Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
and Trusted Advisor
Get “Monday Morning Coffee with Liz”
direct to your in-box every Monday Morning with tips on what it takes to be a great leader
As a manager, it’s your job to support your team through intense work periods. The first step to take care of yourself: Eat nutritious food, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and find a friend to vent to when you need it. These things aren’t luxuries — a healthy mind and body will help you lead well. When you turn your attention to your team, think about how you can be…
On this federal holiday, also known as Independence Day, marking the Colonies’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which declared independence from the Great Britain and its king, we thought it would be appropriate to share some fun facts about this historic day. We are already familiar with the fireworks, parades , barbeque and festivities like picnics, fairs, concerts and parties that take place on this…
Crafting a standout resume isn’t always about what you put in—equally important is what you leave out. Here are four key pitfalls to steer clear of. Including irrelevant experience. Focus on what’s pertinent. If you’re applying for a marketing role, skip the unrelated jobs and highlight relevant experiences. Expand on your contributions and use metrics to show impact. Keep the other experiences in your back pocket—they may be useful to…
Ok, folks. So your children are all now out of the house. You’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time. But wait, it doesn’t feel like you thought it would! It’s common for parents to feel grief and instability when their kids leave the house. If you’re an empty nester (or will be soon), here are some strategies to help you reshape your life and find meaning—both…
Good morning. Starting this 3rd Monday in June we are going to try something a little different to enhance your Monday Morning Coffee with Liz experience. You will still receive the same inbox email, but you will also have the ability to listen to MMC as well as view the video. If how you are receiving MMC works for you, keep doing it, but if you’d like to change it…
Email can be a black hole that swallows productivity, but a few changes to your inbox habits can help you take back your time. First, don’t let yourself check email more often than once per hour, and turn off any notifications that tempt you to. Most people don’t expect you to respond immediately, and doing so keeps you from concentrating on other tasks. Second, move emails out of your inbox…
Is your home life more chaotic than your work life? If so, you’re not alone, and some of the skills you use in your job can help. Planning and scheduling. Do you struggle to finish your personal to-do list? Block out time in your calendar for the things you need to get done (even mundane tasks like laundry and errands). You’ll feel more in control and more productive. Decision making….
We all need to keep learning new things to grow in our careers. But sometimes the urgency of our schedules gets in the way. To find time for learning, make it a part of your day-to-day tasks. One way to do this is to look for ways to pick up skills from those around you. Notice how your boss handles a negotiation; ask sales people about industry trends; get feedback…
The only thing worse than having a long to-do list is not knowing how you’re going to get everything done. Timeboxing can help: It’s a way of converting your to-do list into blocks of time on your calendar, so you have a plan for what to do and when. Start by looking at your to-do list and figuring out each task’s deadlines. For example, if a promotional video has to…
For many managers, the hardest part of delegating is trusting that a task will be done well. But it becomes easier when you think of it as a chance to train your staff — not just get rid of some work. The next time you need to delegate something, start by determining who on your team is ready to handle more responsibility. Then create simple tasks to help them learn…
We all get frustrated with colleagues from time to time. But complaining about a coworker behind their back can be destructive. It erodes trust on the team, risks hurting the person’s feelings, and makes you look bad. The next time you’re tempted to complain about someone, stop and ask yourself why. If it’s to justify your feelings or to confirm that you’re right, don’t do it. On the other hand,…
Remote work offers many benefits, but the lack of community can cause some workers to feel isolated and lonely. Harvard Business Review recommends if you manage remote employees, take these steps to combat loneliness on your team. Show recognition. Be proactive about celebrating people’s personal and professional wins. This could take the form of writing individual thank-you notes or scheduling team-wide employee-appreciation events. Fostering a culture of gratitude and appreciation…