The Power of Good Communication

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The Power of Good Communication…

Communication is at the soul of all relationships. Whether it is a professional relationship or one with your spouse, children, or friends, communication can be the one key factor that can either make or break it. One of the greatest learnings we coach Leaders on, is their communication style and how to have productive conversations that meet the needs and style of those you are conversing with, in such a way that they are impactful, positive and effective. Communication is a skill to be learned even though we do it daily. It is a skill that should not be taken for granted, but one that you put focus on improving knowing that the results can be extraordinary and impactful in every aspect of your life.  A few points for consideration:

  1. First Impressions

You know the saying “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”, well unfortunately, the reality is that judgement does occur, it is part of human nature which as much as we want to deny it, it’s there. First impressions are lasting impressions. If you want to give someone a great first impression, show up like you care. Care about you, care about the impact you are making and the impression you are portraying by putting care into your dress, your grooming, smile, come out of your introverted shell to make small talk and get to know the individual you are meeting, be respectful, courteous and watch for your non-verbal communication. Remember that while you want to be your authentic self, showing up in a casual manner, gives the impression the meeting is not important to you, that the person is not important to you, and that you don’t care.  It can be considered less professional. A smile can say everything and often leaves people comfortable and more apt to engage further into conversation with you.

  1. Be authentic

Being real and true to yourself, your core values and others when communicating is important.  Intuitive individuals can spot someone who is fake and disingenuous.  People prefer to deal with real people, not someone who is putting on a façade to show up more than they are. If you are being who you really are then you are more likely to create a relationship with the person you are trying to communicate with based on authenticity resulting in trust and a deeper connection.

  1. Read Your Audience

Know who you are talking with and tailor your message to a manner that they can hear it. When coaching leaders, I refer to this as knowing their “love language” based on the best-selling book authored by Gary Chapman, “The Five Love Languages”. If you have not read it, I encourage you to do so as it speaks primarily to understanding how someone receives love and in turn connects and hears your message. Similarly, in business or with children, we all need to feel loved in a different way. Some people need gifts, some need more money, some need recognition, some need time, and communication. Whatever it is, if you are the communicator and can speak the language of the person you are wanting to connect with, you will be heard at a deeper and more connected level.

  1. Be Transparent

Transparency goes along with being authentic.  If you are trying to hide something or act like you know what you are talking about when you really don’t, it’s fairly easy to tell.  The best thing to do when communicating is to be transparent.  If you don’t know the answer to someone’s question, then tell them this and offer to find out the answer in a timely manner.  By doing this, you bring more credibility to yourself which builds trust and certainty. Bluffing your way through life is tough, its hard to uphold on a long-term basis and it can cause great anxiety and internal fear that your fraud will be “found out”.  Also, you will not need to practice your poker face in the mirror each day. 😊

  1. Take Action – Be Accountable

There is nothing worse than no follow up. I don’t know about you but when someone doesn’t do what they say they are going to, then I am left feeling like my time and effort to communicate with them was wasteful. It also leaves me feeling like they don’t really want my business or that I am not of value to them. I also don’t like the feeling of having to “chase” someone down for information as it takes a lot of time and energy. If you tell someone you will follow up with them, do it.  Living up to your word in business and in life is what builds trust and reliability.  Your reputation is everything.

  1. Active Listening

Don’t forget to be a good communicator you must be actively involved in listening.

Make sure that you are focussing 100 percent on the conversation and try not to let your mind wander.  In other words, be present. Maintain eye contact, show attention by not interrupting, face and lean forward, have an open body posture with uncrossed arms.  Active listeners that show attention are sincere and come across as authentic. Be curious. Once the speaker has finished, summarize what they have said in different words to show that you have a good understanding. This is part of good communication as you ensure you are on the same page and understanding as the individual you are communicating with. Misunderstandings are where communication often breaks down.

  1. Technology

The same rules apply for email, text and zoom calls.  Make sure that you are putting your best foot forward by creating that great first impression, by being authentic, transparent, providing follow up and actively listening.  Here are some tips.

Email:  Read what you are sending after you type it.  Does it make sense?  Is it concise, polite and professional? Use the spelling and grammar check if you are unsure.  Don’t hit the send button until you are absolutely sure that you are delivering the correct message. Take 24 hours if you can before you hit send on a sensitive email.

Texting:  The same applies to text messaging.  Watch your tone, text messages can be misconstrued and misunderstood very easily. Take extra effort to not be curt or short.  Be polite and engaging. The best rule of thumb here is to consider how you would accept the message if someone sent it to you. Use that emoji when you are uncertain as it provides the reader with more context around your emotion.

Zoom:  Many of us are using zoom for business meetings right now. Be cognizant of what is going on around you.  There is nothing worse than being on a zoom call and the spouse, kids or pets are running around in the background.  Not the best first impression.  If you are drinking coffee or water, consider the message that might be on your mug.  The best choice might not be the “I hate people” mug. Keep your attire simple, clean and well pressed.  Unless you are a fitness consultant, yoga pants and t-shirts aren’t the best outfit for a business meeting. Just because you are working from home and on zoom, doesn’t give you authority to relax into your environment. Professionalism in the workplace is still of great importance unless your leader gives you permission otherwise. Look attentive and not distracted by what is happening around you.  Be aware of your non-verbal cues and for the love of god… don’t slurp your coffee.

Dream Big!  Be Extraordinary! Be ProFound

www.profoundtalent.com | www.profoundcoach.com

Beeing ProFound!

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Bee ProFound

Beeing ProFound!

I recently read a novel titled “The Enlightenment of Bees” by Rachel Linden.  This book is a delightful read and really resonated with me on a number or levels. The book is about a young lady’s journey through self discovery.  Following some of her life challenges, she decides to join a humanitarian organization on a journey that results in her having some self discovery in who she is and how she can use her skills to make a difference in the world.  Throughout the story, she is guided by recurring dreams of honeybees which steer her towards her new life path.  Along her quest, she finds several people who give her advice such as, “If we want to help people, we must enter into their lives, be a part of their community. That is where real change happens, person to person, day by day, when we live life together.”

The book was a light read, joyful and full of great learnings; all while really resonating with me as it reminded me of our ProFound journey, our attraction strategy, and the meaning behind the ProFound Bee.  The ProFound bee was created as it symbolizes many values and beliefs to which our ProFound team embrace.  Without the bee, there is no life. At the granular level of life, the bee is one of the greatest creations of life through its pollination process. At ProFound, we believe we have no life if not for you, our clients, of which we are so grateful. Also, the bee is a symbol of attraction as bees are attracted to beautiful flowers which are required for the pollination process to occur. At ProFound, we are an attraction company, not just a recruitment firm, where we create beauty by telling our client stories and by helping individuals see their authentic beautiful self. We are your ProFound Bee, guiding and walking with you along your path and on your journey. We are your attraction company and your partner in growth. Whether you are a business wanting to attract talent, customers and revenue or you are an individual wanting to attract your best life through your career, learning, love, connection and community…we are here to support you in your growth.

In this story, the honeybees are the guides that help to take the main character down a new path, a new journey in her life. At ProFound, it is our goal to be your partner in growth and to be your honeybee. I encourage you to go on a journey towards self discovery, find your passion, grow, and learn.  If you do, watch for the signs, as they may just send you somewhere you always wanted to bee.

Dream Big! Be Extraordinary!…and Be ProFound!

 

 

Mental Health Awareness

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Mental Health Awareness

As you may already know, October is Mental Health Awareness month. I thought it incredibly important to both acknowledge this and also do some sharing, with hopes that others will see this as an opportunity to express themselves knowing that it is okay to do so. No judgement.

Here is the reality of mental health in Canada, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. In any given year, “one in five Canadians will personally experience a mental health problem or illness”. That’s one in five or 25% of people. Let’s put this in perspective, in a family of 5 people, likely one person will experience mental health. This is a significant number, making it even more important to have this conversation. For those individuals who are feeling challenged, the Canadian Mental Health Association offers many resources to people who may be struggling including this mental health meter.

As I look back throughout my life, I believe that at some point in our lives we all have mental health challenges, whether that be anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar, PTSD, or a plethora of other mental health challenges. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge these people for their bravery and courage as they often suffer with their illness in silence and with feelings of shame. The fact is that mental health disabilities can not be seen, but they are very real and can be the cause of limitation in a person’s daily activities.

I recently met a client for a coaching session, and she shared with me that she has ADHD.  Over the years she had many struggles, growing up she felt “different” knowing that she just wasn’t the same as other kids.  She said she was a day dreamer and often started activities but could never finish because she would lose interest.  The interesting part of this story was that she was not diagnosed until she was 31 years old. She had learned to manage but admittedly not very well.  She had attended college 3 times failing to graduate, close to the end of her program each time.   Eventually, she went through psychological testing which led to the diagnosis.  In disbelief and facing a stigma that was too painful for her to endure, she chose to ignore the diagnosis.

Over the next 20 years she undeniably struggled with the demands of her jobs, day to day tasks, relationships, finances and even alcohol abuse.  She sought help thinking something else had to be wrong.  She received treatment for depression, anxiety, and even bipolar disorder.  Finally, at her breaking point, she remembered the ADHD diagnosis years prior and spoke to a doctor about it.  Once the treatment protocol had been changed, suddenly she started to feel better. She was managing tasks, her self-confidence increased, and she accepted her disability.  She found herself on a positive career path working for a charity that supported the community in enhancing health care.  It felt like the perfect job for her.  Thinking that she was in a safe and supported environment, she confided in her employer as she was struggling with focus in her workspace, as it was configured in a manner that allowed for great distraction. She offered some solutions that she thought would help and was eagerly waiting for their support. Unfortunately, this was the day that everything changed in her world, it was judgement day. She found out the hard way, that her employer was not supportive, and in fact, did what they could to push her out of the organization. She left the job feeling shame, embarrassment and ultimately withdrew her mental health discussions filing them away internally, locked away and to never come out again.

Unfortunately, this story is all too common which is why I am sharing. Whether it be mental illness, sexual assault, gender and sexuality, disability or other circumstances that are tough to speak on, it is critical to have the conversations. For those who are on the listening end, it is critical to be understanding and supportive. It takes a great deal of strength, courage, and trust to share in some of the most vulnerable conversations. Be your best self to listen, care and be supportive knowing that the individual sharing is holding you as a confidante in an area they did not ask for in life but a gift from above that they are trying to understand and manage as best they can.

Are you now wondering what happened with this story? Well I would have liked to have said the story ended with a supportive employer, but in this case, it did not. If I were to re-write this story ending, the employer would have provided a simple modification to her workspace which would have made all the difference.  According to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, “it is an employer’s responsibility to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace”.  As employers we need to be cognizant that requests for accommodation and solutions, be taken in good faith and be addressed in a timely manner.

Creating a healthy workplace where your employees feel supported, included, and heard should be, in my opinion, a goal for all employers. By creating this, you will see employee retention, a positive employer brand with this resulting in talent attraction and employee goodwill.

To end this story, the employer in question, caused the employee a major set back with her mental health.  The good news is, she has since found supportive employment and is feeling amazing.  She has been able to face her limitations and with some career coaching and the correct treatment plan, she has been able to progress positively in life and in her career.

For more information on ProFound Talent, ProFound Marketing, and ProFound Coaching, reach out to beprofound@profoundtalent.com.

Milestones

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Milestones

Do you ever get up in the morning look in the mirror and wonder who is staring back at you?

I think it’s something that we all do from time to time but especially when we are nearing a milestone in our life.

With every milestone that approaches I think many of us find ourselves looking back at our achievements or lack thereof.   But have you really faced a lack of achievement? Or have they just manifested themselves in different ways than what you had anticipated?

Many people reach their 40’s and 50’s and find themselves embarking on a total career transition while others are gearing down to retirement.  Maybe you’ve been a stay at home mom and been tasked with taking care of your family.  Once the kids are grown and off to college you might decide this is the time for you to focus on yourself.  A friend of mine decided at 25 years old not to have children. She wanted to travel the world and at the age of 50 she has seen 29 countries.  Other people reach the age of 65 and decide that they aren’t ready for retirement. They might go on to do something entirely different from what they chose as their initial career path instead of retiring.

Turning a certain age simply marks an event.  Maybe these milestones can be exciting turning points in our lives where we decide to embark on something new.  Ultimately, it is up to us as individuals to decide what path to take, creating our own destiny.

If you are feeling unsatisfied with your accomplishments, I encourage you to create a timeline and write them down. What are your triumphs? I bet you will be surprised with what comes up.  As you do this exercise, celebrate the victories, and take pride in your successes.

If you are looking in the mirror feeling discouraged, ask yourself what is holding you back from living your profound life? Remember, it is never too late to make a change or start something new.

Here is a great example.  Bill Gibson turned 100 years old this week.  He has always wanted to own property in his native Scotland.  It has happened, at 100 years old, he is now the owner and rightful Lord of one square foot of Scotland.  It is on a nature preserve where a tree will be planted in his honour.  He is officially Lord William Lindsay Gibson!  What an achievement on his biggest milestone yet.

If you are interested in coaching to help you achieve goals or transition careers, reach out… we are your partner in growth. Everyone needs a coach or partner to help them see the forest through the trees, to hold you accountable to your goals and dreams and to help you work past your obstacles. Let us be that partner to you in seeing success in your achievements and in creating new goals like Lord Gibson!

Dream Big! Be Extraordinary! Be ProFound! www.profoundcoach.com.

Journey to Digital Excellence

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Journey to Digital Excellence

What if you don’t have a CDO – Chief Digital Officer? Whose role does it become in your company to ensure that you are implementing digital strategies and keeping up with the newest digital marketing trends?

The world is constantly changing and with it so does technology.  How can leaders possibly keep up with this ever changing but crucial component to new business strategies.  Are leaders becoming influencers in a new concept of social leadership?  Is digital technology become a disrupter, enabler, or both?

Every company has a need to have a digital strategy which incorporates the future of the company.  Strategic planning now involves having digital initiatives integrated through resource allocation, monitoring your return on investment and execution of these strategies.

In saying all of this, is digital technology a disrupter? This is a word that we are hearing more and more in business and that by definition means; “a person or thing that interrupts an event, activity or process by causing a disturbance or problem.”  Let’s look at our current world scenario. Covid 19 has disrupted the norm and forced many businesses to set up virtual offices.  Is this a leadership nightmare or has digital technology made virtual business a viable option?  The traditional role of leader still exists and skills like mentorship, communication, adaptability, relationship building, task management, production are now functions that can be incorporated into digital technology.

Being a leader in today’s digital world doesn’t mean that you need to be able to write or read code or understand the intricacies of the technology.  You should have people for that.  People that you lead, encourage and trust to implement the strategies that you are tasked with to bring success to your business.   In fact, with more of the world going “virtual” doesn’t it mean that digital technology might enhance your leadership style.  I bet you laughed when I said does a leader need to be a digital influencer?  Well, the answer is yes.  Think about it.  You now have the ability to reach your target audience with the click of a button.  Your message can be received by everyone at once through technology and not become altered through the verbal pipeline.  I would encourage you to use a digital platform to help you increase performance, productivity, and engagement much like a social media influencer would. Think about sending out your message to your team and having them be engaged through this channel.

It could be a challenge in the beginning to alter your mindset towards using technology to implement a new leadership strategy but once you have you might even notice your own productivity increase.  If you haven’t already, consider using a project management software for task management and leadership.  It will help you to lead effective teams through collaboration, workflows, schedules, progress tracking and productivity management.  Many of these software solutions have the option to have group chats, messaging and keep your team cohesive and engaged with you even though you aren’t in the same office.  In my mind, this is a winning solution.

Let’s consider that digital technology is an enabler which by definition means: “a person or thing that enables something or makes it possible.”  In our constantly changing world, I would say that digital technology is not going anywhere.  We might as well embrace it and shift our mindset to use it as an amazing leadership tool in our journey to digital excellence.

What’s an Employer Brand & How is it Created?

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What’s an Employer Brand & How is it Created?

Creating an employer brand can set you apart from your competition, establish your company as an employer of choice in your industry and help you attract, recruit, and retain top talent. A well-established employer brand will ensure that you are attracting your desired employees.  Imagine having a pool of qualified talent waiting for your next job opportunity. A strong employer brand will do this! It establishes you as a leader in industry, a great company to work for and one where people will line up to be a part of the great culture and vision you offer.

How do I create an Employer Brand?

The first thing to consider when creating your employer brand is to establish objectives.  Determine what your long-term recruitment goals are and whether you are targeting local or global markets.  Analyze your competitors, how can you set yourself apart and be the employer of choice. Becoming an employer of choice is not just a concept but a culture change and one that you need to create, embrace, and live daily in your business. And don’t forget to continue to refine and adapt your employer brand as you evolve and change with the market and employee needs.

Make sure that your brand is authentic to your organization, represents your values and attracts the people that you want to work with.  It should align with your company core values and mission.  Create an employer value proposition.  Why is my company a great place to work? Establish a message and shout it out.

Encourage employee advocacy. Peer to peer recommendations are some of the best. Have your employees share why they love working with you. As an employer of choice, your employees will boast to the market and sing your praises as they are proud of the great place they work. Encourage this as it will help share your story and engage your community and talent to line up. Share it on social media or at networking events. Let your employees speak for you as they are the true testimonial to a great place to work!

Survey your employees.  Ask them why they accepted a position with your company? Ask them what is their motivation to stay?  What energizes and excites them about being part of the way your company does business? Ask them what creates value for them? If you understand your employee motivators, it will help you to continue to attract more people just like them.

Create a digital marketing experience.  Storytelling will attract people to your company.  Consider which social media platforms your ideal candidates are using and target those. Sharing your employee experience with top talent will keep them engaged and coming back for more.  Use high quality video and tell your story. Share employee successes by recognizing them.  Consider interviewing current employees and have them provide a company testimonial.  Ensure you provide regular engagement and communication with potential talent.

Respond to reviews.  Many job search websites have the option to post reviews about employers.  Candidates access job search websites and reviews about potential employers in their decision making when applying for jobs.  Every employer wants to see positive reviews, however, make sure that you respond to reviews even if they are negative.  Do not avoid or ignore a less than stellar review, respond with positivity, empathy and professionalism and consider the feedback an opportunity to grow. Job search websites also give an employer an opportunity to share their employer brand, ensure you are using this tool to give your audience the impression that you want them to have.

Websites, landing pages and blog posts are excellent for communicating with both internal and external clients. Consider having an intranet for your employees where they have access to an onboarding schedule, progression map and learning opportunities that might be available to them to enhance their experience with the company.  This could be a place where employees could access important information such as pay stubs, timesheets, benefit plan information, forms and other human resource related documents.  Foster internal communication and nurture your relationships with employees by using this area to highlight changes, growth, and new strategies that your company may be implementing.  Provide employees with a section to make suggestions, a place where they feel heard and are encouraged to bring forth ideas.

Additionally, your company’s external website should have a section which highlights your company culture.  Tell potential talent why they want to work for you and make sure your employer value proposition is outlined here.

Nurturing relationships with your current talent, sharing and telling a true story of their employee experience and communicating it with your target talent community will engage and attract new sought-after talent to your company with ease.  This is your employer brand.

 

“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”  Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group

“The secret of my success is that we have gone to exceptional lengths to hire the best people in the world.”

Steve Jobs, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of Apple

Slay Your Day

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What are you going to do to slay your day?!

Are you facing a large fire breathing dragon?  Wondering how you are going to conquer this dragon? For me, this quote says it all:

“Focus on the possibilities for success, not on the potential for failure.” — Napoleon Hill

After all, it’s only a dragon!

If you focus your mindset on overcoming the biggest challenge in your day instead of focusing on the daunting feeling of defeat that may be creeping into your mind, you are putting your energy in a direction that can only produce a triumphant and positive outcome. By focusing on overcoming the challenge and not failing at it, you are creating a mindset of success, you are putting your energy in a productive and positive space and you are manifesting a result that you want.

I like to structure my day to tackle the daunting task first. By doing this, I set the stage for my day, by getting the dragon out of my way and out of my mind. I like to tackle my challenges at the onset of my day when I am morning fresh, full of energy and feeling strength. This type of focus usually determines my reality.

Other techniques you may want to consider keeping your focus might be:

Avoid Distractions:

Alert people that you will be unable to respond to them right away and give yourself the amount of time required to achieve your task.

Close all the windows on your computer that are distractions.  Same goes for your cell phone, put it on DND and turn it face down.  This will prevent you from looking at all those pesky notifications and pop ups.

Prepare yourself:

Make sure that you have no reason to abandon your task.  Avoid excuses to take you away from your dragon. Get them out of the way, out of your mind and focus! Grab a coffee, water, snack and use the washroom ahead of time.

If you have an office, close the door.  One of my colleagues once installed blinds on her office door. We all knew if they were closed that she needed some uninterrupted time.

Sometimes all we need is some uninterrupted, quality time to slay the day and become a productivity giant.

“Everyone’s time is limited. What matters most is to focus on what matters most.”
― Roy T. Bennett

 

Tradition and Change

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Why is tradition so important to us? Frank Sonnenberg, an award-winning author and thought leader, speaks of tradition as being “a critical piece of our culture. They help form the structure and foundation of our families and our society. They remind us that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we are likely to become. Once we ignore the meaning of our traditions, weʼre in danger of damaging the underpinning of our identity.”

With summer being over, and the chilly air of fall being present, my mind has moved towards the many holidays so closely upon us. One, holds a special place in my heart, with that being Christmas. Now you are probably asking yourself, why are you thinking of Christmas in September?! I know, I know, but I can’t help that it popped into my mind last night. Christmas has changed a lot over the years for me and navigating this change has proven challenging at times. Whether it be a child who has moved away, a death in the family, a divorce, a new relationship, or a plethora of other reasons, holding onto traditions when times are changing can be challenging and emotional. With my traditions having changed over the years, I reflected on why our traditions are so important to us and why this change can be so challenging. According to Sonnenberg, “traditions contribute to a sense of comfort and belonging”, they “reinforce values…such as faith”, they “create an avenue for lasting memories” and “they offer context for meaningful pause and reflection.”

While my traditions have already changed significantly, I am entering a year where change is evident once again. And with this, I realized that change is always happening, even in the most traditional sense of family, change will come upon us.  It is just a matter of time, when a child grows up, gets married and is required to split their time between families or the birth of a new child, or the merging of two family’s due marital splits and new starts. The one key thing I have taken away about change, and this is any change; change brings new beginnings. Change can be challenging for even the best of people but learning to navigate change, coming into your own peace with change and learning to embrace it rather than fight it, is a valuable gift. Change brings new memories and excitement, and along with that, can come new traditions. One of the best pieces of knowledge that was given to me when I first experienced change in my traditions in 2008, was to find a way to create new traditions and new memories. Make this purposeful and intentional instead of being a victim of change. This empowerment will create a sense of strength and excitement as you navigate your new beginnings.

While you navigate change in your own life, think of the possibilities, create new beginnings, develop excitement for something new, and incorporate some of the old tradition with new ones in the making.

If you enjoyed this blog, follow us on social media and connect with us on www.profoundcoach.com to view our Be ProFound Magazine rich with other content and blogs.

 

Frank Sonnenberg, (June 2015). 7 Reasons Why Traditions are So Important. Retrieved 3 September 2020.

Swimming Against the Current

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I discovered a few years ago that life did not have to be tough. This may not seem earth shattering to you, but to me, it was! Up until that time, if things could go wrong, they did! I couldn’t understand why everything “bad” always happened to me. What did I do, that caused me to deserve a tough and punished life? Life seemed incredibly unfair, to the point, you could see it in my eyes, you could hear it in my voice, my body physically was falling apart, and you could see it through the depression and anxiety I was exemplifying.

Life became tough at the age of 40, not because my age had anything to do with it, but it was just the period of time in my life, it all hit. It started with a divorce, and not only a few weeks after the decision was made to end the marriage, my dad informed me that he was diagnosed with stage 4, terminal pancreatic cancer at the age of 64 years. If this wasn’t enough to throw my world into a spiral, my 5 year old daughter, was rushed into emergency with a ruptured appendix requiring emergency surgery while my dad was ambulanced into that same hospital not knowing if he would make it through the night. Oh, and it did not stop there! Why not throw in a cervical cancer scare, a few full hip replacement surgeries due to bad genetics and a herniated disc in a back that took me out physically for 3 months, followed by an acreage home that sold and a new one bought on the day of my dad’s funeral. The ending of a marriage, the ending of a life, and the ending of a business, which I had also decided to leave.

Life seemed pretty low at points and tough to understand, but I kept moving forward, as what other option did I have? It was not until a girlfriend asked me to join her one Sunday to attend a spiritual gathering. Having no influence in my past from the church and lacking a strong belief system, I was hesitant to go, but being at such a low point, I took her up on it. It was this moment that changed my life and helped to give me understanding and purpose. It was that day that I met another individual who took me under her wing and helped me to learn, believe and trust in a higher power outside of myself. Whether you call this higher power, God, Buddha, Spirit, Universe, your Creator or any other form that offers you grace, it doesn’t matter. What matters is, that in this higher power, I came to understand my purpose.

My purpose was to struggle because in every struggle there is learning. My purpose was to learn to relinquish the need to control my situation and instead to let life guide and lead me to where I am to go. It was to gain understanding that when life gets tough, it is your higher being’s way of re-directing you elsewhere, to better serve your purpose. It was to bring me to you so I could help communicate that life is about living. It is about enjoyment. It is about following your dreams and passions. It is about chasing your dreams and not the dollar. It is about loving and being kind to the people around you. It is about being brave and courageous; and not letting our demons such as obstacles, fear, and our need to control our future drive our being.

When life gets tough, as it always does, ask yourself, if you are swimming against the current? Are you trying to control your future or the outcome? If you say yes, then STOP. Stop, sit in peace, and listen to your inner being. It is trying to tell you something. It is telling you that what you are doing is not working. Start to seek peace, swim with the current, and in essence, “go with the flow”. By allowing the current to take you in the direction it is going, you will find your happiness, you will find new opportunity, you will discover your dreams and you will find your greatest purpose. Be ProFound!

For more ProFound Coaching thoughts and expertise, visit us at www.profoundcoach.com.

What Do You Do?

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“What do you do?” How many times have you been greeted with these few words? Whether you are at a dinner party, a social outing or simply just meeting someone new, the standard order of questioning is  “Hello, how are you?,  “What do you do?” and “Who do you work for?”

It’s no wonder so many people feel defined by their job as this, almost always, is the first line of questioning in a conversation. We don’t start getting to know someone by asking about their family or what they like to do for fun. It almost always starts with an identifier to our job. So what happens, when you don’t have a job, or you’ve lost your position, or perhaps you made a conscious decision to stay at home with the children. How do you answer this question and how does it make you feel?

It’s interesting, as I have had many conversations with people who withdraw from social settings upon losing their job. This standard conversation can be very intimidating and stressful to an individual who is not working as they don’t know how to answer it and they can feel less of a person if they don’t have a title to define themselves by.

The real question we should be asking is “why does our job title define us?” The reality is, it doesn’t or it shouldn’t. We are so much more than a job title. Our careers are only a portion of what makes up our life. It may be a big portion, but it is still only a portion. And if you are finding that your job is consuming you; not only in your physical time but also your mental time, then it is time to find more balance in life. In coaching, we work with individuals to help build out their Life Circle. The life circle considers your career and also other aspects of what makes up your whole such as your family, your relationships, your health, your enjoyment activities, your love, and your finances. We try to create balance in your life, as balance is, the key to success. Using the adage, too much of a good thing is a bad thing, applies well in this case.

So next time you are meeting someone, think twice before you ask what they do. Dig deeper to get to know the real them. We are so much more than a job title and getting to know someone outside of their job can be fascinating to hear their stories, where they have come from, what their dreams and passions are, and to learn what really drives them. And if you are someone who has lost a job and is struggling with this, next time you are asked this question, hold your head high and answer with confidence by starting with telling them who you really are, outside of a job.

If you recognize that you are struggling, as you have always defined yourself as your job title, reach out to us at ProFound Coach so we may work with you to discover who you really are. Contact us at beprofound@profoundtalent.com or visit our website at www.profoundcoach.com.