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Inside Out
Business Edition
"You can't change the direction of the wind. . .
but you can adjust your sails!"

--Jimmy Dean

Kim Olver, MS, NCC, LPC

www.Coachingforexcellence.biz
Kim@Coachingforexcellence.biz


To read our blog click here or go to www.coachingforexcellence.biz and click on "Blog" on the left hand navigation bar. Read some of Kim's musings and add some of your own!

June 25, 2008-- Volume 4, Issue 5

A Message from Kim


Hello Everyone,

Three weeks ago, I went to a fabulous conference called, "Celebrate Your Life" here in Chicago. It was sponsored by Mishka Productions and Oprah & Friends. The conference was definitely top notch--from the first rate speakers to the toe readers, everything had meaning and significance. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these conferences, currently held twice a year--in Chicago in June and in Phoenix in November--I would highly recommend it.

What I learned at this conference inspired the article this month on relationships. You can be smart, you can be business-minded, you can be wealthy, you can have great messages/products/services, but if you don't start with integrity from the inside-out, then you will end up with nothing or at least only a fraction of what you could have. The relationships you develop based on integrity and mutual success are priceless and will be the very things that will exponentially grow your business. People like working for and buying from people they trust. Are you one of those people? If you think you can improve in that area, then read on. . .

Enjoy,

Make today the day you want it to be!
Unleash the power within you.

In This Issue

Feature Article
Relationship, Relationship, Relationship
by Kim Olver

Upcoming Events
FREE Teleconferences
Workshops
Chat Room


Quote of the Week

"In organizations, real power and energy are generated through relationships...
-- Margaret Wheatley

Book Review
How to Win Friends & Influence People
by Dale Carnegie

Tip of the Month

Business Q&A

Products & Services

About Kim Olver

Feature Article

Relationship, Relationship, Relationship
by Kim Olver

Everyone has heard the expression that in real estate, the three biggest factors determining the value of a person’s property are location, location, location. In business, the top three factors that determine the success of your business are relationship, relationship, relationship. As a business leader or owner, you will need positive relationships based on mutual trust and respect to take your business to the next level.

You will want to look at relationships on multiple levels.

Relationship with Self: Because everything I teach is about inside-out empowerment, you can’t begin to look at relationships with others until you recognize the kind of relationship you have with yourself. Do you take care of yourself? Do you protect your time? Do you keep the promises and commitments you make with yourself?

Relationships with Your Managers: You must know the fable about the goose and the golden eggs. A farmer was so excited about the goose he owned that kept laying him a golden egg each day that he learned which goose was the “cash cow” and cut her open to get at all the eggs inside. Obviously, there weren’t any and he had just killed the means to get more golden eggs. If you do not treat your managers well, then they will be unable to produce your golden eggs.

Do your managers feel safe, supported, understood, important, respected and liked? Do they have choices? Are they able to work unrestricted? Do they have any fun or useful learning happening on the job?

Teamwork: As the leader or owner, you are responsible for the level of teamwork with your managers and their level of teamwork with those they supervise. How well do your people get along and support each other? Do they each recognize their own unique contribution to the ultimate goal? Do they all recognize their value in contributing to the mission and vision of your company?

Relationships with your Customers: Do your clients or customers have respect for you and the product or service you provide? Do they buy from you because they like you and your staff? Do you correct any wrongs quickly? Do you take customer feedback seriously?

Relationships with Board or Shareholders: Do you have a good relationship with your Board of Directors or your shareholders? Do you operate in a way that inspires trust in you, your leadership and the work your company is doing? Do you tell the truth even if it means admitting a mistake on your part?

Relationship with Your Community: The definition of your “community” depends upon the nature of your work. If you are a social service agency, then the relationship with your community would be the immediate area where you provide services. If your corporation is an Internet business or serves a global market, then your community literally is the whole world. Wherever you do business, you want your public relations to be positive. You want your community to trust and respect what you do.

I work with some people who have been discouraged with the less than honest business dealings of other individuals. In response, I have stated that people who do business without regard to the relationship of those involved will be unsuccessful in building their business empire. Many have then countered with, “Well, they will just find new people to do business with.” That may have been true in the past.

However, we live in a new age. This is the information age. If you do something lacking integrity, word spreads. There are blogs, there are information boards, there is email, there is simple word of mouth. The methods for spreading information are many. When you behave in a less than honorable way, others quickly find out.

Individual trust, the trust of your people, brand trust and your reputation are all based on the way you interact with people. The relationships you build, both in your personal and professional life, are the things that will either propel you forward or stop you dead in your tracks. Create relationships built on mutual trust and respect and you will be well on your way to developing the business you want.

Copyright © May 2008 Kim Olver. All rights reserved

    Kim Olver, LPC is an executive coach, staff development specialist, public speaker and consultant. She has developed and revolutionary process called Inside Out Empowerment, designed to help leaders become more effective from the inside-out. She is also the author of, Leveraging Diversity at Work. To learn more about Empowered Leadership go to http://www.coachingforexcellence.biz/EmpoweredLeadership.shtml

    NOTICE: This article is free and can be copied and reproduced
    as long as the copyright and bio is included at the bottom of the article

*Click Here to read some of Kim's other articles*

Upcoming Events

Teleconferences
(Times in EST)

All teleconferences are free, one (1) hour in length and all you need is a telephone. When you register we will send you a phone number that you will call five minutes prior to the start of your teleconference. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, but if you prefer to just listen that’s all right too. You do not need a computer or Internet, only a telephone. Don’t delay. There are a limited number of slots available.

The following Teleconferences are FREE

Empowered Leadership
June 26, 2008 --
8:45 - 9:45 p.m. EST

How would you like your leaders to be more effective? How would you like to create a work environment that is empowering to your employees? Register for this call and learn the skills necessary to create an empowered workforce for both management and your employees.

Goal Setting & Attainment
July 1, 2008 -- Offered at two times for your convenience:
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
EST
8:45 - 9:45 p.m. EST

Are you serious about attaining your goals next year? Do you want to do more than make a New Year's Resolution that you forget by the time the Super Bowl is on television? Join me on the free teleconference to learn my time-tested 7-Step process for Goal Attainment. We will do more than set goals--we will discuss a system to implement that will exponentially increase your opportunity for success. Also, my Goal Attainment System is multi-faceted. You won't just be focusing your attention on your career goals unless you want to. My system has you take a look at all areas of your life so you can accomplish an optimal work/life balance for you. There is nothing to lose but an hour of your time and so much to gain. Let's make this your best year yet!

Stress Management
July 15, 2008 -- 8:45 - 9:45 p.m. EST

Feeling stressed? Is life getting to you? Then you need this teleconference. Learn how to de-stress with Choice Theory. Choice Theory states that all behavior is purposeful. Believe it or not, stress is a choice and you can choose not to be stressed! Learn how in this free teleconference.

Celebrate Diversity
August 5, 2008-- 8:45 - 9:45 p.m.
EST

Do you maintain a diverse workforce in your place of business? Do you celebrate diversity? Would you like to learn how to create a diverse workplace that embraces diversity? Register for this call and learn how creating a diverse workforce in your place of business can increase your bottom line and create a more pleasant work environment for you, your co-workers and your employees.

Time Management
August 19, 2008 -- 8:45 - 9:45 p.m. EST

Protecting our time is important. We all have the same amount of time in a day. It’s what we do with it that is critical. Do you find yourself doing things you really don’t want to do or spending time with people who take more than they give? These are examples of not protecting your time.

Your time is your gift to spend, as you will. You can spend it wisely or you can waste it. It’s your choice. However, one thing you can’t do is get it back to do over again. Learn how to manage and prioritize your time in a more efficient manner.

 

Workshops
Click on the links for more information

Reality Therapy & Choice Theory

July 21 - 25, 2008 -- Chicago, IL
October 6 - 10, 2008 -- Chicago, IL

The Basic Intensive Week in Choice Theory and Reality Therapy is a 4 day or 4½-day workshop where you will be exposed to some highly innovative ideas of Dr. William Glasser. You will learn the new psychology of personal freedom called Choice Theory. There is application in this workshop for teachers, school administrators, counselors, therapists, social workers, business managers, clergy, nurses, parents, and anyone interested in improving the quality of their life. You will learn how to empower yourself by distinguishing between those things you can control and those you can’t and focus your energy on those you can. There is practical advice about how to improve the important relationships in your life and how to become the person you want to be. This workshop helps you become more effective in counseling and teaching others, particularly those who may not even know they need your help—non-voluntary clients and less than enthusiastic students. The group size is kept small enough that you will receive individual attention and have plenty of time to have your questions answered.

Chat Room

Kim will be available in her chat room for questions
and dialog on the following dates and times:

All Chats are from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST

July 1, 2008
July 8, 2008
July 15, 2008
July 22, 2008

Quote of the Week

"In organizations, real power and energy are generated through relationships.
The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important
than tasks, functions, roles, and positions."

-- Margaret Wheatley

Ms. Wheatley agrees with my premise that in business, it's all about relationships, relationships, relationships. You can have everything else in place but if you don't have the types of relationships with those you come in contact with that inspire people to do their best and put their trust and faith in you and your word, then all the rest won't matter. You may be able to eke out a living but you will only be a fraction as successful as you would be or could be if you were to do an internal assessment and make the necessary changes to create the successful relationships that will be critical to your business success. It all starts from looking inside out. When you begin at the beginning you greatly increase the odds in your favor. You are looking at something you have total control and responsibility for. Get yourself lined up and watch yourself take off!

Book Review

How to Win Friends & Influence People
by Dale Carnegie

This is definitely an oldie but a goodie. Originally published in 1936, its ideas are still totally valid today. Of course, I grew up knowing about this book. I even think at one point, I was aware of my father reading it when I was in middle school. However, despite my interest in the subject matter, I had never read the book myself. I thought it was about time and I was so pleasantly surprised how the concepts Carnegie writes about are so compatible with the ideas in Dr. William Glasser's Choice Theory.

Carnegie talks about building relationships as the most important thing in business. He mentions the way to get someone to do what you want them to do is to help them understand how it's in their best interest so they will WANT to do it. He mentions not to criticize, condemn or complain. He writes about being a good listener and making the other person feel important. He mentions respecting other's opinions and attempting to see things from the other person's viewpoint. All of these points are also inherent in Choice Theory.

This is a great book if you are struggling with building relationships. If you have a genuine desire to connect with others but don't seem to have a good grasp on the skills needed to do so, then this book is for you. It provides a step-by-step manual for building positive relationships both in your personal life and in business. Check it out today.

Click here to purchase this book

Tip of the Month

There are private times when the best of us grapple with decisions of integrity. There are times when we assess the pros and cons and if we think we can make a decision that lacks integrity and no one will ever find out, then we may be tempted to take the easy way out. My challenge to you is to make every decision as if the whole world is watching. Do the right thing  simply because it is the right thing. When  you make a less than integritous decision, one person will always know--YOU. Every time you make a decision or engage in a behavior you are less than proud of, you take one step away from being the person you want to be. This makes taking consecutive steps in the wrong direction easier the next time. Making decisions aligned with your values and principles, whether alone or in public, is the best way to build your business. The basic building block is you. You are the foundation. You want to build your business on a strong foundation. Start today.

Business Q&A

Question: I have a real problem with one of my co-workers. I don't think he has any integrity. He had the opportunity to tell me the truth about seeking other employment and he lied to me. I was not his supervisor, only a co-worker. I am so angry with him that it affects our ability to collaborate on agency projects. I would like to be able to work effectively with this person. What do you recommend?

Answer: I have always been a big fan of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, particularly his fifth habit which states: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." If you genuinely want to work more effectively with this man, then I think the first step should be to discuss what happened in the past, how you felt about the decisions he made and ask him to share his experience of what was happening at that time. Listen with an open mind and really try to understand where he was coming from. There may be factors involved you knew nothing about. You  may not agree with the choices your co-worker made, but if you can at least understand how he came to the decisions he did, you will be more apt to have tolerance. Then, you will be better equipped to work together in the future.


 

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