11 Challenges Of First Time Supervisors …

Manage the Overwhelm

Janet was elated when she was promoted for her exceptional skills and expertise in performing her job. Within a few weeks she called expressing her frustration as she felt like an imposter. She was finding it difficult to handle the challenges of her new role.

Challenges and Problems New Supervisors Face

Here are some common problems and challenges new supervisors often face:

  1. Lack Authority -Promoted but struggle to influence former peers.
  2. Ineffective Delegation – New supervisors may want to prove themselves by doing it all without delegating. End up micromanaging or miss opportunities to empower their team.
  3. Poor Time Management – Often end up buried in daily tasks compromising productivity.
  4. Mishandling Performance – avoid difficult conversation or acting too aggressively to assert authority.
  5. Poor Communication skills -Giving direction or feedback is unclear, not listening or making assumptions.
  6. Maintaining friendships – Boundaries blur as new supervisors must now manage former co-workers who were friends.
  7. Lack of leadership training – often promoted without receiving adequate training.
  8. Unrealistic expectations – new supervisors may feel they know everything already or may want to quick-fix long standing issues quickly.
  9. Imposter syndrome – doubt their abilities, lack confidence, or feel underqualified.
  10. Stress and work/life balance – they become overwhelmed by the pressures of the responsibilities of the new role.
  11. Go it Alone – Does not seek help from a coach who can help them navigate the new role.

With proper mentoring, training, and experience over time, these common pitfalls can be overcome. Patience, self-awareness, and a learning mindset are key for successfully transitioning to supervisor.

Connect with a leadership coach who will help you confidentially maneuver the challenges of your new role.

Questions or need to add any missing challenge? Do share, we would be glad to hear.

Cheers!

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9+ Ways To Defeat Procrastination

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

Abraham Lincoln

A colleague shared her exhaustion with what she termed as her habitual procrastination. She was tired of incomplete tasks in her life and asked for help.

Avoiding procrastination is essential for leaders and professionals to maintain productivity and achieve goals. Here are 9+ key points shared to help overcome this practice.

1.Self-Awareness

Recognize your procrastination habits and understand the underlying causes. Self-awareness is the first step to change.

2.Prioritization

Prioritizing tasks is essential. Leaders should focus on high-impact, high-priority activities first.

3.Set Clear Goals

Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. Having clear objectives provides motivation and direction.

4.Time Management

Use effective time management techniques, such as time blocking, to help you allocate your time efficiently.

5. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps

Practice breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This makes tasks less daunting and more achievable.

6.Delegation

Trust more. Delegate tasks to capable team members when possible. Delegation frees up time for strategic thinking and higher-priority activities.

7. Overcoming Perfectionism

Are you a perfectionist? Often this tendency fuels procrastination through delaying completing projects until they are perfect. Focus on progress, not perfection.

8. Accountability

Set up an accountability system, such as working with a mentor, coach, or a peer who can hold you responsible for deadlines and commitments.

9. Eliminate Distractions

Identify strategies to minimize distractions, whether it’s turning off notifications, setting specific work hours, or creating a clutter-free workspace.

10. Self-Motivation

Identify your intrinsic motivation. What drives them to succeed? Connecting with their personal “why” can provide the push you need.

11. Time for Self-Care

Practice taking regular breaks and prioritize self-care. A well-rested and healthy leader is less likely to procrastinate.

12. Mindfulness and Focus

Adopt mindfulness practices and techniques that can improve focus and attention, reducing the temptation to procrastinate.

13. Positive Self-Talk

Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Confidence can help combat procrastination.

14. Celebrate Achievements

Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement can reinforce productivity.

15. Continuous Improvement

Focus on the concept of continuous improvement. As a Leader, it is important to regularly assess your time management and productivity strategies and adjust as needed.

16. Seek Professional Support

If procrastination is chronic and significantly hinders your leadership effectiveness, seek support from a therapist or counselor who specializes in procrastination or time management issues.

As a certified Master leadership coach, I provide support, guidance, and accountability to leaders to help them work to overcome procrastination. Implementing the strategies articulated here and developing healthy habits will lead to more effective and efficient leadership.

Need help, lets connect today.

Cheers!

10 Tips On How To Coach Employees on Career Development Without Micromanaging

Change a game.

Change a life.

A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.

John Wooden

She ran to the restroom and screamed. Sabrina had a job to do, and her manager knew she could do it well, but she kept questioning her over the past six months. As the year-end drew near, the project was near due. But the constant checking in was more of a time waster than productive. Sabrina became frustrated. How could she tell her manager to allow her to focus?

Coaching employees on career development without resorting to micromanagement requires a delicate balance of support, guidance, and autonomy. As a leadership coach, I recommend employing a coaching approach that fosters individual growth and self-driven progress is important. Here’s a brief summary of 10 tips on how to approach this:

  1. Establish Trusting Relationships: The foundation of effective coaching is trust. Build strong, open, and honest relationships with employees, creating a safe space for them to share their career aspirations, concerns, and challenges.
  2. Active Listening: Actively listen to employees, understand their goals, strengths, and areas for improvement. By attentively hearing their needs, supervisors can tailor coaching discussions to their unique career paths.
  3. Goal Setting: Together with employees, collaboratively set clear, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. This ensures that their career objectives are well-defined and realistic.
  4. Empower and Encourage: Instead of micromanaging, empower employees to take ownership of their career development. Encourage them to seek out opportunities, challenge themselves, and take initiative in their professional growth.
  5. Provide Resources: Offer guidance on available resources, such as training programs, workshops, or mentorship opportunities, that can aid employees in acquiring new skills and knowledge aligned with their career goals.
  6. Feedback and Reflection: Promote a culture of continuous feedback and reflection. By offering constructive feedback and encouraging employees to assess their progress, they become more self-aware and adaptable.
  7. Accountability: Employees are encouraged to hold themselves accountable for their career development. As a leadership coach, it is recommended that supervisors help employees establish milestones and regularly check in on their progress without micromanaging their day-to-day tasks.
  8. Supportive Coaching: Through regular coaching sessions, provide a supportive framework where employees can discuss challenges, seek guidance, and refine their strategies for career advancement.
  9. Celebrate Achievements: Recognizing and celebrating milestones and achievements is crucial for motivation. Acknowledge employees’ accomplishments, reinforcing their sense of progress and satisfaction.
  10. Adaptability: Recognize that career paths may evolve, be flexible and adapt coaching strategies to align with changing goals and circumstances.

By coaching employees in this manner, we can empower them to take control of their career development journey. It fosters a sense of autonomy, motivation, and engagement while avoiding the pitfalls of micromanagement. Ultimately, the goal is to help individuals thrive and achieve their career aspirations in a supportive and non-intrusive manner.

6+ Tips To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for a Midlife Career Change…

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.

John F. Kennedy

Thinking of a change in your career? LinkedIn is rated as the world’s largest professional network. You can use it to connect and strengthen professional relationships, find jobs, and more.

Chances are you already have a profile but when was the last time you looked at it? Hmmm…

Here are 6 tips to optimize your profile for leaders and professionals who wish to make a change so you can become more visible to Executives, headhunters and Recruiters.

1.Relevant Headline and Summary: Craft a headline that reflects your desire to transition into a new field and a summary that emphasizes your transferable skills and passion for the new industry.

2.Professional Photo: Update your profile picture to present a polished and adaptable appearance that aligns with your desired career change.

3. Keyword Optimization: Use keywords associated with the new field you’re targeting, showcasing your intention to pivot and ensuring your profile appears in relevant searches.

4. Experience Section: Highlight experiences, projects, or accomplishments that align with the skills required in your target industry, even if they were gained from previous roles.

5. Recommendations: Obtain recommendations from colleagues or supervisors who can speak to your adaptability, quick learning, and positive attitude.

6. Content Sharing: Share insightful content related to your intended field, showcasing your genuine interest and commitment to learning about the industry.

7. Networking: Connect with professionals in your desired field to expand your network and gain insights into the industry’s nuances and trends.

8. Training and Certifications: Highlight any relevant courses, workshops, or certifications you’ve completed to bolster your qualifications for the new career path.

9. Volunteer Work and Side Projects: Include any volunteer experiences or side projects that demonstrate your dedication to learning and contributing to the new field.

10. Custom URL: Personalize your LinkedIn profile URL and showcase your enthusiasm for the career change.

Remember, authenticity and consistency are key to building a compelling LinkedIn profile that accurately represents your goals and aspirations. Get going and update your profile now. Need help? Lets connect

Which tip stood out to you? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

Don’t forget to Share this with a friend.

Inc’s 4 Signs A Leader Is Not Fit To Lead…

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.

John Maxwell

Follow the Leader, the popular song says. But is it always true to follow every leader? Are some better leaders that others? You can be assured that indeed some leaders are in fact better than others.

An INC’s article shared the top 5 signs that a leader is not a fit. Here I share my top 4 favorite.

Narcissistic Tendencies & More

  • Narcissist tendencies
  • Look out for themselves only
  • Treating people like numbers
  • Too much control

Which stands out to you? Are there other signs you can recognize? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

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3 Ways To Network With A Purpose…

It’s the people we hardly know, and not our closest friends, who will improve our lives most dramactically.

Meg Jay

Stimulating interview with Executive Coach, Founder and CEO of Soft Skills Services, Maxine Barnett. In it she shares successive nuggets on effective networking for new entrepreneurs and professional desiring to build their personal growth.

Strategies For Effective Networking

Here are three strategies:

  1. Be prepared to meet 2-3 persons while attending the event.
  2. Make a connection. Introduce yourself using your elevator speech and be present during your conversation.
  3. Follow-up within 2-3 after the event to remain top of mind with your new strategic connection.

Networking is a soft skill–a people skill needed for business and people purposes. It is useful for purposeful growth. Be intentional about it. View the full conversation here.

What are your thoughts on networking? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

I Ain’t Gonna Lie. Leadership Ain’t Easy. 11 Hard Things You Have To Do To Be A Great Leader…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

You have to try and fail and try again

I Ain’t Gonna lie. Leadership Ain’t easy.

The Hard Things – INC Lolly Daskal. Here I share Eleven.

  1. You have to make the call you’re afraid to make
  2. You have to give more than you get in return right away
  3. You have to care more about others than they care about you
  4. You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter
  5. You have to lead when no one is following you …yet
  6. You have to invest in yourself even when no one else is
  7. You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option
  8. You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot
  9. You have to try and fail and try again
  10. You have to run faster even when you’re out of breath
  11. You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results…

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HBR’s What Happens When Your Career Becomes Your Identity?

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Is Your Career your identity?

What happens when your career becomes your identity? This Happens to so many of us? Here are 3 of the Questions HBR’s contributor Janna Koretz suggest asking yourself.

1. How do you think about your job outside the office?

2. How do you describe yourself? How much of this description is tied to your job, title, or company?

3.How would you feel if you could no longer continue in your profession?

Great questions. Read the article for the full analysis.

You may also listen to tips as I chat with Patricia Reid-Waugh or get a copy of my book ‘Your Career’ Ditch It? Switch it?’ Both provide a deeper dive into how you can ditch it and gain the identity that brings lasting satisfaction.

Cheers!

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22 Companies Celebrating Juneteenth: America’s Newest Holiday

On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became an official federal holiday. Federal employees will have it as a paid day off. Many companies are taking steps to officially recognize this day to support people of color following the protests of systemic racism and inequality in the U.S. Here are a list of early forerunners taking the lead on this from 2021-2022:

Companies Recognizing Juneteenth

  1. Nike
  2. Target
  3. Best Buy
  4. Adobe
  5. Capital One
  6. JPMorgan
  7. Chase
  8. Lyft
  9. Nike
  10. Quicken Loans
  11. Spotify
  12. Target
  13. Uber
  14. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
  15. Conde Nast
  16. National Grid
  17. Eventbrite
  18. Yelp
  19. Allstate
  20. Fiat Chrysler
  21. Ford Motor
  22. General Motors

What other companies have added this to their list of holidays? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

21 Leadership Habits To Avoid

Follow the leader, leader, leader. Not always. Here are Marshall Goldsmith’s 21 habits that derail effective leadership.

  1. The need to win at all costs
  2. Adding too much value (the desire to add to every discussion)
  3. Passing Judgment
  4. Making destructive comments
  5. Starting with “no”, “but” or “however” (conveys I’m right, you’re wrong)
  6. Telling the world how smart we are
  7. Speaking when angry
  8. Negativity (let me explain why that won’t work)
  9. Withholding information
  10. Failing to give proper recognition
  11. Claiming credit we do not deserve
  12. Making excuses
  13. Clinging to the past
  14. Playing favorites
  15. Refusing to express regret
  16. Not listening
  17. Failing to express gratitude
  18. Punishing the messenger
  19. Passing the buck (blaming others)
  20. An excessive need to be “me” (exalting our faults as virtues)
  21. Refusing to accept responsibility for needing to change (that’s just who I am)

Hope the list sparks your interest as to the qualities to avoid to ensure your leadership is effective. Any thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Managers Be Human – 4 Ways…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Are you a manager or leader of some sort? Harvard Business Review article shared 4 points to help managers be seen as more human. Here I share:

  • Be Personal
  • Be Self-Aware
  • Be Selfless
  • Be Compassionate

In my research on what makes leaders successful, self-awareness was one of the traits that stood out. But being of service to others depends on your own self-development.

Again, are you a manager, or leader of some sort? Take a moment and look at your leadership style. Do people working with you, whether at work or otherwise find you approachable? Easy to get along with? If not, you have some work to do. Enroll now. To be successful as a leader, your people should not fear you. So do what you have to do to improve.

Need help? Lets Connect.

Cheers!

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Your Reader’s Gift …

Do you know why some people succeed while others don’t? It’s simple. They never give up.


People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. – Zig Ziglar

Motivation is important to success. Give a push start or a power boost to a struggling entrepreneur today. 101+ Empowering Quotes For New Entrepreneurs will ignite their new year with the desire to keep going when they feel like giving up.

Successful people press on when the going gets tough and they become discouraged. J. K. Rowling

The Meaningful Job Decision

Did I make the right choice when I was headhunted? Selena revealed that her 9-to-5 job was an exciting rollercoaster journey. Four years earlier, she was headhunted by a giant company to manage its flagship location. They had called her many times, but she avoided interview invites because of her job’s loyalty. She was not sure how to tell them that she had landed a new opportunity. As time progressed, she went away to a distant country then returned to her home country, hoping that the headhunter would have forgotten, but they had not. On arrival back home, she was invited to an interview. This time she went. Not surprisingly, she was offered the job at twice the salary.

Help someone you know move on from a difficult, stressful job. It might just be that they have been doing the job for 5, 10, 15 years and just want a change. With the book Ditch it, Switch it, you’re sure to give them the ignition to make the decision as they step into the new year.

Quiet Peace In The Midst of Life’s Storm

At three in the morning I received the most devastating news. My daughter’s Godmother had lost her 15-year-old granddaughter. She had died of a massive Asthma attack. I screamed—quietly. I asked the Lord why, why, why? I did not understand. As I sought answers, her aunt encouraged that she did not understand either, but she was safe in the Lord’s loving arms.

Months later as the still grieving mom received a copy of the book My Safe Place, she sat feeling comforted. It brought a sense of peace that quieted her heart. Consider those who mourn this holiday season. Give the gift of prayer and daily inspiration to those who are hurting from sickness, mental incarceration, and loss. GreenLight and My Safe place provides that comfort. Gift it now.

Poetry

A poet’s work … to name the unnamable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it from going to sleep

Salman Rushdie

Poems revive the soul and encourage the heart. Charmaine speaks these in her book I write. You Recite.

Purpose And Meaning

Nothing brings me more joy than a life dedicated to the personal growth and development of others. Life is about helping others along life’s way. Choose your book today and make a difference in the lives of your friends, family or foe.

Over To You

Which book has made an impact on your life? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers

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