Expand Your Potential - Claire Palmer Coaching

Expand Your Potential from Claire Palmer Coaching

Claire Palmer
Executive and Personal Coach

Claire@cpcoaching.co.uk
+44 (0)1403 270108
www.cpcoaching.co.uk

Claire is an experienced, independently credentialed executive coach. She works with inspirational leaders who want to 'fine-tune' their leadership whilst remaining authentic and clients who are in transition whether that's a role, career or life change.

Taking a holistic approach to coaching, Claire's style is a special blend of 'lightness and focus'. She is professional and results-orientated whilst being pragmatic, supportive, intuitive, enthusiastic and positive. She is there for the immediate issues whilst always keeping in mind the bigger vision for her clients.

Coaching Services

Your own confidential strategic partner - Executive Coaching
'Fine tuning' your leadership - Leadership Coaching
New role or other life change - Transition Coaching
The ideal career - Career Coaching
Know more about yourself - Assessments & Tools
Coach Development - Supervision/Mentoring

Coaching Credentials

ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
Graduate of CoachU (the largest global coach training institution)
Post-graduate diploma in 'Advanced Executive Coaching' with the Academy of Executive Coaching, London, UK
President of UK International Coach Federation (ICF) 2006-07, past board member 2003-06
Co-chair of the ICF Global Regulatory Committee 2007
Member of Strategic Steering Group for Coaching Supervision project

"As a Managing Director you are often “alone” on the top with your ideas, concerns, and challenges in your business environment as well as in your organisation. Claire has an amazing talent of understanding the very specific in a given situation, thus being able to coach and guide you in the direction which afterwards can appear obvious – but before coaching not reachable. Each coaching session is a step forward in business as it is for your personal development!"
—UK Country Manager, Global Pharmaceutical Company

November 2010

In This Issue

As the holidays approach, we often reflect upon what we're grateful for. Taking that one step further and expressing that gratitude can have a powerful impact in our work environments and, even, on the bottom line. As you read through the ezine, please don't hesitate to call if I can help.

The Business of Gratitude
Beyond the Box
Relevant Reading
Today's Quote

The Business of Gratitude

Research has shown that giving thanks is good for us. People who show gratitude in their daily lives tend to report fewer health problems and display higher levels of energy, enthusiasm and productivity.

If gratitude is so good for our personal lives, can expressing thanks in our work environments impact our effectiveness too?

Absolutely.

The expression of gratitude as a business strategy can be powerful. So powerful, in fact, it can help increase the inward flow of income and opportunities and elevate happiness and fulfilment in life in general.

While many employers and business owners recognize and are thankful for the support of clients and staff, a lot of them tend to let that gratitude go unexpressed. That's a mistake.

Here are a few ways to put gratitude to work for you:

Share the Gratitude
Send "thank you" notes. They let people know you notice and acknowledge them, plus they're a potent way to strengthen relationships that result in referrals. Email works, but a hand-written card packs a punch.

Not convinced?

A writer once had a favorable review of her first book in a trade magazine. She was grateful and wrote the reviewer to say thanks. The reviewer wrote back saying that in 11 years of writing reviews, she'd received only three "thank yous." Months later, the reviewer called the writer with an exciting assignment – all thanks to a thank-you note!

Give the Gift of...
Who doesn't like free swag? Whether it's a t-shirt, mug, sticker or gift certificate to a client's favorite restaurant, a gift raises the level of gratitude. It also acts as a marketing strategy if it bears your logo or contact info.

Get on the Horn
An out-of-the-blue phone call to say "thanks" can make someone's day as well as making a big impression. It sets you apart as a thoughtful person to do business with. The key is having no agenda other than to say thanks. If it results in business, chalk it up as a bonus (and natural) by-product of gratitude.

Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Doing something nice for someone, "just because," is a great way to cultivate good will, and it encourages others to "pass it on" via business opportunities or referrals.

Share the Wealth
Tithing is making a comeback. What is a tithe? It's when a person voluntarily puts aside 10% of earnings to be paid to one's place of worship. Although its roots are found in religion, tithing is becoming popular in the business world. It's easy to be grateful for one's own good fortune, but it can feel even better to share with others – a warm "thank you" via cold hard cash.

Make a Note
There is something powerful and impactful about the act of putting something in writing. Keeping a gratitude journal is an effective way to maximize the impact. You don't need a unicorn-adorned notebook for journaling. Sticky notes, scrap paper or napkins work just as well. The effectiveness is found in the action of writing it down.

Start each day by listing three (or more) things you're grateful for: a loving partner, healthy kids, a wunderkind assistant, that singing bird outside your window--you get the idea.

Find a Symbol
What embodies gratitude for you? It might be a rock from your recent vacation, beads on a necklace your child made you or a simple token on a key chain. The idea is to have something tangible that you can see and touch when you need to be reminded that you have something to be grateful for.

Gratitude is just as useful when things are going wrong. In fact, incorporating the strategies above are often the most powerfully beneficial when times are the toughest.

Good times or bad, one thing is certain: gratitude isn't just good for business. Once people make a habit of giving thanks they tend to agree, showing gratitude just feels good.

The following questions are designed to broaden perspectives, to open vistas, to widen the lens. There is no one right way to approach them. You can journal about them, talk to friends, create art, ponder them while driving, work out to them--whatever helps you explore "outside the box."

How have you benefited professionally by sincerely expressing your gratitude?
In your work environment, who deserves, but hasn't lately received, your thanks and appreciation?
How appreciated and acknowledged do you feel by those you work with?

Announcements

Career Development Coaching sessions - Early bird offer for 2011!

Early bird spaces available for coaching starting in December or January. If you'd to work on your career - either defining a plan, taking action or development within your current role - this could be for you. It's a special offer for newsletter readers or those they refer. Price depends on what option is best for you, but it's a 10% reduction on my usual individual coaching fees.

"...your work with me: unquestioning high regard, straightforward and supportive, genuine personal interest and reliability. I guess a personal mirror, which allowed greater self-recognition and awareness; more than any other coaching I have had. It was both constructive and personally focused which I much appreciated." Director, Cisco Systems

Contact me NOW to find out what's possible and for more information.

About Claire Palmer Coaching
My mission is to "Deepen Your Awareness, Expand Your Potential, Achieve Results". I enable my clients to realize and achieve what's so important for them. The work is geared to each person so it's specifically tailored to you, using tools and assessments where we think they can add value.

I work with leaders who want to 'fine-tune' their style to achieve success. I work with executives who value a confidential sounding board. I work with people who are moving into a new role, new career or life change. My clients can be the chair of the school PTA, senior leaders in organisations, or a young person. Just call or email me if you'd like an informal discussion about what's possible or a complementary coaching session.

Relevant Reading

Happiness at Work: Maximizing Your Psychological Capital for Success, by Jessica Pryce-Jones

It's Not Just Who You Know: Transform Your Life (and Your Organization) by Turning Colleagues and Contacts into Lasting, Genuine Relationships, by Tommy Spaulding

Crisis of Character: Building Corporate Reputation in the Age of Skepticism, by Peter Firestein

Today's Quote

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."
~Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC)