Rita Perea Consulting

Tarnish on Your Personal Branding Silver

Do you ever oversell a service or product? You know- promise more than can really be delivered.  Or promise it can be done or accomplished in an unrealistic time just to get the sale or client. Some people have a destructive habit of doing just that.

In our capitalistic society we see and hear it happening all of the time.  New.  Improved. Good for you.  Enriched.  You gotta have this to be cool.  Organic.  Green.  It can be delivered/ installed/ renovated by the end of next week.  I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die... Oh, but I forgot to tell you that my fingers are crossed too.... so what I just oversold and said doesn't really count.

And what's the harm?  Doesn't everyone oversell?

From a personal branding perspective, overselling can be the nail in your coffin.  If you constantly oversell your goods, services, or yourself and make promises that you cannot deliver on, then you are creating a string of negative interactions that will eventually bite you.  People will hear, word of mouth, that you do not operate with integrity.  And who wants to hire a service professional, a contractor, a CPA, an attorney, a financial planner or have an employee on board who does not keep their word.  The answer is no one.

One of my executive consulting clients is in the middle of releasing her formerly trusted financial planner for overselling.  More accurately, he overstated (actually he lied) about the performance of investments, the cost of products that she purchased, and the cost of his services.  We all know what his motivation was for doing it.  He wanted to land a few big fish to showcase as he oversold to the next poor sucker he was prospecting.  The tough thing to understand about this situation, and others who oversell or overstate, is how they would think that it would not catch up with them? And, now in the wake of a complaint with the state insurance commissioner, how this financial planner thinks that his breech of trust and lack of integrity won't tarnish the silver of his personal brand. 

The good news is that we can all learn from the mistakes of others. Before you promise anything to anyone, be sure that you can make it happen.  Most people would like to hear a really honest "I am sorry but I cannot guarantee that" instead of "Sure we can!" only to find out that surely they can't. Being a coveted employee, member of an organization or a successful business person that others will make referrals to depends on your follow up, follow through, right action, right intention and integrity. 

Protect your personal brand and reputation at all costs.  It will pay huge dividends in a lot of ways. 

Photo on Flickr by Objects
 

Building Powerful Leadership Skills through High-Performance Coaching

Leading an organization may, at times, feel as though you’re preparing to raft through white water rapids in a small canoe. Wouldn’t it be ideal to have someone else in the canoe to assist with navigation? Maybe another pair of eyes and hands to steer the course? Through the use of an Executive Coach, hard-to-imagine solutions can be discovered; problems can be solved; other angles can be found to provide strategies for leadership success.

An Executive Coaching relationship is a commitment between a specially-trained coach and a leader of an organization. This partnership has one purpose: to enhance the leadership skills of the executive or administrator through specifically-designed and delivered questioning strategies.

The benefits of having an Executive Coach in your corner include: setting and achieving goals more effectively; problem solving with a confidante who has knowledge of the field; resolving issues and concerns proactively; and enhancing overall leadership skills.

Executive Coaches are trained professionals who have in-depth knowledge of the field as well as extensive knowledge of specific coaching strategies. Coaches are typically paid an hourly rate and contracted for a specific length of time.

Coaching can be held during face-to face sessions, electronically or over the telephone. The final result is assisting you in moving the organization you lead closer to the vision.

To request more information or to experience a coaching session, contact rita@ritaperea.com.

Getting Nowhere Fast

Too much to do and not enough time to do it all? Are you rushing, rushing, rushing and getting nowhere fast?

Everyone that I am working with these days — from entrepreneurs to corporate execs —  is feeling the pinch of being "connected" 24/7 by technology while still being responsible for all of the other "stuff" in life. Some people have tried to cope by getting up earlier and earlier each day; or by going to bed later and later each night. This lack of sleep only creates fogginess, a loss of focus and makes the problem worse. 

So, what can a person do?

Whether I am working with a person in a personal consulting arrangement or speaking in front of a large audience, I recommend five things to help people take back the control of their time which leads to a happier and healthier life: 

1. Become self-aware — just how are you spending your time each day?
2. Identify habits — what are you doing consistently that is helping you achieve your goals? What are you doing that is getting in the way of your goals?
3. Create a plan — changing a habit can take some time and elbow grease. Hey, you didn't get this way overnight!  Choose one habit that you want to strengthen or change and work daily for 40 days to "build those new muscles."
4. Find support —  research shows us that if we are involved in a supportive community then we are more likely to hold ourselves accountable for taking the action we need to take. Find a friend, or a personal coach, who can hold you accountable in a loving way. And, who can help you celebrate each small success on your journey to time freedom.
5. Pay attention to your self talk —  is that little voice in your head critical of your efforts? Change that voice to be caring and supportive of your new lifestyle habits.

With just self awareness, some focused attention on the habits you are strengthening and the choices you are making each day, you, too, can experience fabulous time freedom. 

Time Out!

Let's face it. Executives and organizational leaders are busy, busy people. Some days life can be a blur of meetings and commitments. Things can pile up quickly until we feel like our personal and work lives are out of control.

What can we do to get our lives under control again? To feel productive again? To feel less stressed and harried? Try taking a time out during your day.

Time outs (also called meditation) can last as little as five minutes or as long as 20 minutes. The focus of a time out is to relax and rejuvenate your overworked mind and body. I like to take my time outs for 15 minutes each morning and evening. The result that I've had with regular time outs is that my days flow smoother, I am more creative and productive.

So, now that we know why we should consider taking time for ourselves, and what the benefits would be, let's talk about how to make them happen.

There are many different types of meditation postures a busy person can use. Depending on how you posture your body during your time out, you'll be able to access different qualities of your subconscious mind. You will learn about three body postures here you can do in the office or at home.

Sitting: The purpose of a sitting meditation is to call upon one's inner wisdom. This posture is best used when you are grappling with a tough problem that you need guidance for. During this time out, sit comfortably either on the floor with your legs crossed, or in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Allow you arms to rest with your hands palms up on your thighs. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Notice your breath coming in and going out. Ask for inner guidance and wisdom. If you have a thought, simply notice it and return to focusing on your breathing. Stay in this position for five minutes. Work your way up to 15 minutes.

Standing: If you're getting ready for a tough meeting and need to access your inner authority, then a standing meditation could be very helpful. This posture can assist you in dealing with things from a place of self-respect and self-esteem, setting limits without guilt. During this time out, simply stand with your arms and legs uncrossed, your feet flat on the floor and your eyes wide open. Focus on your breathing. Notice your breath coming in and going out. Ask for your inner strength and personal power to show itself in your tasks today. If you have a thought, simply notice it. Continue to focus on your breath. Stay in this position for five minutes. Work your way up to 15 minutes.

Moving: Sometimes we need some help getting our "creative juices" flowing. A moving meditation can do just that. During a moving time out you could be walking, jogging, biking, dancing, or taking part in any other activity that you choose to help you listen to your inner voice. During this time out, keep your body open and uncrossed. Focus on your breathing. Notice your breath coming in and going out. Ask for the ability to be more creative. Continue to focus on your breath. You'll notice some intuitive insights and creative solutions that begin to appear spontaneously. Stay in this moving meditation for five minutes. Work your way up to 15 minutes.

A happier, more productive life is waiting for you. All you have to do is take the time to ask!

A Note From Rita

Dear Colleague:

Thanks to my own involvement in business, I can identify with the questions you may have about selecting an executive coach or leadership consultant. Will I feel comfortable with this person? Will we get real solutions or canned consulting cliches? And ultimately, will we realize a substantial return on our investment?

I wish I could reach out to you, at this very moment, look you in the eyes, and speak to your concerns. In fact, I hope you and I can chat one-on-one very soon. You see, there's a lot I simply cannot communicate in a company brochure or web site. I can't adequately express in words the true nature of my personal bond with my clients. Or the "extra mile" I'm willing to go in supporting these individuals and organizations.

I invite you to get in touch with me at 515-577-5666 or rita@ritaperea.com. Let's talk about what's getting in the way of your unbridled success and how I might bring a fresh pair of eyes and a proven set of ideas to address your situation.

It's my sincere wish that you achieve your full leadership potential!

Warmest Regards,

Rita Perea