Tuesday 29 March 2016

Career enhancer: Managing your Boss

If your career and well being would benefit from a boost you may want to work on better managing your boss. The point is that managing your boss is to make your life better.

You would do well to focus on you first, building your confidence in your strengths and what you bring to the business. This will help you to be strong enough psychologically to derive the best relationship with your boss.

Think about your values and how they align with the business as well as your strengths. A great on line resource to help you with this is viacharacter.org.

Step two is to become an expert on your boss. What do they value most? What takes priority? Likely they will have a different map or view of the world as well as different ways of communicating and thinking from you. They may well have a different personality type and way of working. An understanding of how they tick can help to reduce frustration and increase empathy.

Responding to and initiating conversation with them in their preferred 'modes' can help to build and maintain rapport. A good place to start is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, which you can start to research on line.

To achieve a better idea of what you want from your relationship with your boss and to help with discussions with your boss, you could also look at valuecards.efairplace.com

One word of caution is not to be too pushy with what you want. Choose your timing wisely and see the bigger picture.

For help with managing upwards and improving your most important work relationship, get in touch via enquiries@westofenglandcoachingandcounselling or 01761 237400.

Friday 11 March 2016

Calling all Lone Business Leaders

If you are the most senior person in your business and you feel lonely in your role please read on.

According to AXA PPP healthcare, owners of small and medium businesses often feel alone when facing the pressures of running a business. In our experience this is also true of senior executives working for an organisation. This can lead to anxiety and long working hours that put your health at risk.

The AXA survey of December 2015 found that nearly two thirds of respondents have to make challenging decisions alone and over 40% would like more support.

Keeping customers and clients happy was cited as a key pressure issue along with cash flow and regulatory compliance. The biggest area of support need was cited as business planning and improving performance/sales. Other areas where you want support are leadership, communication and dealing with difficult people.

The majority of you receive some support from family members, other directors or business partners or staff. 10% of you say that you have no one to help you.

In our view even if you have some help the quality of this help may be lacking. For example, family members, whilst well meaning, may lack the resources and skills to assist you properly. Fellow directors and staff may, even subconsciously, be driven to advise you based on their own agendas.

Having your own confidential, experienced, trained, objective, skilled business coach offers you a resource that you can trust to discuss and help you to manage and resolve even the most challenging of business scenarios.

If you would like to discuss you specific needs with us, please get in touch via enquiries@westofenglandcoachingandcounselling.co.uk

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Business Owner Coaching

Are you a business owner who is interested in continuous self improvement? If you are then please read on.

We work with others like you to help with continuous development including helping with upskilling particularly in areas that make a positive difference to your business as well as you such as people management.

For example we are currently working with a number of independent business owners helping them to improve the performance of their people. There is an old adage that 'what gets measured gets managed' and we are helping them to set 'stretch' and achievable targets for their staff alongside providing on the job development support.

We often work with business owners one on one or one to two if you have a business partner. You will have your own stuff that you want to work on such as time or workload management. You will also likely have joint areas to work on such as agreeing the boundaries of each of your roles, shared goals and the way that you communicate with each other.

Working with an experienced, knowledgeable and skilled business coach is the experience of:

- your learning and developing on the fast track as, unlike a training course, the coaching is tailored to you
- having a trusted confidante with whom you can discuss practically anything, personal and professional
- having space to work through your priorities with someone who listens, reflects back and asks good questions to help you to think, sometimes differently in a good way
- working through a coaching process that helps you to get the outcomes that you want
- enjoying developing yourself, your skills and your business.

Individuals with a coach are often interested in continuous development rather than just achieving one set of objectives. They believe in lifelong learning. If this appeals to you and you are ready and willing to be coached, please get in touch to discuss your needs.

You can reach us on 01761 237400 or via enquiries@westofenglandcoachingandcounselling.co.uk