COACHING PROMPT OF THE WEEK

“What’s the bigger picture?” 

This is a great prompt to help a leader ‘zoom out’ and see a situation more clearly.  Sometimes, we get so immersed in the details of the problem that we miss other nuances and moving parts. The answer to a problem might lie in another part of the story, or this question might help unveil a new clue as to how to get unstuck. 

A few probing questions might include:

• How might this situation change over time?

• What are the broad implications with your course of action?

• What other options have you considered?

Remember that coaching isn’t telling! Coaching is about staying curious and making space for those in our care to become confident authors of their own stories.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Sometimes, I feel like we overcomplicate what it means to create teams that people are excited and motivated to work on. It's challenging, for sure. Establishing and maintaining a safe and positive professional environment is hard and takes persistence! But the component parts are pretty simple when we boil them down.

There are several models out there, but I personally have used the FISH model for almost 2 decades. Originally created in Seattle's Pike Place Market back in 1998 and credited to John Christensen, the framework outlines a straight-forward way to keep our team members engaged, even when the work is less than ideal.

What can you do to bring these four Fishy philosophies into your workplace? 🐠🐟🐡

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As a Coach, I’m on a mission to help my clients become more Self-Aware, which at first blush seems easy enough. But the deeper they look, they often encounter harsh truths or new insights that can be uncomfortable to wrestle with. Though difficult at first, these realizations then lead to new thoughts, new feelings, and new actions.

This photo doesn't necessarily represent one of those uncomfortable insights, but it does highlight a recent insight of mine about how I work best. On days I don't need to be in front of an audience or on a Zoom call, I want to be comfortable. And wearing a Captain America t-shirt makes me feel like a rockstar. Maybe it seems a little silly, but it genuinely makes me feel better when I'm doing certain kinds of work, especially the creative stuff. Also, cats are excellent stress relievers 😂🐱

There's this quote by Plato that goes, "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” Truth, knowledge, and a deeper understanding are all part of the ‘light’ that Plato describes here. He’s urging us to lean into a space of perpetual learning, including about ourselves. Some of those learnings are going to be more earth-shaking than others. But all of them matter.

What are you doing to build self-awareness and reflect on your own truths?

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We’re accepting new coaching clients! As a seasoned leadership coach, I'm dedicated to helping you unlock your full potential, build high-performing teams, and achieve your goals.

Book a consultation today!

Here’s what other clients are saying…

Thomas is an excellent and caring coach who focuses on the whole person. I have already begun incorporating actions I learned to better support my team, family, and those I coach and mentor.

- Vincent N.

BE A FORCE MULTIPLIER!

Have a conversation about the Fish! Philosophy and see if you can apply the four principles to your workplace.  This can be directed at the employees on your team, or your customer interactions.  See if your team can come up with at least one new tactic for each of the four principles of Fish! 

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