Success Starts Inside! Keeping on track with your success can feel challenging at times. You start to benchmark your progress against the competition, your bank balance, what other’s reaction is to your marketing etc I take time out in each of my private sessions with clients to help them step back from these external measurements. When you measure an outside indicator such as other businesses, money or marketing you lose touch with your inner guide for success. It is only you that can decide whether you succeed or not. Our beliefs, rules, self image, judgements, excuses and fears are usually what stop our success. We can be our own worst enemy if we don’t address these inner behaviours. Everyone struggles with these inner challenges and even if you clear one set of limiting beliefs and rules, another set show up for you to clear. That is how you know you are growing personally when the challenges get bigger! Here are my top tips to start succeeding and stop struggling: • Be kinder to yourself – stop beating yourself up when you don’t get the outcome you expect • Learn to ask for help from the right people – get support to get you the results you want • Invest in yourself – its time to stop being fearful of not having enough • Take valuable time out to re-energise • Act despite of fear • Hold the judgement- don’t jump to conclusions without looking into a situation first. • Get Clear- Know what you really want, define what success is to you. • Clear the negative and get clarity on the positive- this way you can take even better action and get more successful If you would like to find out more about unlocking these limiting beliefs I offer private sessions to help clients to move them.

I my view there is a massive gap between a manager and a true leader. Even down to the definition of the word -

 Manage, to me implies that you just get by, cope, scrap along just existing. Would you want to do you job this way on  a daily basis, I certainly wouldn’t!

 Leading however implies being ahead taking responsibility, inspiring others, and setting new paradigms of success. It takes a special kind of person to be a real leader. One who steps up, constantly is on their game, shows courage, determination, perseverence, when others have given up, they stand up and forge ahead to get the deal, secure their people and win.    

Ask yourself -
How am I setting an example to my team as a leader?
What’s not currently working for me?
Am I afraid to be courageous?
What needs to change?
What am I willing to do to improve?

If I have struck a chord, you can’t get to the bottom of the issue, call me to arrange a free consultation to see if I can enable you to find that breakthrough leadership moment.

Have you ever had that sinking feeling as you stepped into the boardroom for yet another meeting. They can be dull can’t they, half of the meeting reflecting on that last, the other half panicing about what little action has taken place, looming deadlines and targets, and yet somehow there is always someone dragging their feet in the decision process (usually the person who frequently misses attending them!)

So what can you do to prevent this waste of your time?

Here are some top tips to make sure you get the best from each meeting you attend:

Consider:

• Why – is the meeting necessary, don’t just attend for the sake of being at the meeting!
• What – is the purpose of the meeting, can you achieve something as a result?
• What – benefits are to be achieved or expected?
• How – might you still achieve the above without this meeting?
• The timing of the meeting needs to make the most effective use of the attendees time and not distract them from more important tasks. 
• Only people who are needed should attend
• Meetings held towards the end of the day will acheive the following:
  • Delegates will have a fresh knowledge of what’s happening
  • They have an incentive to be brief – life goes on after work!
  • Everyone can think overnight and return next day to the challenge refreshed
• Use an agenda. and stick to the topics on it
• Insist people come prepared
• Start on time
• Ensure all decisions are noted, what will be done by who and when.

I would like to make a very special offer to a few select people.
On Friday July 1st I have a rare ‘spare day’ so figured that would be a good time to offer 6 people the opportunity to experience a FREE 30 minute virtual coaching session valued at £175.
‘ Shift Your Critical Issue’ Will give you a flavour of what can be achieved in just 30 minutes of focus. Get clarity, fresh perspective and new focus on any business issue you are currently facing.
Appointments will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so call me quickly to get in fast!

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

For full details visit
http://www.jacquitillyard.co.uk/linkedinspecial.html

In an ever competitive market securing and maintaining your talent can be tricky. If they create a name in your market for having the success factor, quite often someone is knocking on the door, to attract them to pastures new.

So what can you do to ensure you keep more of your hard earned talent?

• Manage and give clarity about everyone’s performance expectations.
• Be totally clear from the outset about earning potential, no point hiding information if you know money will lure them to pastures new. Consider your own costs to in the recruitment process, make it work for you and them!
• Provide proper and regular constructive feedback about performance.
• Stick to regular scheduled meetings to discuss critical issues and stay updated
• Provide a  clearly defined framework within which the employee can see a way forward to succeed.Staying clear helps manage the expectations, ensures the employee remains loyal and that they feel valued. That way, there is a win-win situation –  you retain key staff and they feel wanted!
•   

If you are a sales manager or sales director, it can be so frustrating when you once superstar sales performers lose their sparkle and ability to charm the clients, gain commitment and seal the deal.

What can you do to stop this happening?

Well dependant on whether you are a ‘carrot dangler’ or a prod with a sharp stick sort of a guy or girl your approach to this issue can vary.

The often missed opportunity to solve the problem can come out of an informal chat, to find out what is going on for the individual. Quite often its a personal matter that is taking their attention away from the job.

If you have tried to talk with them  and got nowhere, maybe it’s time to employ an outsiders time to help you sort the matter out. I have worked with other sales professionals to enable them to iron out glitches in their sales team and find a fast solution to move the sales team forward, improve their performances and hit those ever increasing targets.

If you think I may be able to help you, please give me a call to discuss.

Not supporting your talent can cost you dearly in:

Supporting your existing and rising stars and talented staff is a crucial part of your business stability. You simply don’t want to lose them, they are so important to the development and sustainability of your business future. If talent management is your focus, I can definitely help you. By providing executive coaching to them on an on going basis you can prevent any of the following detrimental issues affecting your business.

• Lost or Poor Sales Performance
• Increased Recruitment Costs
• The headache of interviewing and starting the process over again
• Extended Sick Leave
• Lack of Motivation
• Negative Impact on Other Team Members
• Reputation by Association

Managing people and engaging team members still appears to be one of the biggest challenges facing many managers. There is an old saying that ‘If it wasn’t for customers and staff, management would be easy!’ The last thing you want is for your talented executives to struggle with their teams.

Employee engagement is probably one of the defining issues that will determine which organisations will thrive as we enter a sustained period of rapid change and uncertainty.

Research and experience has found executive coaching can be a great return on your investment, many companies see a dramatic increase in staff performance, people skills and the all important profits!

Wouldn’t you like the next company enjoying all of these? Lets talk to see how we can work together to get you the results you really want to achieve.

Are you setting your goals and ambition high enough? Well its an interesting question isn’t it. For many executives  and managers its about the quick win. Sometimes when that happens they go after what comes easily, can be achieved quickly to tick a target box or hit a goal and report back, However as an executive coach I would like to pose the question -
Are you going after what you really want or settling for less?

 If you are going after what you really want then congratulations! If however you are chasing what you only think is possible you may need to start to think bigger. For many under estimate what they can achieve, start to apply methods to make faster progress or get a better result than you ever imagined.

  Here are my 3 top tips to help you think bigger:

• Think of what you really want to achieve (be really specific here) then go beyond that
• Get in touch with those who have previously acheived what you aspire to do and get their take on the situation
• Persevere and stick out for what you want, be prepared to negotiate, but know you boundaries!

What is your personal power? Interesting question isn’t it? Could you put into words exactly what it is like to claim and apply your own power? Many struggle to describe this concept. Others have never really thought about it and have given away their future to an unknown destiny without having ever planned and orchestrated what they want to have happen in their own life. Personal power is all about taking full responsibility for your own life and the events in it.

For some the word power in itself has a negative connotation. Mainly down the fact that someone somewhere at sometime wielded unkind behaviour which they took to be power.

Personal power for me is the realisation that anything is possible. The inner sense of knowing that all the resources you could ever need lie within you. It is having utter belief, commitment and determined focus to make your dreams come true in an ecological manner. What do I mean by that I hear you ask,  well having your dreams, goals and aspirations happen without harming anyone, or the environment around you.

Personal power is about dedication to excellence, making the most of each moment, being charismatic, energised and feeling totally alive. Make the most of any opportunity that may arise, spotting possibilities and acting on them to make your life even more fulfilled.

Personal power can be considered a multi-faceted idea. Imagine as you experience the rush of power when you feel in control of your life. All the choices you make bring about your outcomes, so why not make them fantastic ones to propel you forwards in life.

Personal power is the ability to know what goals you want to have happen, be able to set them and then achieve them. It is the ability to influence and persuade others for greater good. Great power comes from being able to be an outstanding communicator, know when to speak up, when to listen and when to just stay quiet and present. Personal power encompasses enthusiasm, optimism and a sheer joy for your life. When your energy levels rise, your sense of power does too. If you can be the cause of the things that occur in your life – be the master (or mistress!) of your own destiny – you have personal power. Just tap your inner resources of self-esteem, courage, persistence and confidence.

Personal power is an inner knowing that you can apply yourself to achieve what you want. It is personal power that brings you success and happiness and abundance.

This article is currently appearing on The Women’s Business Club’s Website

Women showing Personal Power photograph courtesy of Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Personal networking is one of the most effective ways to promote yourself and your business. To do it well you have to get out of the office (or home) on a regular basis and devote time to it. A good plan would be to spend regular weekly activity doing networking activities. Here are a few ideas that work for most people:

1. Exchange business cards with people who have services you know others will need, and ensure you distribute yours too. Be generous with your business cards. Pass them out whenever you get the chance, but don’t be a ‘card thruster’ at events, only give out a card to those you think you may have a good connection with. Do include tag lines on your outgoing mail. Give quantities of your cards to friends and business associates whom might be making referrals. If you meet new people at an event make a point of following up with a phone call and make time to meet with them and get to really know what they do who they are and how you can help one another get more referrals.

2. Write notes on the back of each business card you collect. Remind yourself where and when you met the person and what you want to remember about him or her. Add this information to your contact management system.

3 Read your local newspaper regularly, especially the business section. Watch for people you know or should know, and update your contact management system accordingly.

4. Send clippings of interest from newspapers, magazines and the internet, with notes, to your clients, prospects, and contacts. Let them know you care.

5. Stay in regular touch with your clients, prospects, and contacts. If you can’t telephone them all, send them a post card or email or send a newsletter to them.

6. Try to attend at least one trade or professional conference every year. Meet as many new people as you can.

7. Become active in at least one civic or professional organization. Attend regularly, accept a task or responsibility and carry it out, volunteer to chair a committee.

8. When you attend a large meeting for the first time, make sure you introduce yourself to as many people as your comfort level will allow. Don’t talk to the same person for the entire meeting. If necessary, introduce the person with whom you’ve been talking to someone else. Don’t be hesitant to let someone know it’s your “first time”. Ask someone to introduce you around

9. Have lunch with colleagues or associates outside your company regularly. Find to find a business mentors and role models outside your company who will meet with you on a regular basis too.

10. If you see a quality newsletter related to your market, make sure you get to know the editor. From time to time offer to write an article of general interest to the newsletter readership. Offer to write articles for local newspapers and associations on subjects where you have special expertise or interest.

11. Refer people you know personally or do business with to others. When they do a good job, you are also remembered and referred.

12. Listen when people are talking to you about their business. Be a mentor and confidant. Be willing to offer help or advice, even to a competitor. Your good turns will be returned in various ways.

13. When something good happens to you, issue a press release to the local press. If your release is accepted, be sure to follow up with a thank you note.

14. Offer to speak or participate in seminars presented by your profession or civic organization. Stick to subjects which you can use to portray present yourself as an “expert”.

15. Publish a book, pamphlet or “white paper” or e-book on a subject of interest to your clients and prospects. This establishes you as an expert in your field.

16. Subscribe to Internet mail lists and newsgroups related to your business. Participate by asking and answering questions in your areas of expertise. Always use a well-conceived “signature” at the bottom of your posts and E-mail messages.

17 Remember if you don’t have the cash to buy useful services look to barter or exchange services with other networkers, quite often they are in a similar position and if you have mutually beneficial exchanges if can save you ££ and enable you to recommend their services personally.

18. Know how to gain the interest of others at events, don’t tell them your job title, let them know the benefits of your service or product i.e.: I help people to sell more effectively, I help people enjoy more free time, improve their environment, be more efficient etc.

19. Don’t feel too daunted when attending new networks, enjoy and have fun, remember everyone is there to meet new contacts, you could be the perfect solution to someone else’s business issue!

20. Learn to ask for what you want and follow up follow up follow up always!

This article also appreared on The Women’s Business Clubs website, for which I write regular articles for.