Gayle Lantz’s Blog

New WorkMatters Blog

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Please find the new blog location at WorkMatters Blog.

I post more regularly there, and welcome your comments.

If I can be of help to you, please let me know.

Gayle

Declare Your Independence

July 4th – Independence Day – is around the corner. So it’s appropriate to think about your own “Independence Day.” 

Many people dream of working independently instead of doing the work they currently do. Some want to do independent work in addition to their “normal” work. 

That’s how I started my own business. I began doing independent consulting and coaching on the side before I left my corporate job. It’s a good way to ease into your own new business.

I’ll be sharing helpful tips and insights on my new workmatters blog for people who want to create their own career path doing work that matters. The new blog is designed for motivated leaders who are considering new ways to manage their careers – whether that leads them up or out. 

I’ll keep you posted on the new blog which is expected to officially launch on July 8. 

Fortunately we live in a country that allows for many different and creative ways of working. 

What does your ideal “Independence Day” look like in your work life?

It’s never too late to light a spark to ignite a new business idea that turns into a successful business that you can grow. 

Then watch the fireworks fly! 

Happy 4^th!

 

 

Rethinking Your Career?

We had a great response to the recent free teleseminar -- Catapult Your Career! In case you missed it, you can find the replay here for just a short time:

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventID=18861915 

Seems many people get to a point where they think, "What could be next for me?" 

You'll find ideas to help you start "forward thinking" and take action to move you closer to what you really want in your life and work. 

Catapult Your Career starts tomorrow!

We've had great interest in the Catapult Your Career teleseminar. It starts the evening of Monday, April 4.

If you're thinking about making any changes in your career, or you just want to move forward faster toward your career goals, be sure to join us. 

We'll cover five common mistakes professionals make that prevent them from reaching their goals more easily.

If career change is in the air for you this spring, don't miss the call!

Sign up at http://www.catapultyourcareer.com

 

Just announced Catapult Your Career!

Rethinking your career? If you’re feeling stuck or just want to take charge of your career, join me on my FREE teleclass to help you jump start the process.

Find out more and register here:

http://www.catapultyourcareer.com

Hope to hear you on the call!

 

National Speakers Association UNConference - Ideas Worth Noting

Just returned from the National Speakers Association (NSA) UnConference in Atlanta and wanted to capture some quick random key learnings and observations for you. They can apply to almost any type of business:

• Listen well first, before you speak. You'll be a better speaker. 
• The opportunities that can be created through social media are mind blowing. Social media will continue to change. Don't fight it. Just roll with it. 
• The most successful people in business invest much in themselves -- in their own learning and development. 
• People want to do business with others they trust, who have credibility and can minimize the risk of doing business with them. These are elements of "thought leadership" as well. 
• Writing is a discipline that can fuel your business. 
• Read incessantly to deliver the most value to your clients. 
• Sometimes a simple tweak in your business can produce extraordinary (and surprising) results. 
• Your market wants to hear from you when you have something to say that speaks to their specific needs. Let your voice be heard. 
• Take action, but be strategic. 
• Reinvention is a good thing. If you're not reinventing yourself or your business, you may be left behind.
• Surround yourself with people from whom you can learn and be inspired. (That's what I did over the weekend!)

I hope these thoughts help you do something new, or reinforce what you're already doing, to grow your business.

Not Loving Your Job?

It's Valentine's Day. While love may be in the air for couples, it's often missing when it comes to your job.

 

Many people dutifully go to work while leaving their hearts at home.

The reasons are varied. Here are some common concerns I hear:

"I feel undervalued."

"The compensation structure doesn't reward my work."

"I'm burned out."

"There's no growth opportunity."

"I'm working for a 'bad boss'."

"Management doesn't care."

If you are the boss, you've got your work cut out for you trying to figure out what it really takes to engage and retain employees. As I've written in previous articles, it all starts with a simple conversation between you, as the manager, and the employee. Great managers take the time to better understand what their individual team members care about so they can leverage their skills and interests in the business.

If you are an employee who hates your job (for whatever reason), you need to have a heart-to-heart conversation with yourself. 

What commitment will you make to move yourself in a better direction? Don't wait for "just the right time" or for anyone else to make the first move. You owe it to yourself to reflect on where you are and what you really want, so you can pave a new path within or outside your organization.

If you leave your heart home long enough, you may forget what really makes it tick.

Today is a good day to reconnect with what really matters to you so you can bring more of that to your work. 

What do you really want in your work, now?

Start doing or pursuing the work you love.

Falling to New Heights

What do you do when you lose your strongest support? When suddenly the ground beneath you seems to give way?

When I heard the news of the chairlift accident at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine that sent six skiers to the ground, my heart skipped a beat.  I am an occasional skier who hardly gets on a chairlift or gondola without thinking, “What if this thing breaks while I’m in it?” Yet I try to focus on getting to the top of the mountain. So far I have. 

At Sugarloaf, two of the fallen skiers who had sat side-by-side in the same chairlift did not know each other.  However after the accident, one went to visit the other in the hospital. Tragedy can bring out the best in people in unpredictable ways. 

Last year, I lost my biggest supporter, my Dad. When he passed, I felt the ground crumble beneath me. I fell into a deep sadness. Yet I found new support and inspiration through unlikely encounters with other friends and acquaintances that fueled new convictions in my life and work. 

The lift started working again. I just needed to take my seat and trust the process. The view seemed different and the journey more important.  

My sights are now set on a higher peak – a higher purpose – one that enables me to expand my services and expertise in new and creative ways. 

This year, I hope you will make the transformations that will give you more of what you really want, especially if you’ve fallen in some way. It’s hard to achieve success when you’re focused on possible failures, disappointments, insecurities or obstacles. 

Don’t look down. 

Loss is an inevitable part of business and life, but it leads to growth. At times you may lose money, resources, confidence, security, strength, friends, energy or sanity. But you’ll gain more in the long run. 

If you do nothing else this week, sharpen your focus and commit or re-commit to what you most want to accomplish.  It’s okay if you see a few clouds around your goal. That’s not unusual if you’re aiming high enough.  The fog clears as you make your ascent. 

Look for your lift. It will appear when you’ve got your destination in view.  When you’re truly committed to your big goal, your lift will come in the form of people, ideas and experiences to help you move forward more easily. 

Is it time for you to reach new heights?

Consider me part of your support team to help you catch your ride, recover from the falls and make it to the top!

 

Achieve Your Goals: Make the Most of the Second Half of the Year

Congratulations! You've made it halfway through the year. Take a few minutes to sharpen your focus for the balance of the year. Re-energize your vision. Clarify what you need to do to accomplish your goals. Below is my Mid-Year Goals Assessment:

 

Feel free to complete these statements as you see fit -- on your own to assess personal progress or when coaching individual team members.  This is designed to help you assess progress and clarify your focus over the next six months.

 

1.  My greatest personal and/or business accomplishment I have achieved so far this year is …

2.  Over the last 6 months, I tend to get best results when…

 

3.   In thinking about my goals for the next 6 months, I am most confident about...

 

4.  In thinking about my goals for the next 6 months, I am most concerned about...

 

5.  I would be most excited to accomplish _________________ by the end of the year.

 

6.  My most important specific goal or focus is...

 

7.   To achieve my goal(s), I will commit to the following:

1. One new thing I’ll start doing…
2. Something I’ll stop doing…
3. Something that's working well that I will continue doing...

8.   Something new I want to learn is…

(or skill or area of expertise I want to develop is…)

 

9.   The resources, financial support or people I need to acquire include...

 

10.  I'll know I'm making progress when...

 

 

© 2010 WorkMatters, Inc.

 

A Simple Way to Open and Build New Business Relationships

It’s noisy out there…and tempting to work hard to be heard. Too many people are concerned about their “elevator speeches.”  It’s understandable to want to know how to communicate what you do, but even more important to master how you listen.

 

The best way to open and build new business relationships is to listen. Listening is a real gift to your clients.

 

Listen to the real needs of the person with whom you’re speaking. Needs can be spoken or unspoken. To get to the heart of issues that really matter to your client or prospect, focus on any of the following:

 

• Their biggest current frustration
• A nagging problem they haven’t been able to solve
• A lost business opportunity
• A potential new business opportunity
• Common obstacles that threaten momentum
• Any specific fears, concerns or regrets

If you lead a team, help team members tune in to what really matters to the customer more than worrying about how to explain the product or service. Most people appreciate a good listener. Employees want leaders who listen.

 

Temper your need to explain or advise with the need for the other person to be heard and understood. Open a door to a new business relationship by making a quiet entrance.