KATHY ARCHER
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Become a COMPOSED leader by practicing willpower!

10/9/2019

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Would you like to feel confident that you will be able to maintain your composure in your next meeting or conversation? If you are like most leaders...
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You have a tough conversation or meeting coming up. 
  • You worry you’ll say something wrong, and everyone will know you're unsure and worse they’ll see it! 
  • You fear they will hear it in your voice, see your hands shaking or wonder if you are about to break down. 

But what you deeply desire is to feel composed. 

You want to walk away feeling like you didn’t get your panties in a knot; unruffled and clearheaded. 
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What gets in the way of that: 

Unmanaged thoughts and emotions. That’s the bottom line. 
When you feel flustered in a meeting when your nerves get the better of you, and you feel anything but composed, it’s because your thoughts and emotions have gone crazy.

​Your thoughts and emotions are in control of you instead of you being in control of them 🥴
Here’s what a lack of composure looks like:
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🚩 You begin a bit too aggressively, to defend yourself or your point.
🚩Your voice gets shaky, high pitched or louder than necessary.
🚩You point your finger at someone accusingly or bang on the table a little too hard.
🚩You go along with something because you know you’ll get too emotional trying to fight for what you really want. 
🚩You cut people off, shut them down or use sarcasm to quiet them because their comments are triggering something and you can’t quite figure out how to deal with whatever is bubbling up inside of you. ​
I felt that way too!
I know, me too! I spent years worried I was not in control. That left me feeling incompetent, afraid and wondering if I was cut out for a leadership role. Over time, I learned how to regain that feeling of being in control. Being in control of my thoughts and emotions gave me the courage, confidence to lead.

Let me show you how, so you can lead your amazing team and make the difference your org can make!
So, what exactly is composure?
Being composed is when you are in control; in control of your thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Being composed is feeling calm, confident and in control!

How do you get more composure?
You get control of your thoughts and emotions by training your brain, which will help you become Emotionally Intelligent.

🔸Emotional Intelligence is being able to both recognize and manage your thoughts and your emotions. 

Training your brain, your thoughts and the subsequent emotions requires willpower. Willpower, or lack of it, will either give you a sense of composure or leave you feeling anything but composed in tough conversations.
If you want to find yourself feeling calm, confident & in control
in your next meeting, learn to develop your strength of will.

🦉Daniel Goleman defines willpower this way: 
​"Willpower is the ability to consciously regulate what you feel and what you do".


Think of any strong, competent and composed leader you know, and I bet they can regulate themselves! The good new is you can also learn to regulate you what think, feel and what you do too!

If you want to become a more composed leader,
grow your willpower!
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​Ongoing training to grow women leaders in ​🇨🇦 Canada's Nonprofit Organizations.

​Not a member of The Training Library yet? 
​
​Join for $24.97 and enjoy a monthly webinar plus a library of courses to support your ongoing personal and professional development that is affordable and easily accessible!

Discover the details here
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Do you know Elizabeth LeClair ? Let her be your powerful inspiration!

10/1/2019

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Has this ever happened to you? You know something is wrong, but you don't do anything about it?
  • Maybe someone treats you poorly
  • It could be that you aren't getting fair treatment
  • Perhaps you are harassed, bullied or abused

But you don't do anything about it.
  • Yes, your boss, board member or community representative yelled at you, but they were having a bad day, so you let it go.
  • Sure, you were passed up on a promotion, and you know the man that got it doesn't have near the experience you do, but he's (fill in your justification here.)
  • Okay, you know you've been working longer hours than is reasonable, but you tell yourself, it's just part of the job, even if technically, it's illegal.
Let's look at why perhaps don't you, or so many women, address these issues.
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​Why don't you, or so many women, address these issues?
Before I answer that question, let's look at an example of a woman who is no longer staying quiet about injustices faced by her and other women in the fundraising sector.

Last week Elizabeth LeClair courageously wrote an article for CBC News addressing an issue that had been festering in her heart and mind for years. Read the article here:
  • Sexual harassment runs rampant in non-profits — and it's time for our #MeToo moment

Why did Elizabeth come forward now?
What changed? What gave her the courage and confidence to do that?

I don't know. But let me take a guess:
Having the courage to address moral issues can be scary and challenging. We see people have moral courage when something shifts for them.
  • We step forward when we develop confidence.
  • We take action when we engage in conversation with others and realize it's not just us being affected.
  • We take courageous action when we are compelled by our powerful values, morals and ethics.
  • We grow, develop and mature when we put the time, energy and focus into developing ourselves from the inside out.


Is there something you have been holding back on addressing?
What needs to shift for you? Do you need to develop more confidence, connect with other supportive people, get clear on what your values, morals and ethics are, spend time on personal development or is there something else?


When will you take action to grow yourself,
so that you can address the issues that's been aggravating far too long?
Think of it this way:
If you keep waiting for things to change, they won't. Nothing changes until you change. That may be learning something new, changing your perspective, changing how you interact with others or even changing jobs. But if you keep waiting, you will continue staying, stuck, right where you are!

What would happen if you decided to try something different?
Use Elizabeth's example as inspiration for you:
I suspect that Elizabeth decided she didn't want to stay stuck in that place of inner turmoil any longer. She decided to try something different. I'm certain that took time. But somewhere along the way she started the process of growing herself and making an internal shift that allowed her to take external action. She explains in this article:
  • LeClair didn't talk about her assault when it happened. She says she wasn't in a place to do so, and didn't know how. She says she is now equipped with the confidence and knowledge to speak out.

Start now, my dear. Take the first step, whatever that step is for you, to being to grow yourself from the inside out. Equip yourself with the confidence and knowledge to address whatever issue is facing you. It won't be easy. But there are a ton of other women cheering you on, me included!
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Best of 2017 - Blogs, Guide Sheets and Videos

27/12/2017

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With your busy schedule you may have read or watched some of these, but missed others. Perhaps you are looking to catch up, are curious or just eager to grow. Either way, I've got you covered. 

These are the top blogs, videos and guide sheets from this year. 

Enjoy!
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Top Blogs of 2017

Discover your leadership potential by awakening your inner guidance system
The solution for “I hate my life”
You can feel a surge of confidence now. Learn this proven technique.
Competence & Courage and the Connection to Confidence
If you are tired of hating your job, read this

Top Guide Sheets of 2017

7 days of journal prompt to help you examine your life
Grab your 3 steps to increasing your awareness of your Mind Chatter
Discover how gritty you are and how to increase your grittiness 
Use this guide to Intentionally decide who you are at your best and create the plan to be that person.
Excellence in Leadership Series - Summary

Top FB Live Sessions of 2017

WEEK #4 - AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP Excellence in Leadership Series
The Surviving to Thriving Continuum - Where do you land?
Increased Competence gives you the Confidence to THRIVE!
WEEK # 5 - Self-Awareness
Have the right attitude in leadership
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Getting Gritty About Thriving

12/10/2017

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Getting to the point where you are thriving in your leadership and life, on a regular basis, isn't easy. Sorry to burst your bubble. It's going to take some effort, you are going to have to connect to why it's so damn important that you do it and honestly, it's going to take a while. In fact, you are going to have to get gritty.

Learn more about what grit is and why it's vital to thriving in this article. Keep reading my dear, you probably need to hear this today!
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What is GRIT?
Grit is the tendency to sustain interest in and effort toward very long-term goals. It isn't just some fancy noun we use to describe someone's character, like the pioneers of days gone by. It is a scientific term that determines who is going to be successful. You want to be successful at thriving right? Then consider the 3 aspects of grit and how you can apply them in your life.
Be passionate
Sustaining interest in your goals means you connect to why it's important to you.
  • Why is moving from survival mode to thriving so important to you?
  • What difference does it make in your work and your world around you?
  • Why do you NEED to figure out how to thrive?
Answering these questions on a regular basis will help you keep the passion for this hard, long journey alive. 
You have to persevere
Persevering means working hard. In fact, you have to work harder at this than most others. Those around you are tolerating their lives. You are different! If you want more than barely surviving your days, settling for just making it through the meeting or getting out of the anxious state you live in, you have to do the work. This work I am talking about is learning (aka reading and listening to podcasts are a good place to start) setting boundaries (about leaving work at work and making time for yourself) and growing from the inside (journaling, meditation and yoga will all help you with this).
Be willing to work on this, for a long time
Nothing changes overnight. It takes time, lots of time. This kind of change takes months, years and in fact, your lifetime. If you want to move towards thriving, commit right now, to spending the rest of your life putting time, energy, resources and focus here. You can't let up. You can't get there and then forget about it. You will get knocked off kilter. Commit to noticing sooner when it happens, and then commit to getting back up, dusting yourself off, and getting back on track. Think...forever!
How gritty are you?
If you want to thrive, remember, you have to get gritty about it. Persevere, connect to why it matters and commit to working hard. To see how gritty you are, click here to get the guide to see where you land on the grit scale and develop a plan to get grittier. Growing your grit will help you to thrive in both leadership and life!
Watch this
Want to learn more? Watch this to hear more insights on how you can get gritty about thriving!
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Where do you land on the Surviving to Thriving Continuum?

19/9/2017

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"Just get me through today, please!"

Does that sound like a well-known plea, that you mutter often? 

Here are some variations that may sound familiar to you also:
  • Just get me through this meeting!
  • Just get me through this project!
Just get me through this trip!This article will show you how to move from just surviving to thrive in leadership and life!
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The Surviving to Thriving Continuum
​Sadly, far too many leaders regularly recite similar lines like "Just get me through today! Regardless of the version each of these mantras is a red flag signalling that you might be in survival mode. We’ve all been there at some point or another. Survival mode becomes a problem when you live there rather than visit there.

There will always be busy times. Leaders are constantly involved in the ebb and flow of new projects, shifts in contractual expectations, and annual cycles of budgets, performance reviews and grant proposals or contract renewals. It’s the job. There is no way around it.
​
I am not talking so much about work, as the attitude towards the work and the impact on you. The effect on you falls on a continuum. So let's first look at opposite ends of the gamut. 

Do you want to know where you land on the "Surviving to Thriving Continuum?" Click here to get the assessment

​Survival Mode:
Survival mode is characterized by fear. You are always afraid of falling apart, dropping the ball or losing it. You are barely hanging on, just getting by or trying to stay alive. 

It feels like everything is a battle in survival mode, and you must suffer through it or endure the storm. As a result, you have little energy, are pretty negative or openly apathetic. Perhaps you've found yourself muttering "Whatever!" a little too commonly.

Those in survival mode tend to feel isolated and alone. It doesn’t feel like anyone cares about you or that you have anyone on your team. In fact, it often seems like “they” are out to get you. When I was survival mode, I honestly hated a few people and loathed a couple of others.

This end of the spectrum, survival, is marked by crisis management, putting out fires and only a day-to-day sustainability. Lord knows you can’t last like this forever. Burnout is knocking on your door.
Thriving Mode:
The thriving mode, on the right end of the continuum, is characterized by passion. You are growing and developing and loving it, despite the challenges. To many, it is an adventure with a purpose. You are blooming and flourishing as you learn new things and take on engaging projects. 

Those in thriving mode tend to feel confident, courageous and resilient. It isn’t that people at this end of the continuum don’t encounter challenges; they just know they can handle it. When I moved up into the thriving mode, I was eager to go to work, felt like I was doing meaningful work and could say I was being stretched, but not to the point of snapping.

This end of the spectrum, thriving, is marked by feelings of being engaged, supported and connected. Leaders in thriving mode feel like they belong to a larger community of support and feel that they are making a positive impact through their work.
​It’s usually not black or white
Rarely are any of us completely at one end of the spectrum. We are likely at some point in between. We also ebb and flow daily.  Depending on where you are, whom you are interacting with and the day's agenda, you can shoot from one end of the continuum to the other pretty quickly. As such, most of us sit somewhere along the surviving to thriving continuum, moving around various points in the middle.

Do you want to know where you land on the "Surviving to Thriving Continuum?" Click here to get the assessment

​The Middle – Coping Mode 
II call coping mode in the center of the surviving to thriving continuum. You are doing more than barely getting by, but you're not feeling so alive that you want to yell from the mountaintops about how much you love your job. So instead, you go to work and have some good days, lots of so-so days and a few insane days.

The coping mode can also be thought of as maintaining. You're doing good enough, the best you can or at least less than bad. You exist. 

Some leaders are bored in the middle. There is no challenge, pull, or drive to use your skills and talents fully. Often it's a sign you have been in the same position for longer than you should have been.

I find that in this coping mode, many leaders are tolerating, settling or complying with less than stellar workplace environments, teams, and bosses. Things aren’t good, but they are not so bad that you feel urged to rock the boat.

When I was in coping mode, I felt emotionally flatlined. I didn't feel a lot of excitement or joy. Instead, it felt more like I was running around the same hamster wheel day after day. I had a few friends to connect with that would let me vent (i.e., bitch and moan) but not a ton of support to move the needle forward. 

Coping mode ranges from short-term stability, meaning you could go on like this for a few months, to a way of life. Sadly many leaders believe this is just the way it is and don't think they can change it. So instead of a period before things move one way or the other, leaders stay in a coping mode for most of their careers.

​Moving from survival to thriving
The truth is you can move from surviving to coping to thriving at work and in life. You have a choice. You do not have to stay stuck in your current mode forever. To move forward along the continuum, there are three key things you need to do.
​First, recognize where you are
Go to this guide here and look at the three core sections on the continuum and get a sense of where you land on a regular basis. Awareness is always the first step to change. Seeing it in “black and white” can sometimes provide the catalyst you need to make some changes.

Also, notice where or when you tend to slip into survival mode.
  • Is it a particular time of year? 
  • Do you find yourself in survival mode every time you start a new program or hire a new person? 
  • Do you notice movement towards thriving when you get involved in a particular committee or project that excites you? 
The answers to these questions all increase your awareness and become keys that can be used to move to the right of the continuum. 

Next, set an intention 
Change takes time and effort. It helps to be intentional about making the changes. I teach my students the concept of intentional change and support women on a 6-month journey to deliberately become the leader they desire. In a nutshell, what intentional changes mean is you must identify:
  • Your ideal self - the type of person you want to be, the impact you want to have and the legacy you want to leave. This is the target that you are aiming for.
  • Your real self  - who you are, how you show up today and your current impact on those around you
  • The gap - You then need to look at the gap between your real self and your ideal self and figure out what will take you from where you are currently to where you want to be in the future.

Finally, take action
Lastly, you need to take steps to narrow the gap between your real self and your ideal self. Here is a little reminder for you: Intentional change takes time and effort. It starts when you create a target that you are aiming for. I call this your Thriving Target!

Do you want to create your Thriving Target? Click here to get the guide.

Current habits keep you stuck
You’ve likely been sitting at the edge of survival mode for quite a while. You know it well. It’s become a way of life. You have developed damaging habits to cope with lack of sleep, missed meals, and limited time for yourself and family. You know how to get the critical things done with a hectic schedule at the office and have a system in place for ensuring you meet everyone’s basic needs. These habits are keeping you in this mode.

​Be gentle but insistent as you develop new habits
To move to the right, you will need to develop new habits to thrive. Take the time to look at your real self and your ideal self. Then, create a plan to move from where you are to where you want to be. Then, get your butt in gear, my dear!

Do you want to create your Thriving Target? Click here to get the guide.

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Can GRIT make you happier?

11/4/2017

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Last week I talked about getting gritty about employee engagement. This week I explore how grit can affect you, and yes, even make you happier!

Learn more about how if works in this week's FB Live session.

Don't forget to grab your free guide as well! You will be able to measure how gritty you are.
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Weekly Facebook Live Session
Join me most Thursdays at 12:15 MDT for a Facebook Live session.
Ask me questions and gain insights as you learn to lead and live with more balance and enjoyment.
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Fostering this kind of hope, will make you happier

11/4/2017

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How happy are you? Are you content? Do you have moments of peace? Do you feel good? Perhaps you do, but not nearly as often as you’d like to.
 
If you are like most women leaders, your responsibilities and frantic pace leave you feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, irritated and frustrated. Happy, my guess, doesn’t hit the top of the list very often.
 
But what if it could? 
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What would more happiness be like?
What would it be like to feel more of those “good” feelings on a regular basis? As one woman inthis survey put it:
“I would go to work at a place I feel valued and appreciated and come home with energy to engage with my family. I’d return to feeling light-hearted which is my natural state.” (Go ahead and do this survey...I'd love your input!)
 
Mmm….. doesn’t that sound splendid?
 
Start with Grit
There is a way to find those feelings. You can foster more happiness in your life, even if you are a woman leader with a lot of obligations, commitments, and responsibilities. One way is by developing gritty hope. That starts with growing the personality trait of grit. 
Grit, as described by Angela Duckworth in her research on achievement and success, is perseverance and passion for long-term goals. One of the 4 psychological assets of grit is hope. The other 3 are developing an interest, practicing in that interest area and connecting your interest and practice to purposeful work.

It is the hope, though; I want to focus on here.
Get Angela's Book --------------->
Not wimpy hope!
​Hope is often misunderstood as luck or fate. “I hope tomorrow will be better” leaves things up to chance. But someone with a gritty personality takes hope one-step further. They will say things like “I resolve to make tomorrow a better day.” To me, that statement is hope on steroids. It’s a gritty hope. Rather than waiting to see what tomorrow will bring, you decided, to make it different.
 
Too many women give up control over their life circumstances
Where many frustrated, irritated andoverwhelmed women leaders struggle, is when they give their power away. They get frustrated with their jerk boss, unappreciative staff, slow-moving peers, unsupportive spouse and demanding kids. They lay blame for the experience of their life on other people. “If they would all just smarten up, life would be fine!” If everyone did things as you want them to do, you would be more productive, more relaxed and yes, even happier right? The problem with that mindset is that you wait for that to happen. And wait. And wait some more. While you are waiting, you stew and moan and get even more irritated. 
You can't wait for life to happen
​But, it doesn’t change, does it? No. People don’t transform into stellar employees, charming bosses, amazing husbands and brilliant children, by us waiting for them to decide to change. Sadly, life is not a fairytale.
 
Take back the reins of your life
Instead, you need to cultivate a sense of hope and optimism WHILE taking action. That action isn’t always going to be easy. It will require action that won’t change things overnight. The action that I am talking about must also be purposeful and focused. AND you will need to take action filled with a powerful sense of hope that it will, over time, make a difference.
 
You will have to think differently
To take this kind of hopeful action takes a serious mindset shift. From giving up our sense of power, and waiting for it to change, to taking back responsibility for our lives requires us to change our thinking. It means we need to develop a growth mindset; one that believes we can change and grow and develop. We need to train our minds to understand the process of change and growth and embrace the time and effort it takes to see results.
Old Mindset
  • I’m doomed
  • I’ll never figure this out
  • This is just the way it is. Suck it up buttercup!
Gritty Mindset (Notice the feeling of hope)
  • I can see a light
  • I will figure this out
  • There is another way and darn it, I’m going to find it, no matter what!
Gritty hope puts you back in control of your life experience
​When you develop hope to make your leadership and life better, you move from feeling victimized to feeling in control. You begin to see opportunities, relationships, and experiences in a new way. Your hope helps you to experience more moments of cheerfulness, enjoyment, and peace. Yes, you become happier, when you become grittier.
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Measure and increase your GRIT
Do you want to know how gritty you are? Click here to get the worksheet that will help you discover your Grit Score and create a plan to increase your grittiness. Watch this to learn more about the 4 psychological assets of grit at work. Learn more about developing grit in your leadership and life here.
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Getting Gritty About Employee Engagement

3/4/2017

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To increase your engagement in your organization and increase the engagement of your team, you need to get gritty!
  • It won't be easy.
  • It will take time.
  • It will require a passionate pursuit

THAT, my dear...is GRIT!

Taking responsibility for your engagement. 

Learn more about how to do that in this week's FB Live session.

Don't forget to grab your free guide as well! You will be able to measure how gritty you are.

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Weekly Facebook Live Session
Join me most Thursdays at 12:15 MDT for a Facebook Live session.
Ask me questions and gain insights as you learn to lead and live with more balance and enjoyment.

This session was all about learning how to get gritty about Employee Engagement!

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​ Women with Grit
The 6-month program to overhaul your leadership and life...is open for enrollment!

Click here to learn more

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Achieve Goals With This 10-Minute Weekly Habit

25/1/2017

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​Congratulations you wrote your goals down! You did do that right? Double applause if you devised a plan of how to accomplish those goals. Now what?

  1. Take a step or two and then review where you are.
  2. Take further action and then analyze what is working.
  3. Mess up, then pause, and reconnect to why you are doing this in the first place.
  4. Take another step.
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Build in a Systematic Review Process
​It is this systematic process of habitually appraising your journey as you move towards your goal that will make you successful. Furthermore, this grittiness, being determined despite adversity, is how you become a strong woman and a strong leader.
 
I am an avid advocate of positive thinking. I know emphatically the quality of your thoughts is completely correlated to the quality of your life. However, I also know that positive thinking alone does not equal success.  You actually have to do something!
 
Review Your Strategy for Achieving Your Goals
The actions you take and the way you take those actions on your journey to achieve your goals makes a difference. This is the hard part. In truth, many of those activities aren’t going to be easy, enjoyable or engaging. That is precisely why many people don’t achieve their goals. The minute it gets arduous or they come up against a barrier, they stop.
 
Adversity Strengthens You
Here is the thing, though….you NEED those roadblocks! The difficult parts are the essential parts. It is by going through the struggle that we learn. It is during the challenges that we grow.  The process of getting through the trying segments of the journey are prerequisites to reaching the goal. The grittier you are, the more effective you will be.
​The truth is:
  • You need to learn something...
  • You must increase skills in some area...
  • You are required to come to a new awareness…
in order for you to get to the next step.
This is the portion that many of us resist.  If you let it, it is also the part that will keep you stuck and unhappy.
Your Plan Keeps You Moving
​To keep moving forward when challenges hit, you must have a plan, a plan that includes recognizing roadblock and what you will do to get over them. That plan, strategy or blueprint might incorporate coursework; you could include tactics that include the building of support networks, or your approach might integrate the practice of learning to manage your thoughts and actions. I strongly suggest that your plan is multifaceted because let’s be honest ladies…we are a bit complex. Therefore, we need a plan that will address all of our intricacies.
 
But You Must Keep Reviewing Your Plan
Once you have your strategy in place, you need to review that plan on a regular basis. That way when you hit those roadblocks, feel overwhelmed and want to quit, reconnect to your strategies to get you over the hump. Your plan will remind you of what you can do if you are feeling overwhelmed, confused, apprehensive or stuck.
 
Make the Review Time Effective
You need to install a habit of reviewing your goals. The following steps will give you a process for your weekly review of your goals and your strategic plan to achieve those goals.

Weekly Review Process
​Each week, set aside 10 to 30 minutes to review your goals and the plan you have for achieving them. During this time create the habit of doing the following:

1. Write out your goals
Don’t just read them over. Actually rewrite them. This creates new pathways in your mind that activate the desire to achieve your goals. It keeps them alive and real.

2. Visualize achieving your goals
Close your eyes and imagine what it will be like when you reach your goal. Connect emotionally and viscerally to it. Feel the excitement, pride, and sense of accomplishment. Let your tummy get jumbly, your heart swells and your eyes water.

3. Identify the overarching steps to take to achieve your goals
Remind yourself of the overall steps you identified in your strategic plan that you need to take in order for you to achieve your goal.

4. Visualize yourself moving through the steps
Close your eyes and see yourself navigating through the steps you need to get to goal attainment. As you do, notice challenges that pop up along the way and envision yourself overcoming them. As you see yourself moving towards your goal, notice what it takes for you to make progress through the difficult times. Perhaps it is your determination, increased patience or ongoing persistence.

5. Identify the one next step you need to take
Each week, as you review your plan, identify what you need to work on this week to keep moving towards that goal. Write that action step down. Then, schedule it in your day timer and commit to doing it.
Goals --> Plan --> Take ACTION
Believe you can. Set goals. Plan how to achieve those goals. Take actions steps forward. Fall down. Get up. Dust yourself off. Begin again where you left off. This is how you become a successful gritty woman!

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Kathy is a leadership coach for women who want to strengthen their leadership & find balance in life. 
She mentors women as they rediscover their purpose, passion, and persistence for life while dealing with office politics, jerk bosses and the challenges of family life. Kathy gives her ladies the hope and inspiration they need along with a kick in the pants to make positive changes in their lives. ​​​​​​​

Discover more in Kathy’s book 
Mastering Confidence: Discover Your Leadership Potential by Awakening Your Inner Guidance System ​​​​​​​
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Strong Leadership & Balance - You can have both!

13/10/2016

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​You hate your job, and you hate your life!

Well, ok, maybe it's not quite that bad, or maybe it is! However, you know if something doesn't change soon, it is going to get to that point where you can't go on.
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​There was a point for me, where I did hate my life and dreaded going to work.

I came home most days exhausted, frustrated and feeling totally incompetent as a leader. I hid the tears at work, but before the end of the day, they would usually escape. 

It wasn't pretty!
The brunt of my dissatisfaction with my life came out with my kids and in my marriage. I was fearful I'd never figure it out. I just wanted to do a good job and live a decent life. 
Instead, I felt isolated and alone. 
I desperately longed for a different way
I hit rock bottom in my doctor's office.
As I was sobbing, I knew that the anti-depressants he'd prescribed could only be a temporary solution. I wanted to be a strong leader, and I wanted a healthy balance in life without the fix of prescriptions, overindulging in junk food or numbing myself in front of the TV to shut out reality. 
​
My journey out of the mess
​Over time, I did figure out how to excel in my work and to find my way back to balance quicker when I fall out of synch. I still don't do it perfectly, but I embarked on a journey to continually be growing stronger and more balanced. The change happened for me over time and with a plan.

Finding Balance
To balance my inner expectations of excellence and high-quality work with my deep desire for meaning, purpose, and peace in my life, I reached out and opened myself up to learning. I pursued training that developed me. I soaked up knowledge from recommended books and the courses I attended. I reached out and asked for help. I drew wisdom from many mentors. I found coaches that challenged me to be authentically me. I became healthier in my body, mind, and soul.

I had to be courageous
To be vulnerable and admit I needed help, took courage. Continuing to be brave, seeking guidance and support strengthened my skills. This passionate desire to stretch myself helped me grow my confidence. I courageously stepped outside of my comfort zone again and again. I developed confidence in myself and in those around me. I was passionately determined, and I did not give up. 

I didn't know it at the time, but I was developing GRIT
Grit is the determination to pursue what you believe in over the long term and to do that with perseverance. It takes tremendous courage to be gritty. You must develop unshakable confidence because honestly, it is not always glamorous. In fact, it's downright tough some days. But if you really care about what you are doing, you must figure this out.

I identified my values
Along my journey of growth, I learned, how important my family was to me. I also realized that I wasn't willing to give up my passion for my work to solely focus on family. I needed to find a way to be strong in my leadership and find some sense of balance in my life. It was that plan that kept me focused and continually moving ahead.

The difference came when I learned how to focus
My desire to honor both of my top values of family and purposeful work led me relentlessly pursue productivity and wellness. Initially, I didn't realize how tightly the concepts interweaved. I soon realized that one becomes more productive when you have a clear purpose and are healthier. Productivity isn't about getting lots done. It is about getting the right stuff done at the right time. That ability doesn't come from a time management strategies alone. 

Getting clear on what is important
True productivity comes when you learn about who you really are, how you tick and even more importantly why you do what you do. That inner knowledge helps you to harness the power within you to transform your thoughts, your behaviours, your experience, and honestly, your life. 

Do you want more confidence & balance?
Are you ready to feel more confident in your leadership and experience more balance between leadership and life? Are tired of feeling alone, isolated, stuck and frustrated? If so, then it's time for you to build your plan. Let me help you gain clarity on where you want to be and design your unique plan to get close that gap from where you are now to achieving that vision. 
It's up to you.
You can continue on this path of frustration and unhappiness with your life, or you can start to change that today. If you choose to begin the change, you will need to do 3 things. 
  1. Figure out where you are now
  2. Get clarity on where you want to be 
  3. Create a plan to close the gap from where you are to where you want to be
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    Kathy Archer

    Women leaders often hit a point where they find themselves in over their heads and wondering if they have what it takes to lead.
    ​In my online courses and coaching I teach them inner and outer tools to restore their lost confidence so they can move from surviving to thriving in both leadership and life.

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