The Entrepreneur's Response To: 'How's Business?'

I attended a conference last week for The Newfoundland and Labrador Organization for Women Entrepreneurs.  It was a wonderful opportunity to network with other business owners and listen to some fabulous speakers share their insights on business topics.  And it was an opportunity to practice answering the question, 'How's business?'

Have you ever wondered if your answer to that question was helping or hindering you?

I recently realized I do not like that question and my answer often made me feel icky - so it was hindering me.  In my mindfulness practice, I am learning to manage the highs and lows in life and business.  One of the mindful leadership traits I practice is poise - and, let's be honest, I'm still practicing!  When someone asks the question, 'How's business?' I've struggled with the answer.

At times business is fabulous and I want to scream from the mountaintops that I'm making it!  Some big contract just came through... my week is full of clients... I exceeded a goal... etc.  And then at times business is slow, I'm marketing and developing and making connections - or sometimes not.  Maybe I didn't win a contract or maybe my week has no revenue generating activities.  At those times I'd like to tell the person asking me the question how tough everything is.

But I don't do that either.  Anymore.

Entrepreneurs, especially those in their first few years of business, often have extreme highs and lows.  The excitement of securing a large contract in an industry you've been targeting for a year is as thrilling as not having any revenue generating activity on the books for a week (or two or three) is devastating.  To be able to go home at night and live happily means being able to manage the extremes.

Most entrepreneurs consciously choose this path.  We enter it knowing the struggles and chaos facing us.  We know 80% of businesses fail in the first two years - and many of us have already been one of those statistics.  We know we likely won't have a regular salary for a year or two or three.  And we know we are passionate and want to lead the way with a concept or service or product and not follow someone else's idea.  It's part of who we are.  But it doesn't mean we know how to manage it all.

Entrepreneurs often feel alone.  They do not want to let others know they are struggling in business in fear of losing potential clients, contracts, or employees.  They feel responsible for their employees' lives.  They feel responsible for ensuring enough money comes into the family to put food on the table.  When something fails in business, they take it on as a personal failure.  Entrepreneurs feel the weight of the world on their shoulders.

When an entrepreneur can bring mindful leadership into their business and work, they can alleviate the weight.  Of course, meditation as a daily practice will help anyone feel less stressed and more energetic.  However, it's the minor adjustments of the mind throughout the day that will make a powerful impact on how an entrepreneur feels about business.

According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, acceptance is one of the attitudinal factors for mindfulness.  As an entrepreneur, accepting that a low in business gives you an opportunity to take care of something will allow you to see the low in a different light.  For me, I see the slow times in business as an opportunity to tweak, develop, and take care of me on a personal level.  It has taken some time to accept these slow times as, not only needed, but enjoyable.  For other businesses, the slow times can present an opportunity to implement a new process, evaluate customer service, or build team cohesiveness.  Interestingly, when diving into these development activities, sales often rise as a result.

Another attitudinal factor for mindfulness is letting go.  Entrepreneurs want to be 'successful'.  We want our businesses to thrive.  We are either passionate about what we offer or are passionate about business itself - or both.  When we are succeeding in business, we want to hold on to it.... we want it to last forever.... we want to continue to grow and thrive and have fabulous work cultures.  But it never works that way.  Things change.  The environment changes.  People change.  Demands change.  And business must go through these changes in order to thrive again.  When entrepreneurs can let go of the need to hold onto the pleasure from the high times, it is easier to flow into transition times or low times.  And this takes poise.  A mindful leader will be able to celebrate successes without needing them for validation for personal success and be mindful that today's success does not guarantee tomorrow's.  A mindful leader and entrepreneur will be as happy and content with the success as with the failure because he/she will let go of the pleasant or unpleasant feelings and know that all that really matters is this moment, and this moment is truly beautiful.

All of this takes practice - a lot of practice.  It does not mean we don't work hard to succeed or have a thriving business.  It means we can accept where we are, take action, and not cling to business success as a factor for happiness.  It means entrepreneurs can stop feeling the weight of the world and start loving the moments.  It's OK.  And it will make business even better.

So when people now ask, "How's business?"  I'm practicing the response, "I love it."  That is the truth.  And I'm just like any entrepreneur who is learning to manage the highs and lows that come with being a passionate entrepreneur.

Namaste

Using Mindfulness to Get Your Priorities Straight

Ever feel like you are in one place but you really need to be in another?  You have that 'to-do' list that as you cross one thing off, two more things are added and it keeps growing?  And you can't get it off your mind?  You wish you could be in two places at once.

Mindfulness teaches us to be present and to be where we are.  It teaches us to leave the past and future thoughts and get the most out of what you are doing at the present moment.  And that's one way of dealing with the problem of not being able to focus in the present moment.

However, when you really are not getting your priorities addressed, you are probably in the wrong place.  Being mindful will also help you know when you are in the wrong place and get to the right place.

I don't claim to be perfectly mindful.  Nor do I claim to be 100% dedicated to my meditation practice. But because of my practice and knowledge, I know when I need to step back and get re-aligned. When I'm not being fully present, I usually realize it pretty quickly and get mindfully present.  I highly recommend it for an amazing life and business with amazing results.  Lately, though, I've been losing sight of my priorities.  And the universe has a funny way of showing us when things are out of whack!

A lot of external demands are getting my attention lately.  One of those is my 2 1/2 year old waking almost every night again for about a month, hence, I'm working on less sleep and  much less deep sleep - which is what we require for our cognitive function to be at its best.  That one can't really be controlled - except that I need to get to bed earlier (which is a blog in itself!).

However, I also have had other demands that I've been giving my attention to - others wanting to meet, the feeling that I must be networking all the time, responding to emails as soon as possible, the ever lengthening list of newsletters I must read, taking care of my family, being there for my friends in need - you know that list.  Well, yeah, my list is looking like this lately.  And if I wasn't going to do something about it, the universe was.

Last night, I had an awful dream and woke with a feeling that I couldn't shake.  I had a 9:00 full-day networking event scheduled, I had to pack for a trip I'm leaving for tomorrow, and I have at least four items on my list that I must get done before I leave.  I managed to get my daughter to daycare (my hubby is traveling for work) and arrive just a few minutes into the 9:00 session.  I sat through the first session trying desperately to pay attention but my mind wandered to my 'to-do' list. Knowing I have full control of my thoughts, I began to practice accepting that I have a lot to do and I'm here now so be here.

I managed to get through the morning, but I was almost forcing my pitch to potential clients.  I certainly was not in the right head space.  Then, I found out that I was on the list for pitching my business one on one to potential clients for the afternoon.  Last week, my printer broke, and I did not get my brochures printed for this event - however, I was OK with that because I didn't think I was on that list!  I took a moment to think about what would happen if I pitched my business without feeling prepared.  And I decided to give up my coveted seat for the afternoon session to someone on the wait-list.  I was feeling guilty while driving home, my mind was in the clouds, and I was stopped by a police officer for speeding!  Yes!  I got a ticket!

I really need to be in the office right now.  I need to take care of business.  I need to focus.  I need to clear off my desk.  Although all of the things demanding my attention are important, my priorities lie at taking care of other things, including taking care of my sleep!

Being mindful is not woo-woo and fluff.  In fact, it's as practical as it gets.  When you are mindful, you inquire about your feelings and thoughts.  When mind wandering started for me this morning (and recent weeks), I questioned what was going on for me to be unable to focus.  Lack of sleep was the first answer, of course.  But I continued to dig and got to the real answers - for me it is literally to spend time in the office getting things done and stop feeling guilty about not networking enough.. When you have the real answers, you can find the solutions that really work, rather than the band-aid ones.

If your list is growing and you really feel you are in the wrong place, try closing your eyes, pay attention to the feeling and sound of your breath, and question - what do you really need to be doing in order to enable yourself to feel present in your life?  What is the ONE thing you can do that will make a big difference to your focus and productivity?  Then do that.  Scratch off all the things that aren't real priorities and get your priorities straight.  And while you're at it, spend a little time meditating - because that will help you feel better in all ways.

Tina Pomroy uses mindfulness as a tool for managers, leaders, and business owners to be highly productive, lead high performing teams, and experience peace and happiness at work and in life.

Hire Higher

So many people have asked me how to hire the right people that will stay.  There are many solutions for attraction and retention challenges, and the right one for you depends on your culture and current practices.  However, finding the right person will depend on being the right environment.

I recently heard about a young woman interviewed at a photography studio.  She is a smart, enthusiastic young lady with a strong work ethic who gets enjoyment out of serving customers with excellence.  When she was called to be interviewed that same day, she cancelled an appointment in order to prepare for the interview.  She was excited to potentially have her first job as a photographer - she'd already taken courses, had fun with the camera, given all of her friends and family the gift of photography, and was ready for a paid photography experience.

The young woman was seated in the customer area when she arrived... and that's where she stayed for an hour.  The interviewer joined her for a few minutes to give her forms to complete and left her again. When the interviewer returned, she asked about hours of availability, and then, "Do you want the job?"  The young lady said yes.  The interviewer then proceeded to tell her about all of the awful job applicants she had received and the problems they have with recruitment and retention.  Customers were in ear shot and the other employees carried on with each other having fun.... but in an unprofessional manner.  All of this was noted by the young woman being interviewed.

The young woman accepted the job... with a caveat she didn't share with the interviewer.  She was accepting the position to gain experience, and then she would leave.  She had no intention of working in such an unprofessional environment for a long period of time.  She valued excellence in customer service and wanted to work in an environment that also valued that kind of excellence.

This is not the first time I've heard a story like this.

If you want to hire 'higher'.... give your current management and employees the skills required to perform higher.  Create a professional workplace that people with the right skills will want to work in... and stay working in.  If you want to hire a person with excellence in specific skills or attitudes, make sure your workplace IS that first.

Excellence in management and leadership is the first requirement to hire higher.  Finding and keeping the right person for the job is about first having an environment that person wants to work in.

Start cultivating excellence among your current team, and the right people will begin to show up... and will be more likely to stay.

Flat Tire

Several years ago, I was driving on the highway with my young daughter and I got a flat tire.  I'd driven my car for numerous work trips across our geographically large province, some trips totaling over 2000 km in distance.  My poor tire had enough.  It had worn thin.  It wasn't strong enough to withstand whatever it was I drove over that day, and it flattened.

My daughter was probably around 10 years old at the time.  Of course, Mama had to be the rescuer!  However, Mama didn't have the strength to remove the nuts off the tires to get the tire off!  So I did the next best thing.  When a motorcyclist stopped, I accepted his help.  Less than a half hour later, we waved off our lovely savior and laughed most of the way home.

It was so easy to laugh off that experience.  It was a sunny day.  We were giggling at me trying to get the nuts off the tire.  The whole event was just a blip in life and we shared the hilarious story many times afterwards.

Why then, is it so hard to fix the figurative flat tire in life?

When you are an entrepreneur, or a manager, or a parent.... you are on 'Go' from the moment you wake to the moment your head hits the pillow at night.  You may even have trouble sleeping even though you're totally wiped.  At some point, your energy depletes like the air in a tire and you go flat.  You get unfocused.  You might scream at someone.  You forget to tell your husband that you need him to take the baby to daycare in the morning, resulting in a messy morning (yes, this happened to me recently). You are busy but unproductive.

You have a flat tire.

And you need to fill it with air or other things will start to break.

You know this feeling of a flat tire.  It comes as confusion.  Overwhelm.  Chaos.  Indecisiveness.  Negativity.  Low energy.  A feeling of spinning your wheels - which is kind of funny since you have a flat tire!

And you know what to do to fix it.  Take a break.  Breathe.  Meditate.  Exercise.  Do some yoga.  Walk in nature.  Talk it out with a coach.  Organize your thoughts.  Revisit your vision.  All  mindfulness techniques.

But you don't.  You keep on going with your flat tire until you have heart palpitations.  (I know this because I've had them.)

The answer to fixing your flat tire is awareness.  Openness.  And practice.  Know the signs.  Open yourself to just being and freeing your mind.  Practice a mindfulness technique daily.  And experience the harmony it brings to your business and your life.

Oh, and accept help from others.  And laugh.  Without those things, I'd still be on the highway with a flat tire.

Namaste

Stage Presence: How Dance is Like Leadership

My daughter and I are dancers.  As my daughter prepares for re-entering dance as a big part of her life, I am reflecting on dance and what it has meant for us.

When I danced much more seriously than I do now, I remembered every step.  I was usually placed in front of the class or stage.  I was selected for ballet exams.  I was selected for a performing group.  Every style I tried, I learned with ease.  I was technically a good dancer.

My daughter was also selected for ballet exams, remembered her steps, and was selected to be a dance teacher assistant.  She tried many styles of dance and was good at all of them.  But here's the difference.  She had stage presence.  This made her a much better dancer.

When my daughter stepped onto the stage, she was a performer.  She had an amazing smile and tilt of her head.  She had expression.  Her passion and desire for the dance made the audience feel like time stood still.  She knew how to engage the audience with her presence.  It didn't matter if she made a technical error or that one of the other girls was technically better.  She shone and continues to shine on stage.

As a teenager, she has no idea what this has to do with leadership.  As a leader and a person who teaches leadership, I see some connections, and here are four:

Love.  She loves dance.  She loves what she's doing.  She'd perform every day if she could.  She'd dance all day long.  She isn't working on making a smile on her face... she really is smiling!  The engagement of the audience isn't something she purposefully made happen... she really is engaging.

Practice.  As with any kind of performance, you have to practice your dance routine.  A lot.  It takes hours of commitment, many mistakes, and sometimes painful feet.  And, yeah, sometimes tears.  To become that person on stage that has the technical excellence as well as the presence, you go further, you dance more, and you make the practice a priority in your life.

Questioning.  When she missed a class, she had to ask someone to help her know the steps.  When she was not bending far enough into a plié, she had to ask her teacher how she could master the depth required to perform better in exams.  If she was practicing on stage and she wasn't in line with everyone else, she had to ask where she was supposed to stand.  Dance is not a solo act.

Authenticity.  This is what made my daughter a better dancer.  We both loved, practiced, and questioned.  That made both of us good dancers.  But she stands out because of her authenticity. She has her own style.  She realizes her dream and lets go of inhibitions.  For a year or two, she lost this... having normal teenage fears.  But when she is her most authentic self, time stands still as she glides across the stage.... bringing tears to this mamas eyes! ;)

So where's the connection with leadership?  

Love.  The best leaders love their work and the contribution they are making to the people they lead. They have a great passion for contributing to society and the world.  To lead well, that passion is natural.  A great leader needs to find that love and follow it.

Practice.  Excellence in leadership is practiced for many years.  It takes making a lot of mistakes and learning from them.  It takes a continual effort at improving and practicing leadership skills.  You don't start out at 3 years old as a prima ballerina.  It starts with music and movement.  You have to get the basic steps mastered before you can  move on to performing on stage without error (don't you love the 3- and 4-year old performers, though?!).  Some say leaders are born, others say they are made.  I say, you can have a natural ability to lead, but you have to practice and make mistakes and be open to learning how to do it better in order to be excellent.  I also say that in your practice, you need to let others be right and try things on that you may not believe is right.  This allows a leader to see others' perspectives and be able to lead different people better.  You go further.  You are not satisfied with a good job.  You want to make a difference and make the biggest difference you can.

Questioning.  One of the biggest fears of many leaders is that someone will find out they don't know the answer.  If you've ever felt this, you are NOT alone!  A great leader questions.  They know they do not have all the answers, and they let others know.  They are good leaders.  Not encyclopedias (or, for the younger generation, Google:).  When they are stuck, they seek answers from others.  When they don't have the expertise, they find someone who does.  They collaborate.  And they ask questions to everyone, no matter what their position or title.  The team they lead will be asked to contribute their individual knowledge, skills, and unique attributes.  This not only makes the leader a better leader, but it engages the team.

Authenticity.  People can feel if something is forced or 'faked'.  If a leader is not being truthful with him or herself, they will not be authentic with others.  This takes work for many.  Knowing yourself is the key for excellence in leadership and for engaging your team.  A leader typically does not make it to that role without the technical knowledge and skills required.  But without exploring who you are, how you can make an impact, and what your unique style is, you may technically be a good leader, but you probably aren't bringing tears to the audience's eyes.

If you are looking for stage presence in your leadership, contact Tina at tina@pomroy.ca about the Business Buddha Leadership Coaching program or the Mindful Management Program for managers and leaders of any group or business.

Judgement Day

Have you ever caught yourself judging a person?  We all do it... some more than others.  I'm working on reducing my judgement, and as a result I'm much more aware of it when I do it.

Last weekend, I was playing on the beach with my 2-year old.  It was sunny, the beach was spattered with people relaxing and playing, and my husband had gone snorkeling in the ocean.  I noticed a lady who was very skinny... anorexic skinny.  My first reaction was: "Oh my gosh, how could she do that to herself?"  (Total judgement!)  Then I saw a man come over and hug her and rub her back with affection.  And I thought: "She is surrounded by love... her sister (twin) is there with her.... a young child is there with her... a loving man is there with her."  And THEN I felt different.  I felt compassion.  I felt a little sadness.  I felt like going over there and giving her a hug.  I realized that I was in judgement... for about 30 seconds.

I have no idea what this woman's challenges were.  I do not even know if she had anorexia, which is a serious disease, and how dare I judge?!  And it doesn't matter if the woman is surrounded by love or totally alone.  It doesn't matter if she's perfectly healthy or near death.  How dare I judge.

Here's the message.  We never know.  Even if we did know, we don't know.  Because it's THEIR life and THEIR experiences.  We can't know.  We can only send love.  And compassion.  And when it's someone in our lives or someone we CAN touch, we help if we can and if they accept.

In business, it's exactly the same.  How many times have you said, "I can't believe he did that."  "If she did the course, she must know what to do."  "Who comes to work late?"  "How disrespectful of him to not call to let us know he'll be late."  "She must be lazy - she's so unproductive."  "The younger generation just doesn't have any loyalty."  "I would never do what he did."  The list goes on and on and on.... doesn't it?

I had a chat with a business owner recently who hired a cook.  He said, "Doesn't everyone know how to peel potatoes?  I don't understand how he cannot know how to peel a potato!"  Well.... no, not everyone knows how to peel potatoes.  The fact is, unless they've been taught and/or had the experience, they don't know.  And maybe, they do know, but their way is different.  Maybe they were taught differently.  As a manager, it's your responsibility to hire as well as possible and then guide your employee towards excellence.  Not judge.  Help them move through their challenges so they CAN be excellent at what you've hired them to do.

Next week, try to be aware of when you make a judgement about an employee or team member.  Think of all the possible reasons they might have said what they said or done what they did.  And realize that it's not your place to judge, rather guide.

How are you going to guide this week?

Namaste

The Buddha in Business

A few people have questioned my use of 'Business Buddha' in my programs.  So, I had to question it myself.  Do I really want to use that term - Buddha?  Does it turn away my clients?  Does it portray something I'm not?

For now, I'm keeping it.  And here's why....

Indeed, Buddhism is a religion and my programs have nothing to do with religion.  However, the word Buddhism comes from 'budhi', which means 'to awaken'.  In today's world, Buddhism can also mean a way of being, rather than simply a religion.  That way of being is to be aware and mindful of your thoughts and actions and develop understanding and wisdom.

Taking these concepts to business can shift challenges into success and create happier, more productive work environments.

We often get lost in the day to day and lose sight of what is truly important and how we can ease conflicts and frustrations.  Business managers and leaders are faced with decisions and work overload and responsibility on top of their day to day activities.  When they are acting and making decisions that are not mindful, it creates a ripple effect in their teams, organizations, customers, and all stakeholders.  It creates arguments, mistakes, resentment, gossip, poor performance, loss of customers, negative publicity, and the list goes on.  Thinking and behaving mindfully can reverse all of this.

I focus on leaders and managers because they are the catalysts in their organizations and groups.  They lead the way.  Effective leaders create leaders, and they will create leaders similar to them.  Imagine a workplace where leaders cultivate other mindful employees.  Responding to customer inquiries becomes easier.  Collaboration soars.  Change will flow more easily.  New programs will be implemented without so much drama attached to them.  AND, people go home to their families happy.

And that's what my Business Buddha Program can do for you.  We take your business and people challenges and shift your thinking about them.  We create solutions to catapult your organization and team in the right direction.  We do it by using mindfulness and understanding.

This is not the soft, fluffy side of business.  This is business done right.  I'm pretty sure most would consider Google to be a successful organization.  Google is just one business that uses mindfulness as a business strategy.  And it's working.

Namaste

Contact Tina Pomroy at tinapomroy@hotmail.com to learn more about the 

Business Buddha Program.

Is the Workplace a Place for Mindfulness?

Some might ask, "What does mindfulness have to do with productivity and business success?"  People that already practice mindfulness might respond, "Everything."

Mindfulness is a moment by moment awareness of how your actions, words, and behaviors impact yourself, others, and the environment around you.  Contrary to some beliefs, you do not have to be dressed in an orange robe chanting in the mountains to be mindful.  Nor does it simply mean meditation.  It is your way of being in life, at work, around others, when you're alone.  And it greatly impacts your health, relationships, and success.

Do you believe your work is part of your life?  It usually takes up almost 1/3 of our life.  Yet, so many people dread Mondays and watch the calendar for Fridays.  Five out of seven days of the week - gone.  Life is too short to not love your Mondays.  Would you LIKE to be happy and healthy - always?  Would you like for your team and the people around you to LIKE coming to work?

One of the key roles of a manager is to create an environment for his or her team to be productive, innovative, and self-sufficient.  Companies spend big bucks on training for reducing waste and improving productivity.  But without the right environment, it's all a waste!

Mindful management can help create the environment for a team to be driven, passionate, productive, and creative.  A mindful environment will cultivate the transfer of new skills and improve adaptability when the internal or external environment changes.  Mindfulness reduces stress, which is a huge contributor to health issues - which impact the workplace.  Mindfulness can help an organization get rid of gossip, align a team's thinking with the company's vision, and reduce complaining and other negative behaviors in the workplace.

So, yes, the workplace is the place for mindfulness.

My  mission is to contribute to creating a mindful world where acceptance is the norm, individual strengths are nurtured, and happiness is attained through action and contribution.  Our workplaces need to be mindful in order to have this world and life.  Our managers and leaders need to lead the way.

How can you be more mindful today and lead others to be the same?

Namaste

Tina Pomroy is launching the Mindful Management Program starting this Fall and offering a 50% discount.  To be the change you want to see, contact Tina at tina@pomroy.ca. 

A Solution is Not a Fix

Have you ever worked in an organization that held a social event to improve employee morale?  Or maybe a rewards and recognition program was implemented to try to boost productivity?  Have you ever thought that the new HR initiative was laughable because it certainly didn't address your problems?

Often, the signs are evident for low morale or productivity.  The numbers can clearly demonstrate low sales or profits or high accident rates.  When an organization has low morale, the symptoms may include negativity, unwillingness, lack of cooperation, gossip, mistakes, absenteeism (or worse, presenteeism!), missing deadlines, tardiness, high stress, and on and on.  Low morale has high costs for an organization.  Turnover of excellent people and low productivity are two common costs.  Most organizations know this and try to solve the issue with a fix.

I once worked with an organization that had happy hour on Friday afternoons.  We would all have a beer in the office or go to a bar for a drink to socialize and relax.  It was the organization's leader's way of attempting to have high employee morale.  However, this leader didn't trust his employees to do good work.  He was a micro manager.  He yelled at employees in public.  He made grown men cry... I kid you not.  So do you think a Friday afternoon happy hour worked?  Of course not!  It was a fix... maybe temporary... but it was far from a solution.

A fix works only temporarily.  In my case above, it may have worked for one week or two. But the positive impact quickly shifted to one of resentment.  That's what happens when a fix is used to solve a problem instead of finding the real solution.

In order to find the real solution to a problem, you have to dig.  You have to be ready to hear the hard stuff.  You need to be ready and committed to real change.  It takes time.  It takes commitment.

Take a rewards program, for example.  If you already have relationship issues in the workplace, and you implement a rewards and recognition program, jealousy and resentment is likely not far behind.  When someone gets recognized in an uncooperative work environment, darts can not be thrown from the eyes faster.

"HE got rewarded, and I did all the work."

"I can't believe she is getting recognition for that and it's just part of her job anyway."

"He is getting a bonus but he doesn't do a thing all day!"

Sound familiar?  A cooperative, and yes, loving and supportive, culture is required for a truly successful rewards and recognition program.  The solution for inspiring employees to do great work may include a rewards and recognition program, but not until the root problems, such as creating a supportive culture, are identified and real solutions are put in place.

Take a look at your organization or team (no matter how big or small).  What are some of the challenges you have?  Ask yourself and others.... what are the root causes of those challenges?  THAT's where you will find your solution.  And maybe you can avoid wasting your time and money on a fix.

Tina Pomroy's Mindful Leadership Fitness System uses Truth as the first phase of identifying root causes to the problems clients present to her.  See Pomroy Consulting Inc's Facebook page or contact Tina at tinapomroy@hotmail.com  for a free consultation for enhancing the leadership, management, and culture in your organization.

Do You Need a Coach?

Do you have a coach?  Do you know what a coach can do for you?  Do you know what a coach does?  What the heck is a coach anyway?

Everyone's heard of a baseball coach, a hockey coach, or a tennis coach.  And now a new coach is on the block - an executive coach or leadership coach.  The role of all coaches are similar, really.

Like a sport coach, a business-related coach's role is to build a leader's self-reliance and help him or her handle his or her own problems and challenges.  A coach provides the tools and skills for managing the mind, managing time and priorities, and building leadership skills so that the leader does not depend on the coach.

A sport coach will create team spirit, individual leadership ability, and self confidence and commitment to be a better player.  Imagine a national sports team without a coach.  How do you think the team would perform?  Now, imagine a little league team without a coach.  What would it look like?  Chaotic?  Full of conflict?  Lack vision and team cohesion?  A business coach brings these things too - regardless of the size and nature of the business or organization.

A business or leadership coach helps a leader when he or she:

• has difficulty managing his or her own time or projects
• has difficulty managing others
• is having a challenge working cohesively with someone else
• has been promoted to a new position and now needs to lead former peers
• has a disengaged team and needs greater influence and a more empowered team
• feels stuck

A business and leadership coach will give you the tools to be yourself, get aligned, and lead with power and passion.  One must lead him or herself first and then create other leaders for high performance.  In order to continue to grow and develop as a person and as a leader, we face challenges.  That's how we grow.  The best leaders have coaches to help them move through the challenges.  

If you feel like you need more time in the day to get everything done or feel that your team is not as engaged as they need to be for success, try using a coach!  The benefits far outweigh the costs when you get the right coach for you and your organization.

Tina Pomroy is a Mastermind Executive Coach with a Master of Business Administration and Canadian Human Resources Professionals certification.  Using a values-based system and mindfulness approach,.she provides leaders, business owners, and managers coaching and mentoring to create high performance environments.