Continuous Improvement Archives - Page 2 of 10

January 29, 2018 By Joyce Weiss Leave a Comment

Exclusive Communication Skills at Work™ #3-Protecting Yourself When Others Push Your Hot Buttons

Hi there and thanks for joining me to read my latest blog post!

Check out the links below that I shared last week on the powerful ideas clients will learn from
Week One: The Importance of Be Direct with Respect® in the Work Place
Week Two: Use Constructive Feedback to Get Necessary Results.

As you may know, I have created a premier program called Communication Skills at Work™ that helps people “own their own career.”

This week I would like to give you a preview of the third chapter of this program: Protecting Yourself When Others Push Your Hot Buttons.

In addition to the program manual and self-study guide, I offer full phone coaching depending on your budget and time frame. Read more here for all the details.

Now, let’s dive in and talk about why it’s so important to Protect Yourself when Others Push Your Hot Buttons.

Learner Objectives for Week Three

Master Verbal Aikido and understand the concepts behind it
Regularly practice empathy and put yourself in the other person’s shoes
Be accountable when things go wrong and avoid the need to explain or defend yourself
Take risks and be confident when speaking up
Learn how to respectfully say NO

What do you do when someone says something that pushes your button or is unkind?

Do you:

Defend yourself?
Become silent?
Think about the perfect response on the way home?
Say something you wished you hadn’t said?

Week Three will help you protect yourself and prepare your for the next time someone attacks you verbally.

Verbal Aikido is the Key

Verbal Aikido is like verbal martial arts. The winner pulls away and is the stronger one. Using Aikido helps you diplomatically deal with difficult people.

Here’s a classic story that illustrates this powerful strategy.
When Senator Robert Kennedy was selected to be Attorney General, he knew that the press was going to push him.

A journalist asked, “Senator Kennedy, what gives you the right to be Attorney General of the United States?” Senator Kennedy responded by saying, “That’s a great question. You have to go to a good school, know a lot of people and have a brother who’s President of the United States.”

The press pulled back and laughed. Robert Kennedy was prepared. The idea is not to push back the person by getting defensive. Take a deep breath and think about how to respond in a positive way. You will be in the driver’s seat!

Week Three consists of several activities to give you the ability to say NO so you can set boundaries for yourself. I receive a lot of positive feedback on this strategy.

People who take the course use their own case scenarios, and we practice together until they feel confident to use this valuable strategy on their own. I am here 24/7 via email. This coach is dedicated to each client’s success! 😊

Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog. Please feel free to send your questions or comments to me. I love hearing from you!

And again, if Communication Skills at Work™ sounds like something that could help you or your company, check out this link for more information or contact me here.

Until next time,
Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

Career Advancement is like riding a bike: Shift gears from coasting to owning the road!

January 15, 2018 By Joyce Weiss Leave a Comment

Exclusive Communication Skills at Work™ #1-The Importance of Be Direct with Respect® in the Work Place

https://youtu.be/5ZsTQChiyR8

Hi there and thanks for joining me to read my latest blog post about Communication Skills at Work™!

As a Corporate Communication Strategist & Career Coach, I work with individual business professionals at every level on the corporate ladder, as well as teams to quickly and effectively identify barriers that hinder success for themselves and the company.

I’m excited to share the launch of my new premier program called Communication Skills at Work that brings together 30+ years of my experience to help people “own their career.”

This week I would like to give you a preview of the first chapter of this program: The Importance of Be Direct with Respect® in the Work Place.

In addition to the program manual and self-study guide, I offer full phone executive and career coaching depending on your budget and time frame. Click here for all the details.

Now, let’s dive in and talk about why it’s so important to Be Direct with Respect® in the Work Place and how it can help you move ahead and help your team run like a well-oiled machine.

Learner Objectives for Be Direct with Respect®

Clearly, articulate respect and self-respect in your own words and explain what it means to you
Learn how to minimize interruptions so you can focus on priority tasks by being direct with respect
Respectfully question the goals of a project without sounding combative
Gracefully give and receive feedback

Basic Ideas of Be Direct with Respect®

By standing up for our rights, we show we respect ourselves and gain respect from other people.
By trying to govern our lives to avoid hurting anyone, we end up hurting ourselves and others.
Not letting others know how we feel, and what we think, is a form of selfishness.
Sacrificing our rights results in allowing others to mistreat us.
When we use Be Direct with Respect, everyone involved benefits in the transaction.

Through deep questioning, case scenarios, specific concerns faced at work, and role play I work with my clients to realize breakthrough moments that immediately impact the success of the individual, the team, and the company as a whole.

Participants who take the course use their own case scenarios and we practice together until they feel confident to use the valuable strategies on their own. I’m here 24/7 via email. This coach is dedicated to each client’s success! 🙂

Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog. I love receiving questions and comments, so please don’t hesitate to contact me or leave a comment!

Until next time,
Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

And again, if Communication Skills at Work™ sounds like something that could help you or your company, check out this link for more information or contact me here.

Career Advancement is like riding a bike: Shift gears from coasting to owning the road!

January 2, 2018 By Joyce Weiss Leave a Comment

2 Motivational Ideas to Renew Your Vigor and Energy

This is a great time of the year to use motivational ideas to renew your vigor and energy! Make sure to take some time to reflect on what is and what is not working in your professional or personal life. Hopefully, the 2 motivational ideas below will help you get you started!

Motivational Ideas #1 to Renew Your Vigor and Energy

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe-German poet, scientist, and statesman said, “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.”

I’m sure that you know people who are bored, depressed or stuck in a rut. A good indication is when you ask someone how they are doing and in a dull voice, they say, “Oh you know, the same old life.” Make sure that this isn’t you, and if it is, decide what you need to do immediately to change this mindset! It can be as easy as reading an uplifting book or going to the movies to enjoy your favorite actor’s talent.

Movement is my middle name. I recently purchased a desk where I can sit or stand. It has made a difference in how I feel. As many of you know, bike riding is one of my favorite things to do during all the MI seasons except the winter. There is a great tool that makes my bike stationary and I can ride during the winter in the basement. Movement is something that most of my coaching clients hear me discuss because the benefits are impressive.

Here’s my first question for you:

What have you done or need to do to change, renew, and rejuvenate yourself?

Motivational Ideas #2 to Renew Your Vigor and Energy

I recently saw an ad on TV and wrote it down immediately. “Five o’clock meetings come and go. First home runs last forever.”

My son told me years ago, “Mom, we make time for the things we really want to do.” This hit home when I was going in circles during a busy time in my career. I told him how frustrated I was that I couldn’t do all the things that I wanted to do or spend time with my friends. His strong message was timely. I thought about the things that were important to me and at that moment made some changes. I was blinded by my busy schedule and didn’t see that I had choices on how I could spend my precious hours during that busy part of my life. Setting boundaries is a message that I now share with all of my clients.

Here’s my 2nd question for you:

What is a personal boundary that you need to set for yourself to make sure that you make time to do the things that you want to do?

Let’s Get Real About These 2 Motivational Ideas!

I realize that these 2 ideas are obvious and very basic. I also know that at times we need to return to the basics to make changes in our life. Take some time to reflect and ask yourself the 2 questions.

1. What have you done or need to do to change, renew, and rejuvenate yourself?

2. What is a personal boundary that you need to set for yourself to make sure that you make time to do the things that you want to do?

I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments on how these motivational ideas “speak” to you. You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my loyal readers! 🙂

Please share this and any article that you enjoy.

My advocates like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts. Help us help them reduce conflict and improve leadership skills and quality of life.

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

P.S. Do you want to discover how our services can help you improve your quality of life?
Read more articles and listen to podcasts at our Executive Coaching Strategies Knowledge Base https://www.joyceweiss.com/resources/knowledge-base/executive-coaching-strategies/

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

December 26, 2017 By Joyce Weiss Leave a Comment

My Favorite Quote by Jazz Musician, Miles Davis

#favoritequote
#favoritequotes
#MilesDavis
#motivationalquote

Share if you agree.

It took me 30 years to become an overnight success. I figured out that facilitating HR-related topics including workplace bullying, handling difficult conversations, and offering career advancement coaching are all topics that are part of my DNA! 🙂

I am more focused than ever before and it’s easier for clients to relate to my message.

Please let me know how you relate to this important quote by Miles Davis.
You can send me an email or respond to the comment section.

Until Next Time,
Joyce Weiss, Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

December 19, 2017 By Joyce Weiss Leave a Comment

Warning: Use These 6 Tips to Gain Control at Your Own Risk

The Challenge: How to gain control when the demands on your time seem to never ease up. We’re all struggling to make time for ourselves, maintain friendships, and keep the spark in our love lives.

How can you determine what you need to be happier and more productive?

The Solution: Start with these 6 tips to achieve better balance in your life:

Tip One: Gain Control by Searching out a Flexible Employer

Job flexibility is the number one desired corporate benefit. If your company gives new meaning to the word rigid, you may need to look elsewhere – flexible employers do exist!

Pay attention to articles profiling companies that are particularly family-friendly or rated as the best place to work. These companies are a great place to start your job search.

Tip Two: Gain Control by Asking and You Shall Receive (Maybe)

If you want a more flexible work arrangement, whether it’s flex time, job sharing, or a shorter workweek, try asking for it – but make sure you’ve done your homework.

For example, if you’re a really productive person, highlight this strength to your manager. Show her you’re worthy of this special consideration. Be prepared to give your boss the details of the new arrangement so he knows you’ve thought it through.

Tip Three: Gain Control by Forming a Work-life Balance Committee

Form a group to survey coworkers to determine their needs. Gently inform your leaders that creating a flexible environment will be a benefit to the company because their employees will be happier, more creative, and loyal.

Tip Four: Gain Control by Scheduling ‘ME’ Time

If it’s important to you to do a thirty-minute workout three times a week, mark it with permanent marker on your calendar.

There will always be some ‘more important’ work projects that compete for your time, but you need to realize that your personal commitments are just as valuable. I enjoy looking at my health app at the end of the day to see how many steps I took.

Tip Five: Gain Control by Realizing a Temporary Lack of Balance is Acceptable

Sometimes, you may feel your life is out of balance. Sometimes it’s worth it, like when you go back to school or take the time to care for a child or parent.

If the benefit is bigger than the drawback, then accept it – because you have a new important, temporary priority. In time, you can shift back to a better balance with a new sense of accomplishment.

Tip Six: Gain Control by Recognizing the Signs of Burnout

When life remains out of balance for an extended period of time, you can suffer from burnout. Are you as tired when you wake up as you were when you went to bed? Do the little pleasures of life fail to satisfy you? Is your productivity waning?

Refresh yourself! It could be something as simple as taking a weekend vacation-or as major as changing careers. The first step is recognizing it, so you can put your life back in balance. Many of my coaching clients discover that their job is actually killing them from all the stress. They either have tough conversations with the boss or decide to look for another job. Burnout is an obvious sign to take seriously.

Gain Control by Reaping the Rewards of a Balanced Life Today!

Determine what your personal and professional needs are and decide if your workplace is meeting them. If it’s not a match, then review the six tips and make the necessary changes. When all the puzzle pieces of life fit together, you will be a better friend, parent, employee, and person.

Do you want more info on how to gain control in your life?

LEARN MORE how Joyce can transform your life and teach you work-life balance through her personal life coaching.

Read more articles and listen to podcasts at our Life Coaching Strategies Knowledge Base https://www.joyceweiss.com/resources/knowledge-base/life-coaching-strategies/

Let us hear your thoughts!
Please send me your questions on how to improve your working condition.
Share an example on how you have gained control in your life.
I will send you a free personal growth e-workbook when you send me tips that you use.

Career Advancement is like riding a bike:
Shift Gears from coasting to owning the road

Until next time,
This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach
And Remember…YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE!