Here at the-  Coaching Chronicle -run by Gerard O’Donovan, our aim is to constantly bring value to those seeking to improve their lives. Therefore we have a policy of publishing articles and materials by guest authors whom we value and appreciate. Today’s guest author is Martin Haworth.

The traditional view of micro-management is where a manager is so neurotic about the delivery of results that he or she cannot leave individuals to their own devices.

Micro-managers sabotage success simply because they are so close to what their people do that they stifle performance, thereby making the achievements of the desired results even more unlikely.

By failing to give responsibility to each individual to deliver what’s required, micro-managers very nearly do their job for them. This can be very demanding for the manager, who has to keep many more plates spinning than their role allows for, leading to not only exhaustion, but also to actual underperformance as they spread themselves too thinly to ensure quality outputs.

Employees find this sort of micro-management behavior incredibly frustrating. They feel watched, which diminishes their confidence. They feel that they are not trusted, so they tend to play safe and take few risks. They also find that they get nervous too, when they expect their boss to pop up at any moment to interfere and give them the guidance they clearly don’t need.

So micro-management is regarded by employees as a bad thing.

Smart managers micro-manage differently.

By seeking to interact with their people much less directly, they can understand the different motivators that every individual needs specially personalised to them. Getting to know their people, these particularly effective managers not only get to know what’s going on, they build strong, supportive and focused relationships that deliver.

Micro-managing relationships in this way, means that instead of getting close to the activities their people as tasked to deliver, they simply get close to the people themselves.

And it’s a set of skills that are easy to learn. Instead of being clever and knowing what’s best in the approach to tasks, savvy managers ask their people easy question, let them talk – and then listen, a lot. They let their people feel they are the success, because when employees talk, these exceptional managers recognise that what works is simply listening to them with focused attention and then asking them some more.

Micro-managing relationships is so much more valuable than micro-managing tasks. The accountability for team success clearly lies with a manager. Responsibility for delivering the component tasks that make up the big-picture result lies with individuals. Then each is doing what their individual roles requires.

Creating the sort of relationships that enable this dynamic and productive interaction is what defines the very best of management behaviors; management behaviors and attitudes.

Employees feel valued, heard, capable and confident and go on to contribute more; be pro-active; show their creativity; take on more. Managers make time for their people and, with clear expectations of each and every one of their people defined, step back from getting in the way.

Micromanaging relationships works very effectively indeed. A long way from micro-managing tasks, for which it’s much better to leave to the valuable resource of the employees they lead.

Credit Source: http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/158/Special-Secrets-to-MicroManaging-Employee-Performance.html

(c) 2010 Martin Haworth is a business and management coach and trainer. He is the author of Super Successful Manager!, an easy to use, step-by-step weekly development program for managers of EVERY skill level and a leadership and management trainer and coach at Coach Train Learn!

Click here to visit Martin’s website

Our special feature guest author is Richard Norris.

The body of the article:

Your business has the power to change lives. To do that it must become remarkable.

With the speed, volume and format of messages we’re bombarded with each day (easily more than 30,000 per day), it is even more important that you and your organisation be able to cut through the “white noise” to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. It’s the only way to facilitate your growth and longevity.

This is in addition to and integral to your USP. Your USP is not what you think. It is not your Unique Selling Point. Few people, if any, like being sold to and if your organisation is dependent on a point to differentiate yourself in your market you are in trouble. More on that as we go along.

So…how are you and your organisation remarkable or how could you become remarkable?

Seth Godin, best-selling author and futurist thinker has a great take on standing out in his book Purple Cow. Paul Dunn, a marketing whizz and chair of Buy 1 Give 1*, has shared some insights on being remarkable via TEDx.

Actually, Paul recently expanded on this further. He co-created a new and remarkable phenomenon centred on embedded giving in business. The title of the presentation – REMARKABLE: Adding SPEED, Adding PURPOSE, Changing LIVES. Paul challenged the audience of leaders, executives and influencers of businesses and organizations to explore, examine and assimilate practical insights around these essential concepts. The correlations that Paul drew for organisations, regardless of size, were:

1. Adding speed equals your WOW.
2. Adding purpose is your WHY.
3. Changing lives is uniquely named as your WOOW.

Paul has kindly allowed me to expand on his presentation based on some further insights that have arisen as this concept has burrowed deep into my thinking.

So here goes…

WOW

How do you add WOW?

Good question.

This relates to the little things that create huge differences in perception (and in reality) in your organisation. These transcend logic. They ‘cut through’. In effect, they add speed to who you are, what you do and your reputation. This little thing is often the last thing you do as seen by your team, clients and customers. It is this little thing that is the most remarkable. It could be the artwork on the foam of your latte that takes 6 seconds and a toothpick or, after an interview with a candidate for a position at your organisation, sending the next day a hand-written thank you on a card hand-crafted by your daughter. Often this has a high perceived value for the recipient but is actually a minimal investment to you. This little thing is not a cost; this little thing will help differentiate you in your market and attract new business and retain and build existing business.

Your WOW is centred around the value you deliver. Please note here that I did not say the value you offer. Why? Because what you offer and what you deliver can differ. It is essential that in practice these are the same – you deliver what you offer. However, your organization may intend to offer value but actually deliver less than was expected by the recipient of your product, service or interaction.

For clarity, the Oxford Dictionary defines value as:

n. the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something; the material or monetary worth of something:

In the recipient’s eyes it delivers a significant benefit. This applies internally within your organization to your people – from your cleaner to your administration team to your accounts department to your board. It also applies externally to your customers, clients, suppliers and other stakeholders.

Your WOW makes you profoundly and strategically different and adds to your USP – your Unique Strategic Promise.

On this concept please consider these questions:

• What value are you currently delivering?
• What can you do that will truly WOW your clients?
• How could you add even more value that is truly WOW?
• What makes you WOWnique?

WHY

Why do we do what we do? Why am I here? What is our purpose?

All are good questions. All are relevant questions in the uncertainty of today. This is about adding purpose, true meaning, to everything that you are and do for your organisation and for your market. Your WHY is centred on your values.

Again for clarity, the Oxford Dictionary defines values as:

Adj. principles or standards of behaviour; one’s judgement of what is important in life:

Your values are integral to who you are and will help define your purpose. Your values are a compass that will ensure you align with your purpose.

Keep in mind that people and organisations buy who you are and what you believe – your values and your purpose. Such people and organisations will, importantly, be the right people for you and your organisation whether as clients, investors, shareholders, employees or suppliers.

Knowing your purpose provides a sense of certainty, clarity, focus and impetus for your progress, growth, development and, yes, success – whether as an organization, team or individual. When your organisation, for example, has a WHY of bringing VISION to people’s lives through its exceptional high definition television sets AND, through its socially responsible embedded giving to a charity which brings VISION to blind people, you get this concept.

Regrettably, many people and organisations have yet to fully address this question of their purpose and, for that matter, their values. Both are not meant to be just something on your website and your wall to which lip-service is given by one and/or all in your organisation. These are what you are meant to be known for and make up your reputation and your credibility. They mean something!

Without your WHY you will be relegated to the crowd losing market share and possibly going bust or you will be redundant uncertain what to do next – lost and purposeless.

Today never has it been more important to really understand your purpose. It is a tough question and an unforgiving one when you face up to it and seek the answer. When you truly know, understand and live your WHY you perpetually ignite your organisation and you.**

Your WHY enhances your organisation’s significance and is integral to your USP – your Unique Significant Purpose.

So what are your answers to these questions:

• What is your WHY?
• Why do you do what you do?
• Why do you get up each morning?
• How are you adding purpose?
• What are your values?
• What makes you WHYnique?

WOOW

WOOW?

WOOW is deeper than WOW (just say it out loud and you’ll hear it!) It’s a transcendent concept centred around people and relationships. Your organisation’s success and significance is determined by the quality of relationships inside and outside your organisation.

This is about making true connections with people; it goes beyond transacting and beyond communicating. It is much deeper.  It locks into the value you deliver and your values. When you connect you truly change lives. In fact you transform them. When you change you can change back; when you transform you cannot. When you connect people are being valued; they transform and so do you and your organisation. Remember the example of the high definition television business?

According to Oxford Dictionary again when you are valued you are:

Adj. considered to be important or beneficial; cherished.

You matter.

You can create amazing opportunities when you deliver value from your values. When you add connection with people and organisations where they feel and are valued that’s when WOOW happens and we go beyond creating amazing opportunities – that’s where we create potentially infinite opportunities of amazing significance. You evolve to a higher level of success, influence and significance.

Your WOOW creates synergy where connections and relationships are interdependent with your USP – your Unique Synergistic Partnerships.

Regarding your WOOW:

• How are you changing lives?
• How are you WOOW-ing your clients?
• Who do you need to be and what do you need to do to ensure all your stakeholders are truly valued?
• What makes you WOOWnique?

USP

A few further points on your USP. To be remarkable:

• You must add speed with your WOW delivered via your Unique Simplified Process.
• You must add purpose with your WHY that is fuelled by your Unique Spurring Passion.
• You must change lives with your WOOW applying your Unique Significant Persona.

SUMMARY

Together your WOW, your WHY and your WOOW make you REMARKABLE, make you unique and, thereby, make your organization very attractive to your market. Your USP is so much more that a selling point.

To be REMARKABLE you must deliver VALUE from your VALUES to your VALUED clients. When you do that you will grow in VALUE, be known for your VALUES and be VALUED.

What makes your organisation REMARKABLE is your legacy that you leave in your market, in your clients and customers and in your people.

So…

Be REMARKABLE!

Copyright 2011

Dr Richard Norris is a speaker, author and leadership coach with a focus on transformational self-leadership. To contact him about this article and/or on his services please email rnorris@ypncompanies.com and visit his website www.drrichardnorris.com .

Update from Gerard : A Month Of Firsts

I am writing this from my hotel room in Bucharest in Romania. The weather here is absolutely beautiful.  I flew in from Warsaw a couple of days ago because I was there to do two important jobs

One was to deliver a keynote speech for the world HR Congress, which I do believe went down very well, based on the fantastic feedback. This was the second time I’ve delivered a speech at this wonderful international gathering. Such an efficient and well-run organisation, very impressive indeed.

The other main job in Warsaw  was to oversee the first ever Noble Manhattan residential coach program that we have run in Poland and not only that but it was also run in Polish two firsts !!

I am here in Bucharest with  my great lifelong friend Scott Milway to deliver our first-ever “Quantum Goal Achievement Course” in Romania.

We have deliberately kept this first cause very small and exclusive with only 13 people. (http://www.achievemygoals.net) it seems to be going down incredibly well, already we are seeing that it is changing people’s lives.

In the middle of next week I then travel with Vali, our European  development manager to Sofia in Bulgaria where we run our very first ever

“ Introduction to Coaching” event in that country. That is going to be our official launch meeting into Bulgaria.

And, I have to say a huge thank you to our strategic partner team of  Katrin,Lavinia and Brian who have been working so hard over the last four months to make this a reality. All of their hard work will come to fruition within the week. J

I guess it’s only to be expected, May, a month of joy and well-being, a month of new life and growth not only in nature but it would seem also in business.

I shall be at the mind body spirit festival at the end of this month for a couple of days as our company have our usual annual exhibition stand there.

So if any of you are in the area it would be lovely to touch base.

Then it’s back to Poland for two days followed by a week in France. The French bit isn’t work. I’m taking a break with my wife, actually that is another first. Because for the first time ever we are both going away together on my motorbike !!!!!!!!!! she has never agreed to do that in the 10 years that I have owned a bike !

Got to go now, and prepare for day 2 of the goal achievement course.

OH, I almost forgot - my latest book was also published this month. “A Coach’s Story” is quite unique in that it tells the story of 20 different and diverse coaches.

Purchase This Book

We have created a simple website at  http://www.a-coaches-story.com/ which explains more about the book. Although it is not yet possible to purchase the book directly from this site. (That will happen within a few days). If you would in the meantime like to purchase the book simply send an e-mail to  info@noble-manhattan.com and the office will post one to you immediately, price £15

All my love,

Gerard

Recommendation for an Extraordinary Book

I’m going to take the rather unusual step of very deliberately recommending a product. A book in fact.

A colleague and friend of mine called Andy Shaw who has made millions over the years in building and growing businesses has written a most wonderful book called “ A Bug Free Mind” he was kind enough to send me a complimentary copy which I have taken with me on my travels around Europe. I have not been able to put it down.

You know I have been heavily involved in the personal development industry for well over 20 years, I have read so many books and listened to so many audio programs I really have lost track.

This wonderful book that Andy has produced  (actually it’s two books, the main book and a user’s guide) encapsulates all of the teachings of the Masters, and he explains it in such an easy to read and down to earth style that it becomes simple to understand and apply.

Because he has such a strong desire to get this message out to the world he has set up a system of affiliates, and I have been very happy to become one.

To get full information about this special book, just go here http://www.abugfreemind.com/cmd.php?af=1347609

I would be really interested in receiving feedback once you have had a chance to review this book.

Warmest,

Gerard

Words from Gerard

April, for me -  always a special month ,in my mind it always signifies  the beginning, the start, a new opportunity, I guess it’s because it’s the month that I have my birthday, but also I think it’s because Spring is really under way at this point and there’s a whole feeling of rejuvenation and newness and freshness in the air. A special time of new growth, new life, ( all the newborn  lambs in the fields roundabout where I live)

So for me it is the perfect time to look ahead and plan and think about the future. Both on a personal and business front.

On the personal side it is my aim that by the end of this year I will have changed my role completely into that  of a virtual CEO. Now, that does not in any way mean stepping away from my businesses, it does however mean that I will only engage in the parts of my business that truly empower me and give me Joy. It also means that I need to have the business in a shape that does not require any input from me at all. So, how am I doing?

Well, I’m getting there  I think I’m probably about 75% of the way to achieving this. There are one or two little sticking points that I am having difficulty overcoming, such as, the barrage of e-mails that seem to come in every day, and some of our high profile public events like our ” Introduction to Coaching” days that we run in many parts of the world.

I just need to find a clone !!  Any offers  ????

On the Business Side, things are going rather well at the moment. The aim for the next 12 months is to concentrate a lot of energy and resources on our current international offerings and to develop quite a bit more internationally.

We are so pleased with our wonderful new partners in Poland the IRB, ( Instytut Rozwoju Biznesu  – Institute for Business Development ) http://www.irb.pl/

We really could not have wished for a better relationship or nicer people.

We are now casting our eyes in the direction of Bulgaria, USA, Kenya, Nigeria and Italy .

And also the Ukraine and Belarus together with our new Polish partners.

We have already appointed development teams And Strategic Partners  to start to work on developing a launch plan for each of those countries.

If any of you reading this would like to be involved in any of those particular countries then certainly get in touch, we have room for everyone

We have our first public ” Introduction to Coaching” event in Sofia in Bulgaria  on Friday, 20 May.

Full details are here

http://www.introductiontocoaching.com/

We have also created separate Facebook pages for each of those countries. Please feel free to engage with us here as friends

Bulgaria http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199573326741507#!/home.php?sk=group_106756122738932

Nigeria   http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199573326741507#!/home.php?sk=group_148420891886730

Kenya  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199573326741507#!/home.php?sk=group_140767652655332

Italy   http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199573326741507

For those people who want to develop a lucrative business within the corporate world we are launching a very wonderful opportunity in conjunction with a great company called People  Alchemy.

Full details can be found here.

http://noble-manhattan.com/alchemy2.php

I am also planning my next motorbike adventure. As you may know once every year my wife is kind enough to let me go on my own, on my motorbike for a trip somewhere exotic. I usually do this with one or two friends who like to come along.

Two years ago we went down through Spain into Morocco and back again. In the middle of winter !!!

Last year we went all the way across Europe to the Ukraine and Romania and then back again covering 17 countries and 4000 miles.

Now I’m turning my thoughts to this October and trying to work out where to go exactly.

If anyone would like to come, just let me know it will be from approximately 10 October until about 28th of October, the destination is still a little bit up in the air, the original plan had been to start in Romania and go around the Black Sea.But I’m having some logistical problems working out how to get the motorbikes to Romania and back again  !!  Any ideas?

If that doesn’t work, it doesn’t really matter we will still go for a wonderful adventure somewhere else in Europe.

I am also taking a week off at the beginning of June and going on my motorbike to a beautiful villa in France, and this time my wife is actually coming with me as a pillion  !!! The first time ever !!

We also have some sad news, we are losing our beautiful Stacey. Stacey, as many of you know has been a key part of our company for the last seven years and has taken personal responsibility for a large part of the administration division.

For the last couple of years she has been training to be an accountant and is now ready to follow her passion. She has found a position within a local company in that role.

We are on the one hand so sorry to lose her but on the other hand really happy for her.

So, we are now in the wonderful position of starting on the recruitment path to find someone to fill her position.

We are also now about to start recruiting some more full-time IT people to join our existing and quite large IT team.

So all in all a wonderful time of change and growth and excitement.

Lots of love,

Gerard

PS. I forgot to mention my new book gets launched this week.Read the section below to find out all about it. I am really excited 

Attend a Spring  Introduction to Coaching Event

Do you want to find out all about coaching, find out how it can transform lives and experience coaching techniques from our qualified coaches?

Our Introduction to Life Coaching Events are a great way to find out everything to do with coaching and training to be a Life Coach. Gerard is a really inspirational speaker and we know you’ll enjoy listening to him, so do come along and attend! Why not bring a friend or relative as well?

You will learn:

• What is a Life Coach?
• What is an executive coach? What do they do?
• Learn how Life Coaching can transform people’s lives
• The benefits of applying Life Coaching Skills in the home and work place.
• Learn the four pillars on coaching
• Take part in a highly interactive and informative coaching workshop where you will get hands on real coaching techniques.
• Learn how to build your client base.
• Plus much more

Please click here to find out all about this day + book your place securely online now!

Event One
Saturday 7th May – 9.30am-5.00pm – London – Columbia Hotel

Event Two
Saturday 20^th May – 9.30am – 5.00pm – Bulgaria

Event Three
Saturday 4^th June – 9.30am-5.00pm – London – Columbia Hotel

Event Four
Saturday 9th July – 9.30am-5.00pm – London – Columbia Hotel

Event Five
Saturday 3^rd September – 9.30am-5.00pm – London – Columbia Hotel

If you would like to attend an event please visit www.introductiontocoaching.com and we will send you a booking confirmation and a map to you. Places are limited.

Colour Coaching Teleclass

Find out everything that you have ever wanted to know about Colour Coaching!

Have you ever wanted to find out all about Colour Coaching, how it works and how it can dramatically transform people’s lives?

Becoming a colour coach will impact your life and will dramatically transform the lives of others. It is extremely fulfilling to help others build amazing new confidence and self-esteem through the use of colour cosmetics and colour analysis!

Attend our 30 minute live teleclass with top trainer and world-class consultant and coach Mandy Ellesmere.

Colour Coaching Live Teleclass
Date: Monday 11^th April
Time: 4.00pm (UK) time

Please contact the office NOW to reserve your place by e-mailing emmasmith@noble-manhattan.com

If you would like to attend the call there is absolutely no obligation to go on the program.

Build Your Profile by Helping at an Exhibition

Would you like to have the opportunity to build your profile by working with us at a show?

Mind Body Spirit – 25th and 30th May 2011  London, Horticultural Halls

We are looking for people to help out on the stand. This is a great opportunity for you to network and meet new, interesting people. Helping out on the stand is always good fun and would involve handing out brochures, speaking to people who are enquiring about coaching and sharing your own coaching experiences and helping us gain new prospects. You will of course get free entry into the show. You will have plenty of time to look round the event too as we usually work it hour on/hour off so you’ll only be working about 4 hours during the day.

Please visit details of the Mind Body Spirit Show http://www.mindbodyspirit.co.uk

If anyone is interested in helping at this event please send an e-mail to me on emmasmith@noble-manhattan.com stating the day/s you’d like to volunteer.

I only have space available on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Monday.

Letters to use after your name for NM Qualification

This is really a quick overview and reminder to all of the students and coaches who have trained with noble Manhattan worldwide all 7, 000 +  of you .

As a qualified practitioner coach trained by our organisation you are entitled to put the appropriate letter is after your name on your business cards, websites, literature etc here as a reminder are the details.

If you have done the following courses then you can use these letters.

Certificate courses, to include “Practitioner Coach Certificate”

,”Certificate Foundation Course” Certificate in “Workplace Coaching”

NMP Cert

Practitioner Coach Diploma Course

NMP Dip

Executive and Corporate Certificate Courses

NMC Cert

Executive and Corporate Diploma Courses

NMC Dip

You are also entitled to use the Noble Manhattan logo on your website, literature  etc.

To receive a copy of our logo simply send an e-mail to

info@noble-manhattan.com

Volunteers for IIC

Well, here we are again, the beginning of a whole new year. I really enjoyed the Christmas and New Year break. We closed the offices for 11 days so that everyone in head office could have a well earned break.

Personally, I really do so enjoy this time of year not only because it’s a great opportunity to get together with my close family and friends but I’ve also got into the habit over the last 10 years of using this time to do two things.

First, to reflect (and to do it truthfully and honestly ) on the previous year -taking time to look at what worked and what did not work.

Second, to look ahead, to think, to strategise ,to plan and to set goals. I have set myself what I believe to be a quite an audacious goal this year. I’m almost a little bit scared to reveal it to you because once I say it, it is totally out in the open. !!!!

But, here goes:

My goal is that by the end of this year I will have turned myself into a Virtual CEO.

What does that mean?

It means that I want to get everything in place so that I can run my business from where ever I am in the world, and not have to be tied down to any agenda, schedule, or place. In fact, to not HAVE to do anything except what I want to do when it comes to running the business.

It’s going to mean that I will have to look very seriously at my current way of working and see what new systems need to be put in place, new methods, new technology and new people to support me in this role. It’s quite scary for me but also very exciting.

Gerard's Coaching Blog

Last year I tested this concept on a number of my trips abroad, and to be honest, I feel I’ve probably got about 70% of everything in position already. I will keep everyone updated over the next few months through regular postings on my Blog at http://www.coaching-blog.com. If you haven’t already registered for regular updates it might be an idea to do that and I will keep you in the loop. You can also leave your feedback and comments for me here. You may all be interested to know that this year is actually called the year of communication. And I intend to use my blog as a means of communicating far more effectively with everyone in future.

Looking ahead to 2011. Well it’s already looking as if it’s going to be a massively busy year.
1. USA Here we come – We have made a decision to launch into the USA, in the late spring ( early April) and are now in the process of organising some “Introduction to Coaching” events in Los Angeles and San Diego As many of you will know Noble Manhattan is one of the longest established and largest coach training companies in the world ( in the top 6 out of 675 ) and although we currently trade in 26 countries we never really proactively looked at the United States. Until now. Perhaps it’s time we took really good quality coaching and coach training back home to where it began ( just a joke- don’t get too upset )

2. Romania – as a market for us is growing very rapidly indeed and we now have a most wonderful Noble Manhattan Family there. Made up of our faculty, qualified coaches, students etc . We are now the largest trainer of individual life and executive coaches in the country. We plan this year to launch more of our products and divisions into Romania and are looking seriously at some of the nearby countries like Bulgaria ,Ukraine and Serbia. Would you like to be involved ?

3. Strategic Partnerships and Distributors – a considerable part of our growth over the last 18 months has been because of our close relationship with some of our new partners worldwide. We intend to expand this and open up the opportunity for many of our students and coaches to become partners with us. To that end we have created a special website http://www.noble-partners.com which explains how people can become one of our partners and even fill-in a small application / enquiry form.

4. Poland – a very exciting market indeed for us and we have some incredible plans in the pipeline that I am bound by a promise not to reveal at the moment ???? all will be revealed soon to be honest I find it so difficult to keep my mouth shut and not tell people !!

5. Helping Coaches to Build Their Business – this is something that is so incredibly close to my own heart and something that I will be focusing an enormous amount of my time this year on. Creating initiatives and products and services to do nothing else but help our students and coaches to develop an attractive financially sound coaching practice.

We will be running a special Business Building Day in London on Sunday, 13 March. This will be open to every coach, every student and in fact anyone who is an entrepreneur and building their own business ( not just coaches). Places will be limited because of the size of the hotel room we will be hiring, so if you are interested contact the office immediately. Or go to this link to reserve your place http://www.noble-manhattan.com/building_business.php

6. Adventure and Travel – many of you will know that the Noble Foundation is very close to my heart http://www.noble-foundation.com. One of the ways that we spread the word about the foundation is by running a Noble Quest every year http://www.noble-quest.com. We have two different types -a walking expedition and a motorbike expedition. I myself lead the motorbike expedition.

Gerard With His Motorbike

In the last few years we’ve been to Spain and Morocco, we’ve been through Eastern Europe to Ukraine and Romania, and this year. We are planning to go around the Black Sea. Starting in Romania ( we have a cunning plan to get all the motorbikes there ) we will take approximately 2 and 1/2 weeks going south into Bulgaria through Turkey then into Armenia, Georgia up into the Ukraine, spend a bit of time in the Crimea then into Moldova then back to Romania. Then we fly home.

This adventure will be open to anyone at all who would like to join us. You can either come for the whole trip or just part.

Although we don’t have an exact date yet we are now just beginning to look at logistics etc it will probably be in September 2011. Full details will appear very shortly on http://www.noble-quest.com/motorbike_quest.php. If you would like to be considered, please send an e-mail to my VA at xerxes@noble-manhattan.com

7. Colour coaching – our recently launched initiative to help mainly female coaches ( not Limited to females) continues to grow. We have planned another training course for February and if anyone would like to be considered then please contact Emma at the office. Or if you would like to have a Private coffee on the phone with Mandy to see if this would really suit you then just let Emma in our office know.

First Batch Of Colour Coaches

For more details you can go to http://www.colour-coaching.com or read the blog at http://www.colour-coaching.com/blog

All my love for now,

Gerard

Ideas in Action :
The following was taken from an article written by Uday Arur
Barriers to Success – Strategy or Execution?

Recent studies have shown that organizations that have gone through the effort of developing a written strategy fail miserably at execution. According to Paul Niven in his book “The Balanced Scorecard”:

Only 10% of organizations execute their strategy

Only 25% of managers and executives have incentives linked to strategy

85% of executive teams spend less than 1 hour per month on strategy

60% of organizations don’t link budgets to strategy

Who will our customers be? How many will we have?

Those are pretty dismal facts about commitment and results as they pertain to strategy execution.

However, Roger Martin (The Execution Trap, HBR July-August 2010), believes that the idea that a strategy can be brilliant and execution poor is flawed.

To Martin, the flaw stems from the common metaphor used to illustrate the opposing views regarding strategy execution – the one where the organizations “thinkers” come up with the strategy and doers “execute”.

Instead, Martin proposes an alternative metaphor, which he believes can correct the flaw in the thinking. He compares the organization with a white-water river, where choices cascade down from upstream to downstream in the organizational hierarchy. This approach would enable more freedom to adapt decisions to the specifics of the environment in which each organizational level operates, all within a larger framework and direction given by the strategy (the river). Unlike the strategy-execution approach, in which leaders dictate and set strategies and expect subordinates to mechanically follow, the choice-cascade model has senior managers empower workers by allowing them to use their best judgement in the scenarios they encounter. But, says Martin, to effectively enable those individual choices, a choice maker “upstream” must set the context for the downstream.

Martin suggests four ways the choice maker can help his employees make better choices:

Explain the choice that has been made and the rationale for it

Explicitly identify the next downstream choice

Assist in making the downstream choice as needed

Commit to revisiting and modifying the choice based on downstream feedback

Because downstream choices are valued and feedback is encouraged, the framework enables employees to send information back upstream, improving the knowledge base of decision makers higher up and enabling everyone in the organization to make better choices. And when workers are made to feel empowered, the whole organization wins!

The first metaphor, which treats strategy separate from execution, can be associated with a mechanistic, command and control thinking, whereas, what Martin seems to suggest is an organic, systems thinking with an interrelated, integrated view of strategy.

Which side are you on?
Uday Arur CMC, CEQM, CBA
Business Coach
www.arurbizcoach.com

Last night I was interviewed by Denis Rancourt who is a well-known scientist, lecturer and radio host.
He runs a wonderful radio station details of which are on this blog site

http://trainradio.blogspot.com/

He interviewed me for approximately one hour on Canadian radio. We discussed mainly life coaching and corporate coaching, how it works and the impact it can have on corporate culture.
If you would like to hear and see Denis then he has done a very interesting and slightly controversial video which can be seen here on you Tube

Personally I agree with everything he says.

My interview will be available shortly,
Warmest
Gerard