Welcome to July 2005

Over the past 2 months, I have been devouring the book Blink . . . written by genius author Malcolm Gladwell . . . what a wild ride it is, and its powerful message has truly had a profound affect on the way I think. In chapter two, Gladwell begins explaining the concept known as thin slicing, “the act of glancing at data and forming an intuitive conclusion immediately, rather than using formal data mining techniques.” Through a series of compelling stories and scores of research, Gladwell begins to peel back the layers of how thin slicing is affecting the decisions we make on a day in day out basis.

One of the passages in Blink that had a profound impact on me was in Chapter two, page 39 Listening to Doctors. Gladwell explains in this section on thin slicing that the risk of being sued has very little to do with how many mistakes the doctor makes. Research shows that doctors get sued based on the fact that patients say they were rushed or treated poorly. Using thin slicing, observers can tell you within minutes of observing a physician/patient interview if the doctor stands the risk of being sued. If the doctor is rude during the interview, he or she stands a much larger risk of being sued than physicians who are compassionate and who give more time . . . both quality and quantity. Thin slicing also reveals in this case that physicians who are nice just don't get sued . . . that they can make mistake after mistake and their patients are extremely forgiving.

Another case study recently featured in Harvard Business Review by the title of Competent Jerks, Lovable Fools and the Formation of Social Networks shows that when people need help getting a job done, they choose a congenial colleague over a more capable one . . . that the competent jerk always loses out to the lovable superstar and even the lovable fool.

Every day, I come across coaches who are just plain rude. I am sitting at my desk, and I get these e-mails that shock me . . . the sarcasm and the mean-spirited behavior totally blow me away, and I wonder how they are going to make it as coaches . . . a profession that I believe is here to create a more peaceful and loving world. I try to coach them in my responses by saying . . . I ask that you use kindness the next time you give feedback. It works sometimes . . . sometimes it doesn’t. But you know what . . . I will never know unless I take the risk.

I could go on and on with research articles, stories and anecdotes about cases and cases of men and women who have lost clients by being nasty and rude or about those true pros who have kept clients through acts of kindness . . . but the bottom line is this “People do business with people they like . . . they buy from the lovable.”

Are you doubting this in the least? If so . . . let me give you some ammunition with a list of some of the hottest coaches to watch who are really making it big time...

Michael Port - The Think Big Guy . . . How can he think big, and how is he so successful? Because he is kind and giving and lovable . . . and he is covered up with clients

Kimberly George - The Social Capital and Networking guru . . . Kim is being scouted by business leaders all over the country like Ivan Misner . . . she gets interviews with people like Tim Sanders and Joe Vitale and Michael Gerber, because she is so dear and compassionate

Dave Buck- CEO of CoachVille. People are lining up in droves to buy Real Coaching with Dave Buck, because coaches just want to be around him . . . he’s got a way with people that is endearing and warm

Mitch Meyerson - another incredible marketeer who never forgets to pick up the phone and call me just to say . . . ”How are you doing? I’m just checking on you to see what you are up to and how I can help you.” He has over 50,000 people in his database as a result.

Jane Johnson - the Strengths Coach . . . What can I say? She is dynamite . . . a real class act, and she bends over backwards to help out at any time of the day with a cheery “Hello There . . . How are you...How can I help?"

Roger DeWitt - Life Artistry Roger is a coach to watch . . . hear me on this . . . he is headed in the direction of becoming a true superstar, and he is one of the most gracious, fun to be around, lovable coaches I know

Beth Lyons - The Techie Coach . . . She quiets, validates and soothes people when she talks . . . Her quiet and loving spirit are an attraction magnet for clients

Henry Barbey - the President of the Center for Coaching---I love picking up the phone when Henry calls . . . he is always on time, so polite, such a gentleman and such an incredible rock of wisdom . . . he does everything he can to make people happy

Lori Richardson of Smile and Dial ---Smile and Dial . . . that’s Lori . . . she makes me smile with her precious cards in the mail, e-mails of gratitude and beautiful gifts to let me know she has thought of me as she travels

Andy Wibbels - Andy is one of the coolest people I know . . . here he is developing amazing programs like Easy Bake Weblogs and Biz Slap, and he seeks permission on everything he does. His brilliant mind and his gentle spirit are a combination that are so very attractive . . . you just want to be around it.

So as I leave you today . . . I have one request . . . Think about how your business would be different if you truly extended all of the kindness you had in your heart . . . even to the people who treat you the worst. Just try this for one month . . . really go for it by treating people really great . . . treat them right even when you think they’re wrong. Shoot me an e-mail after your one month trial to Bea Fields at bea@beafields.com. I look forward to hearing from you. And remember . . . a little bit of kindness can move mountains.

Warmly,

Bea

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Gift for July

As a way to thank you for your continued support of Five Star Leader Coaching and Training, the free gift for the month of July is a copy of Solution-Oriented Thinking: Getting to Win-Win-Win in 3 Easy Steps.

One of the challenges I hear quite often from coaches is that they don't really know how to master a collaborative coaching session (many coaches call this a complimentary session). So...for one of the key classes for TeleclassLab, I developed a lesson plan and presentation on the topic. Listen in as I lead a class on the topic of Solution-Oriented Thinking: Getting to Win-Win-Win in 3 Easy Steps.

~Bea

This audio includes a 15 minute demo of a collaborative coaching session with Bea Fields and Roger DeWitt. Listen in here:

Solution-Oriented Thinking: Getting to Win-Win-Win in 3 Easy Steps with Bea Fields and Roger DeWitt...MP3

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Why on Earth Did I Do That?

By Sheri Rowland
For more information visit www.startingovertoday.com

Your diet really seems to be working . . . you’ve started eating better and exercising more. You feel great – not so tired all the time, and lots of extra energy. And most importantly, your “skinny jeans” fit again! You can feel it in your heart . . . the weight will stay off for good this time!

One evening, after a particularly tough day at work, you stop by the grocery to pick up some vegetables for a healthy dinner. As you pass through the front door, it’s right there in your face – a grand display of artistically frosted cakes. You hold your head high as you walk right past the bakery department and on to the produce aisle.

To read the full article, enter here.

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Upcoming Teleclasses/Programs

PERENV
Introduction to the Personal Environments Coaching Program: Module 1: The Foundation

Thursday, July 14, 2005
2:00 PM ET - 2:55 PM ET

Hosted by: Bea Fields
Register Now!
$0.00 Regular Price

Success becomes sustainable when there are environments and failsafe structures which support it and which pull you and your clients in the direction of living an inspired life. This class will provide you with an introduction to the foundation of personal environments coaching, including answer the most pressing questions we hear each day from coaches including:

• What are the personal environments, and why do I (as a coach) need to know about them?
• How do I scan the environments to discover what is working and what is not for my clients?
• How do I begin noticing patterns in my clients' environments, and how is this meaningful for me as a coach?
• Where do I begin with this process, and how do I talk with my clients about personal environments coaching?

Join Visionary Coach, Bea Fields, as she answers these questions with an inspiring introduction to the coaching process that is buzzing throughout the profession of coaching. Personal Environments Coaching is BIG! You don't want to miss this call!

This event is complimentary!

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Register Here

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Article for July 2005

Leading Through Change

By Bea Fields

I need to make a change in my company . . . How do I do it, and how do I manage it?

This is a question I hear from business leaders every day . . . yet the question often comes to me after the fact . . . when people are up in arms and ready to bolt. A change can be something as simple as new stationery or as tumultuous as a merger or acquisition, and while the change is often seen by top leadership as necessary to move ahead of aggressive competitors, this is not always the case for employees. Why? I believe the answer is this: Your employees are not angry about the change itself . . . they are angry because they are often the last to hear, you did not get their buy-in, their vote didn’t count , and bam . . . Trust is shattered!”

Imagine this: During a strategic planning meeting, the executive team of a large technology company makes the decision to launch a new product line and ditch an existing one.