Dr Sharon Livingston

Just when everything appears to be going well, a plane will suddenly appear in the sky and slam head-on into either your life or career or something else you value. You won’t see it coming but be assured; it happens to us all.  Marriages end. Careers derail.  Fortunes are lost. The people you counted on suddenly disappear. When the calamity arrives, what will be your response? Will you sit there stunned, unable to move, and scream at the moon that it’s all unfair?  Or will you refuse to be crushed and instead take action to regain your life , like Anna did?

By sharing your dream out loud with others, you magnify your cheering squad many times.  It’s like telling people you’ll stop smoking.  The success rate         rises dramatically because there are many others beside yourself that you want to avoid letting down.

What is a personal brand?    According to Amazon CEO, a personal brand is what people think and say about you when you’re not in the room.   It’s what differentiates you and sets you apart from the competition.  It’s not simply a logo or a website -- although both of these are important.  Instead it’s what you say and do that resonates with your target audience.  It’s the articles, the videos, and the photos that you post.  The advice you give and the ideas you support.  It’s what makes you special and unique.

Coaching helps people with their goals.  But as simple as that may seem, it’s not always clear what their goals are or how that...

Under stress, our brains and body are hard wired to react to the emotional aspects of the situation.  It’s part of the fight or flight instinct.  We can’t as readily consider the facts. That’s why it’s important to remind ourselves that we do have internal resources that have worked in the past; to open our mental cabinet, see the choices we’ve previously used well, and consider which of those to call into action.  In addition, what worked with one challenge might have relevance for another. 

Sharon Livingston, who has a PhD in Psychology and is founder of the Livingston Group for Marketing, borrows from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to characterize the traits of people based on their seat at the table. See if you recognize yourself or your colleagues in Livingston's thumbnail sketches: Bashful may try to hide in the middle of the group. May avoid eye contact, look down, bow their head a little bit. May actually blush when spoken to. Does best in a focused and structured environment where the task at hand is clear. Doc usually sits opposite the leader. Tries to take over leadership. Announces his expertise very early in the meeting. Makes decisions quickly. DopeyMay try to hide in the middle. May try to crack a self deprecatory joke. Looks interested but only speaks when called upon. Often parrots the expert....

I accomplished my goal of working with Dr. Covey and putting into action what I learned.  I now train coaches on the specifics of helping their clients clarify their goal and creating a plan to get there.  And I received a wonderful testimonial.  So exciting, rewarding and satisfying . . .           “I was totally impressed by both the character and competence of Dr.            Livingston.  Her ability to draw people out in unique and creative ways           and apply the gathered data to complicated analyses made my experience                working with her highly memorable and rewarding.”                                             Stephen Covey. NY Time Best Selling Author. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Many new coaches and managers feel compelled to provide an answer or give direction.  They think they have to do the heavy lifting telling the client what to do next, or sharing how they did it themselves, or coming up with a brilliant solution for a tough problem. Listening in an engaged manner keeps the focus outside onto the clie

Coaches Listen and Guide. Connect and Reflect.   A coach will assist, challenge and encourage rather than lead, give orders, instruct or advise.  While good coaches do have experience and knowledge in particular areas their role is to understand, motivate and guide rather than train. As a coach, even though your client came to you for your expertise and reputation;  even though they think they want you to solve their challenge and tell them what to do;  it’s really not about you and your talents or strengths.  

I would like to suggest a little tactic to have in your back pocket that you can rely on if Murphy and The Hulk show up in your meeting and scare you with a roar and the mighty muscle that looks like he can back it up.  It is a very simple technique that diffuses the raw emotion of this grumpy person. And remember, all of us have the capacity for being quite grumpy at times, when provoked. The unexpected outburst starts. Allow the participant to vent and finish his/her little tirade. You will be feeling the attack and so will the rest of the group. If you are like most people when confronted with such a strong assault your heart is racing and you probably feel a little frightened yourself not unlike the shock I felt when the computer came crashing down on my head out of seemingly nowhere. Remind yourself to take a breath. It will be over soon. You can give yourself time to think and recover from your pounding heart and dazed feeling AND at the same time, help this angry person calm down by saying: "I am sorry could you repeat that...I want to be sure I really understood what you said." While it may sound counter intuitive to invite this furious fomentation to be unleashed yet again, it actually has the reverse effect.  It is at once both an extraordinarily simple AND extraordinarily powerful intervention.

Group leaders say they most dread an encounter with an irate, attacking participant. While this type of person is probably not likely to appear very frequently, the most feared attendee is the spontaneously erupting "Incredible Hulk" who threatens to destroy group process by explosively regurgitating intense rage at the leader and the other members of the group. Help the angry outburst person calm down by saying: "I am sorry could you repeat that...I am not sure I really understood what you said." While it may sound counter intuitive to invite this furious fomentation to be unleashed yet again, it actually has the reverse effect. It is at once both an extraordinarily simple AND extraordinarily powerful intervention.

Did you know that 20% of American businesses allow their staff to bring companion animals along with them to work? The value of a cute pup at work has been researched. Results of a survey sponsored by The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association indicated positive outcomes as a result of bringing pets to work.  Participants agreed that bringing their pets to work led to: o An increased willingness to work longer o A decrease in absenteeism o Improved relationships with co-workers o An environment that fosters creativity o Higher productivity So, do you have a pet that might like to give back? Maybe become an assistant researcher or facilitator or gopher?   [Couldn't resist, but now lots of dogs are annoyed with me!] To learn more interesting tips on making work less like work and encouraging employee engagement go to http://www.Future-Proof-Your-Career.com