Blog
Ho’Oponopono (WT561)
This week I thought I would share another story to demonstrate where I use Ho’oponopono [ho.ʔo.po.no.po.no]. I have mentioned it before in Weekly Thoughts and it is so powerful, it deserves repeating. We also have it proudly displayed on the top of our motorhome, clearing the way as we go. Firstly, what is Ho’Oponopono? The word “ho’o” means “cause” in Hawaiian, while “ponopono” means “perfection”. The term “ho’oponopono” can be translated as “correct a mistake” or “make it right”. Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian spiritual practice that helps us to forgive past wrongs, conflicts,...
What is the Right Age for a Leader? (WT560)
Do you know the answer to this question: “What is the right age for a leader?” If your answer is, “There is no right age”, you are correct. How do I know that? Because I have worked with and been led by leaders of all ages. Just because you might be older, doesn’t automatically make you a leader and vice versa, just because you might be younger, doesn’t mean you can’t lead. Let’s think about this for a moment. Let’s take sporting teams for example, the Captains of which, are the leaders. There is a huge age range here from very young children to very old men and women. Why then, does there...
Get Out Of Bed (WT559)
It’s Autumn and the days are getting shorter. It won’t be long and we’ll be looking to snuggle up under the doona on a cold winter’s night. But that’s not what I’m talking about when I say “Get Out of Bed”. I’m referring to what we know as “Living Above and Below the Line”. Imagine a line drawn on a page. Above the line are written three words; one on top of the other (vertically): Ownership Responsibility Accountability Below the line are another three words, the first initials of which spell BED: Blame Excuses Denial If you live above the line, you take ownership for what happens in your...
I Can Hear You (WT558)
When you’re having a conversation with people, do you listen to what they are saying or are you waiting to speak? In our Leading Yourself and Leading Others Experience we dedicate an entire day to developing our listening skills. It’s amazing to me how most people’s listening skills are so poor. The first micro-skill we teach for listening is to be quiet; to not interrupt and to show attending behaviours of nodding your head etc. to show that you are actually hearing and listening to what the other is saying. This skill is so important because it enables you to really understand what the...
Sit Under the Umbrella (WT557)
It was an overcast day and rain was imminent. I was meeting a coaching client for coffee at 11:00am at one of the local trendy cafes. I signed in and waited to speak to one of the three attendants, two of whom were engrossed in their own conversation and a third who had been cleaning tables. “Do you have a booking?” she asked. “No, I’m meeting a friend and we’d like coffees please.” “I’ll just find out where I can seat you.” The other attendant gestured to a table just near where I was standing. “You can sit here til 11:45am, then you’ll have to leave because we have a lunch booking.” That...
Should I Say Something? (WT556)
DISCRETION Should I Say Something? WT556 Sean had a dilemma. His teammates had confided in him. They shared information with him that affected the business. He didn’t know what to do. “Shirl, I am in a real pickle here. I want to maintain confidentiality, but I feel really strongly about what they told me. I don’t know what to do. What would you do?” Now anyone who has worked with me knows that it’s not for me to answer that question. We know that the person with the problem is the best person to solve the problem. The best way to help is to listen (actively) and to ask the questions that...
What Are You Going To Do About It? (WT555)
This was the question the guy at the counter asked Ross when Ross pointed out the damage to the bumper bar on our motorhome. “What am I going to do about it? Ross repeated the question. “I’m not going to do anything. You’re going to get it fixed. It was you (as in their company) who damaged it”, Ross continued. We had taken the motorhome to get its yearly service on the truck and engine. It was also due for registration, so we needed a roadworthy certificate. We had only recently had the bumper bar replaced after waiting almost 12 months. “How about you get it fixed and we’ll waive the...
When You Can’t Decide (WT554)
I don’t have any trouble making a decision, unless I can’t make a decision. That sounds odd, don’t you think. Here’s what I mean. Ross and I had wanted to get e-bikes for about a year now. About a month ago we decided to purchase them. (As a side note, you haven’t made a decision until you take action.) Ross did the initial research to get a ballpark figure for what the bikes might cost. There was a huge variation in price. We narrowed it down to a couple of brands. Ross researched the distributors and stockists (many of whom had none in stock). Finally he found a business that specialised...
She Covered It Up (WT553)
It was a beautiful sunny morning with a gentle breeze blowing as Ross and I walked along the beach, simply enjoying each other’s company and the coolness of the water as it teased us washing over our toes. I was in absolute heaven. As we walked, we came towards a woman with a dog. “Oh God!” I nudged Ross. There, right next to the lifesaver’s flag pole, a large dog squatted and hunched its back. “It’s doing a pooh”, I explained. I looked at the woman. She was looking around to see if anyone saw it. Yes, we saw it. And then …. She covered it up with sand. She kicked sand over it. I was...
Developing Your Team’s Potential (WT552)
Let me ask you a question. Do you know what people think of you and how highly they regard you? This week I was talking with one of my legends; we’ll call her Vanessa, about an Introduction to Management workshop that I’ll be presenting on Tuesday 2nd February in Gosford, NSW. I was explaining why I was invited to run the workshop at Realtair Academy by Lee Woodward, Creative Director for Realtair. Lee has trained thousands of real estate agents over the past 20 years and has been instrumental in the growth and development of some of the most successful real estate businesses. He mentioned...