Do you have a Personal plan?

How are your colleagues and clients managing the stresses of February 2017?

No doubt your organization has already made plans and contingencies to deal with the current economic crisis.

When this crisis is over - who will have distinguished themselves?

Crisis = Opportunity

It's much easier to lead teams and organizations in prosperous times.

Some of the greatest opportunities to develop and to use our leadership skills present themselves in times of crisis. None of us is happy about the current economic situation, but some of us will recognize it as a personal challenge. Now is the time to reassure our colleagues and clients. Now is the time to encourage and inspire them to look forward. Now is the time to be the best listeners we can be, and to share our understanding and empathy with others.

Sharpen Your Skills

What are the core personal skills we need to pay attention to? The qualities of kindness, our strength of character and our determination are essential, but there are specific skills we must pay attention to. Listening skills are particularly important, and so is stress management. If we want to be a “calming presence” we first need to manage our own stress.

Priority Number One.Look after Yourself First

When we are traveling, the airlines advise us, “in the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure”, to put our own oxygen mask on first, before helping others. This is important, common sense; maintaining our ability to help others must be the first priority.

Essential Skills

#1 Focus on Your Personal Energy.

As you know, stress is physically debilitating. Stress impairs our immune system. Common sense dictates that we must maintain a high level of physical fitness, but who has the time? Two quick points; first you can't afford not to be in good shape. Secondly, the return on investment is priceless.

Studies have shown that after regular workouts, people can accomplish the equivalent of 9.5 hours of work in eight hours. Investing a few hours a week in physical activity will actually give you a net increase in productivity. If you’re already fit, you know that you sleep better, think better, and feel better when you commit to physical activity.

The Mode of Pleasure

Don't make exercise an obligation - choose something for fun! Anything that appeals to you - from walking or running, fitness classes and team sports, to dance lessons or winter sports with your friends and family - will significantly reduce your physical stress, give you an emotional boost and add Charisma to your presence!

How About “Now”?

But remember, it's just a “nice idea”, unless you put it in your schedule as soon as possible. Why not make a phone call, right now, and arrange something with someone? At the very least you will have the pleasure of cheering someone up in addition to yourself.

Professional Performers

After several years of working with more than a hundred radio and television announcers, commentators, and "personalities", it is clear to me that what separates good performers from excellent performers is how they feel about themselves. Excellent performers have an attractive personal energy. When you communicate by Speaking to colleagues and clients, they are much more influenced by your personality than by your information. I have many tips and techniques to share about presentation skills, but number one is always “increase your Personal Energy”.

#2 Speak Up

To be a leader in difficult times, we must learn how to convey our confidence and enthusiasm. Now is the time to share your plans and strategies - and especially your vision of the future. Now is the time to remind people of your organization’s vision and accomplishments. Now is the time to share stories of previous challenges that your organization has overcome. There’s power in retelling success stories. In tough times they are always inspiring.

#3 Increase One to One Communications

Remember that when people are anxious, lack of communication is stressful. Support your colleagues by simply being with them. In difficult times it’s important to have more regular one-to-one meetings with your key people. Encourage them to share their concerns, and if possible help them to think through their concerns with good questions and empathetic listening. Your key people are probably independent thinkers - and they will generally find solutions to their anxieties in the presence of a good listener who they respect.

Tough times are hard to endure, but they can also serve to challenge and to define us. This may be your opportunity.

“Become who you are”

Friedrich Nietzsche

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February 27-28

April 3-4

April 24-25

June 5-6

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