Whether you are a small business owner, such as myself, or an executive in a large organization, you can tap into the expertise and experience of others to help your business. You can hire a consultant for a short-term contract for a specific project that you haven't been able to implement successfully, or you can develop long-term business relationships to tap into and partner with to enhance your business offering.
I recently developed a partnership with RightPath Resources, Inc. to compete for a large federal government contract. I am getting staff and curriculum that I don't yet have in my start-up and they are getting access to business that they would not normally be able to compete in. Our partnership is a good fit to help us grow our businesses, to develop professionally and to do the type of work that we enjoy.
This idea did not come quickly or lightly, we have worked together on my professional development, I experienced their business as a client. Jerry Mabe, CEO and Trainer at RightPath, helped me to understand my unique leadership strengths and weaknesses through their online Path 4 and 6 assessments in the Goodwill International HELM Senior Leadership Program. Their program is well-developed, very organized and facilitated by a certified RightPath coach. See their website at www.RightPath.com
Are you struggling to get a project or change implemented in your organization? Contact me to discuss it, maybe we can partner or give each other ideas.
One of the hardest parts of being an effective leader is having difficult conversations within your team that are productive and create an open discussion environment. I just finished reading "Difficult Conversations: How to discuss what matters most" by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen of the Harvard Negotiation Project. Here are their suggested steps:
1) Walk through three conversations to prep for a difficult discussion -- your, their and a third person's perceptions of the issue(s).
2) Think about your purpose and decide if it is worth addressing.
3) Start with the third person's perspective.
4) Ask questions to add your and their perspectives to the conversation.
5) Try to solve the problem and maintain positive working relationships.
This book is a must-read if you need help in creating a learning environment to work together as a team to be more productive.
I am back to my blog after a couple of months of huge change in my personal and professional lives. Always a driver to move forward and do better, I listed and sold my house (in one day on the market) to prepare for a needed personal downsize (buying a condo in Downtown Frederick, Maryland) to prepare for multiple contracts of professional work and travel. I hadn't planned to downsize my home so soon (I just turned 46 two weeks ago), but an opportunity of instant equity presented itself, plus my dream to live in my hometown city, so I had to pursue it.
I usually love change, especially for the better, but this was one of the most stressful times of my life. It required alot of work, planning and emotional acceptance -- much like the change that I have managed and promoted in my professional career. It took me a couple of months to do it, but I am happy that I pushed myself into the next chapter of my life, personally and professionally. My husband was a great supporter!
My consulting business is taking off, I have won a contract bid for the National Fire Academy with the Department of Homeland Security to teach Ethical Leadership; the American Management Association is sending me a contract to teach their professional development classes nationally; and Hood College has asked me to become an Adjunct Professor for their MBA program. I am honored and ecstatic to be apart of all of these programs and to help others excel in their careers! It is a good thing that I am an extremely organized person -- I can schedule all of these teaching engagements and still have time for business consulting.
During all of this change in the past two months, I took the time to improve my professional skills and credentials, by completing the International Public Safety Leadership & Ethics Institute (IPSLEI)'s dual-certification class to become a Facilitator of the IPSLEI Leadership Development Programs and Instructor of the Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies Program.
So I think you can understand why I had to take a break from the blog! But I am back and will be writing about leadership, training and development topics. Please let me know what you would like to hear about or if I can assist you in a big change at Contact.