Keeping a relationship sweet with a spouse or partner over the years can often be pretty challenging. The same can also be said of business relationships. Put the two together and WOW! The concept of 'relationship skills' will take on a whole different meaning! Having lived and worked together with my husband for over 20 years, both in a  home office and away from home premises. Needless to say there have been “moments”, while we’ve learned a lot about how to run a micro business together, we've also found ways to keep our personal relationship interesting and romantic. Here are some of the strategies we have developed: • Keep the space between you clean with regular WIFLS (What I feel like saying).  Often before we go to bed at night, or even during the day if one of us can feel some tension, we ask, “Have you any WIFLS”.  This can quickly handle any misunderstandings over something the other has said or done that we disagree with or are upset about.  It ...

[Read entire post...]

I admit I’m a compulsive responder and acknowledger when it comes to emails. I send thank you notes, got it notes, get back to you soon notes, confirmation notes, and so on.  Unfortunately people don’t always send them to me so I’m often concerned that my email might have got lost in cyberspace or is lying trapped and helpless in a spam filter.  Or I reluctantly decide that the person I’ve communicated with is either inefficient, ignorant or just downright rude. “But I don’t have time to reply to everything”, I hear you say.  Or “I pride myself on only answering what I absolutely have to” or “but I didn’t have anything to tell you yet”. Good on you for your time saving diligence, but what you are saving in time, you could well be losing in good business relationships. As a coach I’d like to point out a couple of distinctions that might make you think again about the benefit of email acknowledgement. I am not talking about responding to unsolicited promos or mail....

[Read entire post...]

Setting goals on December 31 is a wonderful tradition. There you are, full of bonhomie (or maybe just pretty full). All things seem possible. Goals for the year ahead just roll of your tongue. Now its February, holidays are well and truly over, and the pressure is on to stop talking, get into action and produce some results. Trouble is those New Year goals may now not be looking quite so sparkly and easy. Another challenge is that, for some of us, switching off and taking a mental break is really hard to do. But once weve finally slowed down and are enjoying the holiday pace, switching on again and getting back into the groove towards our goals is even harder. Here are eight strategies to ease you back into the groove and get focused again - when part of may still be hankering for the beach and a good novel. Clear the space ready for easier action. Complete some of those tasks you have had on your list but never make a priority. Handle those little things that annoy, like fix...

[Read entire post...]