Joyce Weiss

I work with organizations and individuals who want to kick conflict and chaos to the curb - Queen of Conflict Resolution and Communication Coach

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Three Important Executive Coaching Questions to Ask Yourself

Have you wondered what happens during an Executive Coaching session?
Do you want to move forward in your career?
Are you ready to ask yourself three questions to help you make important decisions in your life?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you are in the right place.  🙂

My Executive Coaching clients work very hard at improving their career growth and leadership status.  Our conversations on the phone are action packed when they share what worked since our last session and what still needs to be resolved.  Together we focus on specific goals and action plans.  I’m there to hold clients accountable and the results are apparent.  The next few articles will give you a glimpse of how Executive Coaching works.  

Executive Coaching Question #1:  What do you need to change?

Executive Coaching | Joyce Weiss

It could be a shorter commute to work or starting a new exercise routine.  Maybe there are conflicts between your direct reports that never seem to get resolved.  The main idea is to ask yourself what parts of your life need changing.  Executive Coaching includes discussing areas in my clients’ life and career.  There are no limitations and most of these topics are connected.  The main idea is to discover the change that needs to be made.

Executive Coaching Question #2:  What do you need to keep?

Family, vacations, exercise, continuing education, or ongoing relationship building are examples of areas in our life that we want and need to keep.  These are parts of our life that are working well.  We need to recognize them in order to appreciate the positives. At times we take them for granted and we need friendly reminders to see the good that is in front of us.

Executive Coaching | Joyce Weiss

Executive Coaching Question #3:  What do you need to let go of in order to move forward?

This question isn’t an easy one to resolve.  There are so many issues in our life that we hang on to because they have become our part of our identity.    Examples are unresolved issues with our family, internal fights at work, watching too much TV at night and not reading as much as you want, being realistic that the commute to work is horrific.  You get the idea.  This is where an executive coach comes in handy because we help you discover options that you didn’t see before.  

One of my clients never had time to read when she got home from work.  She had the following routine – visit with her family, eat dinner, and watch two hours of TV before going to bed.  She had several books on her kindle and never had time to read them.  We found the perfect solution.  Instead of watching the news in the morning during her workouts, she watches her TV programs while she exercises at home.  She now has time to read during the evening because she is caught up with some of her favorite programs during her exercise routine.  Easy Peasy.  

Now for some reality

An important part of the process is that clients come up with their own answers once they are asked key questions. It’s like magic.  They thank the coach yet the clients are the ones who come up with the good stuff!  Executive Coaching is extremely rewarding because most clients work with me for a few months or less – depending on how many changes they want to make in their life.

So here is your homework.  Ask yourself these three questions to see where you are in your personal or professional journey.

  1. What do you need to change?
  2. What do you need to keep?
  3. What do you need to let go of?

Stay tuned for more Executive Coaching articles and videos coming to your email soon.

I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments about your own Executive Coaching experience.
I always offer a FREE 30-minute mini session to discover if Executive and Career Coaching is right for you or your direct reports. 

Send me an email or call me at 800.713.1926 to set up our time together

 

This is Joyce Weiss, Executive and Career Coach

Learn how I can leverage my 30+ years of leadership consulting and coaching experience to help your organization address executive coaching strategies here.

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

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A Career Coach Challenge:  How to Select the Best Candidate

A few months ago leaders from a professional organization asked me (Career Coach Joyce) to rank a few people who would be the best candidate to receive a scholarship for the winner’s future education.  I was honored and felt that this was going to be an easy assignment. The process sure caught me off guard!  I was faced with a huge challenge.  I read all the applications and thought each candidate would be an excellent choice.  How would I make a good decision?  The 3 Career Coach challenges will help you look at your own career to discover how you can grow professionally.

Career Coach Challenge #1:  Are the candidates’ goals realistic?

Career Coach

I needed to decide who had the most realistic, practical, achievable, and logical goals.  This sounds like a basic idea.  At first, it seemed like each person wrote very realistic expectations.  As I went deeper, I saw how some candidates expressed how they overcame issues with childcare, financial challenges, or moving from another country. They had to face these challenges and figured out how to achieve their goals no matter what issues they faced daily. Other candidates described similar challenges yet were not as action oriented.   

Here’s my Career Coach challenge for you: 
Are you facing your challenges and moving forward so you can achieve your goals no matter what is standing in your way?  This is the time to stop blaming the economy, your boss or family to find solutions so you can live your life like you want to.  There is usually a solution to our conflicts when we open our eyes!  

Career Coach Challenge #2:  How much of an impact will the scholarship have on the candidate’s life?

Improved status, home environment, and self-esteem would impact each candidate.  How in the world could I decide who to rank as the #1 candidate after reading why they thought they deserved the scholarship?

As I delved deeper into each person’s philosophy and background, patterns started to appear.  Improved self-esteem and home environment were apparent for all candidates.  Each person expressed how they would feel personally if they received the scholarship.  Improved status is what showed me which candidates could achieve their goals to help themselves, their family, and give back to the community.

I realize that we must start with ourselves first.  This is not a selfish way to think.  It is survival of the fittest.  Life is not fair at times.  This was a tough one for me because each candidate expressed deep reasons why they “deserved” the scholarship. 

My role was to select the best person who would use the money to reach their goals.  None of us know what the future holds for us.  This Career Coach knows that we need to look beyond ourselves as we grow professionally and give back and support others on our success journey.

Here’s my 2nd Career Coach challenge for you:
Let’s envision that you are either interviewing for a new job or a promotion, why should the company select you?  What characteristics have you shown others that you are the best candidate?

Career Coach Challenge #3:  Which candidate received the best letters of reference?

There is no surprise that each reference letter expressed glowing remarks about all candidates.  Again, who do I select since these candidates impressed their professors or bosses?  Stability, initiative, work ethic and character were apparent for all of the well-deserved candidates.  I read and reread these letters and finally saw one candidate who shined above the others in this area.    This person’s boss and professors expressed how supportive this candidate was with classmates who needed extra support.

Here’s the 3rd Career Coach challenge for you:
We are all competing for jobs, awards, promotions and need to go that extra mile to stand out from the competition. Ask people who have written your letters of reference why they feel you stand out and what your unique quality is to make the organization better.  It’s a great question for you to ask to discover hidden characteristics and behaviors about yourself. 

Career Coach Solution:  I finally selected a candidate

The reason why this process was so difficult for me was that all the candidates deserved the scholarship.  The candidate who I selected had the most realistic goals, would be impacted the most, and had natural leadership traits.

This was the first time I was on a scholarship committee.  I hope that you get a chance to experience the same challenges as I faced to select the best candidate.  It will not be an easy decision.  You will have to go deep within your own value system.  I’m glad that there’s another group of impressive judges who will go through the same process.  It will be interesting to see who they select. 

 I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments on what is and what isn’t working with your own career path.

This is Joyce Weiss, Communications Strategist and Coach
I provide personalized coaching and Premier Programs for individuals and groups.

Learn how I can leverage my 30+ years of communication and leadership consulting and coaching experience to help your organization address career skills here.

Read more articles and listen to podcasts at our Career Coach Strategies Knowledge Base

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

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How Executive Coaching Saves Time for Leaders

Executive Coaching is a topic that interests many leaders who I meet at networking events.  They always ask about benefits for either themselves or their team members. Their eyes start to brighten the moment they hear that Executive Coaching saves time!

Debra Levantrosser, hostess of The Leaning Edge Radio Show from MI Business Network invited me to speak on “Revealing Blind Spots with Lean Strategy.”  You will find more information about Debra and all the great things that MI Business Network does at the end of this article.

Listen to this link which takes you directly to the radio show:  Executive Coaching Saves Time for Leaders.

Executive Coaching Strategy #1:  What is Executive Coaching?

The main idea is for the coach to ask specific and focused questions and listen to the client who already has answers to the challenge.  Clients answer the questions.  They are thrilled when they hear their brilliance revealed on their own.  Learning new awareness saves time for the client because professional development creates positive change in the workplace.  

Executive Coaching Strategy #2:  Conducting a 360 review

This strategy is one that clients appreciate because they get solid results and positive change which will enhance the work environment.  I interview the client’s boss, colleagues, direct reports, and even customers.  They are asked questions on how the client can improve communication and the strengths of the person’s leadership.  This research is shared with the client even though no one knows who gave the statements. 

This information can help with the stability of the organization.  There is engagement from all levels of employees which creates the development of new ideas on saving time and money.

The 360 is powerful because we have data to move forward and plan how the client can take this information to grow professionally.  It helps when the coach’s communication skills are strong especially when sharing constructive feedback in a positive way.  The client needs to digest the information especially blind spots which he or she was not aware of before the 360.  Powerful stuff!

Executive Coaching Strategy #3:  The Importance of Revealing Blind Spots

Clients learn behavior about themselves such as:

  • Constantly interrupting others
  • Communicating with a low voice and not taken seriously
  • Micromanaging a team
  • Closed body language showing disinterest or defensive behavior
  • Conducting poor meetings that people resented (ouch)

When the blind spots are revealed we can set goals on how to change these patterns.  Once clients are aware of their blind spots they can start to coach their direct reports to find their own hidden areas.  The client becomes the coach.  This is a great goal to reach and will save time by communicating how these changes can improve the workflow and productivity.

Executive Coaching Strategy #4:  Looking for Patterns

This is an important key during the Executive Coaching session.  The idea is for the client to discover negative patterns and start breaking them one step at a time.  I worked with my coach, Terry Brock, MBA, CSP, CPAE-
Social Media Marketing Keynote Speaker | Speaker Hall of Fame | Co-Author,”Klout Matters”.

We had to discover why my promotional videos were not representing my high energy and direct personality.  Terry helped me discover a pattern that I didn’t see.  I was speaking loudly into the microphone and it sounded like I was yelling at the webcam and the people watching the video.  This is NOT a good thing since most of the Executive Coaches want to sound like caring and bold individuals.  Once I lowered my decibels, the real me was revealed and I didn’t sound mad or mean!  As you can see, I believe in Executive Coaching and walk my talk!

Executive Coaching Strategy #5:  Clients Need to Want Coaching

This is mandatory and I share this strategy with coaches during the train the trainer workshops.  People need to have the commitment to stretch their learning curve and be ready to have tough conversations with their Executive Coach.  Clients must make time for the process because patterns are not changed right away.  It takes constant practice.  I know all about this because it has taken me a LONG time to break my pattern yelling into a microphone.   

Here’s More About the Leaning Edge

Executive Coaching

The Leaning Edge, hosted by Debra Levantrosser, speaks with leaders, implementers, and believers in the lean philosophy to share their successes and struggles in hopes that they will help others in their lean journey.

The show focuses on the fact that lean is a mindset and a culture, not a set of process improvement tools, and shows how this approach can make your city, state and country an even stronger and more successful, stable place one organization at a time and one person at a time.

The “Lean” philosophy refers to engaging and involving all levels of employees in the development of ideas to provide value to customers by aiming for high quality, low cost and short lead time. A specific kind of leadership style is seen in successful lean organizations which include rewarding experimentation and developing people into problem solvers.

I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments on what has worked with your own Executive Coaching experience.  How has it helped you save time and move forward in your career?

This is Joyce Weiss, Communications Strategist and Coach

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

PS Learn how Joyce Weiss can leverage her 30+ years of communication and leadership consulting and coaching experience to help your organization address executive coaching strategies here.

 

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Secrets from an Executive Coach to Advance Your Career

As an Executive Coach, my clients ask me to address strategies on how to get promoted or get noticed in their company.

  • Are you ready to ask for a promotion?
  • Do you see others advancing in your company?
  • Are leaders listening to your suggestions?

There is a saying that I use quite a bit, “If you don’t toot your own horn, who will?”  I realize that there’s a fine line between being a braggart and being assertive.  I’m not asking you to put your ego on steroids! 🙂  The strategies in this article will take you on your own career path. They are discussions this Executive Coach has during accountability sessions.

If eighty-hour workweeks and impending layoffs are leaving you apprehensive about your career decision, you’re not alone. These days, countless professionals are yearning for more fulfilling careers.

Unfortunately, many professionals are going to their day-to-day work activities and feeling as if they’re pedaling a bicycle uphill in the wrong gear.

They secretly yearn for the feelings of freedom and self-reliance they used to have when they were children pedaling away on their very own Schwinn or Huffy.

How can we recapture those childhood feelings of independence, adventure, and joy?

Executive Coach Secret #1: Safely navigate work’s potholes, ruts, curbs, obstacles, and challenges.

executive coach

In order to excel professionally, you need the ability to learn from any past mistakes rather than dwell on them.

The truth is that the only wrong mistake is one we don’t learn from – when things go wrong, we have a choice. We can criticize ourselves and curse our own bad luck, or we can coach ourselves, extract value from what we learned, and focus on how we can handle that situation better in the future.

The next time something devastating happens to you, whether it’s a layoff or a failed project, remember there are lessons to be learned.  Believe me, I know what I’m talking about and remind myself of this strategy numerous times!

Executive Coach Secret #2: Take the direct route.

Many people are so confused about expectations at work.  They need to ask specific questions to receive clarity as to their job specifications.  It’s during these times that people need to use straight talk to solve issues.

Being Direct with Respect® means being able to communicate openly and honestly without hurt feelings. Encourage Be Direct with Respect® in your office by thinking about what you really want to say, writing it down, and practicing it.

The more you use it, the more comfortable you’ll feel, and the more your colleagues will follow your lead.

Executive Coach Secret #3: Stay balanced when the road is bumpy.

The majority of people are running on empty.

If your workday feels out of balance, the quickest way to identify what is missing is to know your core values.  What’s holding you back from achieving balance in your day? Can you say no to the things that aren’t consistent with your core values?

When you ignore your personal values for the sake of others, keeping balanced is a challenging ordeal.

To gain balance, you first must be true to yourself. When you can gear down, relax, and enjoy the flowers on the side of the road, you will finally see the right path.  You will find answers and become more focused when you think about what you want to do with your life and not concentrate on the negative parts of your career.

Executive Coach Secret #4: Stop pedaling in circles.

executive coach

How long has it been since you’ve tried something new and different in your work?

After evaluating yourself personally, ask people you trust to make suggestions on how you need to grow.

Use their advice to guide your education decisions. Do you need to take a computer class, a writing course, find an Executive Coach, or attend advanced leadership workshops?

To carve a new career or enhance your current one, you must take responsibility for your own future and learn new skills on a daily basis.  It doesn’t help when we stay in the status quo and don’t move forward.

 

Final Thoughts from Joyce

Your ability to safely navigate workday obstacles, use straight talk, stay balanced, and keep learning will help you recapture the feelings of your youth – when your bike was your ticket to exhilaration.

You’re the one in control! Sometimes the journey will be easy coasting, while other times it will be an uphill bumpy trek.

Either way, it’s up to you to shift your professional life in gear and create your own career path.

I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments on what is and what is not working with your career advancement. What are the strategies that work for you?

Do you want to see how your communication skills are impacting your career?  
Take our FREE Communication Skills at Work Assessment HERE.  I will send you a personalized evaluation.

executive coach

Feel free to send me a private email if you have questions about your own career advancement.  I am here to support my loyal readers to improve their working condition.

 This is Joyce Weiss, Communications Strategist and Coach

Learn how I can leverage my 30+ years of communication and leadership consulting and coaching experience to help your organization address executive coaching strategies here.

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

 

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5 Career Skills to Make the Best of Your Job

Career Skills is a topic that I cover in every workshop or coaching session.  It’s all about feeling positive about our jobs.  Let’s face it, we are at work more than we are at home!  Some people are fortunate because they find their jobs rewarding and actually love going to work.  Others can’t wait until the weekend and constantly complain to their families about how miserable the job is for them. 

So if your work situation is less than ideal and you don’t want to change your job, here are some Career Skills strategies that may help.

Career Skills Strategy #1:  Do whatever it takes to get the job done

If you don’t like the job and find it difficult to complete projects, then the job won’t get done at all. It’ll be hanging over your head like a dark rain cloud. Also, if you don’t get the job done, someone else will, and then you’ll get the pink slip. If you feel that you can’t do whatever it takes to get the job done because of a lack of resources and your hands are tied, untie your own hands. Ask yourself what you could do differently given your existing resources. There’s always a second right answer.  You could collaborate with a team member and support each other with different tasks.

Career Skills Strategy #2: Do your best to stay positive and don’t let your negativity take over 

Career Skills

How can you be positive when you dislike your job? Remember that at least you have a job. You’re paying your bills. You’re not part of the newest unemployment statistic. Find something positive to focus on to remind yourself how life would be if you didn’t have any job at all. In order to stay positive, strive for excellence, not because you have to, but because you want to.  This is not easy to do but necessary.  Others will sense your negativity.  You may not be looked upon as someone who could get a promotion. 

Career Skills Strategy #3:  Be eager to share ideas with leaders and colleagues

You can’t work in a vacuum. You need to talk with others and collaborate in order to expand your thinking and gain a new perspective. And you never know… someone may say something to remind you that your job isn’t so bad after all.  Start looking for ways to improve productivity or customer satisfaction.  Share these ideas with your boss and at meetings.  This could help you feel better about your job.  Using this Career Skills strategy may get leaders to pay attention to you and your good ideas.

Career Skills Strategy #4:  Ask your boss or human services if there are different options that could match your Careers Skills and Path

Career Skills

Many of my clients have used this Career Skills strategy to develop their careers by working in a different setting in the company.  It’s always a risk to let others know that you want to make a change.  Make sure and keep your negativity intact when you have these conversations. Let leaders know that you want to remain at the company and are open to exploring other options.

Career Skills Strategy #5:  Look for ways to constantly grow

We are all a work in progress. Growth and learning are Career Skills that we must initiate; we can’t expect others to do it for us. Additionally, lifelong learning will make you more competitive in the marketplace. You will be more employable and will have the skills and mindset to find a better job if you decide to leave your current position.

I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments on how you developed your Career Skills even at a job you didn’t like.  

Read More on how to improve your career by exploring the Our Career Knowledge Base

This is Joyce Weiss, Communications Strategist and Coach

Do you want to discover how our services can help you develop your or your team’s career? Visit our Career Coaching Services page

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

Contact Joyce

Email: joyce@joyceweiss.com
Phone: 248-681-5831