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Business Coaching

Remote Work Productivity: Tips for Working from Home Effectively

By | Atlanta Life Coach Online, Black life coach, Business Coaching, Company News, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching

We are all dealing with the “new normal,” which means juggling the demands of working from home for an unforeseen period. While this setup has the potential for increased productivity, many people are facing challenges in maintaining their performance. In this blog post, we will provide essential tips for those looking to improve their work performance while working from home.

Prioritize Preparation and Rest:

Your best work day starts the night before, with careful preparation and sufficient rest. Stick to your regular sleep schedule; studies have shown that adequate sleep is vital for optimal performance. Before you end your day, take the time to organize tasks and prepare for the next day, including packing your lunch. Remember, the next day’s production starts the night before.

Dress for Success – Even at Home:

Psychology plays a significant role in our approach to work. Therefore, it’s beneficial to get up, get dressed, and treat your remote workspace as if you are heading to the office. You don’t need to don a full suit or formal attire, but changing out of your night clothes can signal a shift in mindset and boost productivity.

Effective Communication:

While digital tools like Zoom, Slack, and Gotomeeting are valuable, don’t underestimate the power of a live voice. Take the time to pick up the phone and communicate directly with your team members, managers, or peers. This personal touch can enhance morale and overall productivity, preventing an over-reliance on back-to-back virtual meetings.

Optimize Your Work Space:

Create an efficient and comfortable work environment that mirrors your office setup. Invest in a suitable desk and chair that support good posture. If possible, position your desk near a window for natural light and a view. Personalize your space with items like family photos, a jar of candy, or awards to make it feel more inviting and motivating.

Maintain a Consistent Routine:

Avoid treating your home as a relaxation zone during work hours. Mirror your daily routine as if you were at the office. Schedule regular breaks and take your lunch at the same hour each day. Consistency helps maintain productivity by reinforcing a sense of structure and purpose in your workday.

Find Meaning in Your Work:

Take a moment to reflect on the meaning of work to you personally. Understanding why you work and what it means to you can be a powerful motivator. Use this insight to fuel your drive and commitment to excel in your remote work environment.

By following these practical tips, you can significantly enhance your work performance while working from home. Embrace the “new normal” with these strategies, and you’ll find yourself adapting and thriving in this remote work era.

Remember, remote work offers unique opportunities for productivity and work-life balance. With the right approach and mindset, you can make the most of this arrangement and excel in your professional endeavor.

Working from home doesn’t have to be a challenge. Implement these proven tips and watch your productivity soar while you enjoy the comfort of your own space. Embrace the “new normal” and excel in your remote work endeavors!

Have more productivity tips to share or questions to ask? Join the conversation in the comments section below. Let’s empower each other to thrive in this remote work era.

And don’t forget to share this post with your friends and colleagues who could use some productivity inspiration in their remote work journey!

How To Deal With A Bad Boss

By | Business Coaching

It’s easy to take a poor performance review personally.

It can feel like a real kick in the teeth, in fact.

You’ve worked hard and you aced your job this year as far as you could see.

Leadership in an organization sets the scene for everything.

The culture, standards, performance, and outcomes of a company are directly affected by a boss’s management style.

Implementing ideas and processes is the job of leadership.

Working for a great boss can mean the difference between miserable work life and a job where you feel valued and fulfil your potential.

Here we talk about three main types of bad bosses: the bully, the weak manager, and the micromanager.

The Bully

Dealing with an abusive boss can be demoralizing.

However, people who have psychopathic tendencies can thrive under a bad employer.

Psychopaths often rise to the top. They can endure the stress better than others. As those with psychopathic traits flourish under a bad boss, it’s typical for a management structure to consist of people who lack empathy.

Working for a company with a bullying culture can harm your career in the long run.

What Is A Psychopath?

If you can, avoid any strong emotional reactions. The criticism may not be so important. So keep it in perspective.

Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy with antisocial and amoral behavior.

A psychopath doesn’t care and will happily step on another person’s feelings. The rest of us “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” because they have empathy and don’t want to hurt others.

The Eskimos of North-Western Canada call psychopaths ‘kulangeta.’ The kulangeta refuses to hunt polar bear, lies, cheats and go after the men’s women while they’re out hunting.

Psychopaths have charm, yet lack empathy, remorse, or shame. They have high intelligence and are very manipulative.

You can tell if you’re working for a psychopathic boss by the culture of the workplace. There is typically disarray and confusion. The team doesn’t cooperate or get anything done.

Another sign is that they change. When you first meet them they are the most charming person. But as soon as you’re sucked in, the mask drops, and they dish out abuse.

Bullies intimidate, belittle, micromanage, humiliate, and ridicule their staff.
One month, an employee will be the flavor of the month, the following month they’ll be shamed publicly. Everyone keeps their head down in case they’re the next target.

Surviving a Bully Boss

To survive working for a psychopath you need to be extremely compliant without showing any emotion. If you show emotion, they’ll use it to manipulate you. So keep cool.

Try to avoid any interaction with them unless it’s necessary. When you do interact with them, take note of everything that is said, and keep it. There will be lies and you will need to be able to prove them wrong.

Another survival tactic is to flatter them. They believe they are the best person on the planet, so tell them that.

The Weak Boss

If you end up with a weak and ineffectual boss it can be frustrating.

A weak boss doesn’t listen, thinks they know all the answers and can be reluctant to change things. Weak managers can be quick to point out the shortcomings of their staff but light on positive criticism. They may even disappear for long periods and leave you to your own devices.

You need a strong boss to step in if you encounter an unfair situation.

Strong leaders listen to their staff. They coach them and will act on sensible suggestions from the staff. There is nothing more frustrating than offering an obvious solution to operational inefficiency and be ignored.

A manager may be weak because they were hired on their technical skills rather than their soft skills. They may be brilliant on an operational level, but inept as a people manager.

Dealing With a Weak Boss

See this as an opportunity. This is a chance to shine and show that you can work unsupervised. It’s also a chance to get noticed by upper management.

First, you need to manage your emotions and give yourself a bit of an ego check.

If he or she is well connected up the chain of command, this is an opportunity. Building a good relationship with your boss is key. If you’re well connected with your weak manager you’ll be well connected too.

The Micromanager

A micromanager has an oppressive management style. They closely observe and control their employees. They constantly monitor their workers and interfere with trivial tasks.

Working under a micromanager can be disheartening. You know you have everything under control, but your boss appears convinced that you haven’t.

A bully boss often displays this behavior, but not all micromanagers are bullies. When a micromanager is not a bully, it’s a reflection of their need to dominate and control, and most probably a sign of deep-seated insecurity.

Managers should be adept at getting the best out of their workforce. A good boss instills confidence in their team, so they perform their best.

Unfortunately, a micromanaging boss has the opposite effect.

This type of boss most probably isn’t aware that they are a micromanager. They are probably anxious about being successful and are worried about failing.

Being micromanaged can take a toll on your confidence over time.

The Harvard Business Review cites two causes for micromanaging: a desire to stay connected with their employees and because they feel comfortable with familiar work territory.

Perhaps your boss is feeling isolated in a managerial position. Micromanaging is a way to keep in touch with the workers. They may also have got to managerial level because they excelled at an operational level, so they find it hard to let go.

Dealing With a Micromanaging Boss

The key is to build trust with your boss. Be honest with yourself and check that you are performing in all areas. There may be one aspect of the job that your boss continually niggles you about. Use it as an opportunity to develop and improve.

Demonstrate to your boss that everything is under control with constant updates, make sure work is on time, and keep them informed of any delays. Ultimately, you could probably learn a lot from this type of boss, even if their management style is irritating.

You may want to set up weekly meetings with your boss for constructive feedback. You could also write an outline of your responsibilities together to ensure you’re fully aware of your
parameters.
Keep asking them questions and overcommunicating with them.

Constant communicating the minutiae of your work will reflect their style and could help them to understand what it’s like to be on the receiving end. This tactic may discourage them from getting unnecessarily involved.

Final Thoughts

It’s crucial to look after your mental health if your boss has you tearing your hair out. Try to keep a sense of humor about the situation and avoid backbiting with other colleagues.

Sometimes a frank and direct conversation with your boss is all you need. It can gain you their respect.

But, if you’re dealing with a bully, you might want to start looking elsewhere for a job. Just keep your nose clean until you find a happier situation.

Dealing With a Bad Performance Review

By | Business Coaching

It’s easy to take a poor performance review personally.

It can feel like a real kick in the teeth, in fact.

You’ve worked hard and you aced your job this year as far as you could see.

A manager should be able to deliver criticism in a way that doesn’t upset you too much. In an ideal world, your manager will be able to highlight your shortcomings in a constructive manner.

That said, in some cases, you might still receive negative criticism.

Harsh criticism can come unexpectedly and leave you reeling and feeling undervalued.

If so, don’t panic and stay cool.

Here are some tips on dealing with that kick in the gut.

The Review Might Not Be As Bad As You Think

Your performance review might not be as negative as you thought. A little disappointing perhaps, but not disastrous.

It is pretty typical for people to think they are better at their job than they are.

Keep in mind that any disappointing comments may not be that important. Often, performance reviews are an administrative requirement. They get signed, filed, and don’t get used for anything.

Additionally, you don’t necessarily know how your manager appraises your colleagues. Some managers tend to be a little miserly with good comments. It may be that you are doing well, but your manager is hesitant to give you a lot of compliments.

Stay Cool


If you can, avoid any strong emotional reactions. The criticism may not be so important. So keep it in perspective.

A big tip to keep your cool if you start to feel angry is to slow down your responses. This is the best way to keep control of your anger and frustration.

Keep breathing, relax your muscles, and take a pause.

Stay in control of your emotions so you don’t blurt out anything that you might regret later.

Listen Carefully

Your manager might have some important comments about what you can do in the future to improve your performance. Whether you agree or not, there will always be some hints on how you can become a more productive employee.

Get Clarification

Push your manager to be more specific about his or her comments about your performance. Managers aren’t always that great at giving feedback.

They may say that for instance, you haven’t communicated well. In this case, ask for specifics with questions such as, “When did that happen?” and “Can you give me an example?”

If your boss says you don’t take enough initiative ask them, “What exactly do you mean?” or “What does taking initiative look like?” Taking initiative can be an ambiguous term of phrase. Get your boss to spell out how they expect you to take more initiative.

The more concrete information you can tease out of your manager, the better you can understand their criticism.

Be A Problem Solver

During the review ask questions and show a willingness to learn. Ask “What can I do in the future?” and “What can I improve?”

Your manager will see you in a positive light and turn negative criticism into a positive.

By showing that you’re willing to work on certain areas, you’re showing that you’re willing to accept the comments and be proactive in working on them.

If you get defensive and angry, this will only confirm the worst thoughts they have about you. Be future-orientated and proactive.

Get A Written Copy of The Review

Getting your review in writing can help you if you feel your boss is trying to scare you into quitting. If you know you’re a star performer you can use this to gather evidence and build a case to defend your position.

If your boss isn’t trying to get rid of you, this is a working document that spells out specifically what you need to improve on.

When you come to your next appraisal you can refer to this document and explain how you’ve managed to nail each one.

Get The Due Dates and The Timelines

It’s a good idea to work with your boss and note down all due dates for action. After your meeting, email your boss with them so that they know you’ve taken them on board and you are showing willingness.

It also helps you to back up your case if you suspect a constructive dismissal.

Ask For Another Performance Review

When you’ve delivered on all of those expectations your boss is looking for, get another review right away.

If you get another review in the next 3 months, this will put you in a position to continue performing until your next review. Then you can ask for a raise or a promotion.

What Not To Do

It’s vital that you keep calm and poised during your review. You want to use this as an opportunity to learn about any areas you need to improve so that you get a glowing review next time.

Whatever you do, don’t do any of the following.

Don’t Compare Yourself To Your Colleagues

Never defend yourself by comparing yourself to co-workers or putting them down. You may feel that you are better or work harder than your colleagues, but it’s not relevant.

You must focus on your performance and not what anyone else does.

The minute you start pointing the finger at other people, you’ll come across as petty and the type of person no manager wants.

Don’t Accuse The Manager of Bias

If you accuse the manager of personal bias, you’ll alienate them and will have negative consequences.

Don’t take any criticism personally. Ultimately, it’s there to help you improve productivity and be a better employee.

Final Thoughts

All of this might be a little tricky when you feel blindsided. It’s ok to make mistakes and ok for others to point them out. Try not to take it personally.

If you nail this, you can go on to be a star performer and get closer to your boss and develop the relationship.

New Leaders Council-Atlanta ” Work-Life-Balance

By | Atlanta Life Coach Online, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching, Goal Setting

 

Work- LifeBalance is, at best, an elusive ideal and at worst a complete myth according to the Harvard Business Review. I do believe it is attainable. The idea of balance allows leaders to choose how they will interact with work, family and community.

But what is balance? It is critical to understand what it is so that you can practice it for yourself. What balance is for you may not be balance for the next person. Over time, life changes and we look at balance differently than when we are single versus when we are married or having children or dealing with ill parents. So, achieving balance is like hitting a moving target on most days.

Balance can be in achieving optimal fulfillment in the areas of work, family, fun, health, spirituality and community.

Balance:

  • Is your schedule balanced?
  • Have you planned your approach to balance?
  • How did you fit the essential compartments of balance into your routine?
  • What is keeping you from maintaining balance?

Beliefs:

  • Do you lead with your authentic self?
  • What do you believe about yourself?
  • Where are the incongruences in your life?

Values:

  • What are the values that guide you?
  • Where my values and beliefs in alignment this week?
  • What am I doing to mature your values?

Behaviors:

  • Are your choices and actions causing you pain?
  • How you project yourself each day?
  • Am you saying yes when you know that you should say no and why?

 

Six Simple Steps to Achieving Balance

  1. Decide how much time is ideal for you in each of the important areas of your life.
  2. Be patient with your yourself
  3. Wisely manage the technology you use everyday.
  4. Create a support network
  5. Get your rest
  6. Make YOU your biggest priority

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Coaching – 2016 is the year for to achieve the results you always wanted to experience.

By | Athlete Life Coaching, atlanta anger management, Atlanta Life Coach Online, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching, Goal Setting

Executive Coaching

Do you want to nail this years projections?

Is your business scaling this year and you want to focus on the processes with your goals?

Are you that business person who is looking for support in one key area?

Then book a call or Zoom session with me today.

Book Your Future!!!

Secrets to Achievement and Change

By | Athlete Life Coaching, atlanta anger management, Atlanta Life Coach Online, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching, Free Life Coaching, Goal Setting, Good Relationship Advice, how to deal with anger, Life Coach Atlanta News, Life Coach Atlanta Resources, Life Coaching Tools, Offers and Promo, Online Life Coach Case Studies, Relationships

I Speak Life Coaching

Do you have something you want to change or achieve in your life? Maybe you’d like to…

=> Start a business
=> Find new love
=> Get a new career (or a raise)
=> Lose weight
=> Get your child(ren) to behave better
 => Or something else

No matter what you’d like to change or achieve, the secrets to success are the same…

#1: Get clear. As specifically as possible, decide what you want. The more clear you are on what you want to have in your life, the more likely you are to achieve it.

#2: Get perspective. Most people don’t tell anyone what they want or what they are struggling with and because of that they don’t get an outside perspective.

#3: Get support. Very few people (if any) achieve anything great alone. Sports stars have teammates and coaches

Be willing to ask the people in your life to support you.

** Special ZERO COST “Rapid Change” Coaching Session **

Call me at 404-453-9110 or email me David @dsmith.creativexmedia.net

The secret to getting more out of your team.

By | Athlete Life Coaching, atlanta anger management, Atlanta Life Coach Online, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching, Free Life Coaching, Goal Setting, Life Coach Atlanta News, Life Coach Atlanta Resources, Life Coaching Tools, Offers and Promo, Online Life Coach Case Studies

 

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If you want to get more out of your team for any of these reasons:

=> Because the number of people on your team has been reduced and yet you’re expected to produce the same or better results.

=> Your team is not producing the results that are expected from you and your team and you’re concerned that your bosses and/or superiors and peers are not going to be happy about that.

=> Members of your team are undermining each other or worse undermining you, causing conflicts and frustrations for you and you’d like to turn your team in to a well-oiled machine.

Then, I’d like to help you squeeze the most out of your team as possible by offering you a special one-on-one “Modern Leadership Mastery Coaching Session.”

During this session we will…

=> Create a crystal clear vision for the results that you want your team to produce, for the way that you’d like your team to interact with each other and for the kind of people you would like to have on your team.

=> Uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success with leadership and team building.

=> You’ll leave the session renewed, reenergized and inspired to create a powerful results- driven team that gets things done so that you can be the office hero and still have a flourishing personal life.

Contact me at David@dsmith.creativexmedia.net or 404-453-9110 to get the results you desire and deserve.

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1 in 6 Married Men are on Ashley Madison

By | atlanta anger management, Atlanta Life Coach Online, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching, Goal Setting, Good Relationship Advice, Life Coach Atlanta News, Life Coach Atlanta Resources, Life Coaching Tools, Offers and Promo, Online Life Coach Case Studies, Relationships

1 in 6 Married Men are on Ashley Madison website.

 

Marriage is one of the toughest jobs to do, according to a friend, who has been married for twenty years. She went on to say it is harder than “picking cotton” and of course, I laughed out loud at the notion of marriage being that difficult. If anyone knows anything about picking cotton, it is extremely difficult and hard to manage and maintain. As a Life Coach whose clients are predominately female and married the issue of balancing work, family, and civic duties seems to be a driving force in our work together. Women who are working really hard to be their best at work and at home. However with the latest hacking scandal of Ashley Madison, I’m wondering what work are men doing to be their best selves.

 

One author recently wrote that this is a “wake up call for women” and I would like to add for men as well. Men who are bored, underwhelmed, checked-out, lonely, angry and those who feel entitled to have what they want and how they want it, find themselves seeking affection, pleasure and sensations outside of their marriage is in a crisis as well. This hack of Ashley Madison is our wake up call.

 

In my relationship series “ 6 Steps To Creating Lasting Intimacy”, I deal with the true nature of what is missing as it relates to a deeper connection. I’m not creating a one-stop shop fix it for marriage but I’m helping people start the process of asking for what they need within a healthy monogamous relationship.

 

If you want to grow in intimacy, communication, connection, meaningful touch then go to www.ispeaklifecoaching.com and sign up for my email newsletter to learn more about my new powerful relationship series.

Executive Coaching- Leadership, Behaviors and Change

By | Atlanta Life Coach Online, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching, Goal Setting, Life Coach Atlanta News, Life Coach Atlanta Resources, Life Coaching Tools

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Organizational leadership is serious business. Leaders impact the climate, culture and environment of their organizations. Organizational leadership behaviors have a direct influence on actions in the work environment that enable growth and change. Leading requires the use of a diverse set of communication techniques to deliver appropriate messages, solicit feedback, create readiness with a sense of urgency and motivate recipients to act. Leaders are responsible for communicating to the organization any new strategies or a new direction for the future. In order for leaders to get employees to participate and produce they must be able to trust you and your leadership style. Leadership style is a driving force for any organization. One of the more effective leadership styles is Transformational Leadership.

Transformational Leadership involves five key elements:

1. Coaching– as process of improving performance and developing synergistic relationship

2. Communication– delivering relevant information with regard to the organization.

3. Motivating– is the influence or drive that causes us to behave in a specific manner.

4. Rewarding– a compensation that recognizes employees for the right performance.

5. Promoting Teamwork– enable members working cooperatively with one another to achieve more than working independently.

To be an effective leader understand your leadership style and your leadership philosophy.

Coaching: Strategy for Achievement and Change

By | Athlete Life Coaching, atlanta anger management, Atlanta Life Coach Online, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, Executive Life Coaching, Free Life Coaching, Goal Setting, Good Relationship Advice, Life Coach Atlanta News, Life Coach Atlanta Resources, Life Coaching Tools

 

I Speak Life Coaching

 

Do you have something you want to change or achieve in your life?
Maybe you’d like to…
Start a business
Find a new love
Get a new career (or a raise)
Lose weight
Get your children to behave better
Or something else
No matter what you’d like to change or achieve, the secret to success are the same…
Get clear. As specifically as possible, decide what you want. The more clear you are on what you want to have in your life, the more likely you are to achieve it.
Get perspective. Most people don’t tell anyone what they want or what they are struggling with and because of that they don’t get an outside perspective.
Get support. Very few people (if any) achieve anything great alone. Sports stars have teammates and coaches.
Be willing to ask the people in your life to support you.

This has been your Monday Motivation from www.ispeaklifecoaching.com . To sign up for my “Rapid Change” session reply to this email or email me at David@ispeaklifeoaching.com.

Best,

David