Old Dog, Lucy’s, Tips for Surviving A Hot Summer Day

Dr. Rob's old dog, Lucy's, tips for surviving on a hot summer day:

1. Get up when you feel like it.

2. Stretch first thing.

3. Get someone to take you for a long slow walk.

4. Eat a low-carb breakfast.

5. Go for a swim and be sure to chase the ducks.

6. Take a nap in the shade.

7. Nuzzle near somebody you love.

8. Go for another swim but leave the ducks alone.

9. Keep drinking lots of liquids (alcohol only for non- dogs).

10. Watch the Northern Lights…and sleep well.

For more tips see  http://www.readthespirit.com/book-for-dog-lovers/ or like Conversations With My Old Dog on Facebook.

Coach Rob Pasick

Email: rob@leadersconnect.com

Website: www.robertpasick.com

Six Steps to Change an Undesirable Habit

1. 1. Identify the habit to change (For example,   eating too many sweets)
2. 2. Describe the desired change (For example, eat fewer sweets per week)
3. 3. Set a goal and write it down (For example, reduce sweet intake to two per week)
4. 4. Set a reward (For example, new clothes as your waistline shrinks)
5. 5. Keep data on the behavior (For example, write down on a post-it the number of sweets you eat per day and your weight as measured on the scale)
6. 6. Enjoy your success or recalculate to improve your plan

  

Coach Rob Pasick

Email: rob@leadersconnect.com

Website: www.robertpasick.com

Have You Looked at Your Personal “Sweet Spot” Lately?

One of my favorite exercises is the “3 Circles” by Jim Collins from Good to Great. Here is my personal revision, based on my executive coaching experience. To find your personal sweet spot, answer these three questions:

1. What am I passionate about?

2. What is my unique talent that has sustained me throughout my life?

3. What “financial fuel” do I need to run my life?

To learn more about how to answer these key three questions, please contact me.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

Risk: Do You Understand How You and Your Team Members Think About Risk?

Almost all business decisions involve making a prediction about the future which involves assessing risk. Yet, based on our upbringing and biology, we almost all think differently about risk. Here are some differences I commonly see:

1. Some people overestimate the probability of bad things happening and are resistant to change.

2. Some people underestimate the probability of bad things happening and seek change and enjoy taking a risk.

3. Others vacillate depending on their mood.

An interesting exercise to do with your team is to ask people how they think about risk and how their views were shaped by their upbringing and the way they are wired (biology). Once you have recognized the individual differences, you can discuss the implications for decision making on your team.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

How Would You Like to Receive A Weekly Self Report Card?

For the past several months, I have been sending a weekly self report card to my coaching clients. As they have found it quite useful, I would like to extend an offer to all members of the CEO Connect community to   receive the report card. Please respond to this email if you would like to be added to the list of people receiving the card. Here are the questions:

Dr. Rob checking in wondering how your week has gone? Here’s an opportunity to give yourself some grades (A through E):

1. I made progress on my “big project” for the week (most important, not most urgent).

2. I felt energized and engaged this week:

       a.  At Work

       b.  At home

3.    I took good care of:

       a.  Myself

       b.  My family

       c.  My direct reports

       d.  Other?

4.    I made good decisions.

5.    My biggest accomplishment this week was...  

6.    Next week I commit to...(One thing only)

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

Why Should You Never Lead Alone

Humans are social animals. To fully optimize our potential as leaders, we need to participate in group  activity and carry on active discourse with friends and foes.

1. Avoid being a “leader with a thousand helpers” (Jim Collins) by developing a team of strong co-leaders.

2. Consider that your team should be a “team of    rivals” (like Lincoln) not a group of people who all share the same viewpoint and mindset.

3. Seek multiple perspectives before making any     important decision. As smart as you are, you have blind spots, just like the rest of us.

4. And most importantly, actually listen to what your team and advisors are saying.

5. Consider joining a peer supervision group or CEO circle.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

What To Do If You Have A Problem With A Key Relationship

Often leaders tell me that one key relationship is the source of 80% of their frustration. What can you do if you have a people problem with an employee, partner, customer, board member, etc?

1. Be sure you have had an open, honest conversation with the person.

2. Take some time to write about the problem. Ask yourself why you are frustrated and what you have tried to do about it.

3. Look in the mirror: ask yourself what are you   bringing to the problem? Have you had similar    conflicts with people before?

4. Seek a consultation about the problem. Discuss the problem with a trusted third party, preferably  someone who does not work in the business.

5. Avoid triangulating about the person: in other words, don’t gossip to get support for your negative views.

6. If you continue to have a people problem, I’d be happy to consult with you about it. Frequently    leaders call me to provide consultation about how to resolve a conflict within a key relationship.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com