It's difficult to pinpoint just one problem and there were other issues at play here (such as how the company didn't seem to notice that the office went from 7-plus-5 staff down to 3). But clearly, leadership was an issue. The manager thought he could lead but he relied on a leadership model of berating, humiliating, and yelling.

If you are a leadership coach, your clients are facing the challenge of how to lead effectively. It was while thinking about this that I came across an article in a Harvard Business School blog that talks about humility as a leadership trait. It was a great find – particularly as I read it in light of my previous negative experience – and considered how different the office would have looked with that kind of leader.

Humility is a terribly misunderstood trait. When we think of humility we often associate it with weakness. After all, a strong, dominant, persuasive Type-A personality may be successful and may be able to dynamically lead the troops but is probably not humble. (Gosh, if I had a nickel for every time that has turned out to be true in my experience…).

Humility, however, is not weakness. Sure, one can go too far to the other side of the spectrum and become a weak and dithering leader who can't make a decision or convince a stapler to staple. But humility done correctly is compelling and magnetic and people want to be around those who are "correctly" humble.

You can read the Harvard blog post here but I'll summarize it quickly for you:

First, they point out that just because a leader has authority doesn't mean that they need to wield it with full force. Second, promote others. This is a great piece of advice to leaders and it makes sense: If leaders take all of the credit for things, they look good. But if their team hits one homerun after another, they look even better. Third, acknowledge others. This was an interesting one and they brought in a great sports analogy to illustrate it.

This blog was a great read and should be on the "must read" for all of your leadership clients.
 

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Studying when you have ADHD can be a frustrating experience. You try really hard, but you don’t seem to get the results that reflect the amount of effort you put in. Even if you write a great paper, you might forget the deadline and lose marks because of that rather than the content of your work. You might find it difficult to pay attention during a lecture, or procrastinate over preparing for your exam and then study all night in order to know the information you need.

Even if your university days are long ago, these tips will still be useful for you in your workplace and can be applied to preparing for a presentation or staying alert in meetings.

   1. Don’t compare yourself to anyone! We all have our strengths. The brain box in the corner might know the answer to everything, get As and have her homework in on time, but she probably doesn’t have as much creativity and imagination as you. Comparing yourself to others only results in you feeling bad about yourself because you see your weaknesses and not your great strengths.

   2. Lectures aren’t usually the best way for ADHDers to learn. You are far better in an active learning situation. However, when there is no other way, try these five tips:

         1. Take notes. They keep you alert and will help jog your memory later.

         2. Take a stress ball to class and squeeze it. Having something to do with your hands helps your brain focus on what is being said.

         3. Accept that your brain is going to drift off. When it does, simply bring your concentration back to the speaker. Don’t be down on yourself. The more you beat yourself up for not paying attention, the worse you will feel and the less you will concentrate. Give yourself a pat on the back for the 50% you did listen to, rather than the 50% you didn’t.

         4. Ask a friend to borrow their notes and photocopy them. Two heads are better than one.

         5. Ask the lecturer if you can record the lecture. Most will say yes. Then you can listen to the lecture again.

   3. Get into a routine with your studying. I know you might shy away from routine, but it’s a great way to keep on top of your studies and not get overwhelmed. It also helps that constant chatter in your brain about when to study, and stops procrastination. You might decide from 6-9pm every weekday evening you will study. In a very short time you will find that if you are doing everything else besides studying during this time it just wouldn’t feel right.

   4. Develop a “getting into gear” or transitional period that signals to your brain that you are about to start studying. Just like when you are going to the gym you prepare yourself by driving to the gym, changing, stretching before beginning to exercise, the same is true for studying. For example:

         1. Make a cup of tea; take it to your study area (bedroom, office, etc.)

         2. Write down your study objectives

         3. Plan how you will reward yourself after you have finished (call a friend; watch a TV show, etc.)

         4. Begin!

   5. Break big tasks into smaller ones. If you have a big assignment and find it overwhelming, simply break it down into smaller pieces. Suddenly this overwhelming assignment seems much more achievable. For example:

         1. Write assignment plan
               1. Introduction
               2. Point 1
               3. Point 2
               4. Point 3
               5. Conclusion

         2. Flesh out the plan

         3. Complete rough draft

         4. Complete final draft

         5. Hand in to teacher

         6. Celebrate

   6. Noise or no noise. Some people with ADHD have to have some background noise (usually music) while they are studying. Others like complete silence. Which one are you? If you enjoy music, that is easy to accommodate. Complete silence is a little trickier, but libraries are quiet places. Possibly your home, depending on your living situation. You could also investigate headphones or even a white noice machine that will block out sound.

   7. Active learning not only makes studying a lot more interesting, it also helps you remember the information. Here are a few ways to experiment with active learning:

         1. When you are reading, ask yourself questions and try to find the answer in the text.
         2. Link it to information you already know.

         3. Summarize what you just learned to a friend, or even your dog. Just by trying to articulate what you learned will help you to realize if you know what you just read about, or if you need to go over it again.

         4. Draw a mind map. Mind maps can be a great tool to organize your information. Tony Buzzard has many great tips on how to create and use mind maps at http://www.buzanworld.com/Mind_Maps.htm.

   8. Break your study time down into small chunks. 30 minutes works well for me. Some people find that too long and prefer chunks of 20 minutes. Others can concentrate for 40 minutes. Knowing that the timer is ticking away helps you to concentrate on the task at hand. When the timer rings, stretch, take a bathroom break and go back for your next timed study period.

   9. The first 10 to 15 minutes of private study are always the hardest. Break through that and you will find that you are in the study groove.

  10. Reward yourself! A lot. You get rewards for studying for the time you set yourself, or handing a paper in on time, for sitting a test. Rewards will vary depending on the task and what you consider a reward, but your brain really loves to know that at the end of all the hard work there is a reward waiting!

Jacqueline Sinfield

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I’ve heard of this approach before but I recently read the manuscript of a book soon to be published that discussed this ‘thought’ and it reminded me of how powerful it is.

It’s the focus of energy. Negative vs. positive. It’s the theory that if we ask questions that evoke negative thoughts, we stir negative emotions and bring a person’s energy down. But, if we ask questions that evoke positive thoughts, we stir positive emotions and, therefore, positive energy.

Instead of asking “what’s wrong”, ask “what’s right” and work from there. This allows a person to think of good things which enhances their positive energy. Positive energy lends a hand to motivation.

Figure out how to fix a problem by focusing on what’s right, what’s working and how to build on the “what’s working” factor rather than wallow in a sea of how to fix “what’s wrong”.

“What’s wrong” can oftentimes feel way too overwhelming and it causes a person to look at all of the negatives rather than the positives. Think about it…negatives can be DOWNright draining!

Personally, if I think of “what’s wrong” I begin to develop a dreary list and feel like sinking right into my couch cushions as far as I can sink.

But when I think of “what’s right”, I feel a tinge of positive energy that reminds me of the blessings I do have and motivates me to chase “what’s right”.

So, the next time you or a client are working on a problem, tackle it by focusing on positive energy and “what’s right” rather than giving yourself reason to feel like crawling under a rock.

Instead of thinking “how can I fix what’s wrong”, think of “how can I expand on what’s right and what works”.

This book is ABSOLUTELY a MUST READ for everyone. Coaches, individuals, everyone. Individuals will find it enlightening and coaches may find several great approaches to helping clients tackle any aspect of their life.

It will expand greatly on the topic of “asking the right questions”…as a matter of fact, there’s a section dedicated to just that and it lays out “the 5 right questions”.

It’s not only a very motivational book but a great read. I don’t like boring books and this is certainly not one. There’s a great storyline to keep you interested while you learn many valuable life lessons and how to succeed in any aspect of your life.

You can get on the notification list at The Servant Soul and proceeds will go to a foundation that donates to those in need and performs “random acts of kindness”. It’s not only a fantastic book but a worthy cause.

I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy this book and take much away from it. You must, must, must add this to your collection.

The author is amazing. I’ve known him a short time and I really can’t put into proper words how amazing he is.

Burke Hedges is one of those people who just brightens your day by speaking to you, even if it’s of nothing in particular. He generates such positive energy and I can see why he’s such a successful author and motivational speaker. If you want to check out some of his other stuff you can do so at Burke Hedges.

I believe that once you read it, you’ll find yourself recommending it to clients, family, friends and even perfect strangers! You’ll find this post in every category because it truly relates to everyone and every situation.

Coaches could create some positive plans for assisting clients based on the contents of the book.

Once the book is released and you’ve read it, please let me know what you think. I’m excited about its release and I think its timing couldn’t be more perfect considering the shape the world is in today.

Karen J. for Professional-Coaches.comSimilar Posts:

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According to the ICF, the following are the core competencies of professional coaches:

• Setting the Foundation

• Co-Creating the Relationship

• Communicating Effectively

• Facilitating Learning and Results

Regardless of what type of coach you are, these core competencies ring true.  Without them, it would not be possible to support or guide clients toward an appropriate goal. But, do these competencies look the same in all types of coaching?  Are they applied the same by life coaches and executive coaches?  Or is it more about the individual coach rather than the type of coaching?  Every coach implements these competencies in one way or another, but depending on the coach, more focus may be given to one competency over another.

Members of the ICF are also listed in a directory on the website.  A potential client can enter in several pieces of qualifying information including geographic location and type of coaching desired, and then a list of ICF member coaches is displayed.

This added marketing benefit may be reason enough to join, the additional credentials notwithstanding.  For many potential clients, additional credentials can be a relief.  There has been some buzz over recent years regarding the regulation of the coaching industry.   As such, having additional credentials may put potential clients at ease.

They are in the process of updating and redesigning their website so we’ve found that a few of the links aren’t working but we’re sure they’ll be fixed once they get the kinks ironed out.

Lisa on behalf of Contemporary VA

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If the topic really interests you, I suggest you check out the article. It is not available to read on the magazine’s website, but subscriptions are inexpensive. For a one year subscription to the hard copy of the magazine, the cost is $39.95. If you wish to receive an electronic version, the cost is $19.95 for a one year subscription.  Of course, the longer you subscribe, the less you cost per year will be. The magazine releases issues quarterly.

Of course, whether to use individual, group, or team coaching is dependent entirely upon the type of coaching you do and the context. Each of the three types will be successful in any arena, if done properly.

There are coaches who prefer individual coaching regardless of the situation, and there are coaches who prefer the opposite.  It is best to take into consideration what may be best for the client, rather than what we personally prefer.

Either way, Choice Magazine is a good resource for coaches and worth taking a peek at.

Lisa on behalf of Contemporary VA

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No matter what the specialty, all coaches have clients with organizational or time management issues. This can be especially trying if you’re a new coach or if you are not particularly used to dealing with the issues. We can research methods, share our personal experiences with clients, and do any number of other things, but sometimes it takes something concrete, on paper, for a client to find it useful.

Someone recently shared with me an amazing resource, and I hope you’ll check it out. The site is a goldmine of resources, with articles, blog posts, and printable documents as well. The author is David Seah, who writes about “productivity and other methods of empowering ourselves.”

There are some amazing resources in Seah’s Printable CEO Series. The resources in this series would be perfect to give to clients with issues or concerns over time management and organization.

Take a look at the series and decide for yourself if it’s worth passing on to clients. As with many resources, it may not be perfect for every client, but it will likely be just right for others.

Lisa on behalf of Contemporary VA

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Linda for Contemporary VA

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