It’s hard to read the tea leaves in the best of times.  But when the unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in decades, we’re also seeing the stock markets rebounding with so much strength that it’s hard not to get enthusiastic.

Is this the beginning?  Is the worst over, in terms of employment opportunities, home foreclosures, improved savings and retirement levels?  Or is this a “head fake”?

Should you stand pat, keep potential losses to a minimum?  Or is it time to get aggressive and take back control of your life?

I was recently asked for my advice by the editors at Computerworld.  They’ve just completed a new study of salary and trends within the IT sector.  It’s their 23rd annual report and the results are telling.

Although it is obviously targeted to one particular segment, I believe that it talks to what’s going on in many – if not most – industries in North America.

Check it out here.

Let me know your thoughts.

john

Great leaders seem to know exactly what to do at the time.  In this week’s Veracity blog, executive coach John M McKee shares 5 tips he’s seen used by some of the best.

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I was pleased to see that Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief of TechRepublic, liked some of my work on leadership enough that he made a video using tips I’d created.

He’s done a great job of focusing on the most valuable tips in 4 1/2 minutes.

If you’re a leader, or intend to become one, check it out here. I created the original article based on some of the best – and most effective – approaches I’ve seen used over my 30 years in business and coaching.

If you can’t use at least one of these to improve your game – I’ll be very surprised!

Here’s to your future!

john

The incidence of cheating seems to be on the rise.  In this article executive coach John M McKee highlights recent research that found this may be easily controlled.

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Interesting article in this week’s (10/05/09) BusinessWeek magazine on the subject of cheating. Seems like the frequency of people being dishonest is way up.

The article, by Ellen Gibson, notes that this increase may be partially due to the aftermath of the financial crisis – led by individuals like Bernie Madoff and his ilk.  She goes on to quote Dan Ariely, a Duke U prof and author of a best seller called, Predictably Irrational.

He notes that people are more likely to cheat if they are a step removed from the cash payoff.  Something along the lines of, ” If I am not actually hurting or lying to the person I’m dealing with directly; I don’t feel as bad doing it.  And I’m more likely to do it.”

In an experiment involving 500 people, Ariely found that people who do small “cheating things” are more likely to do bigger ones when they get away with it.  Some of his test subjects were asked to wear counterfeit designer products while others wore the real brand.  The ones who felt they got away with cheating with the glasses were more likely ( 2x as likely) to cheat on other unrelated tasks.

In another test, he found that people who had to sign their names at the top of a test were less likely to cheat than those who didn’t sign the paper or those who signed at the bottom of the page.

His conclusion? When reminded of their better selves, by signing before the test, people are more likely to remain honest.  His advice to the IRS for next tax season:  Move the signature line to the top of the page.”

It may be worth trying on your end -  perhaps you can use this information to help yourself or others perform better.

john

If your career isn’t where you’d like, it may be because your mind and body are not functioning as well as possible.  This week, executive coach John M McKee shares a tip that works for many successful career pro’s.

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When a new client joins Business Success Coach.net, we have a series of questions we ask at the outset.  I believe that the more I know about my client, the more likely I am able to help her or him quickly.

Because we use The Four Windows Process of coaching, our questions go beyond the ones which you may expect from a career or business coach.  Of course, we’re focused on  career success and aspirations.  As a part of that, though, we ask about exercise among other things.  Perhaps not surprisingly I hear that most people don’t have any regular fitness routine.

They’re making a big mistake.  I’ve learned over the years that those who keep their bodies in good shape as they age will often be more successful in other aspects of their lives including their careers.  But many times my new client will say  that they’re just “too busy” to look after their bodies.  Sound familiar?

If you’re in a similar place, I suggest you start looking after your entire situation – career, personal life, and financial success – by doing something smart and beneficial for yourself physically.  I recommend yoga.  Here’s why:

1. It addresses your whole body -not simply a particular part like the legs, behind, or arms.  Consequently, in a very short period of time, it helps you function better overall.  New levels of tamina can make a big difference.  Not carrying yesterday’s stress today long helps you get through the job demands more readily.

2. There’s a mental aspect to it. Most people who are into exercise will say the same thing about their sport or workput; and I’ve done enough other activity to realize their comment are valid.  Yoga, however, is geared around focusing on many different postures during the class time.  Consequently, it’s hard to NOT let go of the issues nagging you.  You “let go”.  When finished class, it’s not just your bod that is in better shape, your head is too.

3.  Desk workers, or those who are always traveling from place to place, develop certain postures out of habit. They may develop pots, sore necks, poor posture.  Ofthen they’ll lose upper body strength, become more prone to headaches or body aches.  That’s because of the amount of time they remain in the same position during most days.  For both women and men, it’s important to release this tension or else it will turn into something more damaging – perhaps life threatening.

I do Bikram Yoga.  It’s a form of hot yoga, meaning the studio is hot – like 105 degrees F.  The temperature takes a while to get used to; but once you’re accustomed to it, it really helps your body and your brain to respond more quickly to the instructions of the teacher and the various poses.

As a Wellnesss Adviser for Tempur-Pedic I have access to research on sleep done by the company.  Additionally, as a leadership coach, I hear from many clients about their lack of sleep due to job demands.  With that feedback feedback and empirical research, I have no doubt that, for many people, a lack of sleep is causing them to perform less effectively.  Yoga helps you to sleep better. It helps you physically and mentally.

Focusing on the movements of yoga will help you build physical strength and mental acuity.  Both make you better equipped to perform better on the job.

Give it a test.  There’s nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

john

This week, executive and business coach John M McKee shares 6 solid ideas to consider when looking for a new job.

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“Each day brings with it new opportunity and the chance to move forward.”
As nice as though words are, and as much as many readers would like to believe in them, I know from my clients and contacts that there are a lot of people who, simply, don’t.  For them and anyone else in the job search mode, I suggest you check out ExecuNet online.  They go beyond what many subscription services do and provide real and actionable ideas.

The group at ExecuNet are constantly offering a few tips which are not the typical, “here’s how to get a job” ideas that everyone is publishing all the time now.  I thought this week’s newsletter suggestions were very worth sharing – I’ve copied some of it here:

1. Focus on networking with people you don’t know as quickly as possible. During the first month of a search, contact a minimum of 50 “warm” contacts, those you know and with whom you are comfortable. After the first month, network to at least 100 new contacts every month.

2. Search for interim roles when you begin your search. Up to 40 percent of the time, interim roles lead to full-time positions. When you work on an interim/consulting basis, you and the company become so comfortable with each other that a full-time position is often created.

3. Target smaller companies. Research Dun & Bradstreet, Moody’s Million Dollar Directory, Standard and Poor’s, Hoover’s and other websites for valuable smaller company information. The reference section at public libraries provides access to these resources, sometimes for free.

4. Identify underperforming companies. A significant portion of competition for jobs comes from working executives. During a weak economy, they are less inclined to move to a struggling company which carries greater risk. Therefore, there is less competition for these jobs.

5. Spend less than 10 percent of the time contacting and working with recruiters. Executive job seekers are advised to limit their involvement to those recruiters they have retained in the past or are referred to them by close friends and colleagues. Even recruiters themselves acknowledge the limitations of obtaining an executive position by relying too heavily on search firms, because recruiters only account for about 10 percent of all executive hires.

6. Allocate no more than five percent of your search effort responding to published job leads and Internet postings. Responses should only be made to opportunities which closely match your skills and experience. Thousands of individuals see these opportunities, dramatically increasing competition and reducing the odds of securing the position. Be sure you are a “best fit” for a published/posted opening.

The advice above was adapted from Change Your Job Search Approach in a Recessionary Economy by Tucker Mays and Bob Sloane, which was originally available to ExecuNet members in November, 2008. If you are interested in the entire article, or other expert advice like it, consider an ExecuNet membership.

john

Successful managers and leaders often share similar approaches.  In this article, executive and business coach John M McKee provides 12 characteristics that are common to effective leaders across all levels and organizations.  Use them to improve your own success.

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Great leaders get things done.

When you think about it that statement could be their job description. After all, when giving an individual the role of leader, we almost assume that they, more than others, can get the job done. 

And yet, so many do not. So – what is it that makes a great leader, great?

Over the course of my career, I’ve been very fortunate to have spent time with many great leaders. I’ve worked one-on-one with the leaders of large, well-known organizations like the former chairmen of General Motors, DIRECTV and AT&T.

I’ve spent quality time with top politicians from both the United States and Canada including Bill Clinton, and the former Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chrétien as well as the secretaries of the US Government and the Ministers of the Canadian one. I’ve also been lucky enough to have worked with great leaders in small businesses and start-ups as well.

During that time, I came to realize that there are certain characteristics that all the truly great share. The following was created as a result:

1. They live their lives and run their organizations “On Purpose”. They know what they stand for. They recognize that their organizations are a reflection of their values and standards, and behave accordingly.

2. They help others to succeed. They mentor, train, assist, demand, challenge and model for others to help them become better.

3. They get results. With teams that know where the organization is going, and who are better trained and capable, they overcoming the odds. They usually beat expectations while others fail.

4. They put back into their communities. Volunteering, tithing, and giving; they support non-profits & other initiatives dependent upon others’ for support

5. They excel in difficult environments, making their own success. Macro issues are often incidental to their approaches. Through Intention, they overcome difficult obstacles that slow down others.

6. They are great listeners. To everyone. Customers. Employees. Competitors. Consequently, they are more likely to be innovators, testing new ideas which others in the same sector may not.

7. They can make tough decisions. When action is required, it’s taken. They can admit mistakes and correct them. Merely “good” leaders often falter when it comes to decisions affecting people, money or strategy.

8. They are honest and ethical. Like a ‘business Karma”, they know that what goes around comes around. As a result, more people will help and support them.

9. They understand the differences of power vs. force.  Many others fail to realize that forcing outcomes ultimately causes negative results. Helping to build new understanding of the motives on both sides, and the benefits one can realize using new approaches ensures long-term success.

10. They don’t need all the recognition, all the time. Loyal and stronger teams result, in turn making better organizations more inclined to go the extra mile in tough times.

11. They continually upgrade their skills. They recognize that the marketplace is constantly changing and that they must as well.

12. They have a clear, actionable plan for their life. Managing their plan, they lead balanced lives while delivering great results.  In our research at my coaching practice Business Success Coach.net over the past few years, we’ve seen that over 80% of those who say they are satisfied with their lives also have a plan.  This is not a co-incidence.

Here’s to your success!

john

Today, more than ever, people are feeling the effects of stress.  In this week’s VERACITY Blog, executive coach John M McKee discusses a free audio program which can help individuals get past their stress and move forward.

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There are a lot of people stressed out – about a lot things – right now.

You’ve probably noticed.  May even be feeling the impact of stress yourself.

When we’re stressed, we function less effectively.  It’s harder to make decisions, and then we may second-guess ourselves.  It’s harder to fall asleep and stay asleep – this affects us during the day of course; often manifested by being more emotional than usual.  (“I never cry.  But I cried! What’s up with that?”)

There are a lot of reasons to feel stressed today and I’m not going to list them here.  You know what’s going on in your life.  But you may not be conscious of this fact: even if things are fine in your life, you may be impacted by stress simply be the news or hearing from others about increased difficulties they are experiencing.  This is particularly so for individuals who have a strong sense of empathy; which usually translates to women more than men.

If you’re feeling more stressed than usual, you should  check out this free audio program currently offered by Business Success Coach.net.  Recorded by a Canadian medical doctor whom I regard as one of the finest experts in this field, Dr. Alan Banack, it’s been used successfully by patients and individuals for over 20 years.

A similar audio tape of his helped me to quit smoking back in 1988. Quite simply – these work.

Each of us get stressed out at different times.  Usually we can manage it and it goes away on its own.  But sometimes it doesn’t.  It kind of grabs onto us and doesn’t let go.  Then we see our performance drop.  We may feel tired or lack energy.  We become less than we were on many fronts.  This audio will help you overcome it.

If you’re not sure that something you download for free can actually help you: then I urge you to test it out.

Dr Alan Banack, has been practicing for nearly 30 years.  He has patients throughout North America who have benefited from his psycho therapy and leading edge approach to reducing or eliminating the effects of stress.   You should try this free program.  Let me know how it worked for you.

It’s available our organization’s website at Business Success Coach.net.  Listen the my interview with Dr Banack beforehand too.

Here’s to your future!

john

Sleep issues often cause poor performance on the job. In this article business and executive coach John M McKee discusses 5 tactics to make you more successful.

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“I’m simply fed up!”

And, with that comment, a new client of mine started working with me last January.

He went on, saying that, “I’m already in a very pressureful business. I shouldn’t have to deal with more bureaucratic bulls*** that makes it even tougher to get my job done.  The HR department seems to feel that its job is to prevent me from hiring good people or firing the dead weight!”

He’s a temperamental senior executive, known to have a big temper.  But the organization – a midsized cable television network – puts up with his fits because he helps them to succeed.  They asked me to do some remedial coaching to try to help him act a little more “business like”: no screaming fits, no cursing, door slamming should stop. The objective was for him to at least try to act like a normal human being in meetings with his peers.

In our first meeting I could sense his frustration level.  I dealt with it head-on.  “What’s your problem?” I asked.

He started to list all the things in his life that are driving him crazy.  To be fair it was a list that would make even the most even-keeled person become unbalanced. (His wife had left him, his 401k is now a 201k after the events of last year, he was promised a big raise but then the company didn’t deliver the goods, he hurt his knee skiing and it aches all day, and he isn’t sleeping much.

That last one caught my attention.  In addition to being an executive and business coach, I am also a Wellness Adviser for Tempur-Pedic.   During my 30+ years in boardrooms and executive suites I have seen firsthand that a lack of sleep can have a major impact on one’s performance, attitude, and behavior.  It struck me that this client may be sleep deprived and that everyone may be seeing the result of that.

We discussed how long he sleeps each night, if he’s one to toss and turn, how fast he goes to sleep when his head hits the pillow, and how he feels when he gets up in the AM.

From his answers it was clear that he wasn’t getting enough quality sleep.

This makes him emotional and drives his actions and behavior.  My client didn’t need a coach to help him understand fundamentals of good management practice – he needed more sleep!

I gave him some suggestions, he put them into practice and – like magic – he’s become the “old executive” everyone knew and loved.

If you’re feeling emotional, irrational, cranky, foggy, or just plain run down; consider a few of these ideas to improve your sleep.  It may make you more effective, content, and successful:

1. Caffeine – if you have trouble sleeping, drink no more than 2 caffeinated beverages a day, none after lunch.  This includes tea by the way.  And many things we eat have caffeine – check the labels.

2. Booze – This is a trick one because it can make you sleepy and you go right to sleep without all that “noise”.  So it seems like it’s a sleep aid. But it’s not a good sleep.  Then you usually wake up still feeling tired.  Try not to drink within 4 hours of bedtime.

3.  Bed – Don’t try to save money on your bed. It’s probably one of the best investments in your personal success you can make.  If you are uncomfortable (bed is too hard, too soft, too hot, too cold, too small, too crowded, etc etc) you toss and turn, and that breaks up the important deep sleep that replenishes you.  If you need to save money on furniture buy a less expensive dining room suite.  They never get used as much as people expect anyway.

4. Environment – Your bedroom should be dark – any light can interrupt your sleep. It should be quiet – for obvious reasons. Ideally it’s a bit on the cool side – about 64 degrees.  If you have a tv in the bedroom, don’t watch it at bedtime and don’t read before you go to sleep either.  Both can stimulate your brain just when you want it quieter.  Finally, if you are prone to waking up and looking at the time, put the clock in a drawer so you can’t see it.

5. Exercise – Regular exercise helps us sleep better.  I know that it’s tough to find the time to exercise but cut back elsewhere and figure it out.  Do it in the AM or early PM, but not too close to bedtime.  Exercise will help you work out stress and clear your head too – each important for some good zzz’s.

I realize that this list may seem pretty short and that many readers will have seen similar lists.  But if your job performance is not what is needed, I strongly urge you to consider your sleep patterns. Adults need about 8 hours of sleep each night to perform a peak levels.  Anything less is going to hit you.

If you chose to ignore your sleep issues, you can always feel free to call us at our Coaching Practice here at Business Success Coach.net.  Our phone # is 720.226.9072 and we’ll be happy to work with you on other ways of improving your results.

But it’s probably going to cost you more…

Here’s to your success!

john

Many people are not taking a vacation this year.  They feel that the economy or their particular situation makes time off a bad idea.  In this blog, executive and business coach John M McKee talks about his recent vacation and why it’s more important then ever to use down-time to your advantage.

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The surf wasn’t as good as hoped.  I was sitting on my surfboard with my daughter Jess about 10 yards away on hers and we were waiting for some ride-worthy waves to bear down on us.  Despite the lack of breakers at this moment, it struck me that life doesn’t get much better than this.

On vacation for a couple of weeks on Canada’s Vancouver Island, we were near a small village called Tofino.  It’s in a rainforest; known for its excellent beaches and waves.  My wife Susan, who is a great planner (and understands life’s needs better than most people), had rented us a great house near the beach for a month.  With relatives and friends staying with us over the period; it was just a great opportunity to decompress and recharge.

So I was surfing with my daughter this particular afternoon, with plans to go out for dinner as a group and then attend a concert arranged by Susan’s sister, Pam the head of the Tofino Art and Culture Festival on the Island.  The concert was a solo act by a bassoonist and turned out to be one of life’s great little surprises – we enjoyed him and the few hours we spent together.

Many individuals fail to recognize the genuine benefits that accrue when they take a serious vacation.  And, yes, I do realize that during this time, not everyone can afford to go out of the country for some time off.  If you’re in that situation, then take a stay-cation around the home.  The key point to remember is this – if you work hard, or are under stress from being out of work – you still need to give yourself some “time off”.  Otherwise you get stale, can become cranky, and risk depression.  Any of which are not going to do you – or anyone who’s near you – any benefit.

Recently, I was interviewed on the subject of how to take a vacation and get the most of it.  I provided some ideas and suggestions to help get away, enjoy the time off, and get back into the work mode quick when you return to the job. If you’re interested you can see it at this link:

http://hwcdn.net/n3z3d6s4/wms/tempurpedic/tempurpedic2.wmv.asx

During my time off, I also had the opportunity to go ocean kayaking with my brother-in-law, Tim Lewis, sister in-law Flo Skakum-Lewis, nephew Jeff and above mentioned daughter.  As daylight became nightfall, I was reminded that,  it’s hard to keep thinking about the job when you’re worried about dying….  But once we were back on land, we were invigorated and charged, not depleted.  That’s one of the great benefits of challenging yourself in new ways.  It sharpens the mind and the body.

If you are stalling about taking time off this year, I encourage you to move forward and do something.

Over the long haul, you’ll become a better and more successful individual because of vacations.  In the short-term it’s unlikely to hurt your career or job requirements.  More importantly, it will probably improve your performance.

Looking forward…

john

To succeed, and then stay on top, organizations need to be clear about what drives their business.  Regardless of the sector or industry, it always boils down to simple and fundamental factors.  Those who forget this rule of management become dinosaurs.  And they’ll suffer the same fate.  In this blog, executive and business coach John M McKee discusses why he is quitting DIRECTV’s service – an organization that he helped to become #1.

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In 1992 I was recruited to become a part of the senior leadership team which founded DIRECTV.

At the time we had a vision to provide the best values, best customer service and biggest package of entertainment available anywhere in the US.  We had a lot of difficulty getting up and running.  Negotiating programming agreements, establishing an outsourced customer care department, getting hardware manufacturers like Sony and Hitachi onboard to complement Thompson, and hiring people who would be as evangelical about the new service as the rest of us.

Under the guidance of Eddy Hartenstein, who became the CEO before he left, and Jim Ramo who went on to become the CEO of Movielink after moving- on, the company developed the right culture at the right time.  It flourished of course and the rest became history.  I was proud to be a key member of the leadership team; and during my tenure oversaw managed the acquisition of Primestar, the creation of the Home Services group, and developing partnerships with many companies such as AT&T, airlines, and bars/restaurants.

Since leaving DIRECTV in 2001 to launch Business Success Coach.net, I have watched DIRECTV evolve and change.  All organizations change of course.  But some do it better than others.  While pleased that it became a dominant player, I became concerned about decisions it was making which ultimately affected customer satisfaction levels.  I believe this indicator is critical to the ongoing success of any venture in any field.

During the past year, my experience dealing with DIRECTV has been very disappointing.  Hardware failures, lack of interest from customer care representatives, increasing fees and service charges, and mistakes on my bills have combined to cause me to decide to quit using DIRECTV and switch over to FIOS.  This was a tough decision given my background with the company.

I decided to switch over to FIOS for a lot of reasons including customer service, bundled services and monthly fees – each of which are all in the control of any organization’s management.   Distracted leaders, or those with inappropriate objectives, can derail any organization.  When faced with aggressive and well-financed competitors, that type of derailment results in customer defections, reduced subscriber acquisitions and higher operating costs.

If the current attitude and business approaches are maintained after the arrival DIRECTVs new CEO; I believe we will witness this company take a downward spiral that will shock many industry players and observers.