Next Decision Coaching

What is urgent?   I am always chatting with folks about the challenges of never-done jobs. I have yet to use that phrase with someone and not have them nod. The more I talk with people, the more I see how the endless to-do lists of things of varying levels of importance weigh on them. They really struggle with not getting everything done and sometimes just staring at a to-do list.   This last week I have been sick. It isn't Covid but man it kicked my butt. Honestly, if it was COVID, I might have felt more justified in allowing myself time to be sick. But after fighting through it for several days, I finally did that on Monday. I admitted it wasn't just allergies and allowed myself to declare myself sick and rest.   So, in true coach fashion, I asked myself, where is the gift here? My realization was this clarity on what had to get done. Everything else would have to wait. I am sure most people are familiar with the 2 x 2 Prioritization matrix (with Important and urgency on the axis). I generally like this model, but this made me remember that it is an oversimplification because, under a crunch, many things that feel urgent really aren’t.   I am not suggesting you get sick, but if you are struggling with what to do, imagine you only have 30 minutes to work today. What needs to get done? It is amazing how clear things become. Good luck out there. I am in your corner.   #executivecareermanagement #coaching #executivecoaching #careercoaching

Never miss a chance to meet in person! Several times in the last week I've had the opportunity to meet people in person. In one case I met with a client in person for the first time, the second was a conference of peers, and then just yesterday for lunch with Matthew Vean and Charlie Goodrich. I was reminded how much it strengthens connections when you interact in person.   Trust is the foundation of so much of what we do. I have been working flexibly and often remotely since the early 2000s. I have learned it is absolutely possible to be successful without being in an office every day, with your clients every day, and it can be done without ever meeting someone in person. However, just because it can be done remotely doesn't make it the best nor fastest way to build relationships. As an introvert, I might be inclined to default to Zoom but I have learned never to miss an opportunity to meet someone in person. It just accelerates the trust building.   The next time someone says, “Do want to meet in person or via Zoom?”, I suggest you try to find a way to meet in person. Remote is here to stay but remote doesn't need to be 100% remote.   Good luck out there. I am in your corner.   #coaching #businesscoaching #executivecoaching #goals #careercoaching #executivecareermanagement

Always be growing!   Professional service firms thrive on growth and struggle when stagnating. This growth creates new experiences for the team members (employees) allowing them to grow. The implication of this is that as a leader you also need to be constantly growing. Said another way, you should be working yourself out of your current role to create the space for others to grow - be replaceable. This is true for all levels of leadership from the new manager all the way to the top.   To support this growth imperative, professional services leaders must be focused on four pillars with a key question.    How do I ... Manage myself: Why do I work? Keep growing: How do I embrace being a lifelong learner? Build loyal teams: Why should others go above and beyond for me and stay even when offered more money elsewhere? Develop future leaders: What do my emerging leaders aspire to do and how do I help them get there?   These four pillars along with the idea that you should become replaceable form the foundation for successful professional service leaders. Over the coming months, I will continue to dive into these areas with my posts. I invite you to follow along and share thoughts and stories.   For now, I leave you with something to consider. If you leave your role and things fall apart, have you created value? Transferable value needs to survive your moving on.   Good luck out there. I am in your corner.   #coaching #businesscoaching #executivecoaching #goals #careercoaching #executivecareermanagement

No Seriously, why do you work?   Why is this such a hard question? I was having a conversation with someone who had gone through some pretty dramatic career changes since the beginning of the pandemic. For the most part, I have never seen her happier, but her financial situation has changed, and she is struggling with cash flow. She may need to make some changes to where she lives. At first, I was really concerned. As we unpacked the situation we came to a realization the cool house in the coolest part of town was purchased as a way to offset the pre-pandemic career she hated. She made a lot of money but really hated the job… with a passion.   So, we realized it might be time to step back and assess, why does she work? What really matters to her? Her tone changed when she realized maybe she didn't need to care so much about the trophy house. Maybe she would be happier in a smaller place that created the free cash flow to travel and do other things.   I am not sure if we came to any conclusions, but it was a reminder that our "why we work" evolves. We are well advised if we take a step back and rethink about why we work every so often. What makes us happy and what is the best way to use our resources to support the pursuit of those things?   Good luck out there. I am in your corner.   #coaching #businesscoaching #executivecoaching #goals #executivecareermanagement #careercoaching

Celebrating our members who received their ACC credential in the first quarter of 2024! Congratulations.

Why do I work?   It seems like a simple question, but a deep dive can be really insightful. The most common answer I get is to make money to support my family. Easy answer, but what does that really mean? For me, it has always been about creating the opportunity to show my kids new parts of the world. This last week we did just that with a trip to the rainforest in Belize. We had many amazing adventures, but I think my favorite part was each morning having coffee and muffins while reading a book with this view in front of me.   So often the answer to “Why do I work?” is about something in the future. I just wanted to stop and recognize something in the present. Trips with views like this, IS why I work.   Good luck out there. I am in your corner (and already planning next year's Spring Break)   #coaching #businesscoaching #executivecoaching #goals #careercoaching