Archives

 

It’s certainly a busy time of year and with it comes both joy and stress for us, for our colleagues, our friends, and our family members.

We may be scrambling to achieve last minute goals, for ensuring vacation plans have not changed, and that holiday traditions are adhered to. That can lead to stress.

Be observant of interactions and don’t disregard behaviors that may be “off”. Ask how others are feeling and help them focus on what’s positive; be a good listener!

The Mayo Clinic shared the following recommendations to help ease holiday stress:

1. Plan ahead.
Between co-workers, friends and family, it’s inevitable that some commitments will end up on the same day.

2. Say no.
With holiday commitments, it is OK to say no to a few or all of them. It also will help relieve some stress.

3. Plan spending.
Make a budget and stick to it.

4. Create relaxing surroundings.
Research has found that listening to music and the scent of citrus can boost feelings of well-being, and vitamin D is always a happiness booster.

5. Maintain healthy habits.
Try adding a short workout each morning and eat healthy snacks throughout the season.

6. Share feelings.
Accept that not all feelings are positive; don’t be afraid to open up.

7. Respect differences.
We all have different viewpoints. Focus on your similarities and replace tension with something productive.

8. Be realistic.
You can only do so much. Be realistic with how much you can handle this season. Forget about perfection, and relax and enjoy the company surrounding you.

9. Take a break.
Don’t forget about your own needs. Take a nap, go for a short walk, read a book or watch a funny movie. Laughing relaxes the whole body and can relieve physical tension and stress.

Wishing you peace, joy, and minimal stress!

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose

one thought over another.
-William James

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

Do you agree that leadership styles and skills have evolved over the years? We think so. When we first started in Corporate America (decades ago!), the role of a leader was pretty much autocratic and controlling.  The boss made the decisions, rarely asked for input or feedback, and expected direct reports to simply follow his marching orders. Fortunately, that has changed.

Today’s leadership is more about helping others become more impactful and effective, about inspiring others to want to learn and grow, to be more collaborative, and to make people and relationships a priority.

Coach Janet Tumulty shares “modern leadership should be viewed from a holistic perspective, with an emphasis on emotional intelligence, adaptability, growth mindset, transparency, authenticity, diversity, equity, and inclusion. By embracing these principles, leaders can inspire their team members to be their best selves, driving innovation, and growth in today’s rapidly changing economy”.

We agree, and here are some snippets of what we’ve previously shared:

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) consists of 4 areas: Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management, and we have the ability to strengthen each area.

Adaptability – being adaptive and agile includes placing an emphasis on teamwork and continuous improvement while understanding and communicating the value of change. 

Growth Mindset – Stay focused, become self-aware, truly know what you want to achieve, manage any barrier impeding success, and replace outdated beliefs with new ones.

Transparency/authenticity – Be real, be honest, be open, be accountable, be receptive to feedback (and provide timely and honoring feedback).

Diversity, equity, and inclusion – Create a workplace culture where we, and our team members, can learn, thrive, and actually enjoy being a part of; one with a foundation of trust where differences are appreciated and valued.

Has your leadership style evolved, and do you agree that people and relationships are truly the most valuable assets in your organization?

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,do more and become more, you are a leader.
-John Quincy Adams

 

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

This week the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving; for many it’s a time for families and friends to gather and reflect on what they are thankful for.  And, the U.S. is not alone when it comes to having this type of celebration; 17 other countries around the globe celebrate some version of Thanksgiving throughout the year.

Studies show that there are linkages between our well-being and our tendencies for feeling grateful. We will likely sleep better, have more positive thoughts, and sustain strong relationships. That’s certainly a win!   

This is the perfect time to reflect on our personal and professional accomplishments as well as our challenges. We need to consider:

• What do we have to be thankful for?
• How have our challenges helped us grow and improve?
• What relationships have we built and maintained?
• Who have we motivated, inspired, or influenced?
• Who do we appreciate and why?  Have we told them?
• What have we done to make a difference in our work culture (and at home)?
• As leaders, what are we doing to impact the levels of gratitude and attitudes in others?

We are role models; set the stage for gratitude, attitude, and thankfulness for family and friends as well as for colleagues and clients.

Wishing you a happy and safe holiday season with hopes that it’s filled with an abundance of things to be thankful for!

Sincerely,

Mike and the PeopleTek Team

 

Of all the “attitudes” we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.

–Zig Ziglar

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

Leaders who are trying to reach a vision, grow the company, reduce expenses, and implement changes are faced with a common challenge:
     Do all business colleagues share the same objectives and do they utilize strong relationships to make this happen?

We work closely with several leaders and teams who know where they want to go, and they have plans for making growth happen. This requires that everyone’s productivity be at “full steam ahead” doubling efficiencies and effectiveness.

When interviewing leaders and their teams, we found that what often gets in the way is a disconnect in communication, holding onto the past (aka baggage), having a lack of trust with other team members, along with a strong fear or reluctance to accept change.

These all have linkages with business relationships. One of our clients wanted to implement a change regarding how their customers were treated. (The idea was to create a desired reputation and be known as “the best” in their industry.) Improvement occurred after they started to:

·         work on their business relationships

·         enhance internal interactions

·         build closer relationships with the C-suite leaders

One way they did this was to host a “coffee and learn” daily session. They had everyone begin these sessions by sharing the gaps and issues they were experiencing.

There were many other changes that came as a result of this, but the desired changes happened after some of the leadership team understood and owned that they were not communicating with a sufficient emphasis on relationships. They could have ignored the situation, ultimately making it worse, but instead they accepted they had an issue and took action.

The results? This company not only achieved all of their goals, but they also have the reputation the CEO craved.

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

 

To have a healthy and thriving business, there must be healthy relationships with the C.E.O.S. in the organization and I’m not referring to the Chief Executive Offficers.
I am talking about the Customers, the Employees, the Owner (or stockholders),
and the Suppliers.

—James Hunter

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

Today more than ever organizations are relying on teams to be rapidly assembled to address company goals and needs.  Agility is required, but this may impact the time required to build relationships that create trust and collaboration, ultimately reducing efficiencies and increasing stress.

Relationships take time to build and grow and these “rotating” team members may experience stress and burn out as well as feelings of isolation regardless of working in the office, or remotely.

In the Harvard Business Review, Rob Cross, Karen Dillon, and Martin Reeves shared that an organization they worked with determined that it didn’t make sense for anyone to switch roles or teams in less than a fifteen month period because both the team and the rotating employee would fail to optimize team synergy.

They also shared that it’s important for employees to have a clear understanding of how they add value. What’s their purpose? What roles are essential? What are their priorities? How are they making a difference?

This also needs to be supplemented with positive interactions with colleagues, hopefully on a daily basis. This may include collaboration to accomplish goals, brainstorming and refining ideas for process improvements, and in general creating a relationship of appreciation.

Relationships make a difference! They make employees more engaged and more productive, they increase company loyalty, promote the desire for career growth, and they help prevent burnout while reducing stress.

How are relationships and stress levels in your work environment?

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
–William James

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

In today’s world leadership is measured by the strength of our business relationships and our ability to create teams that thrive.

When team members share a common vision, support the attainment of shared goals, and appreciate and leverage the “magic dust” (skills and abilities) of each team member, relationships blossom and successes are more readily attained.

Per Patrick Lencioni: Teamwork is the state achieved by a group of people working together who trust one another, engage in healthy conflict, commit to decisions, hold one another accountable, and focus on collective results.

TRUST – A team needs to be comfortable with being vulnerable with each other about their weaknesses, mistakes, fears, and behaviors. Trust grows when relationships are strong!

CONFLICT – A team needs to share their passions, disagree, and challenge and question one another.  The stronger the relationships, the healthier the conflict!

COMMITMENT –   A team buys into important decisions (even if they initially disagree) once all ideas and opinions have been considered. Strong relationships promote buy-in!

ACCOUNTABILITY –  A team does not rely on their leader to be the primary source of accountability but rather deals with their peers directly. Strong relationships build comfort levels creating the ability to discuss missed deliverables and mistakes, and encourages ownership.

RESULTS –   Teams that trust one another, engage in conflict, commit to decisions and hold one another accountable are more likely to put aside their individual needs and focus on what is best for the team as a whole. When relationships are strong, team needs become the priority!

As a leader are you helping build relationships within your team? Do you:

• Encourage team members to inspire one another and show appreciation for one another’s accomplishments?
• Allow for innovation and risk and accept that errors will occur?
• Communicate priorities, successes, and “misses”?
• Invest in understanding and sharing customer needs and how the team can help?   
• Use humor and add fun to the work environment?
• Build time into meetings allowing team members to share non work-related stories?

When relationships are created within teams, a bond is formed, work becomes more enjoyable, levels of effectiveness increase, and goals are more readily attained.

Create opportunities to build and strengthen relationships within your team!

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

Unity is strength … when there is teamwork and collaboration (and strong relationships), wonderful things can be achieved.
–Mattie Stepanek, American poet and peace ambassador

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

The word “conflict” often creates images of ill feelings and negative interactions, but it can also be productive and inspiring. Conflict, simply defined, is a disagreement or difference of opinions.

When can conflict be healthy? Margaret Heffernan says “For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, and debate”.

It’s healthy to share differing perspectives and opposing views as it lends itself to more creative thinking which may produce positive change and obtain desired results.

Let’s say you feel strongly about an issue and your colleagues’ views are not aligned with yours. When that happens, how do you feel and how do you proceed?

• If you have a good relationship, you’re likely to assume positive intent in the dialog, remain calm, and make every effort to be open minded while assessing the opposing view.

• If the relationship is lacking, you may find it difficult to be open to new ideas and even find your behaviors to be challenging and confrontational while aggressively supporting your own view.

Relationships matter! With healthy relationships, conflict is less edgy; we’re more open to assuming positive intent and will make every effort to seek a deeper understating of the opposing view while remaining respectful.

That’s not to say we’ll always agree but it does mean that we will truly listen and remain composed regardless of how passionate we are about our view.

Make an effort to build strong relationships so differences will be heard and respectfully processed.  This will open doors for more exchanges that inspire creativity and increase successes.

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

 

Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it.

That factor is attitude.
–William James

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

People and relationships matter and adding a mentor or influencer to the mix creates energy, increases satisfaction levels, reduces turnover, and grows individual and organizational results.

Successful mentors help their mentees create and manage relationships and suggest networks that may be utilized and leveraged for growth.

Part of the mentor’s role is to provide:
Meaningful feedback
Explore perceptions of strengths and needs, and have a development plan
Networking opportunities are identified and leveraged
Trustworthy relationships are built and nurtured
Open lines of communication are established
Realistic expectations are identified and tracked  

Effective leaders also influence others and John Maxwell created the following acronym for being an I.N.F.L.U.E.N.C.E.R.:

Integrity
It’s what we do, what we say, and our supporting behaviors and actions
Nurtures
It’s how we motivate and encourage others
Faith
It’s believing in others and that they will do the right thing
Listens
To what is being said and what is NOT being said
Understands
Drives our workforce and those we lead
Enlarges
Mentors those we lead; freely shares our thoughts, ideas, and experiences
Navigates
Provides direction for where we are and where we want to be
Connects
A person of influence connects with people and does not take them for granted
Empowers
Sets others up for success
Reproduces
Develops our own leadership potential and then develops others

Both mentors and influencers encourage strong and trusting relationships, increase energy levels, and help others grow personally and professionally. Are you a mentor or an influencer?

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

Leadership is influence.
— John Maxwell

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

Feedback is critical for individual growth and for organizational success but it’s not always easy to give or to receive.

Have you noticed that when you have a good relationship with someone, you’re more at ease delivering feedback? Good business relationships increase comfort levels, trust generally exists, collaboration increases, and opinions and differing perspectives are more likely to be listened to and acted upon.

When the relationship is lacking, there can be a sense of being judged, of being picked on, maybe even having feelings of shame or inadequacy instead of understanding that the feedback is well intended with the purpose to help with growth.

We encourage investing in enhanced relationships but don’t let that get in the way of providing feedback (or being receptive to receiving feedback).

Tips for giving feedback:

Make time

• Regardless how busy you are, create a feedback calendar and take it seriously!
• If you become aware of a “positive” or “negative” action, acknowledge it immediately

Make it honest and meaningful

• Be prepared to provide specifics about both negative and positive feedback
• Think in terms of praise and constructive criticism – both contribute to growth

Use goal tracking

• If you don’t know how to get started, review how the individual has helped (or hindered) the achievement of organizational or team goals

Discuss and document the top 3 strengths and 3 growth opportunities

• For the strengths, try to leverage them and keep them sharp
• For the growth opportunities, determine what actions can be implemented immediately, which require assistance (ex. Training/mentoring), and have a plan for tracking progress

Commit to supporting continual learning

• Review what in house programs are available
• Ensure your budget adequately includes development opportunities
• Investigate external training that can address your focus areas

Business relationships is the #1 skill for creating success in the workplace and it impacts how well feedback is received, delivered, and acted upon. Make both a priority!

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.
–Bill Gates

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

Next in our series about relationships is the topic of Communication.

Let’s say our meeting has ended, we provided clear updates, shared required next steps and due dates, and firmly believe our message was delivered and understood, only to find out we were very wrong.

Tony Robins sums it up nicely: To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.

The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to have our message accurately interpreted. However, mis-communications can occur, and not only will our message be lost, but it can put a dent in the relationships we’re trying to build. We need to be aware that we all process things differently impacting the interpretation of the message. 

We need to be very aware of our choice of words, speak with confidence, and be clear and concise in our delivery. We need to be aware of our tone, our body language, and the pace in which we speak.  It’s also a plus to ask the recipients to share how they interpreted our message to ensure there’s alignment with our intent.

Sharing a message and providing clarity may include communicating:

 

1. What is happening?  
2. Why is it happening?
3. How and when is it going to happen?
4. Who is being impacted? How?
5. How will concerns be addressed?    

 

When time allows, prepare your message in advance and anticipate questions (and maybe even resistance).

Being an effective communicator helps with goal attainment, builds a more desirable work climate, and strengthens relationships.

Things to self-assess:

• What positive communication behaviors do you exhibit?
• What are your trouble spots?
• How can you become a more effective communicator?

Let us know if we can help!

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

Communication is the lifeline of any relationship.
– Elizabeth Bourgeret

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

We’re starting something new; we’re kicking off a series about relationships and why they impact the ability to be highly effective leaders with the ability to achieve success.

The series will consist of relationships and impacts to:

1. Understanding Differences
2. Communication
3. Feedback
4. Mentoring/Influencing
5. Conflict

We’re starting with Understanding Differences because of the strong linkages with being aware.

Highly successful leaders are not only aware of their own styles, skills and gaps, they are also in-tune with the styles, skills, gaps, and professional desires of those they lead and interact with. Additionally, they are keenly aware of their work culture. Why is this important?  The group culture impacts relationships. This includes behaviors, attitudes, satisfaction levels, and the comfort of the environment, all which impact the ability to obtain results.

Things to ponder:

• Every work culture has differing styles – are they all appreciated?
• Is there tension or cohesion within the group?
• Does the leader (perhaps you) recognize the differing styles and address conflict if it exists?
• Is the reason for the work/tasks/goals understood and supported? 
• What does the team value most?
• Does there seem to be negativity in the break room? 
• Do people speak up or have they gone quiet?

Understanding differences requires energy, courage, honesty, and an open mind.
It also requires addressing the “why” behind our thoughts, words, actions, behaviors, and emotions.

When strong relationships exist there’s a greater likelihood that team members will want to understand differences.  They will address when behaviors seem “off”, and openly share issues, fears, emotions, and preferences.

Colleagues will also be in the position to encourage each other to support goals and priorities by using their “magic dust” (their strengths). Most of us know what we like and what we’re good at, and we also know the strengths of others. Ex. Who are the visionaries? Who prefers providing detail? Who enjoys status updates? What about communicating change?

Understanding differences and leveraging those differing styles, behaviors, skills, and abilities makes for stronger relationships, is energizing, and will help us achieve our goals while creating a happier workplace!

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

In teamwork, silence isn’t golden, it’s deadly.
—Mark Sanborn

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.

 

So many of us work virtually with most business interactions conducted via conferencing which is fine, but we lose the opportunity for the in person “coffee chats” which can create energy and fun in the workplace (while at the same time building relationships).

Don’t ignore the need for these relationships. They’re essential for building trust, for encouraging collaboration, for understanding differences, for allowing healthy conflict, for job retention, and for networking.  Bottom line, they’re required to be successful!

Chances are there will always be some virtual interactions, either with us working remotely, or engaging with colleagues that are offsite, and it’s important to build in some personal time. 

Assess what works best for your team. Examples:

1.    Encourage (mandate?) that everyone be on camera

2.    Start or end each meeting with personal chat time
             (ex.   Family/vacations/hobbies, etc)

3.    Allow family members or pets to be on camera for a portion of the call

Some other suggestions are to have coffee breaks online, hold an after-hour cocktail hour, start a book club with monthly meetings, watch a movie together, share wordle results (or other games), and play virtual games.  You could also have a monthly birthday club or create a WhatsApp group where team members could send personal updates, jokes, or interesting pictures.

These aren’t for everyone so feel your team out. What works best for them (and you)?

Also assess if budgets allow for a once or twice yearly in person get together.  It’s a great way to create upcoming goals and tasks and obtain buy-in, and it’s also a great for sharing progress against goals, for team members to determine best practices, and for celebrating successes.

Be intentional about keeping in touch with team members and clients and build it into your schedule. It’s all too easy to get bogged down with daily issues that prevent us from strengthening our virtual relationships.

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

In teamwork, silence isn’t golden, it’s deadly.
—Mark Sanborn

Leading the Future of IT: PeopleTek’s Premier Strategy for Advancing Tech Professionals and Their Teams

At PeopleTek Coaching, our expertise lies in guiding IT visionaries, propelling them to the zenith of their capabilities. With a potent combination of bespoke coaching sessions, forward-thinking methodologies, and deep-rooted insights from the tech sector, we empower both individual tech mavens and cohesive teams to thrive in the dynamic world of IT.

Our state-of-the-art coaching model hones leadership skills and bolsters team unity, aligning them with a shared technological mission. This steadfast dedication to fostering teamwork has cemented our standing, making us the go-to consultancy for myriad tech corporations over our distinguished 20-year journey.

Beyond just business achievements, our aspiration is to mold IT spaces that resonate with positivity, creativity, and mutual respect. We champion environments that catalyze individual advancement and heighten productivity. This visionary approach forms the cornerstone of PeopleTek’s ethos.

At PeopleTek, we invite you to reshape your IT leadership path and lead with unmatched accuracy and enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of our tailored approach by visiting PeopleTekCoaching.com. Boasting a comprehensive array of tech-focused services, we are primed to refresh your ascent to tech leadership excellence and collaborative success.