As our java chat (i.e.-coaching conversation over coffee) continues she begins to confide in me when I ask, “What is your challenge today?” The bottom line: her growing disengagement at work. You might say “harmony” in the human interaction is missing in her experience with her manager.
Archives for 2009
The Teacher we Love to Hate, but must Embrace
Yes, I was so looking forward to the presentation.
The American Society of Training and Development’s annual statewide conference was on campus at the University of Tulsa. Having submitted my presentation proposal, I was honored to be selected. My presentation title: “How to Take the Donkey out of Training”.
How Stuff Happens Right under Your Feet
Imagine the work required to move a large solid wood dining room table, chairs, and all the other pieces of furniture out of the dining room. Imagine unload book shelves, desk, and piano out the study-office. Imagine the mess created to tear out the wood floor laid only 2-3 years ago.
Imagine the mess and noise created as new wood floor is installed and sanded. Imagine the smell that comes from re-staining; being driven out of your home as the finish coat(s) are applied to the new wood floor.
How to Make Failure Serve You
We were about 5 minutes into the coaching session. My client began to express her disappointment with herself and her performance the past week.
“It has been a stressful week. After all the work we’ve done together these past three months, I had a really rough week. I let it get the best of me. The stress was high and it was like I forgot everything I have learned.”
Over the next 30-40 minutes we discussed her week. As she began to connect principles with her behavior she saw the stuff that got in her way; how she had been held back from her goal: to be an effective leader as the vice-president in the company. Not only did she have her personal duties and direct reports but international responsibilities, too. They had just identified four key initiatives. No doubt about it, the work load was intense and yes, her department was running lean on man-power.