Pushback is Positive

Jacob Aldridge, 11 months ago

If you've ever been involved with change management, for small business or for a massive corporation, you'll know how frustrating it can be when the 'big picture' meets resistance and push back from within.My coaching mentor, however, flips the coin on pushback, demonstrating that it's a necessary and positive step on the path to achievement.You see, pushback is a natural response to actual change. It's only when pushback occurs that you know people are engaging with the process, are trying on new things, and that they've moved beyond listening and into actual implementation.Certainly, we have steps to minimise resistance. But... Read More

Colour me beautiful

Jacob Aldridge, 11 months ago

  I fronted up to a lunch with a professional associate recently carrying my pack of coloured markers. She laughed until she was blue in the face and then, realising they were an essential part of my tool kit, went green with envy.Rather than have her seeing red about a misunderstanding, I used the opportunity to explain how colours and business mix to benefit all involved. She was tickled pink.So why do Shirlaws coaches use so much colour? (And we all do - I'm not the black sheep in this family!) 3 Good reasons: Colour stands out, demonstrating difference and... Read More

Think first, benefit later

Jacob Aldridge, 11 months ago

  Last week I talked about the benefits of thinking before talking, and it's a message being conveyed a lot in the current 'measure twice, cut once' economy.Is heavy, upfront thinking necessary for everything you do? Absolutely not! So how do you know when it's a good idea, and when it's actually an impediment to progress?You Learn from Experience. Now the fast-track method of doing this is learning from the experience of others. The sustainable method is implementing a simple 'review' process into your life.How often do you pause to consider what's going well, and what you might do differently... Read More