The Way You Listen to Me

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“The way you listen to me impacts my power to speak to you.”

—Author Unknown

Image of a man holding his hand to his ear

Image from ABC

A phrase often used in organizations with coaching cultures is “Coaching occurs in the listening.”

Perhaps no other factor makes a greater difference to the success of a coaching relationship than an open and receptive “Try It On” response to the questions and input from those supporting their efforts.

A closed mind and an “I Know” way of listening is like kryptonite to Superman. It saps the power from the parent, mentor, or coach. 

A request for coaching, before and through all stages of these special relationships, is essential to the achievement of the gold medal results both parties desire.

EXERCISE:

How can you assure the highest levels of listening and coach-ability to realize maximum power and contribution from those committed to your success?

Everyone Shines

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“Everyone shines, given the right lighting.”

—Susan Cain, Author of Quiet

Image of a book filled with lights

Photo from Unsplash by Long Vang

Genetics versus Environment.

Nature versus Nurture.

What do these factors have to do with how each of us turns out along our life journey?

As a coach passionate about growth and development, I do my best to keep the lights of knowledge and the beacons of wisdom prominent in my world. My intent is to shine my best in each of my communities, with the goal of contributing to those around in a meaningful way.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you “amp up” the environmental voltage to illuminate yourself and those around you so that everyone’s inherent qualities and talents shine even brighter?

Friday Review Compassion

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Friday Review: Compassion

How compassionate are you? Here are a few compassion-related posts you may have missed. Click the links to read the full message.

 

“We rise by lifting others.”

 

 

 

 

 

“Even a monster backs off when one feeds it lovingly.”

 

 

 

“Time is one of the most loving and compassionate gifts you can give someone, including yourself!”

 

 

 

twice as much time as money

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“If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money.”

—Abigail Van Buren, Advice Columnist

Image of a wristwatch

Image from Unsplash by Hanny Naibaho

“Dear Abby” is an advice column founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips under the pen name Abigail Van Buren. The column is carried on by her daughter Jean Phillips, who now owns the legal rights to the pen name.

The column is well known for its sound, compassionate advice delivered with the straightforward style of a good friend.

EXERCISE:

In addition to your children, who else in your personal or professional communities would benefit most from more quality time with you? What interaction with you would allow them to more fully realize their own inner strength and potential?

Lifes Tragedy

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“Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.”

—Benjamin Franklin, American Statesman & Founding Father

Image of Ben Franklin

Image from prachnhachivit.com

Benjamin Franklin lived an extraordinary life well into his 80’s. He considered each day precious in his personal growth efforts, and in his desire to contribute to the world.

Even so, he may have had regret, given today’s quote, that he did not realize even more of his potential.

EXERCISE:

How can you squeeze the most out of each day with a youthful spirit and the wisdom to pay your lessons and contributions forward?

start paving

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“If you don’t like the road you are walking, start paving another one.”

—Dolly Parton, Country Singer/Songwriter & Actor

Image of paving machine

Image from YouTube

 

In the Motor City – Detroit – the car is king and most people don’t do a lot of walking. We do, however, do a lot of driving, and the roads in the region are poor at best. Pot holes are at epidemic levels, making driving costly in terms of repairs, and dangerous to human life.

A colleague made me aware of an amazing technology being developed in Europe. This machine mounted on a truck platform miraculously fixes pot holes of various sizes in 5-10 minutes. Here is a video about it.

EXERCISE:

Which of your personal or professional roads are getting bumpy and require repair?

Where and how will your begin paving these thoroughfares to smooth out your journey to reach your most desired destinations?

Goodness is easier to recognize than to define

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“Goodness is easier to recognize than to define.”

—W. H. Auden, 20th Century English-American Poet

Defining something limits what it is. Recognizing or distinguishing something opens up and expands the possibility of what it can be.

Take a few minutes to reflect on the following list of words. Try to define them and then explore the many factors or qualities that can be attributed to them:

• Happiness
• Health
• Quality Relationships
• Success
• Mastery
• Leadership
• Professionalism

EXERCISE:

What does it mean to be a good person? What is it that you observe and recognize in yourself and those around you when you experience goodness?

How would you answer similar questions in your recognition of the seven words above, exploring one per day in the coming week?

What other words might you add to this list that would be worth far greater recognition?

Friday Review: Truth

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FRIDAY REVIEW: TRUTH

Just what is the truth? Here are a few truth-related posts you may have missed. Click the links to read the full messages.

 

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

 

 

 

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered. The point is to discover them.”

 

 

 

 

“Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

 

 

 

Never Say Anything About Yourself

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“Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true.”

—Brian Tracy, Canadian-American Motivational Speaker/Author

Image from news247.gr

Self-talk is a fascinating subject.

We all do it, and given your interest in personal growth and development as a subscriber to this blog, you are more aware and mindful of this than many.

What percent of the time do you focus on the negative rather than positive side of your self-talk equation?

What if 50 percent of your internal conversations were beyond or beneath your awareness?

EXERCISE:

This week, enlist family, friends, and colleagues to help make you much more conscious of when you put your inner voice on external speakers.

Based on their feedback and input, determine exactly how many of these message you want to come true for you.

How can and will you enhance these messages to live a more positive and fulfilling life?

If You Blame it on Someone Else

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“If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get better.”

—Author Unknown

Blaming and making others wrong is like a black hole in the world of relationships. Nothing good ever comes out of it.

Unfortunately, we each view the world through our own perceptual filters. On many occasions, our views do not agree or align with others. This is not bad in itself, except that we often go a step further to prove our point or to undermine those who think and do otherwise.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you reduce or eliminate playing the blame game, personally or professionally, to improve your life?