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You Can't
Think With Your Tool Belt OnTM
My feeling is that
it is difficult to think about the big picture when you are caught up in day
to day activities. This newsletter is designed to help you keep perspective.
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Back Issue - January 2004
For those of you who have been receiving this mailing for some time, I’m
looking forward to providing you with my insight for another year. If you
are one of the many new subscribers who are just receiving this for the
first time, I’d like to welcome you and promise many new ideas in the year
to come.
Continued success to all in 2004!
Wayne
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This issue focuses on just one topic since many of you will be just now
digging out from last year and preparing for the new year ahead. Be sure to
take some time to get your self and your space organized, then have at it!
On a few of my current projects I’ve been working with clients to help unite
business teams and head them in a cohesive direction. I have been very
pleased with the results that I am seeing and I believe it is a direct
result of the quality of people I am working with. They have the skills and
as we say in sports, they are very “coachable” meaning that they readily
accept input as a way of focusing their skills on results.
The ones who respond the least are often the most talented, yet closed
minded and therefore “uncoachable.” The following are just a few traits of
those considered uncoachable:
-
Too busy making excuses
about why they did what they did, or things are as they are, rather than
focusing on how to do better next time.
The bottom line is that past actions are no longer relevant. I’m sure
there was a good reason at the time but that time has passed. Solicited
advice is being offered so focus on that. If the advice is flawed, then
we can discuss that, but lets not dwell on past decisions.
-
They already have the skills
so feel they have nothing new to learn.
While some new skills may be introduced, coaching is not all about
introducing new skills, but about giving those skills a tune up by
observing the actions and through an impartial second set of eyes that
is not so close to the problem. Are you in the right position? Can the
number of steps in the process be reduced, or are important steps being
skipped? Are you even heading in the right direction?
-
An extension of the previous point
is an elitist attitude. The feeling that someone at their level
cannot benefit from the knowledge of someone who is not in exactly the
same position.
Remember that while an athlete with a career ending injury cannot make
the same moves, they can make excellent coaches and through other
athletes they can produce the same or better results. The same is true
for retired executives and independent consultants who have knowledge
but simply chosen a different method of producing those results.
-
How one measures value and worth.
Coaching is not about the coach. Its not about performing a task better
than the one who is being coached. Its about improving results for the
team by helping each player do their best. Its about keeping an eye to
the bigger picture and helping those who are coachable see that which
they cannot when they are too close to the situation.
Advice can come from many sources both solicited and unsolicited. Create
sensible filters for yourself to determine which advice is worth taking
and that which is best ignored. The best advice that I received from my
own mentor was to deal with unwelcome advice quickly.
Can I give you some advice?
No thank you.
As for solicited advice, be coachable, be curious, challenge your own
assumptions.
You may find that though you haven’t learned a new skill,
you have obtained a new and interesting perspective.
*********************************************
JUST RELEASED
“Getting Organized Using Microsoft OUTLOOK™”
A simple and effective way to keep at lease one of your new years
resolutions.
See our on-line store http://www.WayneMcKinnon.com
Or this direct link
http://www.waynemckinnon.com/products/Staying%20Organized%20with%20Microsoft%20Outlook.htm
*********************************************
Upcoming events I will be presenting:
January 30, 2004 - Stop Being a Slave to E-mailTM
http://www.WayneMcKinnon.com
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You Can’t Think With Your Tool Belt On ™
is a semi monthly electronic newsletter
for anyone who is interested in EXCEEDING GOALS
and EXPECTATIONS while being RECOGNIZED for their
efforts and moving to work of higher value without
giving up on the idea that life should be fun.
Web link: http://www.wayneMckinnon.com
© 2004 Wayne McKinnon. All rights reserved.
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