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2010 Executive Tidbits
IBM, P&G, General Mills, McKinsey, and McDonald's have the best manager training programs according to Fortune 2009. |
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Check out Keith's other site:
Virtual Writing Coach |
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The
Executive Connection SM
a publication of The Virtual Executive
Coach SM
"Vision + Accountability = Success!"
www.virtualexecutivecoach.com
March, 2010
In This Issue:
1. Preview
2. Executive Summary
3. Daily Reminders and Self-Management
4. Helpful Hints
1. Preview
The Executive Connection explores the creative and analytical
process of business development, team-building, and executive
development. We are an interactive community of executives
and small business owners who desire to network with like-minded
high-performance executives to enhance our knowledge,
skills, and aptitudes in the competitive business world.
Published monthly, the Newsletter offers coaching suggestions
around the topics of: business development, financing,
marketing, networking, incorporations, mergers, human
resources, governmental regulations, and tax laws. Topics
are presented from the perspective of Keith Barton and
represent only his ideas on creating and running your
business.
Because we are an interactive community of executives
and business owners, other viewpoints are welcomed and
may be printed in future monthly newsletters with permission
from Keith Barton.
2. Executive Summary
March, 2010
Dear Executive Connection Subscriber,
This month's newsletter features: Daily Reminders and Self-Management
3. Daily Reminders and Self-Management*
Busy executives have their IPods, IPhones, Blackberrys that they can
sync to their laptops but they still miss deadlines. What do you tell
your coaching client when they say they have trouble starting, completing,
or scheduling time for projects? No one likes deadlines. Why not turn
deadlines into lifelines that keep your business flowing and on-task.
Most of us are visual learners, so here are a few suggestions to keep
yourself ahead of the game.
- Post affirmations or reminders throughout the office and home;
examples might include, "Today is your opportunity to tell your doctor
what you've been putting off: weight gain or loss, good cholesterol
and sugar levels, etc. Use your MD as your health partner who wants you to succeed.
- Cut out pictures of your dream home and use it to show to your architect
when the time comes for your retirement.
- Choose a particular piece of music for cleaning your office.
- Listen to a meditation tape for relaxing during your work day;
take 5 minute breaks every 30 minutes of work to increase motivation and stamina.
- Wear the same sweater or have a special affirmation whenever you're making
cold calls if you're in sales; picture your potential customer as an old friend.
- Put a reminder keepsake in your pocket to help you remember that
special gift for that special person.
- Change the room lighting by making it lighter; increased lumens increases
productivity and keeps you from growing tired.
- Establish your own consequences and rewards for getting work done on time;
you can reward yourself with a dinner out with a customer. Use Fridays to take a
client to lunch to celebrate the end of your work week.
- Find an exercise partner or personal trainer to keep you motivated for
your workouts; letting someone down who's counting on you is tougher to rationalize.
- If you procrastinate on cleaning your office, call a meeting in your office
and set up refreshments for your colleagues.
- If you work from home, set aside cleaning time in your daily planner;
have a closing routine and clean your desk of unwanted papers before you start
the next day; dust and keep your files in order. Use color hanging files for
organization: Red for budget, green for daily tasks, yellow for insurance papers,
blue for customer accounts, etc.
Self-management is important for small business owners or sole proprietors. As humans we
think and have negative dialogues that prohibit us from accomplishing our goals e.g.,
I'm not good enough, I'll never get around to that, so what's the point in trying,
what if I can't make payroll this month, I should make every sale, I must be successful,
I have to get a certain job done, etc.
Be able to distinguish between negative and
positive self-talk. We are constantly thinking to ourselves and we must be realistic
in what we are able to do; don't over-extend or over-promise delivery times; compromise
job quality; or set yourself up for failure with optimistic deadlines that don't allow
for unforeseen events such as shipping delays, product recalls, employee illness, and
new competitors.
One of the ways a good business coach provides feedback to his/her client is to
"ask permission". Examples include: "May we work with this issue? Can I tell you what
I see; would you like some feedback on that?" When the coach asks permission it
demonstrates that the client has the power in the coaching relationship and sets
boundaries so that the coach does not become the "know it all consultant" but allows
the client to "make decisions for themselves" based on coach feedback.
*Ideas taken from self-management chapter in Co-active Coaching by
Whitworth, Kimsey-House, and Sandahl, Davies Black Publishing, 1993.
Helpful Hints:
- If you work from home; set up your work hours in two-hour blocks with a
five-minute break every thirty minutes for a rest; walk around, get a drink or
use the restroom.
- If you procrastinate on deadlines, make a list of five things to do that day;
keep the list on your desk where you can view it at all times. If you get a call
for a new task, decide which item to remove from your list of five and place on
tomorrow's list. Before you leave for the day, file your list in a "completed red
folder". Once a week post your completed items on your computer in a file marked
"completed" by your name to take responsibility and credit for your daily tasks.
- Use a desk calendar to mark deadlines for the current month e.g., inventory,
payroll, outside sales, planning time, report writing, mailing, updates to your
web pages, etc.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
The Executive Connection SM is a free publication.
If you want to continue to receive this Newsletter, you
can SUBSCRIBE
by clicking here or by sending a blank email message
to keith_barton@att.net
with the words SUBSCRIBE TO THE EXECUTIVE CONNECTION in
the subject line.
To
UNSUBSCRIBE click here or send a message to keith_barton@att.net
with the word UNSUBSCRIBE TO THE EXECUTIVE CONNECTION
in the subject line.
Be assured your name and email address are confidential.
We do not sell, rent or share our mailing list with anyone.
Contact Information:
Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Voice: 281-583-5005
Fax: 281-583-5008
Web: http://www.virtualexecutivecoach.com
E-Mail: keith_barton@att.net
(c) Copyright 2010,
Virtual Executive Coach SM
and A. Keith Barton, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
Distribution Rights:
The Executive Connection SM is copyrighted,
but you may retransmit or distribute it to whomever you
wish as long as not a single word is changed, added, or
deleted, including the contact information. However, you
may not copy it to a web site.
Republication of The Executive Connection SM
in paper media is encouraged and permitted by individuals,
organizations and associations, as long as the issue is
reprinted in its entirety, without change, and includes
the contact information.
With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue
to fit your space requirements. Republication also is
encouraged under other circumstances. However, the advance
permission of
A. Keith Barton, Ph.D. must be obtained in the event that
changes in the text are desired.
The Executive Connection SM
Mission:
The Executive Connection SM is dedicated to
helping first-time business owners and executives to recognize
resistance to change, while they create and manage their
own businesses. My goal is to help you transform your
vision into a successful business venture with the addition
of accountability structures and silent partner.
The Executive Connection SM is a publication
of The Virtual Executive Coach SM and Keith
Barton, Ph.D.
We would like The Executive Connection SM to
be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments,
topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional
resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time.
Send your e-mail to keith_barton@att.net.
Please forward this issue to anyone you think would find
The Executive Connection SM interesting and
beneficial. Your recommendation helps us keep growing,
and ensures an excellent exchange of information and techniques.
Archives:
You can read previous issues of The Executive Connection
SM in our archive section.
About Keith Barton, Ph.D
Dr. Barton received his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University
of Texas at Austin and has been a practicing therapist
for over thirty years. He is a graduate of MentorCoach
and is accepting new clients.
He has been an adjunct professor at the University of
South Carolina, consultant to Fortune 500 companies in
executive development, founded and managed Texas Community
Living Ventures, Inc., in 1986 for providing group home
services to persons with mental retardation. Keith founded
and has been running a clinical practice in Northwest
Houston since 1990.
He writes part-time with the goal of completing one novel
a year. His desire to coach others derives from his passionate
interest in helping others become attuned to their creative
powers of storytelling.
Dr. Barton has training in coaching, cognitive and family
therapy and health psychology. He has published articles,
made presentations and conducted workshops about:
Small Business Development
Employee Wellness Programs
Anxiety and achievement
Stress management
Self-esteem
Communication skills
Leadership styles
Core values in the workplace
Executive Development
High-performance groups
Physician support groups
Writer support groups
© 2010 The Virtual Executive Coach SM
and Keith Barton.
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