"Do BETTER. Because You can. Because You want to. Because it's time."
~ Barry Zweibel, GGCI
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Write it Down!

Helping you not have to remember what you keep forgetting anyway…

Ever agree to do something for someone and then … totally forget?
Ever had every intention of “remembering to remember” an important task and then subsequently … didn’t?
Ever been stopped right-in-your-tracks by one of your amazingly pithy observations or insights that … disappeared as quickly as it arrived?

If so, chances are good that it happened because you didn’t write anything down. So, yeah, write ‘em down:

to-dos
reminders
ideas
outlines
plans
questions
commitments you make to others
commitments others make to you
[insert your ideas here]

It makes sense on a number of levels:

Most obviously, you dramatically decrease the whole forgetting thing.
You also increase the probability of actually getting done the things you want to get done.
By writing everything down you can now give yourself full permission to … FORGET! Yes, that’s right! You see, once you realize that you routinely write down all the things you want to remember, that means that you can rely on the fact that you DO write these things down, which means that you no longer HAVE to remember! Get what I mean?! It’ll all be right there for you whenever you want a reminder of whatever IT is!

And that will do wonders for clearing the distractions (and static) from your mind so that you can be more fully present with whatever’s happening.

Read Comments by Barry Zweibel on July 27, 2010

filed in Coaching, Life, Success at Work

Why Make Work Meaningful?

“Meaning making is as valued as money making for your work teams today, according to University of Michigan business professor Dave Ulrich.” So says CIOInsight.com as a preface to its “The Real Value in Making Work Meaningful” slide show. “While corporate money-making has obvious ROI, Ulrich identifies key performance indicators that can help every CIO determine the value of engaging employees with meaningful work.”

According to Ulrich, “Investment in employees too often translates to fancy lunches or performance-based bonus plans without addressing the value of the work itself.” Now I like this — especially since it falls right in line with the teachings of one of my all-time favorite management theorists, Frederick Hertzberg.*

So, while the complete 14-slide presentation can be linked to above, here, for your more immediate viewing pleasure, are some excerpts:

(Clicking on slides in this gallery will expand them to full size.)

—–

*For more on the work of Frederick Hertzberg here’s a post about it from the GottaGettaBLOG! archives: http://www.ggci.com/blog/2006/01/how-do-you-motivate-employees.htm.

So what do YOU think? by Barry Zweibel on July 26, 2010

filed in Coaching, Information Technology, Leadership Development, Success at Work

2010q3 GGCI Newsletter

The 2010q3 edition of the GottaGettaCoach! newsletter is now on-line at: http://www.ggci.com/newsletter/GGCI-2010q3.pdf.

The Botany of Self-Doubt • Topic: Fear and Courageousness • Subject: What to do when self-doubt strikes and how to manage it more effectively.
The ABCs of Good Employees…& Bad Bosses • Topic: Leadership Development • Subject: Why “A-players hire A-players; B-players hire C-players” is misguided, at best, and downright inflammatory, at worst.
What Job Would Make You Happy? • Topic: Career Development • Subject: Time for a change? Try this visualization exercise to figure out where you should go next with your career.
A Noun Called ‘Happiness’ • Topic: Personal Fulfillment • Subject: A simple way to ‘tune in’ to more happiness.
On Being Fully Present • Topic: Personal Development • Subject: A quick set of five tweets about the concept of being Fully Present.
It’s “Nuts” Trying to Get Your Unmet Needs Met at Work • Topic: Personal/Professional Development • Subject: It really is. So here’s how to get those unmet needs met elsewhere.
LeadershipHaiku • Topic: Leadership Development • Subject: More // Leadership coaching / in seventeen syllables / for busy bosses. //
Clean Hands Clear Conscience • Topic: Personal/Professional Development • Subject: Researchers report some interesting new findings about the benefits of washing one’s hands.

As always, questions, comments – and suggestions – are welcomed.

Enjoy~ – bz

P.S. If you’re interested in learning how coaching might help you or your staff, phone (847-291-9735) or email (info@ggci.com) to schedule an exploratory phone conversation.

P. P.S. The GGCI Newsletter Archives are at: www.ggci.com/newsletter.

So what do YOU think? by Barry Zweibel on July 20, 2010

filed in Acronyms, Coaching, GottaGettaCoach!, Job-Search, Just for Fun, Leadership Development, Life, Networking, Oddly Curious, Success at Work, Twitter

The R.I.G.H.T. Job for You?

In its July 1, 2010 newsletter, TheLadders published my latest article, titled, 3 Steps to Rate Every Job Offer …

It’s a good news/bad news dilemma: Yes, they’ve finally given you that job offer you were hoping for; but, no, you’re really not sure if you should take it. Parts of the offer seem excellent, but not everything – definitely not everything.

Deciding whether to walk away from a bona fide job offer, though, is something that requires serious consideration and meaningful analysis. Fortunately, the “R.I.G.H.T. Job” assessment can help with that.

Use the chart below to capture your sentiments about the five key elements of the job offer: Responsibilities, Income, Growth, Happiness and Team:

Step 1 – Record

As you see, the basis of this assessment is that any job that’s R.I.G.H.T. for you will grade well across the five key elements identified above. Use the following questions as prompts, list your impressions, pro and con, in the boxes provided. Reflect on and record any other realizations you may have about each aspect of your assessment:

Responsibilities: How do the responsibilities match your skills and interests? Does the position offer sufficient span of control to manage those responsibilities effectively? What factors might expand or contract those responsibilities over time?
Income: How satisfied are you with the overall compensation package? Does it meet your needs? Exceed them? What, if anything, is missing?
Growth: What is the organization’s commitment to your ongoing growth and development? What opportunities are likely for you in this regard? How soon before you “max out” learning-wise?
Happiness: How happy do you see yourself in this job? Is the work sufficiently meaningful to you? Do you feel it’s a fitting end to your job search?
Team: What were your impressions of the people with whom you’d be working up, down and across the organization? How influential do you envision yourself to be with them? What did you notice about the company culture?

The next step in the “R.I.G.H.T. Job” assessment is to take a break! Yes, step away from your thoughts and go do something outside for a while. Do whatever you do to clear your mind and relax your psyche so you can just “be” for while.

Find out how to score your assessment by reading the rest of the article, via the link above or at: http://www.ggci.com/Articles/TheLadders-2010-07-01.htm!

And for other articles I’ve written for TheLadders: http://theladders.com/career-search?contentSearchKeyword=zweibel&fromSearch=true.

So what do YOU think? by Barry Zweibel on July 6, 2010

filed in Acronyms, Coaching, GottaGettaCoach!, Information Technology, Job-Search

Instant Energy Boosters

The July 2010 issue of Real Simple magazine listed 25 instant energy boosters. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye:

Tackle a dreary, do-I-have-to-get-out-of-bed day with a burst of color - “In general, saturated, warm colors (the red, orange, and yellow of ROY G BIV) are considered most energizing, while cool tones (like green, blue, indigo, and violet) are calming.”
Get a whiff of citrus - “The smells of oranges, lemons, and grapefruits have been shown to be energizing, so simply add a slice or two of your favorite to a glass of water.”
Get the giggles – Not sure where to start? Try a good youtube.com video!
Sit up straight - “Another thing Mom was right about.”
Enjoy your daily cup of joe - “Just don’t overdo it. Experts agree that you can have roughly 300 milligrams of caffeine a day to reap its benefits fully.” (A Starbucks’ grande has about that much; a Dunkin’ Donuts medium, about half that; Hershey’s Kisses have about 1 milligram each.)
Pop a peppermint – “Smelling peppermint “Stimulates the trigeminal nerve, which stimulates the area of the brain responsible for arousal and can make you more alert.”
Be nice to a stranger - A definite energy- and mood-booster.
Rise and seek sunshine - “If you can go outside within 15 minutes of waking up for 20 minutes and fast east, even on a cloudy day, you’ll get enough light to energize yourself for the day.”
Beware of energy vampires - Examples include chronic talkers, whiners, blamers, controllers, and such. Practice creating separation between you and them.
Exhale - “Many of our toxins are expelled by breathing” so regularly take a few deep breaths throughout your day.
Write a thank-you note - “It’s tough to be stressed and feel grateful at the same time.”
Think like a golfer - “Most golfers don’t focus on all the bad shots they have had. They focus on the great shots, and it makes them want to play again and again.”
Settle in for a rejuvenating night’s sleep - Yes, sleep is often in short-supply and comes at a premium. And yet…use the “G BIV” part of the color spectrum…or the color pink which “has even been used on walls in rooms where violent prison detainees are sent to calm down.”

The article lists a dozen other ideas, as well, but you get the picture, yes? Please feel free to add YOUR suggestions below.

—–
Image Source: http://www.frontrange.edu

Read Comments by Barry Zweibel on July 6, 2010

filed in Coaching, Just for Fun, Life, Success at Work

GottaGettaCoach! Celebrates 10-year Anniversary

Northbrook, IL — GottaGettaCoach! Incorporated celebrated its 10‐year anniversary on July 4, 2010.

GottaGettaCoach!, Incorporated (GGCI), the life coaching, executive coaching, and leadership consulting firm owned and operated by Barry Zweibel, celebrated its 10‐year anniversary on July 4, 2010 ‐ Independence Day.

“How wonderful that my dream of becoming a full‐time, certified, business/personal life coach turned into a sustainable reality,” said Barry Zweibel, MBA, Master Certified Coach, and President of GGCI. “Time really *does* fly when you’re having fun! Thank you to all of my clients, mentors, and supporters ‐ I truly could not have done this without your help.”

GottaGettaCoach!, Inc. engages people in deeper, more meaningful, conversations about their personal and/or professional growth and development to help them gain the perspective, feedback, and insight they need to move meaningfully forward with the care, confidence, and clarity that’s needed – sooner, rather than later.

For executives, mid‐level managers, and other business professionals wanting to increase their organizational impact and inter‐personal influence, GGCI provides 1‐on‐1 executive coaching and leadership consulting/mentoring. For those looking to improve their confidence, creativity, charisma, and work/life balance, GGCI provides a variety life‐ and career‐coaching products and services, as well.

—–
Source: http://www.ggci.com/comments/pr_anniversary10.pdf.

Thanks for your continued support, everyone! - bz (7/4/2010)

So what do YOU think? by Barry Zweibel on July 4, 2010

filed in GottaGettaCoach!

The Botany of Self-Doubt

Doubt. Self-doubt, that is. Feelings of uncertainty — sometimes focused and gripping; sometimes vague and disquieting. But amazingly able to distract, concern, and undermine one’s confidence, morale, and excellence. At a moment’s notice. What is it about self-doubt that make us so … self-doubting?

D as in DANGER – Simply enough, self-doubt engenders feels of impending doom. Not always, but often surely often enough. Fear of failure. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of shame. Fear of … fear, mon cherie.
O as in OVER-MATCHED – All of this “Fear of” is one heavy-duty opponent. So no surprise that when self-doubt sets in, it can make us feel very small, UN-resourceful, UN-capable.
U as in UBIQUITOUS – Not unlike computer spyware, when self-doubt pops up … it POPS UP!! And very quickly, it’s soon everywhere you DON’T want it to be.
B as in BREAKABLE – Of course the worry beneath all of our self-doubt fears is the frightening possibility that we’re not be nearly as resilient as we think we were — as we hope we were — that, as we’ve always suspected, we’re fatally flawed and we’re about to become undone. Sure, we’ve avoided numerous “close calls” in the past, but is this time THE time? Is this straw about to break the camel’s back once and for all?
T as in TIMIDITY – So it’s no surprise that when self-doubt strikes we turn dramatically inward, hoping “this too shall pass” while trying to create as little notice as possible. Hardly a Recipe for Success. Even for the smartest and most capable of people, it can be bad. If not worse.

So what can we do when self-doubt strikes? Is there a way to re-frame our self-doubt in a way that let’s us better deal with it? That helps us actually manage it more effectively?

It takes some work, but I’m thinking we can:

D as in DEFER – You know that “moment in time” that happens right when our self-doubt get triggered? Well, with practice, we can start recognizing that moment and using it as a springboard to stop, pause, breathe, and defer our immediate self-defeating reaction so that we can respond more self-supportingly and assuredly, thus teaching ourselves how to not get triggered (so much) in the first place.
O as in OBJECTIFY- The key, here, is to de-personalize the situation. Sure it FEELS personal, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Even just considering the possibility that it’s really NOT about you is a great start. Fans of the Matrix movie trilogy might envision this as a “slowing down the bullets.” TV sports enthusiasts fans might relate more to it being more like a stop-action “freeze frame” replay. Regardless, the goal is to focus less on what you feel, and more about what you simply see or hear, without a premature interpretation or judgement.
U as in UN-BUNDLE – “Un-bundling” is a process for considering other, less emotionally charged, explanations for what’s happening around you:
- You know those people asking you those challenging questions? Well maybe they’re NOT challenging you OR your competency — maybe they’re just be trying garner some additional information about a topic near-and-dear to them, one that they’ve got some sort of vested interest in.
- You know that confrontational tone you’re hearing from you-know-who? Well maybe it’s NOT about you — maybe it’s just his/her getting triggered and reacting defensively to any and all persons within shouting distance.
- You know that really uncomfortable new situation you’re finding yourself in? Well maybe it’s NOT about you and any of your shortcomings — maybe it’s just a legitimately unfamiliar, new, or complex scenario that needs some figuring out.
- And you know that stretch assignment you’ve been given that’s making you feels so incredibly incompetent? Well maybe it’s NOT designed to expose your “fatal flaws” — maybe you were given it because you were the most qualified person to handle it … or because you just happened to be there.
B as in BELIEVE – So the key to all of this is believing that the world is NOT out to get you, that all that mental baggage that you find yourself carrying around is NOT always the best filter to view things through. Freeing yourself from such encumbrances is as much about believing you can as anything else. It’s about realizing that, “You know what? If things DO go terribly wrong or off-plan, I bet I CAN figure out what to do and salvage things by just trying my best and acting responsibly.” And this Botany of Self-Assuredness, as it might be called, flows increasingly cleanly when you’ve Deferred, Objectified, and Un-Bundled beforehand. Which leads us to the whole point of this blog post:
T as in TRY – Trying really DOES yield better results. Not always. But often. It’s just that some times — oftentimes — in order TO try, we first have to figure out how to get past our self-doubt and out of our own way!

I hope this has helped you do precisely that.

—–
Image Source: http://www.harrybliss.com/

Read Comments by Barry Zweibel on June 30, 2010

filed in Acronyms, Coaching, Life

Framing Success with P-A-R

I’m often asked, “How can I be sure to put my best foot forward in a job interview? What’s the best way to share Success Stories?”

My answer: Frame them with P-A-R:

P — Start by stating a PROBLEM you’ve dealt with that is relevant to one that your prospective employer might have and/or want you to be able to address.
A — Next, explain the APPROACH you took to meaningfully, if not eloquently, resolve the problem.
R — Then share how the RESULTS you achieved not only solved the immediate problem, but enabled additional downstream benefits as well.

Information Technology Example:

“Tell me about an experience you had with handling a major system outage.”

Sure, I’d be happy to. The problem was this: All calls into our facility were being improperly rerouted by the phone company to a ‘this number is no longer in service’ recording.

Obviously, this was unacceptable. So, I took the following approach: Through a series of conversations, I was able to quickly learn the name and number of the specific person responsible for assigning technicians to fix such problems. Unfortunately, she was less than cooperative, at first, to put it mildly! But we didn’t have time to go in circles, so I said, “Look, this is a real mess so I need to know: Is it that you don’t want to help me, or you don’t know how to help me. Now, which is it?”

That turned the tide and in a very short period of time she had her top technicians working to restore our service – which they did in record time. So that was good, but the added bonus was that I now had some new key inside contacts who could be excellent resources for helping us address future outages. And you can be sure that those results have paid multiple dividends since.

Human Resources Example:

“Tell me about your experience with implementing changes to the benefits administration process for a unionized workforce.”

Sure, I’d be happy to. The problem we faced was that the benefits staff was spending a whole lot of time checking on the status of pending insurance claims for employees and not getting to other important matters.

So, I took the following approach: I researched, proposed, and got approval to install a web-based claims management system where employees could check on their claims themselves - without HR’s assistance. Of course, the biggest key to making something like that work effectively was getting union buy-in, which I was able to do by demonstrating how employees could check status from their home computers anytime, day or night. (Too, I agreed to install several shop-floor terminals for employees who didn’t have home computers.)

The results were pretty good: Not only did we save the company tens of thousand of dollars each year in the benefits management area, but we were also able to improve efficiencies in other benefits-related work - andimprove union relations, as well. We hit the trifecta on this one!

Everyone has Success Stories to share. Try sharing a few of yours in your next job interview by framing them with the P-A-R model.

See if it doesn’t make them that much more compelling and engaging stories to tell.

—–
Original Source: www.ggci.com/blog
Image Source: http://i.ehow.com

So what do YOU think? by Barry Zweibel on June 17, 2010

filed in Acronyms, Information Technology, Job-Search

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