Business, Professional, Clarity, Purpose, Direction, Goals and More

1. BUSINESS PROGRAM<br />Sam Borrett<br />Performance Coach <br />Personal - Business - Corporate<br />In the USA not so long ago, some surveys were done whereby it was found that not necessarily the high achievers nor even the most academically qualified were the ones most likely to succeed. It was established that the candidates with emotional empathy or relating skills would succeed in the long run.<br />They would become the leaders as they could encourage and inspire others who would then later also take the lead, doing the same and this created a snowball effect which rippled through the company or business referred to as “the Ripple Effect.”<br />If a Company has a clearly stated mission objective then it certainly helps if the objective is reflected in the day-to-day working life of the company. Too often mission objectives are not running parallel with the behaviour and performance of the people in the company. <br />www.mentoring4change.com<br />BUSINESS PROGRAM<br />Emotional Integrity<br />In business this phrase may not mean too much at first glance however on examination it can be seen that emotional integrity is a very wide field and affects everyone in its orbit, physically, emotionally and intellectually.<br />It is universally known that the health bill for each country is measured more in the billions than millions. One of the contributing factors is that employers and employees, self employed sectors of the public and entrepreneurs alike suffer often when their relationships with each other are unsatisfactory.<br />Where a boss is lacking in understanding of the least of his or her employees a certain energetic structure is established whereby each person behaves in a certain very predictable manner. This behaviour, which can be set off as a result of the misunderstanding, is most likely to sabotage the business and affect everyone whether in the office, factory or department <br />In the USA not so long ago, some surveys were done whereby it was found that not necessarily the high achievers nor even the most academically qualified were the ones most likely to succeed. It was established that the candidates with emotional empathy or relating skills would succeed in the long run.<br />They would become the leaders as they could encourage and inspire others who would then later also take the lead, doing the same and this created a snowball effect which rippled through the company or business referred to as “the Ripple Effect.”<br />So we see that such a simple thing as “getting along “ has multiple ramifications and needs to be fully addressed when considering the success or profitability of a company or business.<br />It is so clear that in many companies or businesses a sort of family feeling is created by the very interaction of each person working. It is extremely healthy to remember that with such a close energetic involvement with each other, feelings sometimes need to be aired, heard and accepted. <br />When this does not happen workers at any level of the corporate tree tend to get sick, have accidents, time off, relationship issues and the business begins to shrink rather than expand.<br />Communication<br />It is essential to avoid the use of unclear language, say how you feel and see if honesty really is the best policy. In the course of a person’s business life it can be highly rewarding to bring into play more patience and understanding both of others and yourself.<br />This shift of emphasis from the old way of reacting to a newer level of awareness will serve you well particularly if you sharpen your intelligence to include observation of your thoughts, actions and feelings in your work environment.<br />It is not so easy to do, as the aim is to observe everything without judgement.<br />This can be the acid test as some people’s behaviour and reactions are very provocative and annoying. It is at these times especially that a certain relaxed awareness can assist to turn the impending disaster or misunderstanding into a harmonious or expansive situation.<br />There is incredible power in collaboration and communication and if there are matters that require clearing emotionally or verbally, it is best that this be done quickly. Otherwise the quality of the work and the enthusiasm of the colleagues or workmates will suffer <br />We all know that sometimes we “fly off the handle” only to later regret the consequences. It would have been far preferable to wait twenty-four hours and then respond to the volatile issue rather than reacting like a mechanism. This “waiting 24 hours” can be remembered always and when such a situation arises again, these waiting periods will provide the clarity we usually miss.<br />Clarifying Common Goals<br />One very effective way to fast track any business at anytime, is to clearly define the principles of operation and the targets, with any partner, employee, and members of staff, joint venturer co-director. One of the major causes of dispute, partnership problems or work related difficulties lies in the unstated expectations we have of each other. It is good that these expectations are flushed out early in the piece with the subsequent certainty that things will positively go much smoother as a result.<br />Too often, these expectations are hidden from each other and in a work scenario this is not only a waste of valuable time and energy but emotionally draining.<br />If, there are no people skilled to resolve such matters without argument and conflict it is better to source someone outside the company to do this work. They will be more impartial and the parties involved more open to a solution.<br />Many of us are happy to perform our allotted task in a work environment however there are many who will perform at their peak when given a free reign.<br />Initially this can be a risk many will not be prepared to take even if both parties would like to try, as there is always the basic work that has to be covered. Also this arena has traditionally been considered the right of the owner.<br />An approach with more autonomy and freedom can sometimes work extremely favourably for all parties. When goals and targets are clarified, there is more opportunity for each person within the business infrastructure to move faster to their objectives. In turn the company’s expansion is more assured.<br />Synergy<br />If a Company has a clearly stated mission objective then it certainly helps if the objective is reflected in the day-to-day working life of the company. Too often mission objectives are not running parallel with the behaviour and performance of the people in the company. <br />The result is a split that undermines the morale, confidence and trust of the employees, co-workers and everyone else associated with its business.<br />When there is trust and mutual respect of all personnel there develops what is called <br />“synergy” and the expansion and scope of the company and all its operations can be accelerated and re-defined.<br />What is noteworthy is that where there is some developed feeling of emotional awareness within the company, its growth and financial health is usually assured.<br />Of course there are many businesses where the only objective is “the bottom line.”<br />Naturally those who embark on such a journey with such a company or business will also learn their own lessons in their own time.<br />Emotional awareness is the understanding both personally and collectively that we are all here for the common good and not just here for ourselves.<br />As soon as we learn to operate with awareness and empathy the quality of our very life changes and then we “work to understand”” as well as for the very obvious improvement in our lifestyle.<br />Practically speaking it is energising, rewarding and exciting when those in the company, focus on clearly defined and manageable goals and learn to be more human with each other. It is this grounded and mature approach to work that will propel the individual and the company to its target.<br />Burn-Out<br />You may well ask what burnout is. It is not always so easily to dissect especially when it comes to us. Some symptoms are that we will feel overwhelmed or even a little stretched to say the least. If you’re feeling either exhausted, a loss of interest in what you do and a distinct dislike for going to the workplace you may well be suffering from burnout.<br />There may also be a drop in your general overall enthusiasm and ordinary things others cope with easily are not dealt with by you with the same bounce and lightness you once had. Some very good pointers to burnout and we have all had it are when we are feeling less compassionate, trusting and concerned with our clients, friends, colleagues or even family. <br />Some possible factors in burnout may be that the nature of the demands upon us cause us an undue amount of anxiety and not only that a loss of confidence in our levels of competency and general overall accomplishment. This may vary from person to person naturally enough.<br /> I have found in organisations, businesses and companies that a conflict an individual may have between either their professional role or the policy of the company can be a turning point; similarly a conflict they may have with their personal philosophy and that of the organisation and company will also impact adversely on them if they are not somehow reconciled.<br />There are some antidotes to the problems and these may include but not be limited to the building of a more supportive team building process, leading a more balanced lifestyle and taking a more realistic approach to setting goals and achieving them. In this instance a Coach independent of the company culture has proven to be beneficial.<br />e) Flow<br />Flow is the ultimate consideration in the real success of a company or business.<br />Where people, workers, employees engage in activities they love to do, it has been observed in many businesses that sick days, workers’ compensation claims and disputes are minimised.<br />We can notice this phenomenon in our own lives where we sometimes become so engaged or absorbed in something we are doing that time passes so quickly. This is a sure sign that we are enjoying the occupation, not just because of its nature but because we are flowing with the work at hand. These events although related to play and hobbies can just as easily apply to work and can have a very beneficial application to each individual’s personal feeling of success.<br />When much of our time is devoted to work, surely this is a very significant approach to contemplate. If we can transform our attitude to work we have turned what many think a major burden and confinement into an enriching opportunity.<br />When to Begin?<br />The first step is for the CEO, Board of Directors, Managing Director or Senior Partner to at least acknowledge that the Company or Business could be doing better in some way and that a different approach could serve them better.<br />Are there personnel relations difficulties, communication problems, work colleagues with personal problems or anything else, which could be affecting the overall performance of the Company, Firm or Business or relations within these entities?<br />If so, then it may be the time to implement an innovative strategy or a fresh approach to what could be considered “the same old problems.”<br />