Bridges Edition of 5/7/2008

2008-5
Bridges - May 2008
Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel, Executive and Career Coach & Consultant. My goal is that these newsletters include practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you found the newsletter helpful, please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.
If you would like to take advantage of a business consultant or executive coach, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com for a complimentary coaching session or visit my website - www.coachrobinfogel.com
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MANAGE ENERGY, NOT TIME
I often work with clients on improving their personal effectiveness so I thought an article in a recent issue of Harvard Business Review entitled "Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time" by Tony Schwartz was spot on. Schwartz had co-authored a book a few years back with Jim Loehr called "The Power of Full Engagement". The Harvard Business Review article is an update and describes some of their recent projects with their corporate clients. Schwartz wrote that "The core problem with working longer hours is that time is a finite resource. Energy is a different story". He describes energy as having four sources - body, emotions, mind and spirit and goes on to describe energy renewal projects with managers at companies like Ernst & Young, Sony, and Master Card. At Wachovia Bank he writes that the project resulted in a documented increase in loan and deposit revenues.

So how does energy renewal work? The program starts with focusing on the physical. "It is scarcely news that inadequate nutrition, exercise and sleep diminish people's basic energy level." Participants evaluate their physical energy and develop a plan to address the deficits. Schwartz writes that they focus next on emotions, writing that "most people realize they perform best when they're feeling positive energy". He describes techniques they have taught corporate employees to defuse negative energy. Next he addresses the ability to focus the mind and writes about the costs of distractions and multitasking. Finally he notes that human energy comes from the spirit. Program participants are helped to discover their strengths - it is better to spend work time on areas where they are most effective, devote time and energy to what's important and practice their core values in everyday behavior. The article and their book are certainly worth considering.

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GOOD READ
A colleague recently recommended the book "It's Not the Big that Eat the Small...It's the Fast That Eat the Slow" by Jason Jennings & Laurence Haughton. The premise of the book is that those companies that have been most successful in recent years have learned to anticipate the future. The companies, like Schwab, Target & H&M, spot trends, constantly reassess everything, employ tactics to create new services and products and get them to market faster than anyone else. They have a demonstrated ability to adjust to change and a constant concern with providing first-rate customer service
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WOMEN IN TRANSITION
Last year I had the privilege of participating in a one day seminar cosponsored by Rider University and the Greater Mercer Chamber of Commerce called "Women in Transition". The program will be held again this year on May 22, 2008 at Rider University and will be filled with practical hands-on experience and strategies for women reentering the work force or women looking to make a career change. I'm delighted to be part of this seminar again this year. If you know of anyone who might find this program of interest encourage them to register by going to - www.mercerchamber.org
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For those who ask me what it is that I do, I offer coaching and business consulting in the following areas:

-Business Consulting & Executive Coaching - working as an independent sounding board providing advice on staffing issues, developing emerging talent and helping managers sharpen their communication and management skills;
-Career Coaching for career advancement, change or transition;
-Not for Profit Consulting - providing Executive Directors with independent sounding board, consulting on staff issues, board relations and staff development
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FINAL THOUGHT
You will never "find" time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. - Charles Bruxton

COPYRIGHT: 2008, Robin Fogel & Assoc.,LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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