Dynamite Coaching News 
February 2015   
In This Issue
Quote of the Month:

"Self-focus is a necessary phase on your journey, but once you see yourself realistically, through objective self-observation, it's time to shift your attention from yourself to the world. (When looking in a mirror, notice the frame.)"  

 

~ Author Unknown    

What is Coaching?


 Are you curious about coaching and want to learn more? New appointments now available. Contact Coach Mark for a complimentary, no-obligation coaching session and experience the benefits first hand. Your goals await. Act today.  

50 Things Everyone Should Learn How To Master:

 

 

Tip #1: Perform CPR

Tip #2: Deliver a toast

Tip #3: Learn to negotiate

Tip #4: Write your thank you notes by hand

Tip #5: Build something simple

Tip #6: Sharpen a knife

Tip #7: Fillet and steam a fish

Tip #8: Speak a foreign language

Tip #9: Go offline

Tip #10: Recite basic geography

Tip #11: Volunteer - even a little bit

Tip #12: Dress a wound

Tip #13: Iron a shirt

Tip #14: While you're at it, fold it right, too

Tip #15: Tell one story that captivates people's attention

Tip #16: Tell one great joke

Tip #17: Live in the moment

Tip #18: Learn to swim

Tip #19: Raise a plant from seed

Tip #20: Remember names

Tip #21: Learn to make a signature cocktail

Tip #22: While you're at it, learn a second go-to drink

Tip #23: Travel light

Tip #24: Build a campfire

Tip #25: Extinguish a fire

Tip #26: Jump start a car

Tip #27: Change a tire

Tip #28: Cook an egg

Tip #29: Tie one versatile knot

Tip #30: Locate true north 

Tip #31: Make one truly excellent salad dressing

Tip #32: Take a photo

Tip #33: Make a bed like a hotel maid, or army private

Tip #34: Get a good night's sleep

Tip #35: Soothe a screeching baby

Tip #36: Be informed

Tip #37: Shine your shoes

Tip #38: Tie a bow tie

Tip #39: Identify a few birds

Tip #40: Order the wine

Tip #41: Sew a button back on

Tip #42: Use a drill

Tip #43: Learn to bluff

Tip #44: Bait and cast a fishing line

Tip #45: Admit you're wrong

Tip #46: Drive in the snow

Tip #47: Remove a stain

Tip #48: Apologize

Tip #49: Cut down a tree

Tip #50: Ask for help

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 Contact Us:


What Our Clients Are Saying...

"I was hesitant about what a coach could offer me, but after just an initial trial-phone call with Coach Mark I knew going forward with him would give me a new insight into myself. He provided the push I needed to discover more about myself and help give me the push I needed to start pushing for a new career path. I'm extremely grateful for my time working with Coach Mark!"

 

~ Evan - Competitive Cyclist

 

95% or 5% You Do the Math. Which is better?  
   

Any student in school will quickly tell you getting 95% on a test is a good mark, and that 5% isn't. Yet in many conversations 95% of what is said by the speaker is missed with only 5% being received by the listener.  

 

Clearly no one in school would accept this kind of mark, so why do we think it's acceptable in communication?

 

Every day we engage in conversations where we think what we've said has been understood by those we've expressed it to. But in many situations that's simply not the case. Too many times there is a misunderstanding between what the "Sender" said and what the "Receiver" heard leading to confusion, anger and even mistrust.

  • Senders = are defined as anyone sharing the information
    and
  • Receivers = are defined as anyone receiving the information

And depending on which role you find yourself in the conversation will look quite different.  

 

Look at this example:

 

A supervisor sat down with an employee to discuss a major restructuring project within the company. The supervisor was enthusiastic and positive. She covered all the key messages including the business reasons for change, the risk of not changing, the key drivers in the marketplace and the urgency to update processes and systems to remain competitive. The supervisor clearly communicated that this is a challenging and exciting time. When the employee asked about job changes, the supervisor simply replied that the design was still underway.

 

Later that evening when that same employee discussed this change with her spouse over dinner, her key messages were about how she felt that:

  • She may not have a job
    and
  • The company was in trouble

The supervisor in this example spent 95% of the meeting talking about the business and 5% talking about the implications on the employee. But for the employee it was different. At home, the employee spent 95% of her time talking about the impact on her personally and only 5% on the issues facing the company.

Despite the supervisor delivering her message with "enthusiasm" and "positivity," what was said wasn't what was heard.  

 

Why?

 

Many factors can influence what an employee hears and how that information is interpreted:

  • Their situation at home or with personal relationships
  • Their experience with other changes at work
  • What they have heard from friends or colleagues
  • And whether they trust the sender

So despite being enthusiastic, positive and clearly discussing the challenges around this "exciting time" the one thing the supervisor missed was asking what the employee was hearing and getting their feedback during the conversation in real time.

 

This is called the "Inquiry" model and is illustrated when the sender stops to ask questions throughout the conversation to flush out what the receiver's interpretation is of what is being said and to discover where there may be pockets of resistance or confusion.   

 

In other words Communicating for Success by engaging in a Coach-Like Approach.

 

The example cited above speaks to a more professional setting, with an employee and a supervisor, however the rule applies whenever two or more people communicate be it professionally or otherwise.

 

So if you want to improve how effective you are at connecting with those you speak with I invite you to attend one of the upcoming Communicate for Success Courses near you.

Communicate For Success With Coach-Like Approach Techniques 
 

Upcoming Classes:  

 

Edmonton:
Saturday, March 7th, 2015 from 8:30am to 4:00pm.
King's University, 9125 50 Street Edmonton AB
Room N206 Second floor of the North Academic Building

 

Lloydminster:
Saturday, April 18th, 2015 8:30am to 4pm
Location to be determined, Lloydminster AB

 

This class is for EVERYONE who wants to improve how they Deal with Change and Communicate with both themselves and others.

  • Learn the difference between the Inquiry and Advocacy models to support achieving a higher grade in clearer communication
  • Learn how to deal with conflict
  • Learn how to demonstrate and practice leadership skills
  • Learn how to improve listening skills critical to effective communication
  • Learn how to remove frustrated and boxed-in thinking and employ Solution Focused Ideology
  • Learn how to run a meeting with engagement and buy in from your staff
  • Learn how to talk to your spouse, partner, and others without judgement and create a deeper more meaningful conversation
  • Learn how to build leaders and practice leadership

Communication is at the very heart of everything we do and it's being recognized that Coach-Like Approach Communication Techniques are being used more and more to improve the way we speak to each other and to ourselves.

 

 The culture in our workplaces is changing and how we communicate needs to change along with it. 75% of the Fortune 1000 companies have already brought in Coach-Like Approach methodology to support their organizations.

 

 What about you? Are you ready for a change?

 

Bonus: If you are Canfitpro certified in any of the following designations (PTS, FIS, NWS, NWL, OAS, and PFS) and in need of re-certification credits this class is sanctioned by Canfitpro to offer your full yearly requirement of 4 CEC's.  

 

 

Reserve your spot today!   

 

Edmonton Location

   

Lloydminster Location

  

 

What people are saying about my course: 

 

"Mark simplifies the entire course to a point where you can actually see yourself using the information and becoming a better manager, friend, person."

 

~ Wendy Meister, General Manager Edson Chrysler 

 

Check out this article about my course featured in the Edson Anchor Newspaper:



Let's Talk About Dynamite Coaching 

    

Who do I work with?

I work with exceptional and brilliant people, like you, who at times might find you're having difficulty in achieving your desired goals either in your professional or personal life, or both. Coaching is not about focusing on the problem or what's broken; Instead it's about focusing on creating the solutions and actionable steps that get you more of what you want. 

Together, we explore and develop elegant pathways that lead to choice and change helping you review aims, set directions, and clarify next steps toward your ultimate direction of excellence. The power is within you.

 

ICF