Lesson Learned during COVID-19 Performance Coaching

In the end, it's about the teaching, and what I always loved about coaching was the practices. Not the games, not the tournaments, not the alumni stuff. But teaching the players during practice was what coaching was all about to me.

~ John Wooden

While I have delivered over 45 complimentary sessions on working remotely, presenting in a virtual environment, communication and service when at a distance, and more, the coaching sessions conducted on the phone and via Zoom have provided many wonderful opportunities to serve and assist leaders all over the country these past months.

Having used Zoom for over 4 years, I felt at an advantage of sorts - very confident in a video setting, and ready to "talk in the box" of the laptop.

Clients have been wonderful. Still, during their wonderful sharing, there have been some common themes I will share these next few months with tips and lessons learned.

The first, which is so powerful, is that when people, all of us, learn the difference in obligation and commitment, we grow personally and professionally.

I am not talking definitions, rather this is about purpose, energy, and emotions with obligatory actions versus committed efforts.

Professionally, the difference in obligation and commitment is the difference in feeling managed and feeling led. People who are managed sense they "have to" do things, where when we are working with and for a leader, we feel committed to getting to results.

Similarly, obligation is to the minimum as commitment is to the maximum. Effort follows the feeling!
Personally, the difference in feeling like someone "needs to call so-and-so" versus wishing they could visit that person is the difference in a relative and family. With relatives, many feel obliged to attend, participate and even accept, where with family, we want to be there, experience moments together, and learn from similarities and differences.

Finally, the difference in obligation and commitment is clear when someone has a relationship with someone versus being in love or a loving relationship with someone. Obligation in a couple leads to resentment and distance, where commitment grows the love and therefore, the trust, respect, and lasting love.

Sometimes coaching, especially the performance coaching I get to do, has a lot more to do with people and the way we interact than simply the presentation or the business decision at hand.

Please strive for commitment over obligation to grow your leadership, family and love!

How to ROCK Your Work Mindset

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

George Bernard Shaw, Irish Playwright (1856-1950)

You may have gone back to an office, still be remote, or be working a hybrid situation in your work world. All can work, and you can get through with each, or any circumstance, and yet wouldn't it be best to ROCK your professional world?

Here are 4 tips for being the one who ROCKs work. To ROCK, you will want to be:
R - Ready - have yourself set up for success. Clean up, clean out, and have the comfort and style in your space that you want to feel energized, ready, proficient and empowered. If that means new photos, new lights, fewer pictures and less clutter, make it happen. Investing 30-60 minutes in your surroundings can pay off immediately and continually! Being ready ROCKs!
O - Offensive (not offensive to anyone, rather to be an offensive thinker). Stop waiting to react or respond to others and get moving on idea generation, forward-thinking and offering to lead a project, meeting or another endeavor. Get ahead of the game by having quick check-ins with your leaders and your team members. Ensure people know you are on your game and they will want to "play" with you! Being an offensive thinker ROCKs!
C - Collaborative - that smart thinking means you are strong and proud, and yet you are humble and aware. When you are aware that others have their strengths and that you are stronger together, you can collaborate with a competitive edge to drive you all in the right direction rather than competing with a collaborative spin that can keep people down. Collaboration is to be intentional and a firm outreach and ask now, as some people are less visible and included than others. Make the effort to be inclusive in this way. Being collaborative ROCKs!
K - Kind - no matter what, winning, having a down day, keeping the pace, being kind is imperative for your well-being, and quite possibly, those around you physically and virtually. Kindness is one of the everlasting leadership qualities for stars in any field. Have compassion, speak with thoughtful messaging, and keep others in mind. Being kind ROCKs!

Whether in traffic to get to a meeting, or in a Zoom waiting room to get in a Zoom room, you can ROCK your business world with your readiness, offense, collaboration and kindness...all without missing out or "rollin'" off-track!