Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
and Trusted Advisor
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The pace of work everywhere has increased. We’re all expected to do more in less time. So what should you do if someone on your team takes too long to get their work done? Start by finding the source of the sluggishness. Your employee might be struggling with a new task, or devoting too much time to certain projects because they’re a perfectionist. Don’t make assumptions. Even if you have…
Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving! Make it a great one!
Everyone faces pressure at work. But whether pressure turns into stress depends on how you react to it. The good news is that, with practice, you can change your default response. Even if you’re someone who typically gets flustered in the face of pressure, you can train your brain to be calmer when a stressful event arises. Make a list of five stressful events from your past that you were…
When you’re tired, you’re less effective at your job — it’s as simple as that. To prioritize sleep, start by accepting that working more doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing better work. Sleep deprivation takes a toll on your cognitive abilities, whether you notice the effects or not. Your caffeine consumption can be a good litmus test: If you need coffee just to make it through the morning, or even the…
When you send an email, the first thing your recipient sees is the subject line, so make sure it’s as clear as possible: What is your email’s purpose? What do you want your recipient to do? Take a page from military personnel. Their subject lines use keywords in all caps to note the email’s purpose. For example: INFO – For informational purposes only REQUEST – Seeks permission or approval by…
Relentless stress can easily lead to burnout, but it doesn’t have to. Reassess your schedule and make time for self-care Start by taking a few minutes to look at exactly how you’re spending your time over the next week. This can be done on paper, in a spreadsheet, or in a productivity app. For each block of time, record what you’ll be doing, whom you’ll be with, how valuable the…
Moving into a leadership position for the first time can be one of the most stressful moments in your career. To weather the transition, start by shifting your mindset. Focus on what excites you about the switch — not on what scares you. This will help you relax into your role and mitigate self-doubt. Practicing mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and controlled breathing, will develop your ability to stay calm…
Everyone faces stress at work, but some people are able to handle the onslaught of long hours, high pressure, and work crises in a way that wards off burnout. You can get better at handling stress by making several mental shifts: Don’t be the source of your stress. Resist your perfectionist tendencies and your drive for constant high achievement. Recognize when you’re being too hard on yourself, and let go….
Delegating tasks to employees and then trusting them to make decisions for themselves is often far harder than it sounds. To be able to delegate decisions, you need to do two things: establish trust and accept failure as a possibility. You can build trust by interacting one-on-one with your employees, observing them doing their daily jobs, and providing feedback. That way, when it comes time to delegate a task, you’ll…
Let’s face it, giving and receiving feedback can be uncomfortable. To make it easier, you don’t necessarily have to get better at saying the exact right thing; you just need practice. If you see someone doing something they can improve, offer your observations right away. Don’t wait until your next meeting to provide your input; give it in the moment. You want as little time as possible between identifying and…
Micromanagement isn’t a personality flaw; it’s a breakdown in the fundamentals of delegation. As a manager, you should be able to give someone a task without having to look over their shoulder. The key is to provide clear goals. If you want your direct report to improve customer satisfaction, define by how much and specify which elements of satisfaction are most important. You should also explain the constraints of the…
Now that school is starting back up again, start small to find your balance. Working parents struggle to balance work and home, they often feel the need to make drastic changes to get the flexibility they want. But finding a new job or going part-time isn’t always necessary (and won’t always solve the problem). Instead, try to make small tweaks to your schedule or working arrangements. For example, you might…