‘Tis the season to… share time with friends and family, shop, socialize, complete year-end performance reviews, and be really, really busy! I’m experiencing the busyness of the season, but this year, I’m feeling pretty energized by it all. Some of my energy could come from the mindfulness practices I’ve put in place this year, and some definitely comes from the success I’ve seen from my clients this year. I’ve been blessed to meet many new people and see them thrive.
I’m also excited about bringing you more workshops, Coaching Over Coffee sessions, and new speaking topics in the new year. A new Coaching Over Coffee series will start in February. Take this two minute survey to give me your preferences for the next series topics.
The Fall workshop, Defining Your Career Next Step, was so popular I’ll be offering it again in the first quarter of the new year. More info to come!
I recently started a weekly series of articles on the theme, Signs We Don’t Read. You can find these bite-size posts on my LinkedIn page, or my website.
During this holiday season, I feel blessed to have worked with and met all of you at one time or another. Your engagement is invaluable and creates a support system for women everywhere. Have a wonderful holiday season and a see you in 2019!
Warm regards,
Susan
Feature Article
Shifting Perspective
Not long ago, I spoke with a woman who had recently made a career change. During her transition period, she decided to take a photography class. As we spoke, she had an “aha!” moment.
“Taking this class helped me to reframe situations and see them differently – both figuratively and literally!”
She was learning to look at things from another perspective as she sorted through career questions. As a result, she was gaining new clarity.
When we’re feeling stuck, whether in a job, a relationship, an attitude or more, it’s hard to see our way out. If we keep looking at the situation from the same perspective, it’s unlikely our view will change, and we’ll remain stuck.
I’ve heard far too many stories of women who felt there was no way to escape their current situation. That is rarely the case. There are a few things we can always do when we need a new perspective to help us find a creative solution to our situation.
Change your routine. Routines can make us efficient, but the downside is they can narrow our perspective. Find one thing you can do differently in your daily routine.
Explore the arts. Even if you’re not a regular fan of symphony, opera, museums or art in general, exploring a new area may help give you a new perspective.
Take a class. It’s amazing how engaging on new topics with new people can stimulate us. When I started taking my coaching credentialing classes, I was re-energized with new ideas, information and new friends.
Join a club. Find a topic of interest and join an organization related to that topic. There’s a club or organization for everything. If there’s not…start one!
Once you’ve shifted your perspective, there are ways to apply your refreshed brain to the problem at hand. (If I sound like a broken record on some of these, it’s only because I’ve seen them work for me and for my clients.)
Get your own personal board of directors. These are friends and supporters who will be brutally honest when you need it, but love you just the same. The right people have a knack for knowing how to tell you what you need to hear, but leave you feeling encouraged.
Talk to a mentor. There is great benefit in finding someone who has been in the place that is giving you trouble. Even if they’ve not been there themselves, their experience will be of use to you.
Get a coach. If this sounds self-serving, I’d just like you to know that years before I became a coach, I myself used coaches to help me see through difficult situations, and to grow and develop. Coaches know how to support you and walk you through the process of problem solving and change. I recall a time that I worked with a coach who helped me change my perspective in such a way that it was transformational for my career. It’s what we do.
As you start the new year, if you’d like the coming year to be more fulfilling, more productive or more successful than the last year, commit now to taking action. Do something differently to gain a new perspective. Maybe even take a photography class!
Resource Corner
Workshop for companies or departments going through change: “Taking Command of Your Stress Response” – This workshop is now available for private groups. If your company or department is struggling with low morale or incessant change which is impacting productivity and employee satisfaction, contact Susan for more info on this half day workshop. They will come away energized with new tools to use in and out of the workplace to enhance well being.
About Susan
Susan Hodge created Women Leading Together in order to provide one-on-one executive coaching, seminars, workshops, and coaching circles to help career women move forward to create fulfilling professional lives. Visit our newly redesigned website at www.WomenLeadingTogether.com
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Events
Curious about how coaching can support your success in 2018? Sign up for a 20-min consultation at Women Leading Together to see if Individual Career and Executive Coaching is right for you! For more info email Susan.
The next Coaching Over Coffee series will start in February. Choose one at a time or a package of three. Click here to give your input on the next series of topics
Invite Susan to speak at your organization, conference, special event or women’s group. All presentations are an interactive experience where each participant will come away with something new to support her career. Click here for a sample list of topics.
