Previous Blog Posts

Being in business for yourself is an interesting process - full of starts and stops, hurdles and victories. Blogging is one of those starts and stops for me. I started blogging some time ago, but then stopped. Then it became a hurdle but now it's a victory because I started again. Take a look at some of my previous blogs if you are curious. And remember to give yourself some grace if you started something and then stopped. There is always an opportunity to start again and experience your own victory.

You Are A Gift - Share It!

December 19, 2014

If you don't know the real person behind the leader, it is hard to follow them. This is something that I have been thinking about for the last few weeks. It is also something that has come up over and over again in my conversations with leaders. Let people see more of who you are. Be vulnerable. Be transparent. Be authentic. Powerful words and concepts that can evoke nothing short of squirming right in our own chair (I've actually seen someone squirm when I mentioned these words). What is it about sharing how we think, how we feel, and how we lead that is so uncomfortable? I can speak from my own experience. Take, for example, this blog. I know that sharing more about myself as a coach and a consultant is critical to building relationships. But that means I have to open up. That means I need to let you see a little bit of me. It's not exactly easy for me and here's why:

• Putting myself "out there" means that I cannot control what you think of me as a result(control is an illusion - I get it).
• Letting you see what really matters to me, what I think is interesting, and how I feel about my work and my life means that I actually have to write it all down in a way that makes sense and is appealing to you. Writing is a discipline that I have to work at. It's not necessarily something I yearn to do every day.
• Trusting that all will be well when I push the "publish" button. I don't need to keep changing words, keep making it perfect, or keep thinking about what I could say that could make it even better,

I hear such amazing, heart-felt stories when I coach leaders. Stories about why their work means so much to them. How much their team means to them. And the one question that I ask each and every time it this, "Have you ever told your team?" The responding answer is "No." We are afraid to share the good stuff -  the real reasons why our work is so meaningful to us. Maybe it's the people you work with that make your job great. Maybe it's the contribution that your organization makes to the community. Maybe it's the work that you do to move products with efficiency, or provide services that make people smile. Whatever the reasons, share them. Talk about the reasons you love your work with your team. Leading means sharing about ourselves. People will follow if they know why we do what we do. Not just the fluff and fancy words, but the real us. This is why I named one of my coaching programs "Get Real / Get Results". Next time you are talking with a colleague, team member, senior manager, or even group of people, remember that they want to get to know you a little better, too. They will follow you when they know you and trust you. It's scary business sometimes to be transparent, vulnerable, and authentic. But it will get you much farther in your life and in your work. You are a gift. Share it,

My Big Aha!

October 14, 2014

I am in the midst of celebrating my five-year anniversary of my business, Crossroads Coaching & Consulting, Inc. This five-year-thing got me thinking. Why did I start my business, and why did I pick the name that I did? I chose the name Crossroads Coaching & Consulting because we often find ourselves at a crossroads, both big and small, at various times in our lives. I believe the essence of a crossroads is a yearning to do something more, something bigger that draws is to what we ae meant to do in this life. It is something that challenges our old ways of thinking and doing. There is usually a trigger of some sort that brings us to a crossroads, but the effect is the same, "What do I do next?" Even at my five-year anniversary, I found myself at a crossroads. I have been thinking that I just might be playing it safe and doing what I know because it's comfortable and secure, and not doing what I really love to do. I decided to take action.

I signed on with a business mentor to help me get to the heart of what I want my business to be. I felt strongly that I had to get this figured out first, before I take more action in my business. A big "aha"  happened for me during a recent trip to Ft. Lauderdale where I had a chance to be with my mentor's community of women entrepreneurs.  What a fantastic experience. I had the opportunity to tap into new energy around the work that I do and the gifts and talents that I bring to my clients.

This is what became clear to me in Ft. Lauderdale. I help highly motivated leasers and professionals who struggle with feeling overwhelmed and stuck, but desire to move forward and make a bigger, more positive impact.

• I want leaders to leverage their strengths to create a more fulfilling world. 
• I want to be a business partner who connects, cares, visualizes and strategizes action - for leaders and maximizers who want to be even more impactful while standing in their strengths.
• I want to be sensitive, yet strong and steady, and support people who want to lead with conviction, purpose, strength, and impact.

So how does this apply to you if you are a senior leader in a company? You and I are very much the same. We strive for the same things - to make a difference to those around us. We want to create a bigger impact. We want to be strong and confident, to know that we are moving in the right direction. Sometimes we feel stuck and don't know what to do next. we need help. But we find it, and then we take one step forward, and then another. If you're feeling like something is pulling you out of your comfort zone, that's a good thing. It means you are gearing up for something new,  something better. Sure it is a little unsettling, maybe even a little scary, but I did it. I will continue to do it. So will you - and I am here to help you because that's what I love to do.

We Create Impact

June 2, 2014

Each of us brings strengths, values, knowledge, skills, and intentions to our conversations. We create impact. Make sure it is impact that you intend. Join me in my new blog post and learn the 3 steps for effective conversations.

Moving Mountains

March 10, 2014

When I believe there is a new way, or new perspective, that will improve a situation, then yes, I will try to move mountains to help you get it done. I want to inspire you to learn more about yourself. one way to do this is through self-assessments. What are your experiences with self-assessments? I would love to hear from you.

A Glimmer In The Eye

March 3, 2014

A shift, a glimmer. This is what I see in my client's eyes when I coach. It's the reason why I made coaching an integral part of my business. I know that change fuels something even greater. Give me a call, or send me an email. Together we can travel down the path of change.

When The "Pick Up The Sticks" Games Becomes Real

February 25, 2014

Have you ever played the game of "Pick-Up-Sticks?" It is a game that tests your mental and physical skill and is played by taking a bundle of sticks and laying them in a disarrayed pile. You then try to pull on stick out at a time without moving the other ones around it. Your turn ends if you pull out a stick and disrupt the ones near it. The player who has picked-up the most sticks at the end wins. Recently, I have felt my life was a real-life game of "Pick-Up-Sticks."

During the last few months, I have walked side-by-side with my husband who had heart surgery to replace his aortic valve and repair his aortic artery. Major heart surgery has been a life-changing event for both of us. Questions about life, contribution, health, money, and worth have been tossed up into the air and fallen down around us jumbled up, just like the game, "Pick-Up-Sticks."

It has been confusing to sort through all of the sticks, so to speak. I have been amazed at how much recovery was involved with this surgery; follow-up doctor appointments, cardiac rehabilitation, monitoring the medication, etc. All of this on top of maintaining schedules for our busy teen and pre-teen, my Crossroads work, my husband's lack-of-work, bills and more bills, extended family, and the list goes on. Honestly, I was overwhelmed.

Sometimes when I am overwhelmed I turn to the art of learning. True to my nature (according to StrengthsFinder 2.0), one of my strengths is "Learner." It is one way that I better understand people and the world around me. When I learn something new, I achieve a new perspective and when I achieve a new perspective, I can make better decisions. It's a ripple effect.

So in the months following my husband's surgery, I embarked on a new program to help me pick-op those sticks and put into perspective a new way of working, living, and making money. I would like to share it with you. 

I invite you to join me in my new coaching program designed especially for women in business. If you are feeling like you are living in you own real-life "Pick-Up-Sticks" game, frustrated because you are want to do more and think that you can't because of your financial situation, it is time to step into a new paradigm around your work, your money, and your life. The eight-week coaching program includes how to:

• Discover your money paradigm with an assessment called Sacred Money Archetypes® to reveal the most profitable actions you can take to align your purpose and your passion, and free your limitations and beliefs around money.
• Pinpoint blind spots and brainstorm opportunities for empowering your financial decisions and your personal growth.
• Empower your voice when discussing money in any situation - at home or at work.

This is a personal and professional coaching. It is a journey to gain a new perspective, take action that will help you to succeed at a new level, and gain confidence about you contributions. Are you ready to take the leap and tackle that real life "Pick-Up-Sticks" game? I did. Let's change your paradigm so you can step into something new in you life and work.

3-Pronged Approach to Leadership: People, Process, and Plans

January 6, 2014

This is the last of the 4-part series about Jen's story. Jen is a new leader who is in the throes of transition. She had an excellent track record in the Operations Department, and as a result was promoted to Operations Director. Now Jen is trying to navigate all of the tasks involved with leadership.

It's been 3 months and the road has been a little bumpy. Jen is learning quickly that she can't always rely on her operations expertise to be an effective leader. She's struggling with the daily problems that need to be fixed, her staff's frustration, and demanding customers who contact her about various issues.

Is this sounds familiar to you, it is time for you and your own "Jen" to take a step back and look at the big picture. Being a leader means walking a fine line between doing the work and leading the team. Leadership is about making decisions based on entirely different criteria. Consider what the real issues are, the pain points that are stalling the team, and then brainstorm solutions that align with your organization's goals and objectives.

In Jen's story, the fact that she is feeling down while still new in her role is normal. This feeling is part of her transition into leadership. She's leaving behind what she knew well and hasn't yet painted a picture of success for herself in a leadership role. Consider this coaching framework for new and emerging leaders:

Here's how it works, using Jen's example

1)  Coach the critical success factors for the operations department. This discussion is framed in a process approach; knowing and understanding key process steps, inputs, outputs, suppliers and customers.

2)  Align the critical success factors with leadership development needs for Jen. What is needed from her leadership role? How can she best communicate? What are the milestones and markers for her success?

3)  Develop actions and accountabilities using tools and frameworks that will not only help her know and understand herself better as a leader, but also how to execute more effectively as a leader.

This is an effective approach for business results and leadership growth and the perfect opportunity to break-through leadership transition and achieve success.

Stepping Into A Leadership Role Can Be Hard - Try A Process Approach

December 30, 2013

I have been thinking about Jen in my last few blogs. Jen knows how to get the job done, customers love her, and her co-workers flock to her for advice. Because of her outstanding performance, Jen went from being the "fireball" producer to Operations Director.

Jen experienced success in her operations role for 10 years. But now something is different. Jen and her team have not been working together like a well-oiled engine anymore since she became the Operations Director. The team is at a crossroads, and so is Jen.

In my work with leaders of small to mid-sized companies, I see crossroads happen quite frequently. It is easy to assume that shifting roles should be easy, especially individual contributors to leaders. Take Jen, for example, who knows the business like the back of her hand. She is an ideal choice for a new leader. 

However, by putting Jen into a leadership role, the team experienced the strain of her heavy workload. They still expect her to do the work and she feels obligated to help them get the work done. Now Jen needs to lead the team and brainstorm strategic solutions, but she is struggling. She's torn and feeling frustrated.

If you are a senior leader in your organization and have recently experienced a situation with your own "Jen," now is the time for you to step-in and offer up some resources. Consider a different approach - process mapping. There is no better way to see what's really going on than to put a pen to paper with process maps.

Process maps inform decisions about next steps. Process mapping sessions harness the team's expertise in a collaborative environment where they can design new and different ways to get the work done. Teams work better together when they create together, and a stronger sense of camaraderie happens among the team because everyone contributes.

There are more hidden advantages to process work. Figuring out who's doing what, why, and how opens up communication, clarifies hand-offs, and sets expectations for everyone to succeed. Process maps are also great on-boarding tools. If you have regularly considerations, process maps visually represent policies and procedures to your auditors. 

If you have a "Jen" who has hit a crossroad and you would like help to jump-start your results, contact me to set up a time to talk. get your team working like a well-oiled machine again.

Get Your New Leaders Started In The Right Direction

December 16, 2013

In last week's blog, we met "Jen," a highly motivated member of your team who you are considering as your next Operations Director. Jen moves mountains to get the work done. You trust her implicitly. She seems like a perfect choice to step into a leadership role, right?

Jen's success is etched in her knowledge and expertise.  She is a producer. It's what she knows, and what she knows really well. However, leadership is not just about knowledge and expertise. Leadership is about the ability to think out-of-the-box, see options, create different paths to success, and engage teams. It is important to point out these leaderships characteristics to Jen and tell her what you will need form her in a leadership role. 

There is a tremendous value in leaders who are knowledgeable, even "home grown," as such. However, when shifting key team members from "doing" to "leading," the transition is often surprisingly bumpy. In Jen's case, she will face different expectations from her team and from you. 

Jen will need help to navigate the subtle changes in culture, as well as the more significant changes in processes. Jen will need to let go of her tired-and-true knowledge and expertise to make room for an entirely new leadership skill set. This is now easy, and it takes time. 

Here are 3 ways to get Jen started in the right directions:

1)  Find a professional coach for Jen. You need to focus on leading the business, finding new customers, and implementing high level strategy. If you step into the role of Jen's day-to-day advisor, you could be putting your business at risk for slower growth.But you hire a coach for Jen. The 1:1 coaching relationship spurs action and accountability for new leaders at a much faster rate.

2)  Find a mentor for Jen. Consider the other senior leaders in the organization who could step-into a mentoring role. Jen needs room to grow, and working with a trusted mentor is an ideal opportunity to gain business insight, leadership insight, and carve a path to a successful leadership career.

3)  Create a transition plan for Jen. Treat Jen like you would any new leader coming into the organization. Create milestones for her and encourage her to problem solve, ask questions, and second-guess her nature to jump in and get the work done herself. She is a leader now, not a doer.

Need some help putting this strategy together? Want to make sure you have it right so your "Jen" excels at her new role? I can help you. Give me a call and let's talk.