The Leader's Greatest Resource

EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENT E-LETTER

The Leader's Greatest Resource

June 5, 2008 - Number 16

In This Issue:
* Business News
- 40 days Immersion Project - community
- Logo design workshop - marketing

* Coaching Article
- The Leader's Greatest Resource

* What's New at EIC
- Right People workshop June 27
- Website phase two

Business News

Immersion Project

During March and April, an Austin entrepreneur used his business to take him on an unprecedented journey. Pushing through “the dip” per Seth Godin’s book entitled the same requires sacrifice that most are unwilling to endure. Godin promises that those who do are typically rewarded with unforeseen business and personal opportunity. That’s exactly what Tom Baum, President and Principal Founder of TRACEe (www.tracee.biz) seems to have discovered by immersing himself on the streets of Austin for 40 days and nights streaming live video of the homeless population. Tom found that the risks to himself, his marriage and his business, for a good cause, were greatly appreciated by the homeless community and a multitude of partners, sponsors and volunteers. Furthermore, his bootstrapped business (reference: Bootstrap Network http://www.bootstrapaustin.org/wiki/index.php/Welcome_to_the_Bootstrap_Network ) received a much needed infusion of donated dollars, equipment, services, development and visibility. In fact, Tom claims that this 40 days were more valuable to TRACEe and its future than the 40 or so months in ideation and the valley of death that preceded it! Check out the 40 Day Immersion web-pages hosted by partner Mobile Loaves & Fishes (www.mlfnow.org/immersion) and two special news reports generated during the immersion (1) KXAN News: http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?s=8143508 and (2) FOX 7 News: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=10B7F4D7470D551A469173C41EF66A3A?contentId=6249376&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

In this project, Tom is using his technology and social media, with the support of other businesses, to bring the population at-large, up close to homeless people so they can personally assist this group - who are a tragedy neglected. He is currently in the follow-up stage of the project. Check out what Tom is doing and how his efforts are making a huge difference!

Success in Logo Design

Small business CEOs and executives, in the absence of a VP of Marketing, are often faced with the big question: What are our logo, brand, and marketing designs doing for the company? A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to attend a half-day workshop put on by Tina Schweiger of Spoonbend, (http://www.spoonbend.com/) a branding and design agency. The workshop was a huge success and very valuable because Tina took us through a series of activities supported with education, which both empowered and enlightened all the executives in the room! Many executives don't spend their time analyzing the visual syntax, color, and typography of their logo and marketing materials. We simply don't have the time or inclination!! Which, it turns out, is exactly why we hire companies like Spoonbend. Before, however, we go to a design company, we can be armed with our profile, Creative Brief, whiteboard, and information that can save us thousands in time and fees! Tina's next workshop is June 20th, contact her at tina@spoonbend.com .

Coaching Article

The Leader's Greatest Resource

Regardless the size of the company you work in and your role or position there, when you're in a leadership role, then people are your greatest resource! What's more, it doesn't matter whether you're forming your executive team, working with an intact team, hiring to increase your staff, or collaborating in a network of professionals to support and grow your business, certain characteristics and strategies permeate the companies that cultivate this resource and thereby reap the greater benefits. Through our work, Executive Intelligent Coaching has identified several universal principles and steps to hone and nurture the human capital resource. These principles include:

• sharpening your attention and self preparation
• knowing who the right people are and hiring them
  
• building a foundation for success (with the staff)
  
• knowing when to cut bait and cultivating the right relationships

Understanding the importance of this is critical to a company's future success. First, in the global workplace we're in, the value of people have changed and are now, more of a central focus of the organization. What's more, people want value in their work and they're looking at the values and culture of companies. Essentially, they have become more picky. And, despite the stressed American economy today, knowledge-workers, professionals, and the younger generation often have choices for work because they're willing to trade those bigger paychecks for satisfaction and enjoyment. - They are seeking more balance in their life!

So, the leaders who espouse and actively practice these principles, enjoy many financial and intangible benefits. To begin with, the staff are more appropriately placed in their positions and assigned duties, leading them to be more efficient and productive. They are also more satisfied with their work-life, resulting in improved customer service, less sick leave, increased employee loyalty and less turnover. The staff, in addition, are more collaborative and work together more, which yields a positive contagious culture and builds the reputation of the company, also increasing it's attention as a great place to work!

These principles aren't new and they aren't rocket science! They do, however, have a prevalence and permanence we've not seen before... Stay tuned for more articles on this topic!

Share with us your success stories of hiring the right people, building a great culture, or fortifying relationships with your staff. (contact information below)

What's New

New Workshop

Intrigued by the coaching article today? Are you building your executive team, hiring to increase your staff, creating a business collaboration, or forming a new team in the company? Then this workshop is for you. Sign up to attend the hands-on, half-day workshop that will give you the leadership program to build your company's success! The workshop will be conducted downtown Austin, Friday, June 27. Participation is limited so register now by emailing nschill@exeucutiveintelligentcoaching.com, calling 512. 947.5447, or reserve online at http://rightpeople.eventbrite.com/ to save the tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours of your time and build the positive company morale that will help your business grow!

What: How to Build Your Company with the Right People
When: Friday June 27, 8:30 - 12:00
http://rightpeople.eventbrite.com


Website Phase 2

Thanks to Brian Massey of Conversion Sciences and Rose Holston of Aviso Communications, the Executive Intelligent Coaching website is soon moving to phase two. The site will boast a coaching quiz, more information about the company and our approach, and pages about the different programs. Check out the revised website at the same address: http://www.executiveintelligentcoaching.com/ . What's more, for information on online and social marketing marketing, visit Brian's blog at http://www.customerchaos.com/ and to learn about SEO and keywords, visit Rose's blog at http://www.avisocomm.com/.


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Copyright, 2008 Executive Intelligent Coaching

Business Relationships: Develop the Essential Components and Dodge the Hitch Points

EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENT E-LETTER

Business Relationships: Develop the Essential Components and Dodge the Hitch Points

February 22, 2008, Number 15

In This Issue:
*Business News
- negotiation skills
- coaching resource
*Coaching Article
-Business Relationships: Develop the Essential Components and Dodge the Hitch Points
*What's New
- employee selection
- upcoming presentations

Business News

Negotiation Skills

A few months back I attended an excellent workshop on negotiating! Chad Jewell is an expert negotiator who shared his wisdom with some local business associates. I was one of the fortunate dozen or so who got to attend an afternoon training and what I learned was invaluable! Getting our wants and needs met, with a win for all parties, is a finely-tuned skill that benefits us situationally and mentally. Who better to assist a business owner when looking for their office space than an expert negotiator! Chad and his team exclusively represent tenants in this process. Check them out at http://www.austinofficespace.com/

Coaching Resource
I have known Ted Middelberg for a couple of years now and recently he and I met to discuss forming a professional coaching consultative group. Like myself, Ted is an expert in the coaching industry. He is the president of Systemic Leadership LLC, an Austin-based company focused on coaching executives and leaders at all levels. Ted's judgment and wisdom have been built on 20 years of managerial and executive level responsibilities, followed by another 10 years focused explicitly on helping leaders drive successful results. Weaving this together with his formal training in group dynamics and coaching gives Ted the desire, knowledge and
skills to offer more for his clients than ever before. Middelberg has a BA degree in Economics from Brown University, an MBA in Finance from The Ohio State University and an Ed.D. in Adult Education, Human Resource Development and Leadership from The University of Texas at Austin. He is also a member of the International Federation of Coaches and a certified executive coach. You can reach Ted at 512-653-4757 or ted@systemicleadership.com.

Coaching Article

Business Relationships: Develop the Essential Components and Dodge the Hitch Points
Clients and entrepreneurs I speak with are often driven and motivated to make a decision when they're thinking about establishing a business relationship. Whether you're looking at a partner, a vendor, or client it is essential to rein in the urge to act, refrain from an emotional decision, and withhold a hasty response. Don't only give yourself room, make it a priority to take the time, care, and ethical consideration that is a must in developing positive business relationships. It is during the development of these relationships where business leaders make initial critical errors by not recognizing the warning signs of hitch points that can tell them if a business relationship will or will not be positive. If you're not already convinced about how important it is to get into business relationships that are positive, just think about the nightmare client, vendor, or partner you've had in the past. How much time and energy did that stressful relationship cost you?

Here are some steps to assist you in developing positive business relationships.... Take time to build this relationship:

• to learn their purpose
• to learn what they can contribute and their shortcomings

Focus on quality and integrity:

• maintain the level of work you currently produce and are proud of
• maintain the credibility you have established for yourself and your company

Hitch points indicate that it is not wise to enter into a business relationship because the risks of it turning into a negative relationship are too high. Two primary hitch points include:

• the person's ethics or values are in conflict with yours
• there is a lack of balance in the power

Developing business relationships that are based on mutual respect, open communication, and clarity of purpose and focus will build trust, cooperation, enjoyable work, and a long-term positive and fruitful relationship.

What's New

Employee Selection
At Executive Intelligent Coaching, we recently expanded our services to include assisting companies in their hiring the right people, for the right positions. We come in during the second or third stage of the selection process to interview the hiring person, interview the candidates, and administer and report assessment results. With our expertise and assessments, we give you the confidence that you're hiring the right person. It was in Jim Collins' Good to Great research, which convincingly revealed that great companies have the right people in the right positions.

Upcoming Presentations
The beginning of March offers Austin's entrepreneurs and business people a smörgåsbord of informational and support resources right at our fingertips!
RISE, a Relationship and Information Series for Entrepreneurs, offers numerous free presentations each day, held across the city, March 4th through 6th. Register at: http://www.riseaustin.org/Schedual/Day1.aspx
SXSW Interactive hosts countless panels at the Austin Convention Center March 7th through 11th. Register at: http://2008.sxsw.com/register_to_attend/

Nancy's RISE presentation
What: Creating Executive Teams
When: Tues. March 4th 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Where: Texas State Capitol

Nancy's panel participation
What: Bootstrapping through Entrepreneur Collaboration Networks
When: Mon. March 10th 5:00-6:00 pm
Where: Austin Convention Center

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Copyright, 2008 Executive Intelligent Coaching

Effective Leaders and Those Who Get the Results

Intelligent Coaching E-Brief

Effective Leaders and Those Who Get the Results

Date: September 11, 2006 Volume 1, Number 5

In this Issue:

Effective Leaders and Those Who Get the Results:

Applying Leadership

Modeling

New Strategies and Change

Contact Us:

http://www.executiveintelligentcoaching.com

nschill@executiveintelligentcoaching.com

512.947.5447

Applying Leadership

In looking at the different styles of leadership, timing and amount of the chosen style, all are important. For example, are you coaching your team on how to approach a new account? When are you doing the coaching? And, how much are you coaching them? The finesse a leader uses with different styles, with the right timing and to the appropriate degree, all contribute to the leader's effectiveness. Think about what it is that you're wanting to accomplish with your leadership in a given opportunity.

Modeling

Clearly and consistently set the examples of what it is you're wanting done. What you do and how regularly you do it, will be observed by those you're leading. Remember that, when in a leadership role, you are setting the stage for the actions that are expected. In this role, eyes and ears are on you. If you are regularly late into work or are heard repeatedly talking to another in a condescending tone, then the perception may be that those are your expectations. Therefore, model the actions that you want, clearly and consistently.

New Strategies and Change

Look for situations where you can try new strategies or take some small risks. When you find yourself with a new challenge, use your innovation to try something new, a new approach, method, strategy, etc. Think of this an opportunity for learning something new, and maybe finding something better. Furthermore, if you're wanting to change things in your organization or yourself, then consider taking small steps toward that change. The successes will build confidence and dedication. The mistakes can be learned from. The focus here is on overall progress. What may this small step cost you, and what may the result be of step, built on step, over time?

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For implementing strategies like those mentioned above, or your other professional needs, contact Nancy Schill at: nschill@executiveintelligentcoaching.com or 512.947.5447 to schedule your Professional Agenda coaching session, Development coaching program, or Team coaching program.

Please send a link to this blog to your friends or colleagues who may find it beneficial.