3D Juggling 435: New Bathroom

June 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Claire writes: ‘I simply noticed that the lino in the shower room had come unstuck. When we lifted it, the floor was soaking wet and black and mouldy. After 3 weeks, we isolated the source of the leak – a drip from the cistern. The loss adjuster says it will cost £2000 to make good the damage and the shower will have to be taken out to replace the floor and a wall. All because we have a boxed in cistern and never saw the drip. I had noticed some discolouring on the lino and put it down to excess trampling on with muddy shoes! Had the cistern been visible, the same problem would have been noticed in days and resolved for a few pounds. It has probably been dripping for several years.

How much time do you spend dealing with damage in your organisation? We have all met people who fly off the handle at the slightest thing, and then leave others dealing with the consequences. That’s damaging. And you can see it. What can be just as damaging is the drip of dissatisfaction and complaints and unhappiness that is under the surface. It may be whispered. It may be unsaid. Unless there is a safe place to communicate well, it can be as damaging as the drip in our bathroom. It wasn’t the drip that caused the damage. It was the way the architect had designed the room.

What’s causing your damage?

If you want to know more about water, fire and wind damage in teams, read ‘The Four Elements of Success’ by Laurie Beth Jones or talk to us about DiSC

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who works in damage limitation with staff!

© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com

Filed Under: working with people Tagged With: , ,

Tippette

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I love this footer

From A… …R
London
Phone number
I try to email just once a day

In fact I may change mine!! Also excited that Mark Forster’s new Autofoucs is coming out this week.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

3D Juggling 434: Chilli and Rice

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Jane writes: “I was coaching a participant on our Coaching for Excellence programme last week when she suddenly realised that if she responded differently to a specific situation that keeps recurring, she was likely to get a different outcome. This opened up all sorts of possibilities for her, and led to rehearsal of a conversation that she needed to have instead of the one that usually happens.

Of course it is one thing to know what you need to do differently, and quite another thing to actually do it. Habits or patterns of behaviour can be difficult to break, and their familiarity can be strangely comforting even if we don’t like the results. This reminded me of an evening a few weeks ago when I cooked a meal for Claire and Lynn. I know that Claire needs to avoid gluten and had decided to cook chilli and rice (not forgetting to provide tortilla chips and sour cream). Fortunately we were all in my kitchen when I was preparing our meal, as when I reached into my cupboard for an ingredient Claire was able to ask whether it was ordinary flour. It was. Although I had planned to use cornflour, I had automatically slipped into my normal routine and done what I always do when making chilli. I am very grateful that Claire was noticing what I was doing and was able to gently challenge me. As a result the meal was a success (well, they both ate it!).

As a coach I need to help clients reflect on their behaviour and notice patterns of behaviour that might not be helpful. I also need help to recognise my own habits as a coach and what I might do differently to better serve my clients. Who do you use to help you to notice your habits?”

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who likes chilli!

© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com

Filed Under: working with people Tagged With:

3D Juggling 433: Extravagant Ideas

June 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Claire writes: ‘Many years ago, Barbara Sher wrote a book called: I could do anything if only I knew what it was. When people come for a Career Makeover, that phrase is mirrored in many conversations. So how on earth do you get inspiration? Ask for advice, and those close to you receive your anxiety and add it to their own feelings about your career and how it affects them – which can rather stifle creativity!

Try this: Find 5 people who know you well and ask them each to write down 20 jobs they could imagine you doing. You’ll have thought of the first five and the last five will probably be crazy. But in that list will be clues about potential which others see in you and some great creative thinking. Embalmer was on one lady’s list – not something she had thought of before! This can also make a fun evening with friends – just get the list down before you open the second bottle of wine!’

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who is looking for ideas.

© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com

Filed Under: 2 Go Window Shopping Tagged With:

3D Juggling 432: Words

June 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Elizabeth writes: “Politics is a hot topic this week! A politician was in the news again for controversial remarks made in frustration with a reporter. For days he was hounded for an apology. Even if he didn’t intend to offend, he did.

The way we use language is always important. We are responsible for how we are heard as well as what we say. Our tone of voice and body language all contribute, and even when no malice is intended, these can lead to misunderstandings. As individuals, we all have different views, cultures and ethics and what offends one may be nothing to another. As living beings we have specific needs, feelings, values and opinions. We can cause injury and hurt through our careless concern or lack of empathy for the other.

The challenge is to communicate in a way that is heard and understood by someone so even if the message is difficult to hear, it does not deliberately offend. This can only come from dialogue rooted in self-esteem and a genuine sense of equality with the other person – an intention to connect with the other through mutual respect.

We can listen patiently and seek the truth that other people’s opinions may contain for us. Think it possible that we may be mistaken! Otherwise, differences + tension = conflict. How are you heard by colleagues?”

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who feels misunderstood.

© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com

Filed Under: conflict Tagged With: ,

3D Juggling 431: The Sock Drawer

June 1, 2009 By 1 Comment

Claire writes: ‘Last time I travelled to my own office to work I was 8 months pregnant with a child who is now 5 foot 9! The next office was the bedroom in a small terraced house, and the desk was the chest of drawers. The only way to type was to rest the keyboard in the sock drawer! More recently, we’ve been in a purpose built home office. How have we grown 3D? Not by setting goals. For us, the way to develop is to have conversations that seem to be important and, from time to time, to come up for air and notice what’s going on. In fact, our decision to expand into new premises was the result of a conversation at our team awayday.

Some people are driven by goals and yet they demotivate others. David Megginson at Sheffield Hallam has dome some interesting research . For some, goals are like a carrot – something motivating and exciting to aim for. For others, they are like a stick – painful and punishing. What’s important is that we develop in a way that allows creativity and innovation to flourish.

Do goals work for you? If they don’t, what do you need in order to flourish and develop?’

Love this? Do us a favour and send it to five people. Who thinks like you? You could send it to someone who hates goals!

© 2009 3D Coaching Ltd May be distributed freely. Please retain contact details: http://www.3dcoaching.com/ and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com

Filed Under: Managing Tasks Tagged With: ,