Training & Coaching News from Smart Coaching Training

05/01/2018 By Isla Baliszewska

Time Management that works for you

Make this New Year of 2018 the year when you manage time rather than assuming it manages you;

make this New Year of 2018 the year during which you design and create new or different ways

of doing things better or differently.

Everyone has 24 hours x 365 days per year x number of years in one’s lifetime.

Exactly the same amount paid into each individual’s time ‘bank’ account at one nano second past midnight on January 1^st each year. How do we view that deposit? Do we even give it a thought? Does it warrant a cursory glance? Do we give a nano second’s consideration as to how we will use the time deposited? Does it even cross our minds to make one New Year’s resolution to use every nano second to the absolute max in whatever way we choose? Do we make any plans at all?

Or do we, without a scrap of consciousness, allow ourselves to be swept away on the tidal wave of time with a wild ‘wheee’ of gay abandon making it OK by thinking it’s just another year like any other. And then when 31^st December arrives as it inevitably does each year wonder in genuine puzzlement as to where that year has gone and why everything we had wanted to do is still on the list [if there was ever one in existence].

Fact is if we fail to plan we plan to fail.

Maybe we labour under the misapprehension that we have no control over time. In some ways that is correct as we humans have invented time pieces of all shapes, sizes, dimensions and mechanisms and they register the regular passing of each second so that we can keep on track throughout the world.

However the control that all of us have is how we use each of those seconds. Whether we use them consciously or let them slip away without regard. What would you prefer to be in charge of your time or let it vanish unused. Even if for example you have a boss who orders how you use your time at work; a family who absorb your time at home you still can be in control of how you approach each second you spend in either situation.

How about experimenting with a different perspective?

How about valuing each second, savouring each moment, getting total pleasure in each time slot as if it might be your last? How might that change your approach to time and enable you to discover different ways of doing the same old thin g that will make the difference?

You may be started to read this article thinking ‘Yippee! I am going to get a whole list of ways to manage my time … all the hard work will be done for me’. Nice try! How I might organise / use / appreciate my time will be radically different from yours. It is for you to take a slice of time to consider all the excuses, reasons why, reasons why not that are your favourites as to why you run out of time / don’t have enough time / can’t find time etc. And to call yourself to account to ditch the old, out dated, routine ways you have used to date and surprise yourself with how inventive you can be especially regarding procrastination.

In a Youtube clip re mobile phones Simon Sinek talks about ‘in between time’ as the time when relationships are built. He advocates using time to connect rather than being distracted by those incessant pings demanding attention. Maybe that is where you could start with managing time differently, more effectively by relegating your mobile phone to the position of a useful tool rather than a demanding toddler!

For some help with ways to manage your time bank and keep control, get in touch.

Halina Jaroszewska 2018

27/11/2017 By Isla Baliszewska

Being a Positive Disruptor for TEDxBristol 2017

TEDxBristol is the biggest TEDx event in Europe and is all about spreading new ideas, making an impact and building free knowledge to share to a wide community. This year TEDxBristol took place in November, with the powerful theme of Dare to Disrupt! focusing on “Bristol’s positive disruptors, whose ideas and actions are ripping up the rule book and having a global impact.”

The picture here was taken in the Community Partners hub by Alyssa Haggarty, Trainee Solicitor at Burges Salmon, who were headline sponsors at the 2 day event. Burges Salmon VIP guests throughout the 2 days were asking everyone they came across why they dared to disrupt. Tess Coughlan-Allen from MindDoodle & Flexidb and one of the amazing TEDxBristol 2017’s Community Partners said ‘thinking is non-linear’. SCT’s very own Halina Jaroszewska who was part of TEDxBristol 2017’s organising team with responsibility for Community Partnerships said she dares to disrupt because ‘I can and do … it’s such fun’.

TEdxBristol 2017 was a great success, a sell out and trending on Twitter. The much appreciated sponsorship from the Community Partners enabled community groups, young people and the much older people to attend who might not have been able to do so. A result in line with TEDxBristol’s core values.

Post event, TEDxBristol held a Wrap Up Dinner for its partners and Disruptors. Read more about that event in Richard Hill’s article.

13/11/2017 By Isla Baliszewska

Six preparations for Successful Presenting

“Imagine everyone in the audience with just underwear on,” we are told – but don’t imagine that will bring you all the confidence you need for a winning performance! Instead, just be sure you have ticked the list of the Top 6 Preparations for Successful Public Speaking below.

Just like a film set you can apply some of the stage setting, preparation and rehearsal to your ultimate role in the movie. Think of all the roles that go into making a film, now think of your role as the Lead Star. It takes a team and a methodical set up behind the scenes to make the magic happen. From the director and stage manager to the wardrobe mistress and speech coach, and of course practice practice practice.

Rehearsals

Prep 1 – Physiology: Speech coaches have specific exercises you can perform and practice with, warming up before you start. Sentences such as “Top of the tongue, teeth and lips to ensure you deliver with your vowels well rounded and consonants crisp and clear.” To release stress jump up and down sway your arms from side to side, and let go of any tension and trapped emotion.
Prep 2 – Emotional connection: Studies show that in presentations how we deliver in terms of voice and posture make up 93% of the impact of a speech. Only 7% is the actual words. Practice out loud as often as possible, if you can record yourself on a smart phone you will be able to direct yourself and write an ’emotions script’ to go with the words. This way you can pinpoint where you can evoke reaction and connection with the audience, enhancing through facial expressions or pauses for contemplation.
Prep 3 – Notes: Ideally you should not be using any notes. If you must, then use maybe ten keywords on one or more postcards. And make sure all the pages are numbered in case you drop them! If you have written a script then, with repetition, you may find that the words will be committed to memory which will allow you to focus on delivery. In any case, the more you use a script the less likely you will be able to tailor your presentation to the reactions of your audience. Whether you use a tablet or paper make sure it all looks professional and larger than normal print so you are not peering at it!

Stage Management/Costume

Prep 4 – Impression: Plan your outfit ahead of time; every detail is important here, from the undergarments to the clothes on top; think about who your audience is, if you need to present authority then dress for the part. You have to feel confident before you start speaking, one of the easiest ways is through your clothes. When actors are reading for a part they often start with clothing as the character develops through the way the clothes make them feel; dressed up to the nines you may see physiological changes, straightening of the back, head held high: if you have a comfy sweater on you may relax and slick the shoulders. I often find that drawing on a persona helps with delivery, think about who you admire and model your actions on how they would present.
Prep 5 – Environment: Where possible visit the venue where you will be speaking. An NLP exercise is to physically draw a timeline and walk through the paces of getting up from your chair walking to the front and turning to the audience. Or if that is not possible visualise yourself making these steps. Breathing exercises also help, so you don’t forget to take a breath.

Break glass in case of Emergency
Prep 6 – Physiological problems: If you find your heart begins to race, your hands are sweaty or your mind goes blank, this exercise when practiced will guarantee calmness and confidence when you need it:

Close your eyes relax your tongue, breath deeply from the diaphragm and allow the emotion to pass, next think about a time where you have felt great, amazing and happy…turn up the colours, give it sound if it’s a moving picture, watch it like a film where you are in the audience. Now make an “O” sign with your thumb and forefinger, feel those good feelings inside, and harness that feeling whilst feeling the pressure of your fingertips.
This is called an NLP anchor, by repeating this process you will be able to activate good thoughts and feelings at the moment you need it.

So now you’re ready! Have fun and enjoy your presentation.

Helen Morris

28/09/2017 By Isla Baliszewska

Get out of your own way

Ever bumped into yourself and thought ‘please can you just move out of my way?” Weird as this might sound, it may hide a powerful message. I’m not the first coach to think how cool it is to help people ‘get out of their own way’, it is a concept that has been around for a while but one which, very interestingly, people too often just don’t get.

In a nutshell, we can be surprisingly unintelligent about when it is ‘us’ that is the reason things are not going the way they should be. That applies both at work and in our personal lives.

In the business arena and trending at the moment is Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, once heard to say “I’m underpaid compared to Premiership footballers” and only this week being reported as blaming the cancellation of 40/50 flights per day and the shortage of pilots to a management mess-up. A charismatic leader, synonymous with a powerful brand that he built, Mr O’Leary could be held up as an example of ego leading to blindness in decision making.

As for affecting our personal lives, Indra Nooyi’s 7^th critical lesson for running a Fortune 50 company in the 21st century is ‘Leave your crown in the garage’. As CEO of Pepsico she is worth listening to; “No matter who we are, or what we do, nobody can take our place in our families.” Her point is about remembering the other roles we have in our lives, those in addition to the one where we think we are ‘It’. In those other roles we might be server, facilitator, supporter, carer and these are equally as important as being the boss.

Being good in any role, particularly where you are in charge, entails remaining grounded when you are being successful. Being the one in control necessitates a level of emotional intelligence that lets you keep clear judgment and make decisions with the knowledge that they impact positively on those on the receiving end.

This isn’t about dumping your ego. We all need our egos, they embody our will, our drive, our passion, our individuality. It’s important to acknowledge our successes and strengths. It’s equally important to notice those moments when your back patting becomes self-aggrandisement that threatens to make you think you’re infallible.

To ensure you wear the crown at the right times we offer these tips:

Know that you don’t always have to be right – inviting the views of others contributes to better informed decisions and may show you something different and better.

Surround yourself with people that are not always just like you – opposing viewpoints and perspectives lend strength and clear judgement.

Be aware of what your impact is downstream – who is affected by what you do, say and decide, and are they being affected the right way.

Be transparent and sharing – building silos and Chinese walls invariably results in getting someone’s back up and inviting suspicion and confrontation.

Listen, pause, and think about all the options. Only then are you in the right place to make the right decision.

You don’t always have to be a hero.

Isla Baliszewska

31/08/2017 By Isla Baliszewska

Are you selling to your customers the right way?

Personally I make purchasing decisions very quickly based on very little information and an appeal to my emotions. “How will it look/feel if I buy this?” Do I treat clients the same way? If I followed “I treat my customers the way I like to be treated” then I would. And would that get those people want to be my customers? Would they be happily sold to by me?

We are all different and we make our buying decisions differently. Some people like lots of facts, they are ‘maximisers’, thoroughly researching the market to ensure they have covered absolutely all the options. Others like to take a lot of time to make purchasing decisions. Some people like to engage in a dialogue, have a conversation. Others like to be left alone to examine all the evidence, then come up with the questions, and make a considered decision.

So what do you do? And do you know why you do it?

If you already have your C-me colour profile you have the edge in understanding what your preferred way of thinking and doing is and what informs your decision making process, including what and how you buy things. You appreciate whether you tend to the rational or the emotional, the big picture or the detail. And you will know how you like people to engage with you. That is really powerful stuff when you are being sold to.

Standing in your customer’s shoes

Anyone in business is looking for customers. If you could assess potential customers using indicators that demonstrate their buying preferences, that would be amazing. You would be better equipped to know how to approach them, what to say, when to say it and how to deliver your message, whether written or spoken, social media or email. So brilliant if you can ask your clients to do a C-me, however that might be a bit tricky!

But…if you know your own preferences when it comes to communicating with potential customers, imagine how useful that would be. Maybe you aren’t comfortable with reaching for the phone and having that difficult negotiation. Maybe you find you can’t stop talking when you get in front of someone. A C-me profile will give you that knowledge and enable you to see how your clients are communicating with you and help you look for clues as to best ways of reaching out to them. And depending on how they communicate with you, you will know how much you may need to adapt your natural preferences to negotiate that sale. That could be the difference between failure and success.

You can only treat your customers the way they like to be treated when you know how they like to be treated. And you can only make that effective in sales terms if you know how you are communicating with them.

Find out more about how C-me Colour Profiling can help with your sales and enhance your relationships with your customers, both those you already have, and those you are approaching.

David Rigby 2017

Time Management that works for you

Being a Positive Disruptor for TEDxBristol 2017

Six preparations for Successful Presenting

Get out of your own way

Are you selling to your customers the right way?

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