Coaching Businesses to Success News Update

Things go wrong. There are those 'bad' days, when whatever we touch seems to just not be right or work right.

There is a simple test to this, which I call 'The Inanimate Object Rule'. This rule states that if you have a problem with anything that is not living (i.e. inanimate), then it's time to take notice.

That said, if you are having problems with inanimate objects, chances are the animate things around you will play up too.

In my experience, the inanimate object problems show up first, so taking note of them earlier, rather than later, will save you way more problems.

What are these inanimate objects then and how do they show up?

1. Top of my list are computers and any other technical object, especially gizmos. These will play up in this scenario most often. In fact you even treat them like real living things (which, of course, they aren't), and talk to them, shout at them and even blame them for when things go wrong.
2. Next up are things that it's easy to lose, like keys, purses, and those little gizmo things above.
3. Then it's transport. Things don't run on time, your car won't start and/or the traffic, just on that special day, is the worst it could be.
4. Little things. Toothpaste suddenly gets a life of it's own. Drawers magically jump out at you and whack your shin (or worse). You might even miss the coffee cup when you pour the kettle.

There are a ton of these and I could (as I have been victim myself) write all day. I hope you get the thrust here.

So, what to do about it?

• Try to spot it as early as you can.
• Commend yourself with a smile when you do spot it.
• Stop whatever you are doing immediately.
• Take three deep breaths and slow right down.
• Do things at half pace and very deliberately.
• Notice how well things are going now.
• Smile and enjoy the slower pace.
• Notice, as learning for the future, how things got better.
• Continue with the day, making big efforts to enjoy it.
• Finally, spend time listening to your people today.

Interesting - eh?

Enjoy noticing those little monster moments this week!

October 8, 2006 19:34 - Work Flow

It was the filing that did it. The 200 pages I needed to place in plastic wallets and then file, to keep the nice and shiny pages of the downloaded e-book nice and tidy.

First of all, I had the various components (the pages I was filing; the plastic sheets I was placing them in; and the file itself) all in the wrong order.

It was taking ages.

So I rearranged the workflow such that I had the pages on the right, the plastic sleeves in the middle (facing to where I was getting the pages from) and the file open on the left.

Good workflow.

Then I realised that the big lever arch file itself didn't make it easy to maneouvre the newly inserted pages onto it, because I was putting them in from the beginning of the file and not the end, which had an open side.

So, with a bit of thinking about how they are ordered, I reverse how I am putting them in the file and do it backwards.

A perfect example of work-flow management, even if I say it myself!

What's this got to do with management, I hear from you?

Well, it shows that:-

1. You can take in what you are experiencing and notice what's not working
2. Then you can adapt and make it work better
3. Then you can review progress and double-check what still isn't right
4. And then you can adjust again

By ensuring that you notice what's going on; measure against 100% success; try something new; measure again against 100% success and then adjust again, you are most likely going to get a positive result.

That can apply to anything.

The biggest challenge here is to get used to the fact that you (and only you) are the driver of changes to what you are doing - how you are behaving.

Understanding this truthfully will get you the results you want.
**Something Really Special**

Celebrate Good Question Day to Win an iPod & Get £450+ in Bonuses
Just under a year ago now I was involved in a project with Judy Barber and 27 other coaches, trainers and personal development leaders to create a book about questions - and, in particular, Good Questions (I have a chapter in there!).

So, as one of my valued readers, I thought I would tell you about this opportunity to get over £450 in free bonuses when you buy a book I contributed to entitled, "Good Question! The Art of Asking Questions to Bring About Positive Change."

Good Question Day
In addition to this one-day offer you will also get your choice of free ebook just for visiting the site and there's also a competition you can enter to win an iPod Nano.

I won't go into any more detail here because it's best if you find out more when you join the fun at Good Question Day.

Be sure to go and take a look now because the £450+ offer ends at midnight Tuesday, October 10th, 2006, and I have a feeling you'll like what's included.

P.S. Go and claim a free book of your choice and have a go at the competition. If you have friends who would be interested too, then pass this email on now.

October 15, 2006 00:00 - Keeping Brains Healthy

You might be tempted to 'pass' on this article if you are in management, because of the content. I would encourage you to take a look as there is truly 'something for everyone' here.

The UK's Mental Health Foundation issued some great guidelines that can be found at www.mentalhealth.org.uk and this Top Ten has, I believe, a wider value than being used only in conjunction with mental health. They are great in almost any circumstances where people are involved. (Read Article)

October 22, 2006 07:40 - What a Difference a Week Makes

I'm a great believer in the simple things in management. It is NOT hard to do - it's simple.

One of the most valuable activities a manager can take is just to get into conversations with his people.

A middle manager I've been working with, recently found this out the slightly hard way... (Read Article)

October 29, 2006 07:06 - Why Accepting Help Works In Business

When you're where the buck stops, it's easy to regard help as something you can't accept.

Especially when offered.

Let me share a story. A famous radio presenter in the UK, Roger Royle, once told this anecdote about 'saying no'.

During the war, as with many English children living in London, he was evacuated into the country... (Read Article)