Category Archives: Coaching

How to increase productivity if you are only productive during certain times of the day?

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This question came from a busy professional.

What of people who are only productive during certain times of day? Should time management be considered in terms of productivity?

Absolutely!  Many of us have blocks of time or selective times during the day that we are most productive.   For example, many people are more creative in the morning hours.  Some people like to exercise in the morning before their day starts.

It’s great to understand how you best work and what works for you.

Having said the above, if we limit ourselves to just those productive hours, we are limiting our successes and achievements.  There are several tricks to increase those productive blocks of time.

Working within your strengths

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How leaders communicate the company’s vision so that others will share it

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This question came from a busy professional.

 Could you give some examples of how leaders can communicate the company’s vision so that others will share it?

 This is an excellent question.  One of the leader’s responsibility is to communicate the company vision, mission statements and goals.

One-on-one meetings

A company executive speaks with a woman during a business meeting.

One of the most effective ways is to meet one-on-one with each employee.

  1. Work with each individual to verify they both understand the company vision AND how their roles and responsibilities support that vision.
  2. Have each employee outline THEIR specific vision, mission and purpose statements – which in-turns supports the overall company vision, mission and purpose statements
  3. Have each employee outline specific activities (SMART goals) that they will be individually responsible for executing in support of both their individual mission and their company vision.
  4. Make it clear that their performance evaluation and bonus is directly associated with those SMART goals accomplishments.

Additional ways

Some ways a leader can communicate the company’s vision are:

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What type of digital marketing strategies should we implement for a startup?

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This question came from a busy professional.

What type of digital marketing strategies should we implement for a startup?

What type of digital marketing strategies should we implement for a startup? We are in the primary stage and do not have much money. 

Congratulations on starting your business. The amazing thing regarding digital marketing is that it doesn’t cost much money to get started.  But you do need to invest time, energy and creativity.   You need to be committed to a consistent and frequent investment of time.   But that’s what startups are all about!

We will go into a general marketing strategy and then focus on digital marketing solutions.

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How To Get an Interview When We’re Under-Qualified

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This question came from a busy professional.

How Can We Get an Interview When We’re Under-Qualified? 

Some people may be interested in a job, but they don’t apply for the job because they don’t meet all the qualifications or have the specified experience. Why should they apply anyway?

If a candidate is under-qualified–as per the job requirements–what are three things he or she can do to still stand out on his or her application and snag an interview
anyway?

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5 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Presentations

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This question came from a busy professional.

I’m searching for career experts who can tell me the biggest mistakes people make
when making a presentation at work.
Most everyone has heard of the more common mistakes of not making eye contact with the audience and relying too heavily on note cards.  But here are some of the bigger mistakes that you may not be aware you are making.

  • Covering too much
  • Not properly tying the topics together
  • Not having a CTA
  • Not closing the deal
  • Not having someone else edit

 

We will go through each in detail, explain why it’s such a big
mistake and then give advice on how a presenter can avoid making the mistake.

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How to stay connected as a remote worker

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This question came from a busy professional.

How do you stay connected as a remote worker? 

As a remote worker, how do you fight feelings of isolation?  Especially looking for advice that newcomers to remote work can use. Thank you! 

In these technological times, it’s even simpler to stay connected.  With the advent of video conferencing, online chatting and texting, there is little reason to feel isolated.

Take the initiative

The real issue is that you have to take the initiative.

  • It is not the companies’ responsibility to make you ‘feel included’.
  • It is not the companies’ responsibility to make sure your network and build the proper working relationships with the right co-workers, sibling departments, other managers, and executives.
  • It is not the companies’ responsibility to make sure you keep their jobs.

Get involved

The very best way to “fight the feelings of isolation” is to simply “get involved”. Some things that a newcomer to remote work can do to “feel more included”:

  • Go into the office for face-to-face business networking.
    1. Even though you have the benefit of telecommuting, this does not relinquish your responsibility for your own business networking goals.
    2. Schedule monthly or bi-monthly visits to the office.
    3. If your location is a large distance, arrange for travel to the site at least once a quarter for a few days.  Line up the important meetings with co-workers, managers, executives, and mentors that are beneficial to your career growth and professional advancement.
    4. Your career is your responsibility – and the adage “out of sight, out of mind” is very relevant to remote workers.
  • Schedule weekly or bi-monthly one-on-one meetings with your managers and mentors. Stay on your manager’s and mentors radar by scheduling frequent and regular one-on-one meetings.
    1. Keep the meetings short (15 minutes in length) and have agendas and meeting goals/purpose identified in advance so that you are not wasting these important people’s times.
    2. YOU facilitate and conduct these meetings to show your intentions and initiative. Ask about your performance and share the type of projects that you would like to be assigned to. Review the gaps in your skill set that you need to accomplish to gain those desired positions.
    3. YOU suggest/ask for things that you would like as rewards for meeting certain goals.

Use Technology

  • Make use of today’s video conference technology.
    • Supplement your phone meetings with video conference calls. Consider including video status reports in your email reports.
  • Conduct and facilitate Brown Bag Lunch professional development series on new technology or operational procedures.
    • Teleconference technology like Skype allows remote employees to both attend and present.
    • Take the initiative to present on high-profile, company driven topics. Arrange for guest speakers that are expert in these areas. Request that the company caters in lunch for these special training and educational events.

Got the extra mile

  • Go the extra mile with every interaction.
    • For example: If someone emails you, call them back.
    • If you get someone’s voicemail, leave them a time/date when you will be calling them back or a timeframe when you will be available to talk.
    • Don’t allow phone tag. Take the responsibility for making that meeting happen.

I have an online course 10 Tips for the Telecommuter that may be of interest.

I know your situation is different.  If you would like additional information on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

I am a business coach and this is what I do professionally.  It’s easy to sign up for a complimentary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

With enough notice, it would be my honor to guest-speak at no cost to your group organization.

How to quit a job without burning bridges

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This question came from a busy professional.

 How do you quit a job without burning bridges?

 

I work for a consulting company and just got assigned to a 3-4-month project at the client site due to begin in early May or early June. I found out about this project last week and unfortunately, I wasn’t given a choice. The concern that I have is that I was already planning to give my resignation notice in early May and leave the company by the end of May at the latest.

I would like to tell my supervisor now that I won’t be around to take on the critical project, so they can find a replacement right away and run it by the client – but I need to iron out the details with my potential new employer first. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. My supervisor has been good to me and I don’t want to put her in a difficult situation, as she would need to find a replacement immediately after I begin the project and the client will not be thrilled about potential delays in project delivery.

Given the timing and importance of the project with a key client, I run the risk of burning bridges. Not sure what I should do. Any advice helps.
Without knowing much about your current situation – the problem doesn’t seem to be your current job.  The problem is how long it is taking the new employer to iron out things with your new position.  Therefore, I recommend focusing on fixing that area first.

Managing the New Employer

If you cannot iron out things with the new employer relatively quickly, this is a red flag that any future issues will also be difficult to complete.  If your new employer is unable or not willing to complete these things in a reasonable time frame, this is not a good sign.  The new employer is putting his/her best foot forward at the time of hire.  This is as good as it gets.

So, you need to start on the right foot with the new employer.

Transparency with New Employer

Transparency is always a good thing when starting a new position.

  • Tell your new employer that you need to iron these things out very quickly (within the next week or two).
  • Tell your new employer what is going on with your current employer and upcoming contract.
  • Set a reasonable deadline to “iron out the details” of the new job.

The new employer will appreciate that you don’t want to put your current employer in a bind.  This illustrates that you will be as conscientious with the new employer as you are with your current employer.

Next Steps

At this point, you have 2 directions to go:

  1. Deadline is accomplished
  2. Deadline is missed

Deadline is accomplished

If the new company makes the agreed-upon deadline, at that time – talk to your current manager about your plans to leave at the end of May.

  • Offer to mentor and train someone else during May on this new project.
  • Offer to use the time to document and automate any tasks to make it easier for your replacement.
  • Offer to conduct any training sessions, video or record any training tutorials to make the transition easier.
  • Don’t feel guilty or apologize that you didn’t tell them sooner because you really didn’t know sooner.

Deadline is missed

If the new company cannot make the agreed-upon deadline, consider this a RED FLAG.

  • Give the new employer additional time (3-4 months) to iron out those details (during which time you complete the other project).
  • Let the new company know that during that time you will be working on that other project for your current company.
  • Offer to do some part-time projects for the new company during that time.
  • Revisit that new company again in 3 months to see if those “details are ironed out”.
  • Line yourself up to join that new company full-time at the completion of that other project.

You always have options and say when it comes to your career and future employment.

5 Ways to Make Yourself Stand Out at Work

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A busy professional asks a question regarding working relationships.

I’m looking for meaningful, effective ways that employees in nearly any scenario can make themselves stand out in a good way.

It goes without saying that above all, you must continue to produce high-quality work, make the most of your time at the office. We don’t want any of the below to affect the quality of your regular duties or responsibilities.
In other words, if you are not already doing the below – you are already standing out (but in a bad way).

Once you have accomplished the below, you can focus on the next 5 ways to make yourself stand out.

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When do you need a new career vs. just a new job?

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A busy professional asks a question regarding career advancement.

When do you need a new career vs. just a new job?


When you’re burned out in your current job, how do you know if it’s time for a new career vs. just a new job? What questions should you ask yourself? What criteria should you be thinking about?

This is a question that everyone should ask – even before “burn out”.  But, as you pointed out, many don’t consider it until they are “done” with their current job.

Avoid Burn-Out

To avoid burn – have a career development plan (3, 5, 10-year plan) and regularly do a career assessment against that plan.

Some steps to get you on that path:

  • Work with a success coach, mentor or business coach to assist you in your career and professional development plan.
  • Include your professional development task in your professional yearly review discussions
  • Share your career goals and professional development plans with your manager
  • Schedule various tasks to accomplish throughout the calendar year to achieve those year-end, 3, 5 and 10-year plans.

Never too late

If you don’t have a career development plan, create one now.  Decide where you want to be, do and have in 3, 5, and 10 years.  Consider a 360-degree view of your life in 3, 5 and 10 years.  To assist you in this, feel free to download this Dream Sculpting Worksheet.

New Career or New Job

Once you have your career development plan, it is critical that you regularly evaluate it.  As you gain new experiences, skills and interests, you are changing.  The career path that you defined 3 years ago may not fit the person that you are today.  Take the time to reassess your professional and personal desires.  Make sure you are not only staying on target – but that this target is still what you want.

The Next Career Step Challenge Worksheet may also help you with deciding if you need a new career or just the next logical step in your current career development path.

I know your situation is different.  If you would like additional information on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

I am a business coach and this is what I do professionally.  It’s easy to sign up for a complimentary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

 

With enough notice, it would be my honor to guest-speak at no cost to your group organization.

 

Can I start a business without money?

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of the business and time management books TimePeace: Making peace with time – the The Book of Answers:  105 Career Critical Situations – and I am a  business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management and work-life balance strategies.

Today’s question comes from a busy entrepreneur and small business owner:

      I’ve been unemployed for a few months now. Could I still start a business without money?

      I’m curious because I’ve read about it but never made a decision. So I do believe that the answer would help me.

Without knowing your talents, work experience and skills, this answer will be very general.
Starting a business without money is possible, but difficult.

Business Plan

The first step would be to create your business plan, which outlined your business goals, start-up fiscal needs, revenue expectations, resource needs, and general business strategy.

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