Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
and Trusted Advisor
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Sometimes you get asked to do something at work that just doesn’t seem reasonable. Maybe it would require extraordinary effort on your part, is last minute, or is just unfeasible. Here’s how to respond professionally and confidently. First, assess your relationship with the person making the request. What are the power dynamics at play? If it comes from your boss or an important client, for example, you might feel more…
Do you keep postponing work you need to do? Most of us procrastinate from time to time. Rather than feeling guilty about it, or beating yourself up, try these strategies to break the habit. Schedule your deep work. It’s easier to put off work that requires concentration. So build time in your daily calendar to focus on your most important long-term project. Having a regular pattern each day will make…
Mentors invest their time in you. How can you give back to make sure their investment is worthwhile? Here are three simple ways you can reciprocate in a relationship with a mentor. Keep your mentor informed. Mentors enjoy being a part of your development. When you excel, they feel rewarded. So make an intentional effort to reach out to them regularly — once a month, every quarter, or whenever you…
If you have a direct report who is struggling with time management, it can be challenging to know how to address the issue. You need them to get things done but you also want to support them. Before you get frustrated or deliver harsh feedback, first reflect on whether you might be contributing to the problem. Ask yourself, for example: Have there been times when you’ve sent them an assignment…
We all put off uncomfortable or tedious tasks sometimes, especially when they’re a small part of a bigger project or a long-term goal. How can you stop your impulse to procrastinate? First, commit to a deadline. Circle a date on your calendar, and hold yourself accountable. Then make tiny behavioral changes. Instead of focusing on the enormous task ahead of you, lower the bar and find a manageable way to…
While listening is an essential skill for anyone in the workplace, the art of asking questions is equally, if not more, important. Smartly framed inquiries will help you clarify your work tasks, deliver better results, and mitigate unforeseen risks. Here are three key characteristics of great questions — and how to put them into practice. They demonstrate that you’re thoroughly prepared for a conversation. Whatever you are asking about, be…
Becoming a better listener takes time and practice. Here are a few things you can do to improve this critical communication skill. Establish why you’re listening.When entering a conversation, briefly reflect on the goals of the conversation and how you can best listen in that moment. For example, is your conversation partner seeking an honest critique, an analytical reflection, or an emotional connection? Then stay focused on that objective. Don’t…
No matter how hard we try to prevent them, sometimes spelling errors in our email messages, reports, presentations, and other business documents can trip us up. Most surprising, the words we most often misspell are actually some of the simplest. Read on to see which words you should take care to double check your spelling before you make a mistake that will make you look really unprofessional at work. A…
I spotted this on Forbes Woman and knew I needed to share it with my readers. We don’t always realize that the phrases we often use can hurt us in the long run. Stop and listen to what you are saying and drop those negative phrases. Once we’ve said them, it’s too late to take them back! “It’s not fair.” Everyone knows that life isn’t fair. Saying it’s not fair…
If you don’t know this by now, our constant access to data is killing our productivity. Too many of us begin the day by picking up our phones and getting lost in a stream of notifications and information. Here are three things you can do to carve out more time for yourself and remain focused and effective at work: Start your day right. When you wake up, don’t roll over…
When you’re under constant stress, it’s not always easy to be patient and understanding with others. But being judgmental doesn’t help anyone. How can you find — and demonstrate — empathy for others when you’re emotionally depleted? First, accept that we’re all coping with with different things. Also, be generous in your interpretations of others when they send a terse email or look grumpy on a video call. It’s more…
With each column I write, I carefully consider the point I want to make. I draft the column, reflect on it, tweak it, and review it before I post it. Unfortunately, that type of careful thought and reflection doesn’t always happen in the business environment. Today’s technology and social-media platforms enable us to express top-of-mind, unfiltered thoughts to the world–often to disastrous results. Remember, just because we can say something…