask questions and be willing to listen to their answers. Keep in mind you are building trust with your employees. If you have valuable employees, you want to do your part to keep them happy, productive, and working as a cohesive team. Remember it costs more to hire and train new employees than to retain the great ones you already have in your business.
2. Be willing to make the changes necessary to create a happy, productive, positive environment for your employees. I’m not just talking about buying coffee and donuts for the team every Friday here. You need to know each individual’s particular personality and what they need to hear or get from you – basically which one of the 3 motivators I mentioned above that gets their creative juices flowing.

You’ve heard the saying, “When Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Well, the same is true for your team. They are the foundation that keeps your company viable through thick and thin. And when it is all said and done, by knowing the motivators that keep your team satisfied, you will create more sustainable results and greater success in your business in every economic condition.

If you’re having trouble trying to figure out how to keep your employees motivated and productive, email me at info@CookieTuminello.com for a Get Acquainted Session today.

Have a prosperous and productive week!

Love ya,

PS:  Keep up with Cookie during the week… Join my Facebook family!

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© 2009 Success Source, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cookie Tuminello, THE Team Builder of the South, has been empowering teams and igniting productivity since 1999. Learn more about how Cookie empowers CEO’s, managers, business owners, and team members in her FREE Report “50 Ways To Go From Overwhelmed to Empowered” and receive weekly Success Tips at www.CookieTuminello.com.