Coaching Tip #1023 "Be Here Now and Enjoy It"

Smile at the rising sun, and soak up it's warmth as it shines upon your face. Breath in the cool air of morning as you listen to the world wake up. Behold the blooming flowers of Spring, and notice how nature is coming to life all around you. Stop for a few moments as you enter this day in your life and feel how great it is to be here to simply enjoy it.

Coaching Tip #1022 "Use Your Power"

Outside forces will bring things that add to the flow of your life, and others that could possibly disrupt it. However, you are the number one determinate in the quality of your day, no matter what life brings your way. Welcome, savor and enjoy the sweet and easy moments in your day. When the challenges come, slow yourself down just enough to consciously work through them so that your response will be constructive and effective. You have the power to make your days as good as you want them to be, as long as, you don't surrender that power to the circumstances you encounter.

Business Times Column #75

Are Trust and Loyalty a Priority at Your Company?

Article date: Apr 22 2014

Marcus Straub

If you’ve been a business owner for any length of time, it’s likely you have some comprehension of the tremendous benefits loyal team members bring to you and your customers. You might also understand the detrimental effects a lack of loyalty can have on the success of your business and your overall happiness.

Loyalty and trust go hand-in-hand. Anytime trust between you and a team member is broken, the loyalty that existed is damaged. Once damaged, it can be a lengthy process to rebuild it, if it’s even possible. As the leader of your company, team member loyalty begins and ends with you. The wisest choice is to build trust and loyalty from the outset and continually work to strengthen them over time.

Anytime a person is mistreated, their trust for that person or organization is weakened. Examples of this include speaking in a derogatory or condescending manner, demeaning or humiliating a team member, blaming them for something they didn’t do, not recognizing solid effort and failing to appreciate quality work. If these actions go on repeatedly, trust and loyalty will be destroyed. To see what I mean, think of the times you’ve been mistreated, remember how you felt and how it damaged the trust and loyalty you once had.

Lying to a team member and breaking your promises to them is another way to weaken their loyalty to you. Obviously, lying to someone doesn’t foster trust. Doing so demonstrates you can’t be trusted. If you make promises you don’t intend to keep, string someone along to get more out of them and never deliver on your word, they will create a mindset against you or leave your company.

Taking advantage of your people is yet another way to damage and even destroy the professional relationship you share. Repeatedly asking or demanding that a team member put in more and more time, perform additional tasks and go above and beyond without meaningful recognition, verbal appreciation or even financial rewards creates mistrust and disloyalty. People don’t typically respond well to being used.

When you treat people with dignity and respect — as the human beings they are and not merely cogs in the wheel of your business — trust and loyalty is nurtured, grown and developed. Your team members want to be treated fairly, just as you do. And when they are, they will give this same respect back to you, often 10-fold.

Creating a friendly and supportive work environment strengthens trust and loyalty. When people go to a safe and supported work environment, they become appreciative. They want to be there, give more of themselves and will work to preserve that which they enjoy. When you value them, your team members will value you and your business to a greater degree.

Impeccability of your word — saying what you mean and meaning what you say — goes a long way in building the trust and loyalty your company needs to always be its best. Never lie to your team members. And when you make a promise, do everything in your power to keep it. If you can’t, make sure to let them know why so they will understand and see that you did your best.

Providing your team members with opportunity to learn new skills, take on more vital tasks and advance within your business instills trust and loyalty. It demonstrates you believe in them, recognize and appreciate their time and effort and, perhaps most importantly, confirms to them you care. When they know that, they will also care about you and the loyalty between you will be strong.

Without a doubt, trust and loyalty goes both ways. Sometimes you can be the most honest, supportive, fair and opportunity giving business owner, and team members will still take actions that damage or destroy your trust and loyalty in them. However, this is rarely the case when you hire effectively and instill these things in them first. Letting those team members go who don’t lend themselves to trust and loyalty is always a wise decision.

When you lead from a place that fosters trust and loyalty in your people, your top talent will return the favor to you, usually at an even higher level. In the end, there’s a great benefit to you, your customers and your team members when mutual trust and loyalty are a top priority.

About Marcus Straub

Website: http://www.lifeisgreatcoaching.com

 

Marcus Straub owns Life is Great! Inc. in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives that are filled with happiness and success. He is the winner of the 2011 International Coach of the Year Award, and is also the author of “Is It Fun Being You?.” He is available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub by phone at 208-3150, by e-mail at marcus@lifeisgreatcoaching.com or on the website at www.lifeisgreatcoaching.com.

• Connect With Marcus Straub:
• Twitter
• Facebook

Recent Post: Are trust and loyalty a priority at your company?

Read More Articles by Marcus Straub

Coaching Tip #1021 "Your Happiness"

Within each of us is the desire to be happy. How to get there can prove difficult and even impossible to see at times. However, as long as the fire of your desire for happiness burns within, a way is possible. When you find yourself struggling to be happy turn your attention to what you are grateful for down to the smallest, most mundane things in your life. Truly appreciate the multitude of gifts in your life and feel their positive impact. Focusing your awareness and thoughts on what is “right” about you and your life has a profound effect on your level of happiness.

Coaching Tip #1020 "Radiate Good Energy"

Each of us adds our energy to the environments we enter, which then mixes with and affects the energy of the other people in that same space. I’m sure you’ve had the experience of the mood being dampened or enlivened by the mere entrance of a negative or positive person. It is empowering to be aware of the quality of energy you are bringing to the party and the effects it’s having on you and others. Choose to be the best version of yourself wherever you go and, chances are, you will also bring some good energy with you.

Coaching Tip #1019 "Letting Go"

There comes a point in the midst of "unwanted" change where you realize that letting go is less painful, and more beneficial, than continuing to try and hold on. This is particularly challenging when you have experienced something of great value that you want to continue savoring and enjoying. But, when you do eventually let go, something or someone new comes along which has the potential to be even more delicious. When holding on erodes your happiness on a consistent basis, perhaps letting go is the better option.

Coaching Tip #1018 "The Empowered You"

Which version of yourself will show up to meet the changing circumstances in your life today? You do have options here, but I encourage you to bring the aware, grateful, optimistic, strong and effective you - the empowered version of yourself with you. Whether your day is easy or challenging, exciting or calm always endeavor to be the very best version of yourself you can be. It feels great, adds to your happiness and brings about success.