Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

The Sweetspot

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Golf ball on a green in front of the holeI have watched my weight since I was about 16. For years, I did what experts advised and only weighed once a week. But I’ve realized that what works best for me is to weigh every day when possible. I can then adjust my behavior (eating) based on that info.

What is your optimal frequency for feedback? You have one as do all of your employees. Figure out what your direct reports prefer so you can tailor how you manage them for best results.

Feedback from the immediate supervisor (or the scales) is an important component of that performance sweetspot – which of course in sports is “the place where a combination of factors results in a maximum response for a given amount of effort.” from Wikipedia.

 

What do you think?

Less is the New More

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IMG_3442Years ago I saw an interview with Ben Affleck. I believe he was promoting the movie Pearl Harbor. He talked about his grandfather, a World War II veteran whose advice was ‘Don’t be a consumer’. Ben Affleck may seem an unlikely source for life wisdom but I think about ‘not being a consumer’ often.

There are lots of ways to interpret it including ‘make something with your life’ but ‘create – don’t consume’ is what it means to me.

Interestingly, that interview happened before Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and before much of the other evidence had emerged suggesting we are consuming this planet to death.

My intention for Christmas 2012 is for it to be one of less consumption and that is really not easy. We are constantly bombarded with opportunities to consume more and more and more – at the store, sales promotions in my e-mail/on fb, and at restaurants with gigantic portions.

At every turn I see something that would be just perfect to give ___________ for Christmas. But most everyone I know has way too much stuff and it’s bogging them down. My cousin CW coined the term ‘shiteria’ to describe his mom’s many possessions that he has helped move quite a few times. Everyone in the family uses it now and knows exactly to what if refers.

I’ll let you know how well we don’t consume this holiday in January.

By the way, I thought Argo was a great movie and really liked The Town from 2010. Both starred in and directed by Ben Affleck.

What do you think?

Thanks Giving

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I’ve been reminded often this year about how giving thanks and expressing gratitude bring more of the good stuff into my life and I am thankful for that.

Big thanks for these things I’ve been thinking about lately:

  • all my appliances, especially washer, dryer, & dishwaher and the water & electricity that power them
  • everyone who has supported me and helped grow my business
  • access to excellent healthcare for me and my family

In addition, I am especially thankful for:

  • my husband
  • my mom, sister, nieces & nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, extended family
  • my friends
  • my neighbors and neighborhood
  • my work and my clients
  • my community
  • my state and country
  • my health/safety, the health/safety of family and friends
  • those whose work is healing and protection
  • all my teachers past and present
  • my dog and all the dogs I know
  • those working to make the world a better place
  • the amazing and fantastic beauty in nature
Happy Thanksgiving!
What do you think?

Everybody’s Story

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blankbookStorytelling is all the rage these days in marketing and public speaking. Every week I see at least one blog post or video about the importance of the ‘story’.

This emphasis on storytelling reminds me of a conversation I had with an Iranian women I met at the 2009 SIOP annual conference in New Orleans. I told her I had read Persepolis, the autobiographical graphic novel about a girl’s experience coming of age during the Islamic revolution. That’s ‘everybody’s story‘ she replied when I mentioned some of the awful events described in the book.

At that very same conference, numerous people related to me conversations they were having with New Orleanians and their tales of Katrina such as being trapped on roofs, flooded homes, and family or friends who still hadn’t returned because of no place to stay. I realized that’s everybody’s story in New Orleans.

The people of the NE are struggling through their everybody’s story right now but I’m sure they’ll emerge from Sandy’s aftermath with a bond and a connection and a powerful sense of community because of it. Seems to be what happens when you are part of a big story.

And, it’s not only tough experiences that create stories and bring people to together. Ask anyone whose team has ever won a championship about that.

What is everybody’s story in your organization? Does it bind your people together giving them strength and purpose? Do your employees know that story?

 

What do you think?