Tips & Insights for Top Performance

The content of this book, Influencer:  The Power to Change Anything  by Patterson, Grenny, Maxfield, McMillan, and Switzler, makes it an important read. I will say I did not find this book the easiest to read; for me it feels pretty “academic”. However, it is a good book because it is packed with examples of how to understand human behavior and how to act differently to get better results. It talks about emotional intelligence and how our brain works, building social capitol (support and people around you), motivators of people (positive motivation last longer than negative), designing environments to influence the way you want to be, habits for effectiveness, etc. It gives a high level on many areas that are important for being a positive, successful, productive person who is able to impact others and make a difference. To me it pushes the higher level of leadership that is only achieved with intention, focus and discipline. It challenges even the natural leader to consider how they operate and ways to take their leadership / influence to the next level.

For you own copy of this book, click here.

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer,  Minneapolis, MN

One day I am driving down the road. It is a lightly traveled road, usually 1-2 cars on it when you are. The road is surrounded by trees, so it is a squirrel crossing expressway. This one particular day, a squirrel runs out, he is in the opposite lane, running into mine. I see him and slow down. If he had continued on his course, he would have easily cleared my tire and been safely across the road before I even got to him. Well, unfortunately, he sees me and panics. He thinks, “oh no! Car! What should I do! Go back! No, Go! Wait! Go back! Should I really cross the road? Is this dangerous? Go, I am over 1/2 way, go! No, Go, No, Go!” He paces in front of me, as I get closer to him, not going slow enough to stop. I think, “RUN!!” as I swerve to the left, right, left, right, trying to anticipate what he will do so I don’t hit him! (road kill is in my top 10 of things I strongly dislike). Finally, he COMMITS and makes a choice, he runs in front of me. I whiz by him, squinting my eyes, gripping the wheel, waiting for the bump of my tire crushing his poor little body. I didn’t feel anything; I look in my mirror (expecting to see a 1/2 crushed squirrel, convinced there is no way I could have missed him.) He is not there, lucky for him, he made it in time.

Here is the lesson. If you are going to act, make a decision, look both ways and RUN. Be committed to your decisions and only assess when you are on the other side of the road. Too many people (the majority of the population actually) start to do things and then wonder if that is what they should be doing, so they debate in the middle of the road. I am telling you, you are going to get hit!! Whatever you do, do something. When you get to the other side, reflect and learn and then take the next leap. You are on your way.

This book, The Anatomy of Peace, was recommended to me to explore the challenge of dealing with letting go of “identity” that is ego driven (meaning you have to cling to your identity to feel good about yourself – which is really not very healthy). It is a fascinating read…you are drawn into a “class” taught by two master teachers working with a group of parents who have just delivered their rebellious teens to a wilderness camp in hopes of life-changing behavior modification for their kids. The days the parents spend with the leaders help them realize that they are a part of the dynamics and problem. The master leaders help them to understand what is happening and how convoluted perspectives can get over time, as we feel entitled, victimized, etc. They assert that as time passes, we may become unable to face our true faults. We justify our thoughts and actions, seeking blame and scapegoating in an effort to keep ourselves ‘right.’ This cycle is an on-going mess provoking the problems we are trying to solve. It happens everywhere: home, work, relationships, etc.

This book is also written more directly for those in business under the title Leadership and Self-Deception. Either book is a ‘must read.’ And if you are thinking “I don’t have that problem,” you definitely should read it.

To order this book, click here.

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

The Wheel of Life Assessment Tool can be used to evaluate your life balance, determine where you are at now, assess where you need to focus in the future or just give you a snapshot of your life to consider what is working and what is not.

How balanced is your life? The eight spokes represent a balanced wheel. The less balanced your wheel is the more wobbly will be your ride through life. The more balanced the wheel is, the smoother it will run.

HOW TO USE: Use this tool as you plan for the future.

1. Print a copy of the “Wheel of Life”
2. Consider each area and how fulfilled you feel right now, given this area of your life over the past year.
3. Rate each area on the spoke just below the area title.
   0 is at the center = dissatisfied; 10 is at the outside = very fulfilled.
4. Put a dot on the line, where your rating of this area falls.
5. Consider what each area would look like if it were a “10″.
6. Write a few notes on what would need to happen to make it a “10″.
7. Pick one area, that if you improved it, all the others would also increase in fulfillment.
8. Consider this as an area for focus in the future.
9. Write a goal and set 5-10 objectives to make this area increase in value over the next year.

Use this tool to see the balance in your life and determine where your focus will benefit you most in the upcoming year!

Click here for your own Wheel of Life Assessment Tool!

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

This book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, has been around for a while and is still a good read. Jeffers says it well and in an “everyday” way. It is excellent to read for basic psychology of things that hold us back and how you can move forward in spite of it all. Jeffers helps to understand and label the fear and see it differently so we can move past it.

As a past counselor, I know that phobias and anything that we start to avoid because of a fear or for whatever reason, are the things that start to create psychological baggage as we spend our energy avoiding things rather than working through them. Anything that you find yourself intentionally not doing that is “normal” for most of the world, stop and look at the fear and how it can be getting in your way (not talking about addictions and non-beneficial activities).

This excellent read will serve you in both your personal and professional life.  We all have fears; they just show up at different levels and in different ways. Empower yourself to find your fears and move beyond them so you can perform at your peak potential!

For you own copy of this book, click here.

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer from Minneapolis, MN