Your career health check

How do you market yourself effectively?

2011-05-07T16:32:00.004+01:00

It doesn't matter whether you run your own business, are an employee or job seeker, if you market yourself well, you will achieve success. Marketing is about finding your unique abilities and being able to communicate these to others effectively.

You may have heard of the saying "people buy people", so take the opportunity to let people know why they should promote you, employ you or buy from you. Here are my tips to market yourself effectively:

1. Write down a list of your strengths and skills and use these as selling points when you meet new people. What is unique about you? What sets you apart from anyone else? How can you make sure you market yourself at every opportunity?

2. Develop a succinct message that you can share with others that takes about 10-20 seconds to deliver. In business, this is known as an elevator speech - who you are and what you can do for others. Design and practice your message.

3. Remember that every time you communicate, this is the opportunity to make an impact. Make sure that anything you put in writing, such as a letter or CV is clear, concise and easy to read. And remember to include the strengths you have identified above.

4. You also communicate by what you wear and whether it is appropriate for the occasion. You may wish to research the dress code and give yourself plenty of time to decide what to wear. Choose your outfit wisely with the appropriate accessories, and remember to clean your shoes!

5. Make a great first impression. People tend to make a first impression of you within the first few minutes of meeting you. When you meet new people, use appropriate eye contact, a firm handshake, and smile!

6. Preparation is key. Whether you are going to a networking event or a job interview, it is important to prepare in advance. Plan the journey before you leave, know who you are going to meet and plan what you are going to say.

What do you do to market yourself effectively? Let me know – add your comments below!

Are you a good salesperson?

2011-05-05T19:37:00.000+01:00

This article was taken from the April Self Discovery newsletter. Find out more at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

As a coach, one thing that I learnt very quickly is that I need to be a business person as well as a coach. This meant learning about running and building a business, and my research into this subject prompted me to write a book about my experiences based on spending time with the experts. One of the things that you need to do as a business person is to be great at sales, but to be honest, it's never been something that comes naturally to me!

But one of my mentors said to me recently is that I am doing a disservice to my clients if I don't ask people for business. How can I help clients if I don't do this? How can I grow my business and help more people? When I heard this sentence, the penny dropped and then I realised that it isn't just important to me. Did you know that being a great sales person equally applies to you and your career too?

So what do I mean? Well if you are already employed, you will constantly be growing your strengths, utilising your skills and seeking promotion if you want to get ahead at work. And to do this, quite frankly, you need to be able to sell yourself too. You will need to know what makes you tick, how you can stand out from the crowd and be better than other people in your field.

If you are currently seeking for a job, I'm sure you already know how important it is to be good at selling yourself. You'll be attending interviews, networking with others and going out of your way to find the right job for you.

But what if you are not very good at sales?

Many people will put themselves under stress or pressure when in a new situation like putting yourself forward for another job. You'll remember all the times in the past when you didn't get things right and won't feel comfortable going for that new job or promotion, but sometimes it takes that bit more courage and conviction to put yourself forward, so here are some tips for you:

1. Don't concentrate on the negative situations from the past or the times when things haven't gone so well. Although you can probably vividly remember all the times that people have criticised you, make a list (either mental or physical) of all the times where people have praised or complemented you.

2. If you are not confident in selling your skills, start by taking it one step at a time. Firstly write down your strengths, your skills and your capabilities and then find examples of how you have achieved each of these. This will start to give you the confidence to take the next step.

3. Just get on and do it. If you can, get yourself a coach who will champion you every step of the way. Or alternatively find someone who will encourage and support you and bolster up your confidence when things don't go to plan. Learn from rejection and build on the positive outcomes that take place too.

How to get what you want

2011-04-14T16:04:00.000+01:00

This article was taken from the March Self Discovery newsletter. Find out more at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

One of the things I notice both professionally and personally, is that we often worry about things that might go wrong, put ourselves down when things don't go to plan, but rarely celebrate our successes. We say to ourselves, 'well I made a mess of that then', 'that didn't go very well' or something along those lines. In a way we set ourselves up to fail as we don't give ourselves a pat on the back or a positive affirmation.

Everyone has goals, aims or objectives that they strive for in their work or life, whether these are conscious or not. You may want to earn more money, drive a bigger car, have a nice house or just enjoy your life and work.

But without a clear plan or strategy to get there, it makes it more difficult to achieve. I know from experience that it is easy to drift along, but if you make conscious decisions in your life, you are going to live one that is inspired and that you enjoy. Using a personal example, when I was writing my book, many people said to me that they want to do the same one day, but by knowing my goals, it enabled me to get what I wanted.

Here are some strategies I use to enable you to get what you want.

1. Know what you want rather than what you don't want

The most successful people in life know what they want rather than what they don't want. But I know from spending time with my clients is that many people find it hard to see their way forward. They know what they don't want to have in their life either in the present or the future, but until they know what they want, it makes it difficult to have a clear plan to make any changes.

But on the other hand if you do know what you don't want, it is a good place to start. If you don't want to be out of work/stressed/fed up with your job, etc, go ahead and ask yourself what do you want instead?

2. Have a plan and take action!

When you know what you do want, work out how you can change what you want in your life or your career. Then take action.
Make sure your goals are specific, which means that the activity has a clear purpose, that you can achieve it realistically and that you have a timeframe in which the activity has been completed, as well as any key milestones in the project.

3. Keep a journal to record your successes

I often advise my clients to keep a journal and the purpose of this is to record the things in your life that go well. It takes 21 days to develop a new habit so take some time to keep a journal before you go to bed or first thing in the morning.

Think about:

What has gone well that day?

What have you learnt?

Who has been your inspiration?

You have a motivational record of what has gone well whenever you need a boost and can also remind yourself of how far you have developed your skills.

4. Enjoy the journey and the successes you have along the way

If you are always striving for the next big thing, you will never take time to enjoy the individual successes along the way. Take time to focus on the things that have gone well and the good things that have happened to you. Just like you would break a large goal down into manageable chunks, do the same with your successes.

Is it time for change?

2011-03-09T18:02:00.000Z

This article was taken from the February Self Discovery newsletter. Find out more at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

There are various times in your life when change happens. For many it is when a new year starts, after a holiday, or when something happens in your life to make you sit up and reassess your life. And I recognise that change isn't always easy.

I notice with my clients that when they face major change such as a relationship breakup, redundancy, or make the decision to leave a job, they go through a range of reactions. These tend to be along the following lines:

1. Denial - "it can't be true" or "I can't believe it"

2. Blaming others - "they shouldn't have done that" or "it is their fault"

3. Blaming themselves - "I should have known" or "it's my fault"

4. Accepting the new situation - "where do I go from here?"

5. Committing to change - "I'm going to do something about this"

6. Creative problem solving - "what am I going to do next?", "what are my options?"

7. Persevering and overcoming obstacles by being persistent - "I can do this!"

Some people will go through these stages quickly, but often they get stuck in the early stages of the model, and feel negative and sometimes depressed about a situation.

So the trick is to work through these different areas to reach stage 4 as soon as possible and set a plan to move on.

But often it takes more than just willpower and you need to confidence to take the next steps too. So here are my top confidence tips to skyrocket the change you want to make this year:

1. Believe in yourself and that you can manage the change - remember when you've done it before, so how can you do it effectively and efficiently again this time?

2. Get support to move you to the stages where you can think clearly and come up with options for your future.

3. Commit to taking action. Use a partner or a coach to agree what you are going to do and by when as this helps you to remain positive about the change that is taking place.

4. Consider and brainstorm the following question: What could you do if there were no barriers or constraints?

5. Recognise when you are slipping back along the change continuum. Accept how you feel and when you are ready, take steps to move forward.

How can I help you?

My role as your coach is to help you to recognise when you want to make change and help you to move you away from situations you don't want, and then put you on the right path for your own career success. If you recognise yourself in any of the first few stages above, just give me a call for a free consultation.

Your mindset for career success

2011-02-08T08:02:00.000Z

This article has been taken from the Self Discovery newsletter (January 2011). To receive your February copy, please register here and get your free career health check - http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

I have recently been sharing with you the practical tips you can follow when facing job change or redundancy. You may have seen in a previous blog post that Sara told us about her husband's redundancy. She mentioned that practical steps were great, but that it doesn't prepare you for the frustration or emotional feelings you have about this type of situation.

And with my clients I know that the practical tips can only help so far. When you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, unclear or any other negative emotion it can be hard to feel motivated to find the next job. Or if you are fed up with your job, you can only see the difficulties of making the next step rather than the positives.

If you have been following my newsletter for a while, you will know that I have been writing a book on the mindset for success over the last 18 months (which will be out very soon). Although this is written for new coaches who want to run a successful business, many of the principles about mindset apply to all of us - whether you want a bigger business, a better relationship, a more enjoyable career or success in any part of your life. Here are 7 of my top tips to get your mindset for success.

1. Know what you want rather than what you don't want

OK, I know this can be a challenge. If you are in a job you hate, it is difficult to see the possibilities out there. So take it one step at a time, identify what you don't want or don't like and then ask yourself the question - what do you want instead?

2. Make sure your goals are clear

Goal setting or planning is an art. I've often heard people say to me, I want to achieve that within a month, but the problem is unless there is a date on it, that will always be a month away. What do you want to achieve and by when?

3. Get your support network in order

If you're having a bad time at work, who can you talk to about it? One of the comments I get from my clients is that they feel they can talk to me without worrying who will hear about their frustrations. So knowing who you can confide in can help your mindset. But make sure it is someone who will give you positive messages rather than bring you down.

4. Take responsibility for your career

You are never going to advance up the career ladder or find the job of your dreams if you just think about it. Take responsibility for your actions rather than just talking about the difficulties you have in your job.

5. Honk your horn!

Don't hide your skills and strengths. Tell people about what you can do and how you can help them. Give people the opportunity to appreciate your value and expertise.

6. Get a coach or mentor

If you are serious about getting the right mindset for success, find someone you trust to help you to achieve your career or other goals. This might be someone like me or someone you trust within your network or organisation.

7. Diversify your networks

It is well known that the best way to get a new job is through a contact or acquaintance, so expand your networks and ask for their help.

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams specialises in career coaching and works with people who have reached a crossroads in their career. She helps them to re-find their direction and the confidence, focus and clarity to find the job they will love. To achieve greater success in your career, download your career health check at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

Great career networking article

2011-01-22T07:23:00.000Z

I've come across the following article this week and I thought you would enjoy it.

In this article, Neil Munz-Jones offers his top tips to help you develop your career through networking. He talks about how networking can help you become more attractive to employers and place you ahead of the competition.

Click here for the full article.

Top 5 tips for coping with redundancy

2011-01-07T18:57:00.000Z

I thought you would be interested in this short article of mine published in The News today:

"Portsmouth based career coach, Karen Williams, gives her top 5 tips on coping with redundancy"

1. If you are at risk of redundancy, start looking for jobs straight away. You can register with employment agencies, check out vacancies online, keep an eye on vacancies in local or specialist magazines and papers, and contact competitors who may have similar jobs available.

2. Don’t be afraid to take a career change or set up your own business. Once you have identified your strengths, skills, qualifications and knowledge, talk to people in your desired profession and find out how you can transfer your skills into that area and re-train if necessary.

3. Consider your ideal new role. What is most important in this role? If you would like a certain amount of money, flexible working or a particular level of responsibility, be aware of what you will accept in a new position.

4. Brush off your CV and make sure that you have a personal profile or summary that clearly outlines your strengths and skills and how you stand out from the crowd. If in doubt, get someone to check it for you as they may see things that you don’t see yourself.

5. Use your networks wisely. This applies to both social networks and people you know personally and professionally. Talk to the people you know and find out what contacts they have in your desired field. Then remember to follow up on these contacts, as this is one of the best ways to get your ideal new job.

Karen works with career changers and people facing redundancy to help them to find a job they will love. You can find out more about Karen at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.

Happy new career!

2011-01-04T10:00:00.008Z

As we start another new year, I hope that 2011 is a good one for you.

At this time of year, I don't know about you, but I make sure that I spend some time setting my goals for the coming year. I find it therapeutic to review what I have achieved over the last year and focus on my goals for the next one. To get you started, let me ask you a few questions:

1. What have been your successes and achievements in 2010?
2. What do you want to achieve in 2011?
3. What are you going to stop doing to bring you more happiness in 2011?
4. What are you going to start doing to bring you more happiness in 2011?
5. What new habits do you want to incorporate into your life this year?
6. How are you going to make this happen?

Let me know how you get on.

7 top interview tips

2010-12-18T08:30:00.000Z

Now you have brushed off your CV and you are focused on getting interviews and showing how you are the best person for the job. Here are my top 7 tips to get through that interview.

1. Prepare for your interview.

Start by doing some research on the company and the job. Look at their website, ask for literature, or research any recent articles or information on the company or industry. Or find someone you know who works for the organisation and ask them for information which can help you.

2. Understand the requirements of the interview

Find out whether there will be an interview, personality assessment, skills or aptitude test, assessment centre, or presentation, and prepare thoroughly.

3. Prepare for difficult questions

In most interviews, you will be talking for a majority of the time. The interviewers will ask you questions based on your experience, your strengths and weakness, the reasons for applying for the job, and how your colleagues would describe you.

In addition, you may be asked questions based on competencies, such as people management skills and team working. These are questions based on situations you have experienced. They will normally start as follows - tell me about a time... or will be an open question, starting with a word such as what, when, how. Preparation is key.

4. Plan your journey

Plan your route in advance and allowing plenty of time for the journey. Aim to arrive early and if you do, you can spend time preparing for the interview.

5. Dress appropriately

Nearly half of interviewers are put off when job candidates do not dress appropriately for the interview. This includes wearing a suit or smart outfit where appropriate and making sure that you clean your shoes, as well as appearing presentable. Give yourself plenty of time to decide what to wear, and you may want to get your clothes ready the night before the interview.

6. Gather all the information you need for the interview in advance.

It would be advantageous to review the job description and take your CV or application form to the interview with you. You may also need to take certificates, references or examples of your work to the interview, so prepare these in advance.

7. Make a great first impression

People tend to make a first impression of you within the first few minutes. When you meet the interviewers, use appropriate eye contact, a firm handshake, and smile!

7 tips for a winning CV

2010-12-16T08:28:00.000Z

As the year draws to a close, it is time to brush off your CV. Here are my top 7 tips for you to be ready to take new opportunities and get your ideal job.

1. Make sure you have a powerful personal profile or executive summary. This is the first part that an employer will look at. You need to know how you stand out from the crowd and make the person want to read on. Just like someone is likely to make an opinion of you within a few seconds, exactly the same can be said for your CV.

2. After your personal profile, this is the space to put your career history. Start with your current or most recent role and detail your key achievements and competencies.

3. You will also want to consider your personal and professional development too. If you studied many years ago, you probably won't want to list all of your school qualifications (if you can remember them anyway), but often people will look for Maths, English and IT qualifications (so if you have them, make sure they are listed) and remember to include other ongoing courses and development too.

4. Remember to include your contact details so the person knows how to get hold of you. If you have a quirky email address, is this the best one to include on your CV?

5. Think about the format of your CV as well. Make sure that the font is easy to read, there is plenty of white space and that it is well laid out.

6. Make sure you check and double check your CV for errors and typos. When you are spending time on your own document, you can become oblivious to mistakes, so why not ask someone to check it for you?

7. Lastly, make sure that you adapt your CV for each role you apply for. To guarantee an interview you need to prove you are the right person for the job, and having a winning CV is a good place to start.

These tips have been taken from the Self Discovery December newsletter. To register for your copy, go to http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

Do you watch your language?

2010-12-06T10:00:00.000Z

When I have conversations with both friends and clients and ask them what they want, I often get one of two responses.

Some people focus on what they don't want and I'm sure you can relate to this. They say things like:

"I don't want to be overweight"
"I don't want to be broke"
"I don't want to fail"

Or they focus on the negatives of what might happen in a situation and they reward themselves for doing something well by avoiding punishment.

Other people focus on what they do want and these people will say things like:

"I want to be slim"
"I want to be successful"
"I feel great"

They are generally positive people and can see the good in situations. These people reward themselves positively for what they have achieved.

When I did the research for my book, The Secrets of Successful Coaches, the people I interviewed who ran the most successful businesses focused on what they want rather than what they don't want. They had clear and positive goals and aspirations and were 'towards' rather than 'away from' people. This is a term used in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to determine whether people are motivated by what they want or by what they don't want.

But this doesn't just apply to business people but people seeking a new or improved career too. Take a few moments out of your day to watch your language. Do you focus on what you want or what you don't want? Let me know what you find out!

How do you manage your internal PR?

2010-12-01T10:49:00.000Z

For many people, the best way to get up the career ladder is to get promotion within their organisation. They do the right things - they complete training for the next level, they apply for the right jobs and they do their best to take the next step. But do they manage their internal PR?

So before I go on, what do I mean?

Your internal PR is about how you represent yourself at work. People tend to remember the drunken person at the christmas party, those who shout and bawl (even if just the once) and the person who makes a mistake, however trivial.

To manage your internal PR is to present a positve and professional image at work, and then when you get the interview for the next role, you can be rest assured that your internal PR is up to scratch!

What happens if you are facing redundancy?

2010-11-19T10:24:00.000Z

Today's article is taken from the Self Discovery Newsletter November 2010. To get regular articles like this in your inbox, sign up here.

As I sit at my desk today focusing on my newsletter and listening to the news on the radio, there are still talks of redundancy in the local council over the coming months. Not surprisingly I am often telephoned by people who are being made redundant and don't know what steps to take, so let me share with you some tips that I share with my clients.

The first step to take is to decide what you want to do. Now I know for some people, this will involve a blank sheet of paper, some procrastination and a bit of paper shuffling, so let me give you some tips to do this:

1. If you don't know what direction you want to take, decide what you don't want to do - both the role and activities within the role

2. Look at the key features of your ideal new job - location, commute time, salary, level of role, etc

3. Consider the types of companies you may like to work for in your preferred location

4. Think back to when you were younger, what did you really want to do? If this is still relevant, how can you transfer this concept into your life now?

5. Who can help you? Consider your networks and if they are small at the moment, how can you expand them?

6. If you are still stuck, take a psychometric test, such as DISC which gives you an indication of the types of roles you may suit you.

By now, you should have a few ideas down on paper. Even if you don't yet think you've found your dream job, there are some more steps you can follow.

The second step is to look at you right now. What are your skills and strengths? What experiences or qualifications do you have that would best place you in a new role? What additional study or activities could you do to help you to stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs?

The third step is to start your job hunt. If you have an idea of what you want to do, check out the local papers or specialist magazines, sign up with recruitment agencies and online job sites, and talk to people you know who can put you in touch with useful contacts.

At this time, it is a great time to brush off your CV, prepare for your next interview and get that next job. I'll share more tips with you on these areas very soon. But if you can't wait, contact me today for a free consultation and let me help you to get the confidence to kick start your new career.

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams specialises in career coaching and works with people who have reached a crossroads in their career. She helps them to re-find their direction and the confidence, focus and clarity to find the job they will love. To achieve greater success in your career, download your free gift at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

Do you feel valued?

2010-11-09T16:15:00.015Z

Today I've been to a local grammar school to put together a proposal to deliver a team building event on their next inset day. The reason for this workshop is to help the staff in the team to feel valued, to bring them together and create a cohesive team. It will give the team time out from their day to day work and spend some time doing fun activities with a serious intent.

But it led to me thinking further. I work with many individuals because they want to leave their job as it no longer meets their values. They often feel like they are de-valued by their employer and want to live life on their terms. For others they face uncertainty at work or redundancy as many organisations seek to streamline their business, which again leads to a feeling of rejection or not being appreciated.

But it's not the same for everyone. What happens when you feel valued at work?

You get regular feedback from your manager or colleagues
You have the opportunity to provide upwards communication and feel that you know what's going on
You get the opportunity to grow in your role
You get support to do your role but the opportunity to be empowered to get on with tasks too.

But on top of this, most people have the chance to influence what they get from their employer. So what can you do next to feel more valued at work?

Have you had time out recently?

2010-11-02T14:29:00.000Z

Sorry for the lack of updates on my blog over the last few weeks, but I've been catching up following my recent trip to Australia. We had a great time touring around the country but all good things have to come to an end and I'm just getting back into the swing of things with my business.

I know personally how important it is to have time out and one of the things I teach to other coaches and my career clients is to set boundaries, but it is not always easy to set them and stick to them. It is easy to work long hours and worry about things in the middle of the night. However, I would like to tell you about an important date in your diary and that is tomorrow, 3rd November.

Tomorrow is National Stress Awareness Day in the UK and you can find out more at http://www.isma.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-day/. If you have been following my blog for a while, you will notice that I promote this every year as it is important to remember how to manage pressure effectively so it doesn't become stress which you could find difficult to control. You can check out some of my archive tips at http://www.careerhealthcheck.com/2009/11/stressing-positives.html and see this great quiz too - http://www.itv.com/daybreak/lifestyle/health/testsandquizzes/stresstest/.

How to be a great coach - part 2

2010-10-17T13:51:00.001+01:00

Following on from tips 1-3 last week, here are the final 4 tips to be a great coach.

4. Listen to the language that someone uses.

Words such as try, should, might indicate that someone is less likely to take action. Listen for the words, I will, I am going to, and the like to indicate that action will take place. And you can do this by giving feedback.

5. Build rapport with the other person.

Once you have built rapport, you will have gained their trust and encourage openness. You can do this by listening effectively, empathising and being truly present.

6. Focus on what is important.

When applying these principles, recognise when you need to bring someone back on track or letting them get something out of their system.

7. Motivate and enthuse the other person.

Encourage the other person by providing positive feedback. Avoid blame and praise them for what they have done well and encourage them to perform even more effectively.

"Coaching is 90% attitude and 10% technique." - Author Unknown

How to be a great coach - part 1

2010-10-04T13:40:00.002+01:00

Whether you are a business owner, leader, employee, parent, spouse or just want to get the best from yourself and others, you can take simple steps to improve your skills and become a great coach. This will help you to build great relationships, provide powerful feedback, delegate well, and help someone to reach their potential.

Let's start by defining coaching.

According to Eric Parsloe, the author of The Manager as a Coach and Mentor, coaching is "to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be".

So you too can be a great coach, read on for part 1 of my top 7 tips:

1. Ask the right questions

There are certain types of questions that get better results than others. Although they all have the same aim to find out information, questions that are open tend to give you more information and an effective response. Be curious and ask questions such as why, when, where, who, how, what, tell me. But questions are no good on their own. Follow step 2 for the best results.

2. Take time to listen

There is a huge difference between listening and truly hearing what has been said. If you want to listen well, take some time. You can listen to what is being said by not thinking about what to say next until the other person has finished speaking, allowing silence and not being tempted to fill any conversational gap, paraphrasing what the person has said, and watching out for what may not have been said, which links well to point 3.

3. Be aware of body language

Much of what we communicate is via body language or non-verbal communication, and this may or may not match what the person has said. Non-verbal communication includes obvious movements such as nodding, eye contact, shrugging or yawning, as well as subtle modifications including unconscious breathing shifts, skin tone changes, and micro-muscle movements. So be aware of your body language and that of the other person too!

Watch out for tips 4-7 coming soon!

Are you consciously incompetent?

2010-09-24T13:29:00.001+01:00

In my last post I talked about NLP South where the theme this year for presenters is conscious competence. Now if you have never heard of this concept before, let me give you a short overview.

When you learn something new you go through a series of stages of learning. If you have ever learnt to drive, you will have gone through these stages.

This model helps you to understand the process you go through when you learn something new and how you can consciously accelerate yourself through the process and increase your success.

I will go through the process with you.

Stage 1 – unconscious incompetence.

At this stage you don’t know that you can’t do something or that you don’t have a skill in a particular area.

Stage 2 – conscious incompetence.

At this stage you will become aware that you don’t know something. With the driving example, at this stage you will become aware that you don’t know how to drive, and you will realise that you don’t know what steps to follow and in which order.

Stage 3 – conscious competence.

Between stages 2 and 3 you will undertake conscious learning and by the time you reach stage 3, you will how to do something, but it will take conscious effort. With the driving example, you will need to consciously think about the actions you need to take as you do them.

Stage 4 – unconscious competence.

At this stage, the activities or skills you undertake are second nature to you and you will not have to consciously follow steps to achieve this. A driving example would be when you have arrived at a destination, but cannot remember how you got there!

So how can you use this in practice?

Well you will probably be at different stages of learning in different parts of your life. When you are aware of where you are with each area, you can then develop an action plan to become more competent in those things that are important to you right now. What do you need to do now to develop your own learning and success?

What drives you?

2010-09-14T13:38:00.000+01:00

When I went to NLP South earlier this month we looked at conscious unconscious competence. If this sounds like rocket science to you, come back very soon and I'll explain it a bit more. But in the meantime, I'd like to share with you something that I was reminded of, which comes from the Self Discovery archives!

There are many reasons why people behave differently from each other. One concept of transactional analysis (developed by Dr Eric Berne in the 1950's) is that everyone has drivers (or working styles), which are established early in childhood. They stem from the environment around you and the way you are treated by other people. Messages that were given to you when you were young can influence how you go on to think and behave as an adult.

Drivers are characteristic ways of behaving, which are usually strengths, but may become weaknesses under stress.

There are five identified drivers. You may find that you identify with a couple and you may recognise some in other people.

Be Perfect

If your style is Be Perfect, it means that you will be really good at doing accurate detailed reports, you will be neat in your appearance and you will value cleanliness and tidiness. However, it can also mean that you believe that everything you do has to be absolutely right. You may not be satisfied with anything that you do, because, in your eyes, it will never be good enough. Delegation may be difficult because it is hard to trust others to do it right or other people may find it difficult to accept your standards.

Hurry Up

If Hurry Up is your preferred style, you will get a great deal done in a short period of time, however, you may find yourself overloaded and take on too much. You will always be in a hurry, often late for meetings, and always leaving things until the last moment before you do them. You may find that you end up with too many appointments in one day and may appear impatient to others.

Try Hard

If you have the Try Hard style, you will love new projects and new things to do, and work well under pressure. You are likely to have the belief that your personal value comes from the amount of effort you put into things. It is possible that you become more committed to trying rather than succeeding. Others can become frustrated that you turn small jobs into large ones to increase the amount of effort you can put in.

Be Strong

If you have the Be Strong style, you are great in a crisis, but can come across aloof. You believe that your own value comes from not revealing your feelings, by being the one who takes it all on your own shoulders rather than asking for help. In turn, other people can assume you are unemotional and don't need positive strokes.

Please Others

If you have the Please Others style, you will be a great team member, and like to please other people. You will believe that you must always do what others ask of you in order to be valuable. You feel guilty about saying no, even when the request is unreasonable. You may find that you accept work or invitations from others instead of working on your own priorities. In turn, other people can become frustrated by your attempts to please them and interpret your actions as being insincere.

Managing your drivers

The descriptions should have helped you to identify what drives you. It is useful to recognise these in yourself and others, as it helps you to work to your strengths rather than be driven by them.

Self awareness helps you to identify how you can change the way you think and behave to be more effective. So, you could choose to change your behaviours in one of the following ways.

If your style is Be Perfect, believe that you're good enough as you are.

If Hurry Up is your thing, take your time.

If you Try too Hard, just do it for a change!

If you feel that you need to Be Strong, take the opportunity to be open and express your needs from time to time.

For those of you who Please Others, please yourself for a change!

What are your goal setting tips?

2010-09-02T09:35:00.000+01:00

I love running workshops and I always find that I learn so much from the participants and love sharing my own thoughts and ideas too! On Tuesday evening I ran a goal setting workshop at The Lodge in Portsmouth for a group of people and during the evening they shared their amazing, exciting and even bizarre goals, dreams and objectives. They created their personal vision board and I'm looking forward to finding out how they are getting on over the coming few weeks.

Whether you set goals is up to you, whether you chose to write them down, set some dates, or just dream about what you would like to do. But research has shown that people who set goals that they concentrate on every day achieve greater success. And isn't that why we think about goals in the first place? But it is up to you and your mindset to whether you take action? I'll be talking about mindset in my next teleseminar next week, but in the meantime, let me leave you with a couple of my goal setting tips.

Define what you want, what you really want and don't get caught up with the shoulds, musts and oughts along the way.
Focus on what you want rather than what you don't want.
Write it down or mindmap what you want to achieve.
Prioritise your actions - what is the first step you need to take?
Take action - take a single step every day to achieve your success.
Visualise yourself achieving that goal - what you see, feel and hear once you have achieved it.

"Whether You Believe You Can, Or You Can't, You Are Right" - Henry Ford

Your mindset for success

2010-08-26T09:08:00.000+01:00

In my last blog post I shared with you a great exercise to develop your winning mindset. But let me be honest with you here, I know it is not always easy to maintain that mindset every day. We all have days when things become too much, we feel like we are failing rather than succeeding, and we want to give up.

If you are in this state and feel off target, it can often be difficult to find a way out and focus on the positives of a situation rather than the negatives. And I often find that this resonates with my clients too. Here are a few of the tips I share with them:

1. Keep a journal detailing your successes, so you can refer to these when you need a mindset boost. In your journal you can also keep a record of the things you are grateful for every day too.

2. Develop your own vision board so you can remember to focus on what you want to achieve (you can check out this post to do this or click here to schedule it into your diary next week).

3. Take some time out to refocus. There is not much point in being unproductive, so go for a walk, meditate or do whatever works for you.

What tips can you share? Please leave your comments below.

Let me leave with you my thought for today:

President Clinton said to Nelson Mandela “how do you forgive your jailers” and Mandela said “when I walked out of the gate I knew that if I continued to hate these people I was still in prison”.

PS To create your own winning mindset, check out the next Success Club teleseminar here.

Develop your winning mindset

2010-08-14T10:00:00.000+01:00

This post has been taken from the August Self Discovery newsletter.

Have you ever noticed that someone's physiology changes depending on how they feel? When they are upbeat, excited or happy, it will be very different from when they are fed up, frustrated or annoyed.

Let me take you back to one of the summer sporting occasions. Take Wimbledon tennis for example - I am fascinated by the body language of losing and winning players. Many players when losing start to develop a defeatist body language, a negative mindset, and, dare I say it, take on the physiology of a loser. And for those who are in front, they start punching the air, getting the crowd on board and firing themselves up inside.

So then what happens? Although technique is essential - the way they play the game - their mindset is critical too. Why do you think that players have a great coach? When they are focused and have a winning mindset, they are more likely to achieve success.

Fresh from a busy week of training last month, let me share with you a technique I used during a workshop. This is a great exercise to do with a partner. Start by holding out your less dominant arm straight from your shoulder. Your partner will need to press down on your forearm and you need to resist the pressure.

Next, do this exercise again and this time think negative or sad thoughts whilst holding out your less dominant arm. Once you have these thoughts, repeat these in your head and say 'feeble and weak'. Again, your partner will need to press down on your forearm and you need to resist the pressure whilst thinking negative thoughts.

Next, do this exercise for a third time and this time think positive and happy thoughts whilst holding out your less dominant arm. Once you have these thoughts in your head, repeat these in your head and say 'powerful and strong'. Again, your partner will need to press down on your forearm and you need to resist the pressure whilst thinking positive thoughts.

Then swap over with your partner and do these exercises again.

Notice what happens and let me know by commenting below!

What you will probably notice is that when you have powerful, happy and positive thoughts your resistance will be stronger.

In June I mentioned the research I have carried out for my book and once you know your values you are likely to live a life that gives you purpose, but in addition, your mindset is important too.

So what does this mean? Well quite simply, when you are positive and happy, you develop a strong mindset. A mindset is a way of thinking or a state of mind, and ultimately it affects the way that you think and how successful you are.

When you have a winning mindset, you will know what you do well and will do more of this. You will constantly be developing your skills, and you will confidently believe in yourself and your abilities. You will focus on what you want and when you do this, all of your aims and objectives will be easier to achieve. My best tips are to phrase your goals positively and also reward yourself for what you have achieved. Having a written record of these victories can be a great motivator when something has not gone to plan.

To get more of what you want, watch what you say, how you say things and the impact of your thoughts.

When you know what you want, write it down and put it somewhere you will see every day.

Let me leave you with something else to think about:

Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? Answer: five. Why? Because there's a difference between deciding and doing.

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams specialises in career coaching and works with people who have reached a crossroads in their career. She helps them to re-find their direction and the confidence, focus and clarity to find the job they will love. To achieve greater success in your career, download your free gift at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.

10 top body language tips

2010-08-12T11:26:00.000+01:00

After sharing some of my views on body language at the Talk Network this week, I thought you would be interested in my top 10 tips!

1. Maintain effective eye contact with others - you don’t need to hold eye contact with someone for 100% of the time, around 60-70% is effective but be aware of cultural differences.

2. Smile to put yourself and others at ease - even if you don’t feel confident about networking or making a first impression, if you smile you will appear welcoming and put yourself and others at ease.

3. Use your body language to show you are listening - you can use non verbal cues such as nodding, and affirming language, such as umms and ahhs, to show that you are listening to what someone is saying to you.

4. Be aware of your habits - many people have habits they are unaware of, which can affect their non verbal communication. Habits such as fiddling with a pen or your hair or putting your hands on your hips, or pacing the room can affect the way in which you communicate with others.

5. Be aware of your posture - your posture can give other people clues to how you are feeling, so either sit up straight but not too stiffly, or stand up with your back straight and facing the person you are talking to.

6. Mirror other people’s body language - when you are naturally in rapport with someone else, your body language is likely to be mirroring theirs in terms of your posture and expressions. You can get a feeling of their thoughts and feelings by the way they are responding to what you are saying.

7. Be aware of your hands - some people are more expressive than others, but be aware of your hand movements and if you naturally use them to express what you say, try to control their movement where possible.

8. Be aware of what your own body language is saying to others - if you want to be more aware of what your body language is saying to others, find out more by videoing yourself or watching yourself in front of a mirror.

9. Consider the congruency between the words you use and your body language - your body language will often back up or contradict the words you use in a situation. Although body language can be open to interpretation when you are talking and acting confidently, make sure the message you are giving is congruent.

10. Get into the right state - if body language is the least of your worries and you feel shy, insecure or nervous in new situations, you can take steps to get you in a confident state. You can act as if you are confident and adopt the stance of a confident networker or anchor a confident feeling to help you to achieve a more certain state.

Are you body language savvy?

2010-08-05T09:05:00.006+01:00

Next Tuesday I am delighted to be speaking at The Talk Network in Portsmouth, where I will be talking about the secrets of effective body language.

So this leads me onto my very first question this morning - are you body language savvy?

Do you know what your non verbal communication says to others when you meet someone for the first time, are networking or meeting friends or colleagues for lunch?

Although there is much debate over the statistics, it cannot be doubted how much your body language and non verbal communication impacts on what you say. Simple things such as your eye contact, hand movements, shrugs, change in facial colouring and other micro-movements can have an impact on the words that you say. If they are not congruent with each other, it will impact on the message you get across.

I would like to give you a challenge this Thursday. Watch other people's body language (discretely!) and notice how their body language impacts on what they say. Or watch TV with the sound off and observe the non verbal communication displayed. Then let me know how you get on!

Top 5 stress management tips

2010-08-02T14:04:00.000+01:00

As I put the finishing touches to the Stress-free Success teleseminar airing on Wednesday evening, let me share 5 of my top stress management tips.

1. Eat your frog every day - do the thing you don't want to do first each day and you will get the satisfaction that it is probably the worst thing you have to do each day. It is also likely to be one that will have the greatest positive impact on your life.

2. Prioritise your to-do list every day by using the ABC technique. Find out more here.

3. Know when you are efficient and effective and schedule tasks when you need to concentrate during these times.

4. Thoughts affect the body, so make sure that your thoughts are positive and empowering. And if they are not, how can you put a positive spin on them?

5. Manage your lifestyle with the food you eat, what you drink, and the exercise you take. Make sure you sleep well as this will help you to manage the pressure in your life.

What are your strategies for stress-free success?

2010-07-28T21:55:00.000+01:00

I was talking to one of my colleagues, Michael Birchmore of Mpower Counselling earlier this week and he told me that stress costs organisations £700 per person each year. Isn't that figure staggering?

Having worked in HR in both the public and private sector for many years and also as a coach, I have seen first hand the effect of stress on people, due to both personal and work-related issues. Now although I believe that stress is an overused word, the effects when pressure becomes too much is unique to each of us.

What are your techniques to manage stress effectively? I'd love you to share your comments below.

Come back later this week and I'll share some of my top tips. To get your own stress-free success, you can join the next Self Discovery Success Club teleseminar next week and find out more.

"Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering." ~ Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne

What stops coaches from running a successful business?

2010-07-26T20:33:00.000+01:00

OK I admit it, this isn't the usual type of post you receive from me on my blog, but I am excited to share a great new report which was out last Wednesday.

Based on research for my new book, the report, 'What stops coaches from running a successful business?' has been widely downloaded since I launched it last week.

If you are a coach, consultant or trainer, this is a must-read and if you run any small business, you need to see what holds people back from achieving success. Find out more at http://www.thesecretsofsuccessfulcoaches.com/.

You will find out:

Why many coaches struggle to run a successful coaching business
Whether niching is the way forward or hinders their success
Why coaches need to have a coach themselves
How you too can achieve business success and discover secrets from successful performance coaches including Michael Neill, Dawn Breslin and Suzy Greaves.

What is your strategy for success?

2010-07-21T15:42:00.000+01:00

This article is taken from the Self Discovery newsletter July 2010.

My observations are that at various times of the year, such as during the summer and in January, people decide to change parts of their career or business.

Maybe this is something to do with taking time out for a break or holiday, then realising that you don't want to go back to reality.

Does this happen to you? Maybe you don't want to go back to work or realise that something needs to change in your life for you to be happy or content.

As we have now hit the halfway mark for 2010, what is your strategy for the rest of the year? Do you want to continue along the status quo or does something need to change?

It is very easy to get caught up in your day to day existence, and also the things you feel you 'should', 'ought' or 'must' do rather than what you actually want to achieve.

So take a few minutes to follow my top 15 tips to create your strategy for success.

1. Know what you want rather than what you don't want. What inspires or motivates you?

2. Make sure that you can measure what you want to achieve and know by when you want it.

3. Write down what you want and also what steps you need to take to get it.

4. Visualise yourself achieving your plan.

5. Prioritise what needs to happen for action to take place.

6. Work out what you can delegate to others to get things done.

7. If it feels overwhelming, break it down into manageable chunks and take small steps every day towards your objective.

8 Know what might get in the way and how you can overcome this.

9. Make your plan visual with pictures or words where you can see them every day.

10. Review your plan regularly to see whether you are on track and what tweaks you might need to make.

11. Write down key milestones and keep a note of these in your diary.

12. Evaluate your achievements and what you have learnt on the journey.

13. Reward your successes and celebrate what has gone well.

14. Find someone who can help and support you each step of the way.

15. Let me know how you get on!

To help you to achieve what you want in your career or business, I would like to extend a very special offer to you.

If you have been struggling to make headway with your objectives for 2010, I would like to invite you to take advantage of a 'special strategy session' where we will work together to:

- Create a crystal clear vision of your ideal future and how you are going to get there
- Uncover anything that is getting in your way and eliminate them from your career or business success
- Enable you to leave the session motivated, re-energised and confident to take the next step.

For just £40 for your 60 minute session, you can create a confident and focused new you this summer.

Please note that places are limited and all strategy sessions must be booked before 21 August and taken before 15 September.

When I ran this offer last year, this is what people had to say:

"I was able to put the thoughts into order, I think that when you speak about things instead of having loads of thoughts running around your head it helps to give some sort of order."

"It was great, I have had a chance to develop my business plan for 2010"

"I now have an understanding of where I am and what I need to do to create my vision"

So just email karen@selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk to book your strategy session today. I look forward to helping you to develop your action plan and enabling you to kick start your success.

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams specialises in career coaching and works with people who have reached a crossroads in their career. She helps them to re-find their direction and the confidence, focus and clarity to find the job they will love. To achieve greater success in your career, download your free gift at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

What is on your bucket list?

2010-06-29T08:00:00.000+01:00

I just love recommendations. And when I mean recommendations, I mean when someone tells me I just must read this book, watch this film, see this TV show. Many great revelations have taken place when I have done so - to be honest, I could do with a hot line to Amazon! But one of the greatest recommendations I had was to watch the film, The Bucket List. Now that's not to say it has been the greatest film I have ever seen, but it made me sit up and take notice. If you haven't seen it before, let me give you an overview.

The Bucket List stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman who meet when they are terminally ill with cancer. Although an unlikely partnership, as they live different lifestyles, one is a millionaire and the other a mechanic, they become friends due to their illnesses.

During their illness, they share a hospital room together and during that time they talk about the things they wanted to do before they die. They leave to pursue their 'bucket list' and both start to make changes in their lives and learn from each other.

So why am I telling you this?

I've found that life passes us by so much quicker than we realise and if we have a 'bucket list' or purpose, it makes us work for what we want to achieve. Last year I created my own bucket list and the number 1 item on the list was to go to Australia, so when my husband won a competition, what did we do with the prize money, well watch out for the photos in a few months time!

But let's get back to practicalities, take yourself forward to when you are in your rocking chair, surrounded by your family and friends. What would you like to have said you have been, done or had in your life? Go on write it down and add it to the bottom of this post. Once you commit to paper or text, I certainly believe that you are more committed to make it happen.

If you want to find out more about finding your purpose, join me on my next teleseminar next Tuesday, where I will be sharing more insights with you, as well as some snippets from my brand new book coming out later this year.

Go on add your own bucket list items now!

What are the secrets of successful coaches?

2010-06-22T11:44:00.000+01:00

Now I know that most of you know me as a career coach. The main aim of my business is to work with people who want to change their career, get out of the corporate world to set up a business they are passionate about, or find a job they will love. But one of the things I have kept relatively quiet about over the last few months is my new book.

Over the last 10 months, I have been modelling successful coaches across the UK and I have also interviewed a very successful coach in the US. This was initially for my NLP Master Practitioner last year as I wanted to know the difference that made the difference between a coach who ran a successful business and one who did not. This research has accumulated in a book, which is coming out later this year.

The book itself has been a huge learning curve and wonderful journey for me as I have had the privilege of interviewing some great business owners, entrepreneurs, and lovely genuine people too! Now is the time for me to start sharing the secrets of their success with you too, so watch this space for more details.

One of the main things that distinguishes these successful coaches is that they run a business based on their values, their purpose and passion. And I will be sharing some of their insights in my next Success Club teleseminar on 6th July, so join us if you can.

How can you find your purpose?

2010-06-11T12:15:00.001+01:00

Thanks to everyone who joined me for the 'Are you a Secret?' teleseminar earlier this week. I have had excellent feedback on the call where I shared some great tips.

When I was deciding the content for the next call on Tuesday 6 July, I was a little stuck. I had loads of ideas but nothing really resonated with me right now. Then serendipity took hold.

Earlier this week, my mentor shared a great story on her blog which I haven't heard for a while. You can read the full story here but let me give you an overview. She talked about a story of a violinist who was playing in Washington DC during the rush hour. Thousands of people passed him on the way to work, but very few people stopped to listen. When he stopped playing after 45 minutes, nobody applauded him or paid any attention. He made $32. But what people didn't know was that he was the famous violinist, Joshua Bell who played just a few days earlier in Boston where tickets sold at $100 per seat. This situation took place as a social experiment which raised some important points.

How often do you keep going in your life at 100 miles per hour, but don't take time to enjoy your life? In her blog, Allison reminded me to sit up and smell the roses.

This led to other situations during the week, where I was reminded that to be truly happy, we need to know and be living our true purpose. If you are in a job that you hate, have relationships that aren't working, or run a business that doesn't meet your needs, it can impact on how you feel about your life. But if you take time to re-find your purpose, your values and your inner truths, it can help you to live a life that is authentic, happy and gives you joy. So on 6 July, you can join me to find your inner purpose and create a life that you love.

Making connections

2010-06-06T10:12:00.002+01:00

Over the last few weeks I have been talking about the power of networking and sharing my top tips. But networking isn't just about going into formal networking meetings, which to be honest, can feel overwhelming. It is about making connections with others, giving and providing support and developing relationships with other people.

As a business woman, I do quite a lot of networking where I go to groups and meet people. I get to speak, make a pitch and share events, but the best outcomes I have is where I get to know people on a one to one basis. A cup of coffee, an hour or two and a chat is all you need. Easy huh?

When you get to know people personally, you can find out how you can help each other to be more successful, share ideas and tips, and make important career or business connections.

So let me leave you with a challenge, how you can you improve your individual networks this week?

Why not get some more ideas by joining me on Wednesday evening for the Are you a Secret? teleseminar. Register at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/teleclass.

Top networking tips

2010-06-01T19:00:00.001+01:00

Carrying on the networking theme over the last couple of weeks, where I have been talking about how you can network for both career or business success, I'd like to share some quick tips with you today that you can use when you go into your next networking situation.

1. Smile - OK so you may think that this is obvious, but is this something you automatically think about if your stomach is churning inside? Take a deep breath and smile and you will come across as approachable and friendly. You will feel more confident about yourself too.

2. Instead of telling people about you as soon as you meet them, ask questions of the other person. Asking open questions, starting with what, where, when, etc, will give you a chance to get to know the other person. If you don't know what to talk about, go in with some stock questions that will allow you to find out the most about the other person. These could be about the event, the speaker, or if in doubt, the weather!

3. Make eye contact with the other person, and most importantly don't look over their shoulder to see if someone more interesting has walked into the room!

4. Remember your listening skills. Find out the other person's name and use it to help you to remember it rather than asking them for it again later.

5. Don't spend all your time with one person. Meet as many people as possible and you want to find out more, request their card so you can follow up with them after the meeting.

What are your top tips? Please share them below. Find out next Wednesday on the Are you a Secret? teleseminar. Click here to find out more and book your place.

What are the secrets of effective networking?

2010-05-28T10:13:00.003+01:00

In my last post I looked at some of the barriers that people put up when it comes to networking. It is easy to say I'm not going to do it because... but what happens if you do step out of your comfort zone and just do it? Well let me give you some of my thoughts.

Networking is a skill that is essential whether you are a business owner or career seeker. That means that no one is exempt from learning this important skill. People need to know that you exist to employ you for your ideal job or help you to advance your business.

Networking is not just about meeting people in large and expensive 'networking' events. Although in saying that, they are great opportunities to get known and to share your expertise and skills with other people. Other types of networking opportunities include one to one meetings with people who you know and trust too.

Networking is about giving not taking. If you are a business person, your purpose of networking is all about helping other people rather than selling your services or products. This may be a shock to some people, but people need to trust you before they decide to take the next step and buy from you.

I'll be back in a few days to give you some tips of how you can make the most of yourself in networking situations. In the meantime, remember to find out tips to get known and become more successful in networking by signing up to my next teleseminar on 9th June.

"It isn't just what you know, & it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, & what you do for a living” – Bob Burg

What is the fuss about networking?

2010-05-27T10:00:00.001+01:00

If you have read my recent blog posts, you will notice that I am running a teleseminar on networking in a couple of week's time. But what is all the fuss about when it comes to networking?

Here are some of the things that I have heard over the last few years...

I don't want to walk into a room of strangers
I don't have time to network with other people
I don't think I'll meet the right people
How do I sell myself?
I'm worried I won't know what to say
I'm struggling to perfect my pitch
How am I going to make the sale?
I can't find a networking group that I like

Can you add any more? How do you feel when you go to a networking meeting?

We can go through a range of emotions when we need to go out of our comfort zone, such as attending a face-to-face networking event. Whereas some people love doing something new, other people find it hard to meet new people, make small talk or make an impact with other people. But when you know how to do it well, it will become a natural and enjoyable part of your life.

Come back in a couple of days and I'll dispell these myths for you and tell you what to focus on instead.

Are you a secret?

2010-05-24T10:00:00.003+01:00

People always tell me that they want to grow their business or get ahead in their career, but they don't know how to find the right people to help them to get there. They fail to tell people what they want, don't network with people who could help them or struggle to get their message across to the right people.

If you run a business and you don't tell people you exist you won't get the clients you need and grow your business.

If you are a wallflower at work, you will blend into the background and won't be the first point of call when a promotion arises.

When you are seeking a new job or are making contacts as part of your business, connecting with others, having conversations and getting to know people is the key to your success. And if you don't do that, you will find it a damn sight more difficult to achieve what you want!

So if you want to get noticed, join me the 'Are you a secret?' teleseminar at 8pm on Wednesday 9 June and you will discover:

* Easy to implement networking tips that you can use straight away for business and career change
* Simple steps you can take to get known for the right reasons
* All about the six degrees of separation and how you can start to connect with the right people to propel your success!

Here is what one of the Success Club members said about the last call:

"I just wanted to congratulate you on the last teleseminar. I couldn't attend in the moment but it's great that you sent it and I can listen in my own time. I found it so useful... And I am putting it all into action. I think you have a great voice and manner and really aided me to think." Joanne Sintes, http://www.fitforbusiness.es/.

So what are you waiting for?

To join us on this teleclass, simply click here to register today to guarantee your place for just £10 or free if you are a member of the success club.

"Think about it: everybody you know, everyone that you meet, also know about 250 people. So every time you cultivate a relationship with one new person, you have actually expanded your personal inventory by 250 people - every single time." -- Bob Burg, Author and Speaker

What networking do you do?

2010-05-21T12:02:00.000+01:00

Yesterday evening I had the privilege of sharing the research I have been doing for my new book at the Hampshire Coaching Group meeting in Fareham. I had a great response from the group, so watch this space!

One of the main topics that came up during the evening is networking. As a new coach or small business owner, getting out there and getting known can be a scary aspect of building a business. You don't know where to start, where to find out information or indeed what type of networking will work for you.

If you are in this situation, I would suggest that you start by joining me on Wednesday 9 June at 8pm for my brand new teleseminar, 'Are you a secret?' Click here to find out more and I'll be sharing some more snippets about networking over the next few weeks. So click to follow my blog to make sure you keep up to date!

How good is your sat nav?

2010-05-17T16:00:00.000+01:00

This article is taken from the Self Discovery newsletter May 2010.

We constantly hear stories about how a person's sat nav takes them down the wrong path. Some have found themselves on the edge of a cliff, in a forge or flood or maybe it has just taken them the wrong way. We rely on these devices to get us to where we want to go, in the quickest time or shortest distance.

But the way in which a sat nav works is similar to the way you run your life and create your own personal journey.

• It monitors the speed in which you pursue your life
• It warns you about speed cameras and advises you to slow down when you are going over the speed limit
• It tells you which direction to take, even if sometimes it takes you down the wrong path
• It corrects your course when you have taken the wrong road
• It tells you to take a break when you have been driving for too long
• It needs intelligence too as you cannot always rely on it without reading the road signs as well
• It can advise you of congestion ahead and suggest another route
• You need to keep it safe and secure at all times
• You can set it for the quickest time or shortest distance, or perhaps take a scenic route
• If you can't find your GPS, it can be difficult to make the easiest decision
• It gives you the opportunity to enjoy the scenery as well as watching the road
• You need to learn how to use it to make it work effectively for you
• If you forget your charger, it will soon run out of juice!

How would you like to use your sat nav more effectively?

1. Listen when it tells you to slow down as you will be more effective when you give yourself time and take a break.
2. Remember to recharge your batteries regularly.
3. Take your time when you want to change your route, as well as using your sat nav, check your map or ask for directions to make sure you take the right road.
4. Don't worry if you make a mistake, as you can change your course if you need to, and you may find that the alternative route has more beautiful scenery.
5. Enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination." Don Williams Jnr

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams is a personal development coach who specialises in career coaching and works with people who have reached a crossroads in their career. She helps them to re-find their direction and the confidence, focus and clarity to find the job they will love. To achieve greater success in your career, download your free e-book now at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

Taking your own medicine

2010-05-12T14:35:00.000+01:00

This month I have been taking my own medicine and just returned from a short break to Somerset and surrounds. Although my muscles are extremely stiff from a breathtaking trek around Lydford Gorge in Devon, I feel refreshed and ready for the next few months of fun and excitement in my business and personal life.

In this short blog post, I would like to ask you, when do you take your own medicine or should I say, your own advice? It is very easy to dish out advice to others, but taking your own steps towards your own success is not always easy. So let me leave a question with you and please leave your comments below!

If you could give advice to you right now, what would it be and why?

What is stopping you?

2010-05-05T09:15:00.003+01:00

Wow, I had another great teleseminar last night and fab feedback too. For those of you who were unable to join us, I would like to share a few of my favourite tips to help you to get off your backside and take action!

Know what time of day you are most effective and do the most important tasks then
If you have a project to undertake, get rid of distractions, turn off your phone and emails
At the end of each day review what you have achieved and start your plans for the following day
Use a diary or planning tool such as Microsoft Outlook's task bar
Get organised - clear your desk, clear your mind!
Know what 20% gets you 80% of your results
Take single steps every day towards what you want to achieve
Use the ABC technique (see my post below)
Eat your frog every day and do the thing that you would prefer to put off
Oh and celebrate your successes every day too!

What are your tips? Please add them below.

Do you know your ABC?

2010-04-28T15:00:00.002+01:00

Like many people these days, to get things done I have a 'to do' list, but like many people, I also have items on my list that don't get done or get put off for another day. Do you have the same type of list? Or do you feel overwhelmed with the sheer amount of stuff that you need to do?

So, what do you do about it, I hear you cry! Well do you know your ABC?

The ABC method is a great way of planning what you need and want to do. So, firstly look at your 'to do' list. What ultimately must be done today? These are the items that are critical to your success. OK, do you have some critical actions? Mark these items with an A.

What items need to be done this week? They are important but not urgent activities. Call these items the B activities and write this letter by those items on your list.

Then finally what is left on your list? Are these important? If so, and they are not time critical or can wait for now, mark these items with a C.

Do you have anything else on your list? If so, follow my favour mantra, do, ditch or delegate!

Now it's time to get on and get these done - A's first by the way!

This is just one of 7 action planning tips that I will be sharing with you on my next teleseminar on Tuesday 4 May. Find out more today! http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/teleclass

What are your favourite planning tips?

A good way to start is to start badly

2010-04-17T14:00:00.002+01:00

This article is taken from the Self Discovery newsletter April 2010

What would you say to me if I suggested that a great place to start is to start badly than to never start at all?

This is one of the great tips shared by Dr Robert Holden at the Shift your Life event last Saturday which leads very nicely into my article this month.

Take a few moments to think. Do you have a desire to change something in your life but don't yet feel ready to take action? Maybe you think you don't have enough time, experience, knowledge, money or ability. But my question to you is what would happen if you are never ready to do something about it?

One of the things I have learnt in my business is that I could spend days, weeks or years thinking about something, but unless I take action, nothing is going to happen. I'm not going to move closer to my ideal life or dreams. So the trick is to do something now even if it is not perfect (even if that means you start badly!)

There are so many people these days who want to pursue their dreams but stop themselves doing it. They see other people doing something similar and put it down to luck, special abilities or something else, when really, with the right mindset, they can do it equally well themselves. All it takes is focus, planning and action.

So, with this in mind, I would like to share an activity that you can do right now. Take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. Name the left column 'badly' and the right column 'well'. Think about the activity you want to complete (but maybe you are putting off right now). Then in the left column, write down what would happen if you did that activity badly. Spend a few minutes writing your ideas down. In the right column, write down what would happen if you did that activity well. Take a few moments to write down your ideas.

What thought or ideas do you have in front of you?
What is the worst that could happen if you take action today?
How can you make sure that the first action you take goes well?

Please let me know how you get on with this activity, I would love to hear from you.

Here are some thoughts to spur to you action:

* If you say you will do it some day, some day will never happen.
* Successful entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Duncan Bannatyne made many mistakes on their journey, but they took action.
* 20% of what you do gets 80% of the results.
* When you start projects, the momentum will keep you going, so just take that first step.
* Know why you want to do something and if your why is big enough, you will work out how you are going to do it.

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." ~ Anatole France

Get off your backside and take action!

If you want more ideas like this or want to find out how you can get off your backside and take action, join me for my next training teleseminar on Tuesday 4 May at 8pm. You will find out about your comfort zone - what it is and how you can expand it, how to feel the fear and do it anyway and new action planning techniques for your success.

This workshop is included in the membership of the Self Discovery Success Club for just £20 per month. Just go to www.selfdiscoverysuccessclub.com to join today.

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams is a personal development coach who specialises in career coaching and works with people who have reached a crossroads in their career. She helps them to re-find their direction and the confidence, focus and clarity to find the job they will love. To achieve greater success in your career, download your free e-book now at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.

What stops you taking action?

2010-04-15T13:50:00.000+01:00

In my last couple of posts, I have focused on success. You can read below for some great tips.

But what happens when things get in the way? Do any of the following ring true for you?

When I face an unpleasant task, I often put it off
If I have a big project I feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start, so often I don't start it
I find it hard to make my mind up what to do about something so delay making a decision and do nothing
I want everything to be perfect and it never is
I don't know what direction to take, I've lost my focus or direction
I find it easy to get caught up in distractions and never get on with the really important stuff
I'm scared of making a mistake or getting something wrong, so I stay in my comfort zone
Sometimes other things get in the way, so I put off the things that are really important

If they do get in the way of your success, that's OK, we all face our gremlins or distractions from time to time, but luckily there is something you can do about it.

If you face an unpleasant task, consider the benefits of doing the task. Is the outcome more important than the discomfort of taking action?
If you have a big project to achieve, break it down into manageable chunks and take one step at a time.
If you find it hard to make decisions, what or who will help you to make up your mind?
If you want everything to be perfect, what will happen if it's not?
If you have lost your focus, what will help you to re-find it?
If you get caught up in other distractions, give yourself a timeframe when you will just do one thing and see how productive you are
If you are scared of making a mistake or going out of your comfort zone, how will you feel in six month's time if you haven't taken any action? What is the worst that could happen if something went wrong?
If other things get in the way, is it time to reassess what is important?

So, no excuses, what are you going to do today to take action?

If you're not sure what to do first, join me for my next training teleseminar on Tuesday 4 May at 8pm and get some great tips to get off your backside and take action!

How do you future proof your career?

2010-04-12T10:00:00.001+01:00

In my recent blog, I referred to a great article in HR Magazine which talked about the benefits of career coaching to organisations. But as an individual wanting to create an enjoyable and fulfilling career, what can you do to future proof your career?

In my recent success club teleclass, I talked about How to Maximise your Potential, which demonstrated many techniques in which you can future proof your career. If you learn how to understand your strengths, work on your weaknesses and build on your skills, this is a great place to start. Once you do this, it will help you to find your ideal job, refocus your CV and take the next steps in your career.

So what else do you need to do? Here are some great tips for you:

Keep up to date with IT changes in your field and your general computer skills - if they need improving, learn from the experts or go on some training.
Keep an eye on the competition. This includes other people who may be competing for similar jobs to get an understanding of their abilities, as well as competitor organisations which you may like to work for, and the types of jobs they have of interest.
Find out what opportunities there are in your organisation as this will allow you progress and develop your skills.
Talk to people who can support you, develop your networks and find people who can put you in touch with other people too.
Take advantage of learning and development opportunities both within and outside of your organisation. Have a look at this one to give you an idea about what you can do - http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/documents/Careerworkshop.doc.

Why career coaching is beneficial to staff and organisations

2010-04-06T20:59:00.000+01:00

If this blog rings true for you, check out the Self Discovery Success Club for great advice to get you back on track in your career.

In HR Magazine last week, there was a very interesting article, which stated that career coaching is believed to be beneficial for organisations and their staff, but more than three-quarters of employers do not offer this service.

Although many employers offer career management interventions such as 360 degree feedback, personal development plans and outplacement services when employees leave due to redundancy, they rarely offer career coaching for their staff.

As a coach, occassionally I am asked to support staff who are on capability programmes or are underperforming, but rarely to support the people who are doing well. Many of my personal clients come to me because they are dissatisfied at work, fed up with the corporate grind or are finding that the corporate values no longer meet their own, but with the cost of recruiting new staff being around £6,000, is career coaching a way forward for employers?

Although I admit it, sometimes it is a good idea to bring new blood and new ideas into an organisation, but often it is worth valuing and supporting the staff that are already employed. They have a wealth or knowledge about both the company and the role, as well, with the right support, motivation and knowledge, they can take the next step up the ladder too. Sometimes employees just need to feel valued, supported and cared for. Failure to do so can result in people leaving for other roles, taking with them valuable knowledge and ideas. What do you think?

How well do you know yourself?

2010-03-26T12:38:00.000Z

As I spend this afternoon preparing for my next teleseminar on Tuesday evening, I wanted to find a way to introduce the topic of 'How to maximise your potential' for my listeners. As you will have seen from my recent posts, people generally find it easier to recognise their weaknesses rather than their strengths and sometimes they find it difficult to recognise what they are actually good at.

One model that I haven't visited for a while is Johari's window, and I thought it would be useful to briefly share this with you today.

Johari's window is a widely used model used to demonstrate self awareness, and is often used as a personal development tool and to develop relationship and team skills. It concentrates on four segments of self awareness representing one's feelings, experience, views, attitudes, skills, intentions, and motivation. It is usually shown as a square with four quadrants representing the following areas.

1. The first area is the open area - this is what is known by yourself and others, so this will include the strengths, weaknesses, skills and talents that you and others see.

2. The second area is the blindspot - this includes what others see, but you may not be aware of.

3. The third area is the hidden area - this includes what you know about yourself but you do not share this with others and may include a facade you may put on to prevent yourself from revealing information to others.

4. The fourth area is the unknown area - this includes information or skills that you and your peers do not know about, which could include an ability that you rarely use or a hidden talent.

So in a nutshell, the more you know about yourself, the more effective you can be as you can reduce the size of the unknown area and your blindspots. When you take time to recognise and work to your strengths, it is easier to maximise your true potential.

For more information about Johari's window, please follow the link below.

http://www.businessballs.com/johariwindowmodel.htm

How to be a winner

2010-03-24T16:06:00.000Z

I've recently been watching a series on Sky One called "How to get what you want". It's very interesting and although I am a few episodes behind (good old Virgin V+), there were some tips I wanted to share with you from the latest show I have watched.

To be a winner, you need to get the small details right and one of the ways they suggest doing this is through completing a SWOT analysis. If you know what you are capable of, you can direct your energies towards this rather than away from what you don't want in your life.

If you have never come across SWOT before, it stands for:

Strengths - what you are good at
Weaknesses - what you need to work on
Opportunities - what might help you to get on
Threats - what might get in your way.

If you have a specific goal to achieve, you can do your own SWOT analysis to help you to articulate what attributes you can take into that situation. And once you know your strengths, it will give you the confidence to say, "yes I can do that!"

More about this programme soon, and if you want to know more about your strengths, skills and how to overcome any obstacles, why don't you join me for my next training teleseminar, "How to maximise your potential", taking place on Tuesday 30 March at 8pm UK time. Click here to find out how you can join me.

How to make the most of you

2010-03-17T12:57:00.000Z

If someone asked you what you were good at, what would be your response?

Would you find it easy to tell people what your qualities are, or would you mutter, gasp or change the subject very quickly?

Generally people struggle to understand or articulate their strengths and their skills, what they are good at and where they excel.

Many people find it easier to talk about their weaknesses. You may find yourself saying ‘I can't do this’, ‘I'm no good at that’, or put yourself down, and find it hard to accept that you do have strengths and abilities. Or perhaps you haven’t ever thought about this subject before.

Understanding your strengths and your skills shouldn’t just be confined to the time that you are in a job interview or writing a business plan when you need to state in what areas you excel, but are an important part of your career or business success.

Strengths are the qualities and characteristics you demonstrate, which may include areas such as patience, determination or drive, and skills include your ability to do certain activities well.

If you know what you are good at you can behave accordingly and make the most of your abilities, and if you know what you are not so good at, you can either take steps to improve these areas or ditch or delegate these tasks to others!

Knowing your strengths can help you in your career or your business in the following ways:

You can develop a career that takes advantage of your qualities and talents.
You can find out how you can stand out from the crowd.
In business, you can develop a niche in your marketplace and distinguish yourself from your competitors.
You will know how you can present a positive image to new employers or clients.
You know what work you are going to be good at and when you need delegate work to others.
You can focus on how you can develop your weaknesses.

So do you really know what you are good at?

If you've said yes, that's great news. How do you know what you are good at and how do you make the most of these strengths?

If you've said no, what would help you to make the most of you?

Here are my top tips to find out what you are good at – go on, take the plunge, it will be worth it.

1. Complete a personal SWOT analysis – taking a large piece of paper, break it down into four areas labelled strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, then reflect on each area and complete the grid. (Note you can find full information about how to carry out a SWOT analysis in the Success Club).

2. Reflect on activities and events during your life – review what have been your strengths during these times and if you have one, record these strengths in your success diary.

3. Think about the strengths that you exhibit at work or in your business.

4. Ask your friends, family or colleagues to tell you what you are good at – you may find this difficult, but often other people will see things that you don’t see yourself.

5. Take a personality profile – you can take a DISC personal profile with Self Discovery Coaching and there are other personality profiles you can complete online.

6. Attend the training teleseminar on 30 March at 8pm where I will be helping you to maximise your potential. In this teleseminar you will learn how you can understand what you are good at, how to exploit these strengths and skills, how to recognise what is holding you back, and develop a personal action plan for your business or career success.

So go on start to recognise and celebrate your strengths today.

If you have any tips to add or would like to share your experiences, please add your comments below.

How do you celebrate your successes?

2010-03-10T14:00:00.004Z

As the Self Discovery Success Club launched last week, I am very much reminded about the concept of success and the different meanings that the word success has to different people. Whether it is a big or a small success, like many people I forget to celebrate my successes and need reminding!

Here are some tips that you can follow to celebrate your successes.

1. Keep a success journal

The first 10 people who signed up to the Self Discovery Success Club received a Louise L Hay journal to record their successes. I've had great feedback and I love this journal as it includes inspirational quotes and beautiful illustrations to motivate you to record what has gone well for you.

To keep a success journal, develop a habit of recording your top 3 successes every evening in a journal or notebook before going to bed. What has gone well that day? What have you learnt? Who has been your inspiration? You have a motivational record of what has gone well whenever you need a boost and can also remind yourself of how far you have developed your skills.

2. Have a plan and take action!

If you want to achieve a goal or objective, develop a plan for your success. Once you know what you want to achieve, you can start moving in the right direction. But the most important part of your plan is taking action, taking single steps each day to achieve your dreams or ambitions.

3. Know your why

Although you might have a great plan and be taking consistent action, sometimes it is easy to fall off track and lose your reason for doing something. If this has happened to you, reconnect with yourself. Remind yourself of your 'why'. Your 'why' is the reason you are doing something, and when you know your why, you can start reworking on the 'how' you are going to achieve it.

4. Enjoy the journey and the successes you have along the way

If you are always striving for the next big thing, you will never take time to enjoy the individual successes along the way. Take time to focus on the things that have gone well and the good things that have happened to you. Just like you would break a large goal down into manageable chunks, do the same with your successes.

Do you want to develop your own success story? - why not join me at the Self Discovery Success Club. Click here for more information and find your true purpose with this great online membership club.

Stop press: Find out more about the Self Discovery Success Club!

2010-03-09T18:51:00.000Z

Have you seen this video yet? Enjoy some motivational music and find out more about the Self Discovery Success Club.

Three free time management tips

2010-03-01T09:00:00.000Z

Do you find it hard to fit everything into your life? Let me share three top time management tips with you. These are taken from the e-book, 20 tips for better time management, which is downloadable free as part of your membership to the Self Discovery Success Club which launches tomorrow. Find out more here.

1. Think about how you currently spend your time. Keep a time log for a week, breaking your days into detailed sections. If you work, what are you actually doing and how long does it take you? Once you find out how you spend your time, you can identify the time wasters and what you could do to better manage your time.

2. It may help to take time out to look at where you are currently. Do you want to carry on working the way you are? Do you have enough time to spend with your friends and family? Do you have enough time for your hobbies and leisure time? Once you have decided where you want to spend your time, you can make changes to that area of your life.

3. Be prepared to make drastic changes to your life. Identify areas where you waste time and avoid these activities. Also, be aware of the activities which take up too much your time and find new and creative ways of doing things.

Your special career tips part 10

2010-02-27T12:47:00.007Z

I hope you have enjoyed the 100 job tips as posted on Twitter and Facebook. Here are the final 10 tips for you.

Job tip #91 Be rested, make sure you get enough sleep each night.

Job tip #92 Take time to exercise every day to recharge your mind and body.

Job tip #93 Find someone who does a job you would love to do and learn from them.

Job tip #94 Want to work for yourself? Who can you talk to who can help you?

Job tip #95 Embrace new problems as an opportunity to learn and develop.

Job tip #96 Been made redundant? How could you use this as an opportunity to change your life?

Job tip #97 Be clear about what you want to achieve and take small steps every day.

Job tip #98 “the best way to predict the future is to invent it” – Alan Kay

Job tip #99 What one thing can you do today that will make you feel great?

Job tip #100 I hope you enjoyed my 100 top job tips. What will be different now?

Your special career tips part 9

2010-02-24T12:46:00.000Z

As I get towards the end of my 100 job tips, here are tips 81 - 90. Enjoy!

Job tip #81 Understand change and embrace the opportunities that change can give you.

Job tip #82 Develop your networks of professionals and recognise your transferable skills.

Job tip #83 Go to career fairs or small business exhibitions and broaden your outlook.

Job tip #84 Subscribe to online job listings as you never know what opportunities may pop up.

Job tip #85 When was the last time you updated your CV? Go on review it today.

Job tip #86 What professional development do you plan to do this year?

Job tip #87 Celebrate your successes, however big or small.

Job tip #88 Declutter your desk, you will become more productive.

Job tip #89 Use your leisure time well, spend time with family and friends.

Job tip #90 Drink more water and less caffeine, you will feel more alert.

Want more information like this? Find out more about the Self Discovery Success Club - http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/success_club.html

Just 9 days to go...

2010-02-21T10:50:00.000Z

Find out more about the Self Discovery Success Club.

Register for more details at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/success_club.html or join our introductory teleclass at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/teleclass.html.

How can you be more efficient?

2010-02-18T16:12:00.000Z

Over the last few weeks, I have been putting together my material for the Self Discovery Success Club which launches on 2 March. I've been amazed by the amount of resources I have and would like to share a short time management tip with you today.

Have you heard of the ‘Pareto principle’? It is probably better known as the 80/20 rule. This means that 20% of all your activities will account for 80% of your results.

Consider what tasks or activities will give you the best outcome and return on your time. Then if you achieve those most important things, you will get the best results.

What activities are the most rewarding and productive for you, and which are not?

Find out what would give you the best 80% and spend your time on these activities. Let me know how you get on!

Your special career tips part 8

2010-02-12T12:00:00.001Z

I hope you have enjoyed our 100 top career tips in 140 characters as posted on Twitter.

Here are tips 71 - 80.

Job tip #71 If you are feeling stressed, recognise your feelings and take control of the situation.

Job tip #72 Keep a success journal to reflect on what has gone well and what you can improve.

Job tip #73 Choose your battles wisely. Do you want to win the battle or the war?

Job tip #74 Ask for feedback from your colleagues, managers and peers and work on their tips.

Job tip ~75 At the end of each day, prioritise what you want to achieve the next day.

Job tip #76 Discover 7 fail safe ways to achieve success in your job or career. Join our free teleclass at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/teleclass.html.

Job tip #77 Take time to plan but don't plan to perfection. Remember to take action too.

Job tip #78 Learn from others, observe their skills, talents and abilities.

Job tip #79 Become a mentor for others and share your own knowledge and learning.

Job tip #80 Keep yourself updated on new trends in your industry.

Would you like 7 fail safe ways to achieve success in your career or business?

2010-02-10T17:14:00.001Z

Do you feel you are stuck in a rut?
Have you got loads of ideas, but find it hard to find the motivation to take action?
Are you going around in circles and are not getting anywhere?

If you have said yes to any of the questions above, you will want to join us on this exclusive teleclass at 8pm on Tuesday 2 March to help you to break this cycle.

Time goes so quickly these days that we have loads of ideas to implement but find it hard to get everything done that we want to do. Sometimes we put our own plans and ideas on the back burner as other things become a priority.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Join us for this special teleclass and in just one hour you will find out:

What success means to you and how you can achieve this
How you can define what you want more of and what you want less of in your life
7 fail safe ways you can achieve success in your career or business.

In this one off teleclass, I will be revealing full details about the Self Discovery Success Club and how you can be part of this exciting new membership club.

So what are you waiting for? To join us on this FREE teleclass, simply register at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/teleclass.html and let me know what you want to be different in your career or business to achieve success.

Your special career tips part 7

2010-02-02T19:32:00.002Z

Here are the next 10 career tips from Self Discovery Coaching.

Job tip #61 Do you want a pay rise or promotion? Ask yourself what you have done to deserve this. If you have enough reasons, go for it!

Job tip #62 Be a coach at work. Ask great questions, listen attentively and help others to succeed.

Job tip #63 What would you love to do? If you are not doing it already, what can you do about it?

Job tip #64 “Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else”. James M Barrie.

Job tip #65 Are you a perfectionist? What would happen if you did a good job and then moved onto something else?

Job tip #66 Always ask great questions – find out what, where, when, how, who.

Job tip #67 Know what makes you happy and just do it

Job tip #68 Expect interruptions, and that you will often have to be reactive rather than proactive .

Job tip #69 Think about which activities are a “need to do” and which ones are a “nice to do”.

Job tip #70 Don't look at emails first thing in the morning - how can you be more productive?

What happens when things go wrong?

2010-01-29T14:59:00.000Z

One of the things I have realised over the last 6 months is that life is too short to be stressed. Things go wrong from time to time and how we view these things have an impact on how we feel, what we do about it, and ultimately upon our health and wellbeing.

There are people who like to push our hot buttons which may cause us to react in a certain way, or some situations just might make you mad. As I review my notes for the Handling Stress training for 'She's Got Talent' tomorrow, let me ask you some questions.

What happens when things go wrong in your life?
How do you react?
What then happens next?
What could you do differently?

Here are three of my top tips:

1.You can't necessarily control what has happened to you, but you can control how you react to it. Sometimes calmness and sincerity will get you further than tears and tantrums.
2. It is also important to get things off your chest - having a close friend, colleague or partner who allows you to rant from time to time can help as well.
3. Take a deep breath, count to ten or just walk away.

What are your top tips? Please leave your comments below!

Your special career tips part 6

2010-01-16T14:20:00.001Z

More job tips from Self Discovery Coaching, read on for tips 51 to 60!

Job tip #51 What three things are annoying you in your job? Write them down. What can you do to reduce their effect on you?

Job tip #52 What three things do you enjoy about your job? How can you make these even better?

Job tip #53 Who do you want to meet to get ahead in your career, work or business? What can you do today to do this?

Job tip #54 What are your skills? How do you excel? How can you be even better at what you do?

Job tip #55 Take time to plan your day when you arrive at work. What must you do today?

Job tip #56 Eat your frog today. Do that thing you don't want to do and your day can only get better. Let me know how you get on!

Job tip #57 Go on a complaints diet. Avoid negativity, office politics and unhelpful comments.

Job tip #58 When someone asks 'how are you?' instead of saying 'fine', 'not bad' or 'OK', say something more positive instead

Job tip #59 “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” - Thomas Edison

Job tip #60 Want to feel more confident? Why not ‘act as if’ you are confident?

What are your priorities?

2010-01-11T13:26:00.000Z

As the UK takes time out to cope with the big freeze, the last week has affected the way many people work and live their lives. I have noticed that priorities have changed, as neighbours take time to help each other out, and people have to adjust to the fact they can't always do what they want to do.

I've noticed on social networking sites such as Facebook, that people are taking the time to look out for each other and many people are making the most of the time they have at home. From making warming foods and baking bread, to enjoying cups of tea made by their children, they have been taking time to enjoy themselves despite the interruption to their schedule.

It is very easy to get caught up in the rat race and the daily grind, rather than take time to reassess what is important and what you want to change in your life.

If you have been forced to take time off over the last week, how have your priorities changed?

If they haven't, how would you like to change them in the future?

Please share your thoughts and comments below.

Your special career tips part 5

2010-01-08T16:19:00.001Z

If you have been following me for a while, you will have seen my series of top 100 job tips on Twitter, Facebook and on the Career Health Check blog. Read on today for tips 41-50. Enjoy and please leave me your comments if you have job tips to add.

Job tip #41 When was the last time you did a SWOT analysis on yourself? Take 10 minutes now to list these.

Job tip #42 Never stop learning.

Job tip #43 Listen to your colleagues, boss, and peers. You can learn a lot from their experience and knowledge.

Job tip #44 Want to learn something new, but feel stuck in your job? Ask for extra responsibilities or a new project.

Job tip #45 Develop your perfect pitch. Who are you and what do you do? How do you convince someone to hire you?

Job tip #46 Consider who are your role models? Who do you aspire to be like and why?

Job tip #47 Take some time to consider what your goals are for 2010. What do you want to be, do or have?

Job tip #48 "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." - Dale Carnegie

Job tip #49 Embrace the change going on around you. See each change as a new opportunity to grow, learn and develop.

Job tip #50 If you want to make changes in your job, stop moaning or worrying and take action. What's the worst or best that can happen?

How to create a vision board

2010-01-04T10:00:00.001Z

In my last post I mentioned creating a vision board. If you don't know what a vision board is, I thought I would produce a quick tips guide for you.

A vision or mood board can be used to visually create a picture of what you want your life to be like. Often used with the law of attraction, it can help you to attract what you want into your life.

1. Using the tips in my last post, start to create your vision and goals for the coming year. What do you want to do, be or have this year? What are your goals, dreams or ideals?

2. Prepare to create your vision board. I like to take an A3 piece of card, a selection of my favourite magazines, glue, and scissors. Then sit down somewhere where you have some time and space. Put on an uplifting piece of music too!

3. Taking your goals for the coming year, go through the magazine and cut out any pictures, words or phrases that resonate with you and your goals. Or you could print some of your favourite quotes off your PC too and use different materials and textures if you are feeling creative.

4. Once you have cut out your pictures, words, etc, arrange and stick them onto your board.

5. Place your board somewhere that you can see every day to remind you of your goals.

Done!

Have any tips to add? Click on the comments tab and list on this blog today.

The problems with New Year’s Resolutions

2010-01-01T10:00:00.000Z

This is the time of year when many of us make New Year's resolutions. Often we set out with good intentions at the start of the year, but it is easy to lose focus and break our resolutions within the first couple of days. Then once we have lost our focus, it is easy to stop concentrating on our goals and not making changes or progressing in our lives.

But do you know it doesn’t have to be like that. You can take a new approach and use this year to make substantial changes in your life. Keep yourself on the straight and narrow and love the life you live by following my top tips for your success.

1. Firstly, I would suggest that you forget the 'should do's', 'oughts to's', and 'must do's' and set yourself targets that you really want to achieve.

2. Phrase your goals positively, focusing on what you want rather than what you don't want.

3. Be specific and precise about what you actually want to achieve and how you are going to do it. The detail will help you to concentrate on what you want.

4. Start to plan your achievement, including mini-reviews. Set yourself time limits for achieving your target - you could make a note in your diary to check your progress.

5. Make sure that what you want to achieve is realistic. If your goal seems too big, it will appear impossible to accomplish. You might find it easier to break it down into manageable chunks that are more within your control.

6. Write down your goals and pin them up somewhere you will see everyday - this will help you to regularly focus on your objectives. Or perhaps you could create a vision board with pictures representing what you want in your life right now.

7. Consider what it will be like once you have achieved your goals. What will you see and hear? How will you feel? It can be a great motivator to visualise how things will be different when you have achieved your goals.

8. Think about any difficulties or obstacles you might face and how you can overcome these. And importantly believe in yourself - you can do it!

9. Think about who can support you. Tell a partner, friend or colleague who can encourage you to achieve your targets and celebrate your successes. Or get a coach or a mentor who will motivate you on your journey.

10. Remember to reward yourself for your achievements, however big or small, along the way.

Achieve career success in 2010

2009-12-30T14:38:00.000Z

You might think I am crazy, but with all the changes I am making to Self Discovery Coaching in 2010, I am about to remove the e-book, 'Your Complete Guide to Career Success' from my website.

I wanted to give you your last opportunity to have access to this e-book at JUST £12 (saving you 50% off the usual price) to kick start your career this New Year. Please note that there are just 30 copies available so take action today.

For your 50% discount on the usual price for the 'Your Complete Guide to Career Success' e-book, just click here and enter NY2010 in the voucher code box.

At whatever stage you are in your career, whether you are just starting out, looking for promotion, wanting a complete career change, or simply fed up with your job, it can be hard to know how to take the next step. The process of looking for a new job, understanding what you are good at, and getting through a job interview can make you feel overwhelmed, demotivated and not sure which direction to take.

Well it doesn't have to be that way. 'Your Complete Guide to Career Success' e-book is a four-step complete guide to your career change and achieving success at work. It will help you to:

Understand what is important to you in your career
Know what you can do to increase your levels of satisfaction
Understand your skills and strengths and vision for your future career
Develop a winning CV and application to help you to sell your skills in a job interview
Know how to develop networks with people to help your career change
Prepare for a great job interview and understand how to excel in assessment centres
Make a great first impression through having a positive image and body language at every contact
Develop the confidence and skills to get the job you desire

This 108 page e-book will take you through a journey of self-discovery and enable you to identify all the steps you need to follow to find the right job or career for you.

And as an extra gift for you, this e-book comes with a fantastic set of free bonus articles which include:

20 ways to increase your confidence
Achieve balance in your working life
The career change challenge - shall I stay or shall I go?
How to set and achieve goals - 10 top tips
Verbs for your CV
Improve your body language
Giving confident and powerful presentations
Introduction to DISC personal profiles

If you are serious about taking the next step and want some ideas to help you to make practical change, take the next step now to develop your personal action plans to help you to make the right move and find the right job or career for you.

For your 50% discount on the usual price for the 'Your Complete Guide to Career Success' e-book, just click here and enter NY2010 in the voucher code box.

Your special career tips part 4

2009-12-22T11:32:00.001Z

Do you want to make your career shine in 2010? Here are numbers 31-40 of my top 100 job tips. Follow my top job tips daily, connect with me on Twitter or Facebook.

Job tip #31 Balance your life and work effectively. Take time to be with family and friends, plan future events.

Job tip #32 Remain motivated. Develop a clear vision for your future, take steps each day to achieve your objective.

Job tip #33 When you wake up in the morning, focus on what you want to achieve that day, then just do it!

Job tip #34 How do you manage your time each day? Prioritise, prepare and plan don't procrastinate!

Job tip #35 How do you build rapport? Top tips - eye contact, open body language, listen, ask questions and smile.

Job tip #36 When you have a challenge to face, visualise it going well and being successful.

Job tip #37 Take one step every day to stretch and expand your comfort zone. How have you been brave today?

Job tip #38 Reward yourself for the effort you take to get things done not just for the outcome. How can you do this?

Job tip #39 Give positive feedback to anyone who has supported or helped you, people remember the thank-you's.

Job tip #40 If you want to change your career, first find out about other opportunities in your organisation.

Your special career tips part 3

2009-12-17T11:31:00.000Z

What are your top tips to advance your career? Here are numbers 21-30 of my top 100 job tips. Follow my top job tips daily, connect with me on Twitter or Facebook.

Job tip #21 Have a career plan. Do you know where you want to be in 1, 5 or 10 years time?

Job tip #22 You are 6 steps from the person you want to meet. Who will help your career or business? Who can introduce you?

Job tip #23 Learn from your mistakes, brush yourself down and move on.

Job tip #24 Keep a success journal outlining all your achievements, add to regularly, no matter how small you think it is.

Job tip #25 Consider all parts of your life when you change your career, e.g. work/life balance, salary, career progression.

Job tip #26 Prepare for competency based interviews using specific examples of situations where you have been successful.

Job tip #27 If you believe in yourself and your abilities, you will be successful and turn your dreams into reality.

Job tip #28 Join a professional organisation to meet potential contacts or organisations, & attend interesting presentations.

Job tip #29 Join a local networking group. Meet with like-minded people, promote your skills, share experiences with others.

Job tip #30 On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with work right now? What would make it a 10? How will you get there?

Your special career tips part 2

2009-12-07T09:00:00.003Z

To continue the top 100 job tips, here are tips 11 - 20. To follow my top job tips daily, connect with me on Twitter or Facebook.

Job tip #11- Think 'what does a good day look like today?' Then make a list that is achieveable to stop feeling overwhelmed.

Job #12 - Once your to do list is written on paper you free your mind to deal with one thing at a time.

Job tip #13 - Take time to find out about different parts of the organisation.

Job tip #14 If you are worrying about something, think what can you control about the situation or make it work for you. Then take action.

Job tip #15 Do tasks to the best of your ability and remember that it doesn't have to be perfect.

Job tip #16 People make a first impression of you within the first few minutes of meeting you. Tips - eye contact, firm handshake, smile!

Job tip #17 - create a personal profile for your CV to outline your main achivements, skills and abilities to make recruiters read on

Job tip #18 - want to change your career? What are your transferrable skills and strengths? What job or industry inspires you?

Job tip #19 - improve your career confidence - contact me for a recording of our free teleclass on Tuesday 24 November

Job tip #20 - when you wake up in the morning, be positive, if you think you are going to have a great day you can maintain that mindset,

Your special career tips part 1

2009-12-04T09:00:00.000Z

For those of you who are following me on Facebook or Twitter, you will have seen my job tips in 140 characters over the last few weeks. So, just let me remind you of the first top 10 tips for your career success.

Job tip #1 - If you have a huge task to achieve, break it down into manageable chunks and then decide what you are going to do today.

Job tip #2 - Make sure you balance time at and away from work.

Job tip #3 - Remember that you don't have to work flat out all of the time - take a break every so often or do something different.

Job tip #4 - CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, which means Life List. Your CV should sell your unique skills but not tell your life story!

Job tip #5 - Understand what your strengths are. Then make sure these are recognised and work to these strengths.

Job tip #6 - Be positive. Encourage not discourage. Remember that people respond much better to positive rather than negative feedback.

Job tip #7 - Take steps to remain motivated. Develop a clear plan for your future, and take steps each day to achieve your objective.

Job tip #8 - To future-proof your career, keep up to date with technology. What skills do you need for your job and in the future?

Job tip #9 - Create a record of your achievements and successes, as well as your professional development plans for your future.

Job tip #10 - Build and maintain professional networks both in and outside of your organisation.

What are your top tips?

Watch out for your next top tips in a few days!

What is the implication of the changing nature of a career?

2009-12-02T11:07:00.000Z

In my recent post, I asked you whether you had a career. It is also worth thinking about the implications of the changing natures of career.

For many people, there is no longer a career for life, so people need to be flexible in their response to change, whether this is due to redundancy, restructuring or finding a better way to make an income. On the other hand, as there are thousands of career options available today, there is increasing choice, but this can often feel overwhelming as well.

One of the themes that I see taking place right now is people seeing a values shift between their personal values and the changing culture within their organisation. When this is out of alignment that many people seek out new employment or a new start to change the focus of their career.

So to be successful, workers need to start to focus on their strengths and their skills to develop a plan for their future. In addition, they need to know what else is important in their life to make sure that their choices and decisions are congruent with other parts of their life.

What else do you think is important right now?

If you are seeking change in your career, find out more about our 90 days to career success programme and you still have time for your 14 day free trial!

Do you have a career?

2009-11-29T20:26:00.001Z

The concept of career has changed over the last 20 or 30 years. Whereas a career used to be a job for life, this is rarely the case anymore. It is no longer the situation that a person is employed in one or a series of jobs with one employer and then comfortably retires at 65.

Did you know that people now, on average, change their jobs or careers at least 7 times over the course of their life? In addition, there is no guarantee of retiring at 65 and many people are working well into their 70's and 80's.

The impact of the recession, changing technology, globalisation, competition, mergers, stress, increasing change and the pace of life has changed the traditional career.

According to 'Wikipedia', a career is classed by the Oxford English Dictionary as an individual's "course or progress through life (or a distinct portion of life)". It is a series of successive situations or activities that make up a person's occupation.

A career may be focused around progression in a job or a series of roles, or a process of parallel career changes in the search for greater income and personal satisfaction.

A career is made up of a process of continuous learning and personal and professional development. This enables a person to keep up with changes within the workplace and be competitive when seeking a new job.

A career is often made up of activities outside of the traditional paid working environment. These may include voluntary or charity work or working within the community, such as helping out in sporting clubs. In addition, the skills required in a career can come from other activities such as running a home and raising children or looking after elderly relatives.

A career may be made up of a variety of different roles, commonly known as a portfolio career, where a person carries out a range of different jobs often including self employment and working with different organisations to make a living.

A career is no longer just for people who work full time. Many people, and not just women with children, are seeking increased flexibility, more effective work/life balance and part-time working to have a career that works for them. Also people are driven by different things at different stages of their career, such as when they face a life changing event. It is not unusual to take a career break or change roles to fulfil important values at different times during their lives.

Despite the current economic climate, more and more people are seeking self employment as their values no longer meet the values of their organisation or they want greater fulfilment and personal satisfaction. In 2006, 12% of the UK's working population were self employed with predictions that this could swell by up to 10 million people by 2011.

What would it take to be more confident at work?

2009-11-12T09:00:00.001Z

Confident people are successful people. They know what they want and stick at it until they achieve it. They set themselves achieveable goals and believe in their own ability.

It can be hard to be this picture of confidence all the time.

You need to believe that you are competent at your work and know you can do it.
You need to have the capability to do the tasks that you are asked to do and have the skills to be succcessful.
You need to believe in yourself and that you can achieve your goals.
You need to trust your instincts and abilities and that you will be successful.
You need to be willing to be brave, stretch your comfort zone and take steps towards success.

What would it take for you to be this picture of confidence all the time?

Why don't you join Allison Marlowe and myself for a special seminar on Tuesday 24th November 2009, at 8pm, where you can get 'Sky high confidence to soar into 2010!'. Click here to register for your free teleseminar today.

Stressing the positives

2009-11-04T09:00:00.003Z

On Wednesday 4th November, it is National Stress Awareness day in the UK. Promoted widely by the International Stress Association (ISMA), a UK registered charity, the website has some great resources focusing on this year's campaign of 'Stressing the Positives'.

Stress is one of those words which is widely used in society today, but what actually is it and how can we reduce the effects of stress?

As a career coach, I often see people who are under pressure and sometimes find it hard to cope. Personally I believe a little bit of pressure is good for us, it motivates us to overcome challenges and achieve successes. However, it is when this pressure becomes too much that it affects our wellbeing, can cause panic attacks, dips in confidence and can, in extreme circumstances, cause longer term health problems.

According to The Samaritans, stress is "the feeling people have when it all seems too much, when they are overloaded and don't feel that they are able to meet all the demands placed upon them."

However, there are simple steps you can take today to minimise stress and pressure in your life. Here are my top tips for you.

Managing time

We've each got 24 hours in every day, that's 1440 minutes and 86,400 seconds, and it is up to you how you manage your time and how you spend it.

Tip no. 1 - If you have a list of things to do, take time to prioritise what needs to be done first. What activities are going to give you the best results or outcomes? What is on your list that you can delegate to others or not do at all?

Tip no. 2 - If you have a huge task to do but it feels daunting and you keep putting it off, how can you break it down into manageable chunks? What is the first thing you can do to make it easier to cope with?

The impact of thoughts

"Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down." - Natalie GoldbergYour thought process can impact on how you feel about something. Although you may not be able to control the situation you face, you can control how you feel about it and how you react.

Tip no. 3 - If you are faced with a situation you don't like, for example, you may not enjoy your job, how can you reframe it to help you to feel better about the situation? For example, you could look at the longer term benefits or other positive outcomes.

Tip no. 4 - If you have a gremlin (whether real or imagined) that makes you feel like you are not good enough or can never cope with anything, challenge it. Remember the successes you have had and focus on these achievements.

Diet and lifestyle

It is true that your diet and lifestyle has a huge impact on you, your energy and your coping mechanisms. Although you might feel you 'need' a drink after a busy day or put your hand in the biscuit barrel when you need a pick-me-up, it may not be best to help you to manage stress effectively in the longer term.

Tip no. 5 - It may sound obvious, but sleep deprivation affects your mood and concentration, so try and get as much sleep as you need to function safely and healthily.

Tip no. 6 - Eat healthily - fruit, vegetables and water are essential for healthy functioning, although the odd treat won't hurt!

Reacting to situations

You may face situations when you find it hard to cope; it is easy to be frustrated, lose your temper or start to become defensive.

Tip no. 7 - If you are faced with a frustrating situation, take 10 seconds to breathe. Stop, take some deep breaths before you take the next step.

Tip no. 8 - Recognise your own triggers. If you are aware of your hot buttons, you can take action before you do anything that you may regret later!

All about you

Lastly, remember to look after yourself. If you are well, in control and happy, it will be easier for you to look after everyone else who need you.

Tip no. 9 - Take some time out for you. Schedule time into your day for a break, whether you go for a walk, read a book, or sit somewhere quiet.

Tip no. 10 - If you are positive and upbeat, you will have more energy to focus on changing the things you don't like!

"Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down." - Natalie Goldberg

If your work is causing you stress, sign up to our online 90 days to career success programme and receive a 14 day free trial.

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams is a personal development Coach who specialises in career coaching and works with people who have reached a crossroads in their career. She helps them to re-find their direction and the confidence, focus and clarity to take the next step. To achieve greater success in your career, download your free tips now at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/.

90 days to your career success

2009-11-02T09:00:00.001Z

I am so excited by the number of people have signed up for the brand new '90 days to career success' programme which has launched today, 2 November 2009.

Are you one of these people? If not, what are you waiting for?

Let me take just a few moments of your time to tell you about this wonderful opportunity and remember places are being snapped up fast.

'90 days to career success' is the first of its kind online career success programme in the UK.

If you have been finding yourself a bit lost on your career path, fed up with not achieving promotion, not been successful in interviews, or generally unsatisfied at work, I urge you not to miss out on this programme. This is a simple way to achieve career success without spending hours attending courses, reading self-help career books, or spending hours looking for the wrong job.

When you sign up to this online career success programme, you will learn:

* Precisely what is important to you in your career
* Strategies to increase your levels of job satisfaction
* Exactly how to understand your skills and strengths and vision for your future career
* What you need to do to develop a winning CV and application to help you to sell your skills in a job interview
* How you can easily develop networks with people to help your career change
* Clarity on how to prepare for a great job interview and get the job of your dreams
* Why you need to make a great first impression through having a positive image and body language
* What you can do differently to develop the confidence to get the job you desire

Have a look at our short video to find out more.
In just 90 days you will be ready to take your career to the next level. With a 14 day free trial and special launch offers, you have nothing to lose, so click here to be one of the first to join me on the journey to YOUR career success.

Taking time out for you

2009-10-18T16:58:00.003+01:00

When was the last time you took time out for you? Whether this meant that you needed time to reflect on your life or career or took some time and space to clear your mind?

We all get caught up in the pace of life (me included!) but it is important to make time and space for your thoughts and any new decisions that need to be made.

Yes you could probably call me a workaholic, but as a small business owner, my business is an important part of my life. However, as I write my blog this week, I am sat overlooking the lovely Balluta Bay in St Julian's, Malta. Just taking the time to have a break, whether it is for an hour, a day or a week, it allows your mind to focus on what is important for you. And personally for me, it allows me to come up with new ideas and creative thought.

If you are seeking a change in your work, job or career, what is stopping you taking some time out for you? Once your mind is clear, it will give you the opportunity to start planning your future, taking the next step in your life or making a decision when your head is in the right space. What's stopping you? Let me know how you get on. Now for me, as the sun starts to set, its time for some more R&R!

90 days to career success

2009-10-15T14:49:00.001+01:00

I am really excited. Following the announcement of the launch of '90 days to career success' in my last newsletter, I would like to tell you more about the programme.

This programme is for you if you are stuck in your career, you believe it is time for change or you want to start off 2010 on the right foot.

Did you know that at any time in the UK, almost half of all workers are seeking a job change?

Perhaps you are one of them and the recession is putting you off making any changes at the moment. Maybe you are tied down by financial responsibilities which prevent you from making the next step. Or perhaps you just don't know where to start so find it easier to stay where you are right now.

When you are unhappy in your job, it will often impact on other areas of your life. If you are fed up, you may take it out on other people in your life. Or perhaps you can't seem to find the right work/life balance, or don't have time for you. Or maybe you have started, but don't seem to be getting any results.

Self Discovery Coaching is launching the brand new '90 days to career success' programme on Monday 2 November. With a special introductory price, 14 day free trial, and amazing bonuses for the first 10 people who sign up for the 90 day programme at http://www.90daystocareersuccess.co.uk/. You can't afford to miss this!

Job hunting during the recession top tips

2009-10-08T10:00:00.002+01:00

According to http://www.onrec.com/newsstories/25607.asp, the number of jobs advertised in the UK has fallen by 33% in the last 12 months, and the average number of applications per job has more than doubled to 35 compared to last year.

In addition, the average completion rate for online application forms has continued to rise year on year, and now stands at 83%.

The difference in completion rates between direct employer and recruitment agency application forms is notable however. When recruitment agencies are excluded, the completion rate for applications to direct employers stands at 91%.

So what you need to do differently when you are job hunting during the recession? Read on for my top tips.

1. Understand your skills

Before you take any steps to changing your job, a great starting point is to understand your skills and what you have to offer an employer.

Consider what skills you are good at, enjoy using and what to use in your new job. Also think about what skills you may need to improve and how you can do this to develop your confidence and ability.

As a starting point, consider are you good at...

Team leading?
Negotiating?
Influencing others?
Organising?
Building relationships with others?
Coaching or mentoring?
Communicating information?
Using technology?
Languages?
Sales?
Marketing?

Make a note of these skills and then how you can use them in your ideal role.

2. What is your ideal role?

When you are considering changing your job or career, take some time to consider your ideal role. Ask yourself the following questions.

What do you want from a new role?
What are your objectives? E.g. do you want to earn more money, want a better work/life balance, or less stress?
If you could take yourself forward to six months after starting your new role, what would you like to have achieved?

Also think about.

What do you enjoy about your current role?
What do you not enjoy about your current role?
What do you do well that you would like to do in your new job?

3. Update your CV

Where there is so much competition for jobs right now, your CV needs to sell your skills and abilities. From listing your key achievements and successes, you need to make sure that your CV catches the interviewer's attention so they want to read on and interview you!

What have been your key achievements?
What do you need to include that makes you stand out from the crowd?

4. Develop your networks

In the current economic climate, many organisations are seeking to recruit in a more cost effective way. One of these ways is through recommendation or word of mouth.

So for you, a great way to get the job of your dreams is to get connected, talk to people about the job you want, and find out how they can help you.

Remember the six degrees of separation, which refers to the idea that we are each six steps away from the person we want to meet. So if you want to join a particular organisation or do a particular role, find out who you know who can introduce you to the person you wish to meet.

Also, contact your local recruitment agencies, and find out how they can help you to find your ideal role.

5. Join the online revolution

If you have recently been looking for a new job you may have noticed that organisations are no longer using newspapers as their sole form of advertising for roles. As it can cost thousands of pounds to advertise in papers, many companies are turning to other forms of recruitment such as online job search companies, such as Totaljobs, Monster.co.uk and Totaljobs.com. So sign up today.

6. Stay motivated!

When you are seeking a new job you may face some obstacles along the way, but make sure you take small steps everyday towards your new career. Good luck!

And if you would like me to help you to get you on the route to success, remember to sign up here for the free trial of my new 90 days to career success programme and your 14 day free trial.

Stretching your comfort zone

2009-10-01T14:51:00.000+01:00

I've been a little quiet over the last few weeks on my blog. I've been busy with my NLP Master Practitioner modelling project, where I have been interviewing well known coaches on the mindset behind a successful coaching business. And on top of that, I have been developing my new online career success programme (watch this space very soon for more news on both projects).

One of the many things I have been doing with these two projects is stretching my comfort zone. From doing things I have never done before, to taking a flight to Edinburgh for one of my interviews this week, to being courageous in my business development, each of these steps has taken me closer to my own personal goals.

It is very easy to stay in your comfort zone, to ignore invitations, not apply for the job of your dreams or not take a risk? But what would it take to stretch your comfort zone, say by a few inches, not much, just enough to move you closer to living the life you desire?

If you could do one thing today to stretch your comfort zone, however tiny, what will you do? And when?

Are you a fraud?

2009-09-08T20:19:00.002+01:00

Do you ever think that "I'm no good at this" and expect to be "found out"?

Do you dismiss your accomplishments or successes as a "fluke" or that you were "in the right place at the right time"?

Do you believe that other people think you are more intelligent than you believe you actually are?

Are you waiting for people to reveal that you are a phoney or exposed as a sham?

Do you think that any success you have is due to contacts, luck, good timing, or perseverance?

If you agree with any or all of these statements; don't worry, you're not alone. Studies indicate that up to 70% of people fear that they will be labelled as a phoney. Perhaps you don't feel that you are good enough, or something has happened to you that makes you put a downer on yourself.

Whatever your achievements and how good about something you feel, do you find it difficult to celebrate your successes and go out and shout about what you have achieved or done?

In today's society we are pressurised to do more with less, have higher expectations, and fit more and more into our days. It is no wonder that we feel angst and disappointment rather than euphoria and excitement. Sometimes it can link from the messages and expectations you received as a child and even during your adult life, but often we forget to celebrate our successes.

So, how can you celebrate every small thing that you achieve and have the belief and faith in your own abilities?

1. Don't set yourself impossible standards
2. Learn from your mistakes, brush yourself down and move on
3. Reward yourself for the effort you take to get things done not just for the outcome
4. Keep a success journal outlining all of your achievements and add to it every week, no matter how small you think it is
5. Recognise the times that you doubt yourself and remind yourself that you are good enough
6. Remember that you don't have to be superwoman or superman
7. When you receive a compliment, thank the person giving it to you rather than just brushing it off
8. If you want to appear more confident than you actually are in a situation, 'act as if'. You're not being a phoney, you are promoting yourself in the way you wish to be received
9. Give yourself permission to achieve your greatest potential
10. Take a risk and learn from it - good and bad
11. Recognise your negative inner voice which may tell you that you are not good enough. Acknowledge it, then ignore it or challenge it
12. Remind yourself daily that you are good enough
13. Never undervalue yourself
14. Do one thing each day that you don't want to do to move you closer to your dreams or goals
15. Don't compare yourself with others and remember that you are a unique person
16. Trust your instincts and listen to what your heart is telling you
17. Accept that there will be days when you want to stay under your duvet
18. Do something every day that you love to do
19. Acknowledge your strengths and make them stronger
20. Do a good deed, help someone else or make someone's day

Do you have any other tips to improve self esteem or confidence? Leave them on my blog today.

Let me leave you with one of my favourite quotes:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson

Remember, I can help you on your journey to career success. Register today at http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/onlinecareerprogramme.html.

Want to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter?

You are welcome to use this article in your website, blog or newsletter, provided that the article is published in tact, the links are live (if it is published online) and you include the information below with it:

Karen Williams is a personal development coach who helps people to re-find direction in their career. If you want to achieve greater success in your career, download your free tips now at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.

More tips for career success...

2009-09-02T15:00:00.000+01:00

Following on from my other tips earlier this week, here are some more tips for your career success.

1. Keep up to date with changing technology, knowledge and training. If you keep your skills current, it will put you in a good position for future changes.

2. Consider other important parts of your life when you change your career, such as work/life balance, ideal salary or career progression.

3. Develop your network. Ring up your contacts and find out who can help you to advance your career.

4. Make a great first impression. Remember every contact you have with someone can impact on career success, so make sure that each one is positive.

5. Focus on the good things at work. If you cannot change your job and hate getting out of bed on a Monday morning, concentrate on the positive things about your job rather than the bad. If you are happier at work, this will impact on the rest of your life.

Learn how you can create career success, sign up for more information on my online career success programme - coming soon!

Top tips for career success

2009-08-31T11:47:00.000+01:00

As the summer holiday's draw to a close, it will be a time when many people start to focus on their career and what they can do to make it more enjoyable and have more fun at work! Here are some of my top tips for career success - more coming soon.

1. Develop your career vision to transform your future. Take time to reflect - where do you want to be in one, three and five year’s time?

2. Focus on your career goals. Once you know what you want to achieve, you can take action. What do you need to do and what first step will you take?

3. Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Concentrate on what you are good at and develop areas that hold you back.

4. Recognise your skills, experience and qualifications. If you want to change job, consider what talents you can offer a new employer.

5. Keep your CV up to date and list your achievements and successes, as this will help you to demonstrate your abilities.

If you want to learn how to create career success, sign up for more information on my online career success programme - coming soon!

Top 7 interview tips

2009-07-28T15:33:00.005+01:00

Fresh from my recent interview on Express FM where I shared my top interview tips, I thought it would be a good time to share them with you.

In the present economic climate, not many jobs being advertised and increasing numbers of people are being made redundant, so there is increased competition for jobs. It can take many hours to prepare your CV or complete an application form, so when you get an interview, you can make sure that you stand out from the crowd.

1. Prepare for your interview - start by doing some research on the company and the job. You could look at their website, ask for literature, or research any recent articles or information on the company or industry.

2. Understand the requirements of the interview - find out whether there will be an interview, personality assessment, skills or aptitude test, assessment centre, or presentation, and ensure you prepare thoroughly.

3. Prepare for difficult questions - in most interviews, you will be talking for a majority of the time. The interviewers will ask you questions based on your experience, and may include questions about your strengths and weaknesses.

In addition, you may be asked questions based on competencies, such as people management skills and team working. These are questions based on situations you have experienced. They will normally start as follows - 'tell me about' or 'give me an example of a situation when..', or will be an open question, starting with a word such as what, when, or how.

To prepare for these types of questions, have a few examples you can use that you can adapt for different questions. You also may wish to prepare some questions that you can ask the interviewers at the end of the interview.

4. Plan your journey - 46% of interviewers are put off if a job candidate does not arrive on time. So make sure you are not one of them by planning your route in advance and allowing plenty of time for the journey. Aim to arrive early and if you do, you can spend time preparing for the interview.

5. Dress appropriately - nearly half of interviewers are put off when job candidates do not dress appropriately for the interview. This includes wearing a suit or smart outfit where appropriate and making sure that you clean your shoes, as well as appearing presentable. Give yourself plenty of time to decide what to wear, and you may want to get your clothes ready the night before the interview.

6. Gather all the information you need for the interview in advance - it will help if you review the job description and take your CV or application form to the interview with you. You may also need to take certificates, references or examples of your work to the interview, so prepare these in advance.

7. Make a great first impression - people tend to make a first impression of you within the first few minutes. When you meet the interviewers, use appropriate eye contact, a firm handshake, and smile!

Do you want some help with your interview skills? I am currently beta testing a new online career success programme, and the special offer closes on midnight on Friday 31st July 2009. In the career success programme, you will have a chance to prepare for your interview and know how to make a great first impression every time. Click here to join me today.

What is the difference that makes the difference?

2009-07-18T13:25:00.005+01:00

Why is it that some people seem to be more successful than others? Some people seem to be in the right place at the right time and others get the breaks that you desire. Is it luck, is it desire or is it a success mindset?

What does it take to stand out from the crowd, be different and achieve what you want?

Gandhi said "the future depends on what we do in the present". So what do you need to do now to make the difference in your future?

If you think about your career, there are many ways in which you can stand out from the crowd. Here are my top 7 1/2 tips. Have some to add? - please add your comments below.

1. Make a habit to follow up with people promptly and stick to deadlines you have set yourself or promised to other people. People will be aware of your presence and will notice you as long as you are not too persistent!

2. When you are speaking to someone, whether on the phone or face-to-face, give them a 100% attention. Focus on what they have to say, ask them questions, give them effective eye contact and importantly, listen to them. It is very easy to think about the next thing you want to say, or jump in with your advice or thoughts.

3. Invest time in your professional development. Whether you decide to enrol on a course, read a work-related book or do some other self study, take action every day to develop your skills, knowledge and ability.

4. I've said this many times before, but I will reiterate it here. Take time to network with people you know and those that you don't. Whether you are seeking a new job, developing a business or wanting to get known in your area of expertise, networking is a key skill to develop. Seek people who can help you to develop - remember there are 6 degrees of separation. This means that if you want to connect with a particular person, there are just 6 people between you and the opportunity to meet them.

5. Put your goals into writing. If you write down your goals you are much more likely to achieve them. You may have heard the study that took place at Yale. They studied a graduating class where only 3% of the graduates had written down their clear goals for their futures. Twenty years later that 3% were earning an astounding 10 times more than the group that had no clear goals. Whether this is true or an urban myth, if you write your goals down, it gives you greater focus and clarity about what you want to achieve. Also, you can then take a single step every day to achieve your goals.

6. Know yourself. You are your best marketing tool. Know what skills you can offer to potential employers and be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Take steps to develop areas that need to be improved. Think about the kind of work that will motivate you and understand where your interests lie.

7. Be proactive and research opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you. Contact organisations directly rather than just applying for jobs they advertise, take on extra responsibilities or consider getting a mentor or coach to motivate you to take the next step.

7 1/2. Develop a positive mindset - focus on the future and the incredible results you are going to achieve!

"If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up some place else" - Yogi Berra

To stand out from the crowd, you need to know where you are going and take steps every day to help you to get there. Why don't you let me join you on your journey?

If you've been feeling a bit lost on your career path, fed up with not achieving promotion, been unsuccessful in interviews, or if you are generally unsatisfied at work, then you don't want to miss out on this new and exciting programme.

Finally, there's a Simple Way to achieve Career Success without spending hours attending courses, reading self-help career books, or spending hours looking for the wrong job. And if you are one of the first ten people to sign up for this exclusive programme, you can beta test this brand new online coaching programme for a fraction of the normal price. Click here to join me today.

"What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team." - Benjamin Fairless

Candidate behaviour in interviews - a bit of fun for a friday!

2009-07-17T13:44:00.004+01:00

I recently received an email from a friend of mine talking about bizarre candidate behaviour in interviews. I just had to share my top few with you. Make sure you don't do these yourself!

1. "He lay down and stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."
2. "Throughout the interview he chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles."
3. "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time."
4. "A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. He came back in to the office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
5. "Without saying a word, the candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview."
6. "He stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the company logo tattooed on his forearm."
7. "He interrupted the interview to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions."
8. "When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office."
9. "The applicant pulled out a Polaroid camera and took a flash picture of me. He then said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."
10. “In response to my offer to answer questions about the position, the job seeker replied, "What happens if I wake up in the morning and don't feel like coming to work?"
11. "During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview."
12. “Arriving for an early morning interview, a job seeker asked to use the hiring Manager's phone. In front of him she then faked a coughing fit as she called in sick to her boss.”

What is career success?

2009-07-03T09:01:00.004+01:00

What does career success look like, feel like or sound like to you?

Do you need more work/life balance?
Would you like less stress in your life?
Do you want better working relationships?
Would you like to earn more money?
Or is it about coping with redundancy and finding the right next step for you?

Career success means different things to different people.

Maybe you want more help to generate a winning CV?
Perhaps you want the confidence to succeed in interviews and get the job of your dreams?
Or is it more about finding out what is really important to you and taking the next step?

Let me know what career success means for you.

“The best careers advice to give to the young is 'Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.'” - Katherine Whitehorn

New exciting programme of bite sized summer workshops in Hampshire

2009-06-20T09:59:00.003+01:00

I thought you would be interested in the BITESIZE SUMMER WORKSHOPS PROGRAMME. This is a new partnership venture between three social businesses delivering bite sized training workshops to suit your pocket in this difficult financial climate.

Would you benefit from building your staff and team management skills?

Do you need to revisit the essential elements for business success?

Are you looking to revitalise your career?

These short, sharp, interactive and information packed workshops will help you to:

• Resolve difficulties
• Manage time and workloads more effectively
• Improve motivation
• Learn new skills
• Build networking relationships
• Reduce stress

Self Discovery Coaching have teamed up with Wayfinder Associates and ROCC to create a selection of 15 short workshops which will take place at convenient early evening times in Portsmouth and Southampton from July through to September.

Special offer - 5 places for the price of 4 on bookings before Friday, 3 July

Click here for more information and to book your place.

How do you feel about work?

2009-06-19T16:20:00.002+01:00

I thought you would be interested in a recent report in HR Magazine - based on research carried out by YouGov research. Commissioned by Standard Life, 2100 workers were interviewed in the UK. Their research indicated that:

31 is the average age that works say they feel most ambitious.
37 is the average age that most workers say they feel confident about their skills at work.
Average fulfilment at work comes at the age of 50.
85% of workers do not intend to stop working once they reach retirement age - 33% want to stay on in full time work and 8% would like to start their own business.

Commenting on the findings, John Lawson from Standard Life said “Quite simply, people do not get old like they used to. The baby boomers started a trend for redefining what is effectively their ‘third age’ and these findings point to a continued trend for re-writing the rule book for younger generations.”

What do you think?

7 steps to cope with the recession

2009-06-14T21:05:00.006+01:00

As I reported in my teleclass "How to recession proof your career", a couple of months ago, the credit crunch is placing increased pressures on organisations. Although there are reports that the downturn is soon to be over, organisations are still reducing staff, restructuring their teams, cutting training budgets or reducing pay rises, there is likely to be an impact on you.

If you are unhappy at work, this may well impact on other parts of your life - whether you become less productive, demotivated, tired, less creative or less focused. Among the raft of negativity, enforced by the reporting in the media, being happy at work is almost impossible to be. There are challenges to ensure that you stay motivated, productive and optimistic at work. Being happy at work is, however, essential for your wellbeing and ultimately your success.

So what can you do to increase your happiness and wellbeing during the recession?

1. Understand the issues that you are facing and the steps you can take to mitigate or reduce the effects. Taking action rather than worrying about a situation will help you to take steps in the right direction.

2. Understand what your strengths are. Then make sure these are recognised and work to these strengths.

3. Be positive. Encourage not discourage. Remember that you and others respond much better to positive rather than negative feedback.

4. Learn to recognise the thoughts that go through your mind when you do not feel positive, known as self talk. Take steps to distract yourself from the thoughts and focus on the positive parts of your life.

5. Take time to manage any stress in your life. If you don't manage any stress you may face, this may result in increased pressure and frustration.

6. Balance your life and work effectively. Taking time to be with your family and friends, and planning future events to look forward to will help you to feel more balanced in your life.

7. Take steps to remain motivated. This can include developing a clear plan for your future, and taking steps each day to achieve your objective.

To learn how you can cope with the recession, download my free report "7 steps to get ahead in your career (and beat the recession!)" today at www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk. Let me help you to take the next step today.

How to make your CV stand out from the crowd

2009-05-21T19:34:00.003+01:00

Fresh from an interview on Express FM where I shared my top CV tips, I thought I would share them with you too.

Curriculum vitae or CV literally means life list or a story of your life. But that doesn't mean that you should include the whole story of your life in your CV!

Just as it takes just a few seconds for someone to make a first impression of you face-to-face, it takes just a few seconds for an interviewer to reject your CV or invite you in for interview.

To be successful - especially in the current economic climate - you need to make sure your CV stands out from the crowd, clearly articulates your strengths and achievements and gives you the opportunity to sell your skills in an interview.

Your CV is a marketing tool, just like a brochure selling the benefits of a service. But in this situation, remember you are selling you! It is your chance to show an employer that you have the skills they are looking for and are the right person for the job.

You may need a CV at any time in your life, especially if you are seeking promotion, a job or career change, you have been made redundant, or are seeking voluntary work. Even self employed people often need to show a resume of their achievements too!

Here are my top tips for you:

- A great CV is around 2 pages long, typed in font 12 with plenty of white space on the page.
- Make sure you tailor-make your CV to the job you are applying for, take notice of the job description and person specification and how you meet these criteria.
- Summarise your key achievements and results in the form of a personal summary or objectives.
- Only include relevant information on your CV, such as personal details, job history, education, and professional development.
- You don't need to include details such as your age, marital status or other information not relevant to the job.
- Ask someone else to check your CV for typos or errors.

Do you need help to create your CV? Click here to read more about how I can help you to stand out from the crowd!

Have you made space for your rocks?

2009-05-15T15:36:00.002+01:00

I've just run another of my Make Time for your Life workshops. I love helping people to refocus on their life goals and develop the motivation to take action. As an aside we talked about prioritisation and I mentioned the rocks story which I love. I would like to share this version with you.

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with big rocks. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the big rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous - - yes.

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour them into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life.

The big rocks are the important things - - your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favourite passions - - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."
"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - - the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the big rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Fall in love. Spend time with your friends. Take your partner out for a meal. There will always be time to go to work, go to the gym, give a dinner party and clean the car.

Take care of the big rocks first - - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers!!"

How are you maximising your learning?

2009-05-14T13:02:00.004+01:00

Today, Thursday 14th May 2009, it is National Learning at Work day, which is an annual celebration of learning at work. It aims to draw attention to the importance of workplace learning and skills. This allows employees to learn new skills and talents they can put into practice at work. What is your employer doing for National Learning at Work day?

This year’s theme is 'Skilled for Success'. In the current economic climate it is an unsettling time for managers and employees, so managing your own learning is essential for your personal success. If you can quickly adapt to change and have the right skills for the opportunities you face, this will help you to stand out from the crowd.

What are you doing personally to expand your knowledge, competencies and skills? When did you last reflect on your skills? And what is on your professional development plan for the next 12 months?

As a quick note, I recently mentioned emotional intelligence in my blog. These is part of the soft skills that are of key importance to perform effectively at work. If you can improve your relationships with others, be able to manage your stress more effectively and develop your self motivation skills, this will help you to be even more successful in your job.

Why don’t you take some time out today to re-assess where you are now in your career. Then you can plan the next three steps you can take to achieve even greater success in your work.

Your special emotional intelligence offer

2009-05-11T12:33:00.002+01:00

As promised, here is your special emotional intelligence offer to celebrate my birthday today.

I am offering a personalised Emotional Intelligence package with a 30% discount on my normal prices from 11 - 24 May 2009.

Emotional intelligence describes an ability or skill to perceive, assess and manage the emotions of yourself and others. This includes interpersonal skills (the ability to build rapport, motivate, influence and get on well with others) and intrapersonal sills (the ability to know understand and motivate yourself, and be self aware).

Find out how you can manage stress more effectively, develop and maintain relationships, raise your levels of happiness, and be more assertive and confident.

For this special package, you will find out about your own Emotional Intelligence by taking our online Thomas International questionnaire. You will receive your personalised 20 page report and one hour telephone coaching session with me to help you to develop your own emotional intelligence.

For 30% off your emotional intelligence coaching package, go to http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/intelligent.html and enter the code PR2N.

Special offer coming Monday 11th May

2009-05-07T08:35:00.004+01:00

In my last post, I told you all about emotional intelligence and why YOU need it to be successful. To summarise, it is the ability to perceive and manage the emotions of yourself and others. There are two main parts:

- Interpersonal skills - being able to build rapport with other people, motivating others, influencing people and being empathetic.

- Intrapersonal skills - being self aware and understand yourself, managing your stress, and being able to motivate yourself.

So what do you get if you have high emotional intelligence?

Research indicates that EI accounts for as much as 31% of management success. If you have high EI you can easily build relationships with others, have good influencing skills and can manage the emotions of yourself and others.

Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence and Working with Emotional Intelligence says "for leadership positions emotional intelligence competencies account for up to 85% of what sets outstanding managers apart from the average".

So, if you want to be able to manage stress more effectively, be able to have empathetic relationships with others, and always see the bright side of life, develop your EI.

Self Discovery Coaching are running a one day training course to help you to develop your EI on Saturday 23 May and Saturday 4 July at The Parlour in Southsea, Hampshire.

Or watch out for our very special offer on our one to one Emotional Intelligence package, launching on Monday 11th May. Put it in your diary now!

What are your hot buttons?

2009-04-30T19:54:00.006+01:00

Last Thursday I had a great opportunity to present my new mini-workshop 'Emotional Intelligence for Business Women' to Winning Women in Fareham. For over an hour I held the attention of 13 wonderful winning women and helped them to become more self aware, understand their hot buttons and learn simple steps they could do straight away to enhance their lives!

So what is emotional intelligence all about?

Emotional intelligence is the ability or skill to perceive, assess and manage the emotions of yourself and others.

They include interpersonal skills (the ability to build rapport, motivate, influence and get on well with others) and intrapersonal sills (the ability to know understand and motivate yourself and be self aware).

If you increase your emotional intelligence you can know what feels good, what feels bad and know how to get from bad to good! You can achieve greater success in your life through building more effective relationships, control your emotions better and manage your stress more effectively.

Like the sound of that? If you do, join me at CanDoCanBe at Guildford on 8th June or The Womens Business Club in Brighton on 26th June. Or come along to my Developing your emotional intelligence full day workshop on either 23 May or 4 July.

Aristotle said – “anyone can become angry… that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way… that is not easy”. Do you agree?

How do you recession proof your career?

2009-04-26T09:39:00.003+01:00

Thanks to all of you who joined me for the 'Recession proof your career' teleclass last Wednesday. It was a great session and thanks for the additional questions on the night!

For those of you who couldn't make it, let me tell you more. In this free teleclass, I asked people to send me their questions about what concerns they are facing in the current economic climate and I answered them on the call. There were a great selection of questions including:

After 10 years in my job, I need a change, where do I start?
How can I stay motivated during job hunting?
What are the best areas for career choice today?
I'm being made redundant, where do I start?
How do I break into the field I want to work in?

And some around self employment too, including:

How do you run your business and still make time to market it?
What is the most cost effective way to get clients?
How do you still charge the same if people are feeling the "crunch”?

If you missed the call and would like the answers to these questions, or you want to find out my top 7 tips to beat the credit crunch, drop me an email and I will send you a recording of the call. Just email me at karen@selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk.

Are you joining me on 22nd April?

2009-04-17T11:52:00.004+01:00

I would like to give you one last chance to register for the FREE teleclass ‘How to recession proof your career’. It is taking place on Wednesday 22nd April 2009 and I would love you to join us.

It is set to be a great call where I will be revealing the answers to YOUR burning career questions and offering you a special discount for my career e-books, your complete guide to career change. Click here to register for the call, along with your top 3 burning Career questions.

At 7.30pm (UK time) on 22nd April, you simply dial in on the telephone number provided and for 45 minutes I'll answer your questions on the call.

Be prepared to be inspired, informed and challenged as I share with you my Top Tips to help you beat the credit crunch and stay ahead in your career.

What challenges are you facing right now?

What skills or knowledge do you need to help you to take the next step?

Now is an important time to find ways to get ahead at work, learn new skills and focus on the next step in your career.

New to teleclasses? Here's what happens

A teleclass is alive, interactive workshop that is conducted over the telephone like a conference call. This means you can make yourself a cup or tea (or pour yourself a glass of wine!) and join me from the comfort of your own living room. All you pay for is the cost of your telephone call (just 2p per minute from a UK landline or free if you are with BT).

Remember successful people are those who take action so reserve your place today.

And remember to put 7.30pm, Wednesday 22nd April in your diary now. If you can't make the call and have a burning question to ask, register anyway and I'll send you a free recording of the call following the event.

How can you stand out from the crowd?

2009-04-10T11:02:00.006+01:00

You deserve to be happy at work, to feel you are moving in the right direction, making choices that are right for you and that support your personal and professional growth.

Whether you work for yourself or work for an employer, job satisfaction is a prime motivator for most people. If you are happy in your work, this will manifest itself in many ways, when you are with friends, your family or even with colleagues or associates. If you are not content, you may find yourself to be negative, stressed or feeling out of sorts, which can then impact on other parts of your life.

In the current economic climate, many people are finding themselves forced into changes they didn't plan to make and having to make decisions they don't want to take. But there are other people who are thriving with the changes afoot as challenging times can motivate people to come out on top and beat the recession.

If you want to stay ahead in your career, now is the time to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

If you run your own business, focus on your client's needs (rather than what you think they need!) and how you can differentiate yourself from your competitors. How do you market your business effectively to get the business you need? Also remember to look after yourself as how can you serve anyone else if you are stressed and burned out?

If you work for an employer and want or need to change your job, how can you make a great first impression? Research has shown that people make an impression about you within the first few seconds of meeting you. With the current job market and large numbers of people applying for the same jobs, how can you make your CV stand out and get the job you desire?

When I first announced my new teleclass taking place on 22nd April, I asked people about their challenges and here are some of the topics they raised:

Job hunting can be so frustrating, how can I stay motivated?
I've been in my job for 10 years and I need a change, where do I start?
How can I transfer my skills and move into a different career?
I've been made redundant, what now?
What are the best areas for a career choice today?
Is it better to work for yourself or a company?
I run my own business, how can I still charge the same if people are feeling the 'crunch'?
Would you like to know the answers to these questions?
What additional questions would you like to ask?

If you want to learn how you can recession proof your career, ask your questions today and join me on my free teleclass on 22 April. And be prepared to be inspired, informed and challenged as I share with you my top tips to help you beat the credit crunch and stay ahead in your career.

Register now with your 3 most important questions and listen in live on the call.
Take the next step today!

7 ways to get motivated at work

2009-04-03T10:12:00.005+01:00

It's Friday and many people are counting down the hours until the weeekend. Maybe you are in a job you hate or just want a change of scenery. Even if you enjoy your job, sometimes it can be difficult to stay focused at work and get things done!

How easy do you find it to be motivated and stay motivated at work? How would you like to make changes today to enjoy your work more? Read on for my top tips.

1. Remain positive - office politics or negative colleagues can often reduce morale and make people feel demoralised and demotivated. So what can you do to remain positive - remember the good things, the thank-yous, the positive comments and thoughtful appreciation. Then share your positivity with others.

2. Manage your projects - if you are working on a project which feels daunting or overwhelming, take some time to break it down into manageable chunks. What can you do today to move the project forward? Setting and achieving mini-goals will motivate further and help you to achieve the project.

3. Consider what you enjoy about your job - even those people who are really unhappy at work enjoy one or more aspects of their work. Remember what attracted you to the job in the first place, what do you enjoy and appreciate, and how it benefits other parts of your life.

4. Have something to look forward to - whether you are planning your next holiday or a night out with friends, schedule activities and events that you love. Or if you are working hard to afford a new car or other big expense, remind yourself of what you are doing to achieve that goal.

5. Take a lunch break away from your desk or working area - fresh air and exercise is a great motivator and it is good to give you time away from your work. It has the added advantage of making you feel more refreshed and more productive.

6. Set goals for your working future - if you don't want to be in the same job in one year's time, do something about it. Set a goal of where you want to be, and then start to work on it today. What can you do within the next two weeks to move you closer to that objective?

7. Call for help - if you are having trouble staying motivated in your job, find someone to help you. Whether you choose a colleague, friend, partner or a coach, talking about it will help you to overcome this slump and clarify what needs to change.

If you want to find out how you can get more motivated at work, join me for my new free teleclass on 22nd April. Go to http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/teleclass.html to register today.

Ten rules of life!

2009-03-25T19:33:00.004Z

As a trainer as well as a career coach, I have been busy writing training courses over the last few days, which are coming soon.. - 'Developing Emotional Intelligence' and 'The manager as a coach'.

Whilst I was doing some research for the latter, I came across this great set of ten rules by Cherie Carter-Scott. Click on the link below and enjoy!

http://www.businessballs.com/rulesoflife.htm

FREE teleclass - How to recession proof your career

2009-03-20T11:55:00.004Z

I'm sure that like many people, you are affected in some way by the current economic climate.

Whether you are facing uncertainty at work or are finding it hard to keep your business afloat, it feels like there are challenging times ahead.

So join me on Wednesday 22nd April 2009, when I am holding a special one off teleclass that will reveal the answers to YOUR burning career questions.

This teleclass is exclusively for you and to make sure you get great value, you get to set the agenda.

Here is how it works:

Click here to register your interest in the call, along with your top 3 burning Career questions.

At 7.30pm on 22nd April, you simply dial in on the telephone number provided and for 45 minutes I'll answer your questions on the call.

Be prepared to be inspired, informed and challenged as I share with you my Top Tips to help you beat the credit crunch and stay ahead in your career.

What challenges are you facing right now?

What skills or knowledge do you need to help you to take the next step?

Now is an important time to find ways to get ahead at work, learn new skills and focus on the next step in your career.

New to teleclasses? Here's what happens.

A teleclass is alive, interactive workshop that is conducted over the telephone like a conference call. This means you can make yourself a cup or tea (or pour yourself a glass of wine! :-)) and join me from the comfort of your own living room.

All you pay for is the cost of your telephone call.

Remember successful people are those who take action so reserve your place now.

And remember to put 7.30pm, Wednesday 22nd April in your diary now. If you can't make the call and have a burning question to ask, contact me anyway and I'll send you a free recording of the call following the event.

I look forward to speaking to you live on the call.