Dr Toby

Co-owner, The Burnout Queens

The dreaded company retreat

Just have to share this with you.  We hear about this dreaded event all the time from our VIP clients.

BBC business news has a great, bold and controversial article out today: Why corporate team-building events can be terrible. (love the title already)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45260246

 

There is nothing worse than opening up your email to an invitation to attend one of these company weekends. It leaves many of our clients with that ‘pit-in-the-stomach’ feeling.

You know you can’t get out of it. You know it will be a waste of time. And this is the important bit…you believe it will be a hornet’s nest of problems.

Have a read why. We are sure many of you will relate 100%.

These events require a solid and deep understanding of group dynamics, communication skills, trust-building, and a high level of crowd control. These skills are reserved for the professionals who know the psychology behind all of these seemingly innocent and fun weekends.

The article makes a great point at the end…good managers year-round should be able to avoid the necessity of having one of these retreats in the first place.

Our best advise to clients: Beware the facilitator, and if you have to attend one of these, put your game face on, keep your guard up, follow the instructions and get out of there at your earliest convenience. You are not weak, you aren’t the problem, and you should never be the scapegoat for the wrong facilitator.

And our next executive coaching session will be devoted to ‘the debrief’ with someone you already trust.

 

Reader Feedback we love

Reader Feedback!

Huge response both on and offline to our June 30th Feature Article on Bullying in the adult world [Stand Tall, No Sagging Allowed!  HSPs Stand Up To Bullies]

Here’s a taster of the feedback from across the globe!  Thank you all.

 

“Great ideas for coping with bullies! Thank you.”   Deb V.  Las Vegas, USA

“Hi there  I’m not being bullied but was when I was a teenager and my daughter has been too.I used to have a background in HR. I would have loved to have shared these tips to our staff back then. Fab post 🙂 Have a lovely weekend x  Wishing you fabulousness! ” Ruby McGuire, MCIPD, ASC  (Visibility Diva, aka Queen of Connection Visibility Strategist, Trainer, Speaker, Author.  UK

“I just had to tell you how timely your latest email was about bullying. I am currently going through the negotiations over dissolving the partnership in my business and everything in your email hit home for me. I was literally lying awake at 1am so upset over everything and I pulled out my phone and saw the headline of your email. Thank you! This will make me stronger throughout this time! ” J.G.  BC, Canada

 

 

 

How this executive gets a higher company profile

Metaphors are powerful motivators that can lead to implementing executive skills that succeed. Here’s an example my Executive client and I focused on recently.

The goal:  He needs a ‘higher profile’ in the company.

Our strategy:  Blow your own horn.  Alright he says, what exactly do you have in mind.  We discussed how his position is an important and integral part of the workings of the company data and production, but it’s a boring piece of the wheel.  You know, he says, it’s not ‘sexy’ and doesn’t stand out against products and sales.

So how does the ‘less than sexy department head’ get his group noticed and appreciated more often.   One way…Blow your own horn by…

  1. Speaking up about what your team is progressing with,  succeeding at, and why it is always integral to the smooth running of the company.
  2. Preemptive strikes.  Consistently be subtle about announcing his worth (and that of the team),  rather than waiting to be asked and having to explain.

Offence, defence, or pre-emptive. Whatever you call it, it really comes down to making the details of what you do and how you do it much more visible.  It’s a competitive world in business now, so if you aren’t willing to speak up and speak out you may just get passed by.

Right, this guy is on board.  The best part of the call happened as we were about to sign off. He rolled up his sweater sleeve only to reveal a tattoo of a tuba!  Blow Your Own Horn indeed.

This guy knows how to do this already.  He just needed a little supportive nudge.

(from executive calls at Live the Solution)

 

Travelling tips for our executive clients

We have a few of our Highly Sensitive Executives either in-flight or just returning from Conference Season in all parts of the globe.  It’s not uncommon these days to hop the globe, a continent, or many continents all in one go.  The time changes can be challenging to say the least.

We found this great ‘tips’ article in The Daily Telegraph’s Lifestyle section that may be just what these ‘doctors’ ordered as a good way to curb jetlag and still be sane at the end of your business obligations.

Enjoy and fly safe!

The Burnout Queens xx

READ THE ARTICLE HERE:  7 ways to outsmart jet lag.

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