Denise Corey Coaching Blog: An occasional blog on a wide range of topics including leadership, managing difficult work situations, and gaining new business skills.
I've been spending time at the dog park. My six-month-old puppy, Clicquot, loves to chase and be chased by other dogs, and my 9-year-old dog, Gatsby, isn't interested. So at the park, Clicquot runs and runs while Gatsby catches the frisbee over and over and over.
Welcome to 2022. Another week, another Zoom meeting.
We have been leaning into the virtual world for years now, and it looks like it's here to stay. Don't get me wrong, Zoom has saved my business, and I enjoy its convenience, but there are some serious disadvantages.
The first downside is seeing how I look to others. The truth is on my screen, and I don't like it. My bad hair, lighting, and all my smiles, frowns, and worry lines etched on my face are on full display. I don't think I'll ever get used to that.
Read MoreI recently reconnected with Kelly Eppley, one of my clients, to learn what our coaching meant to her.
We started to work together when Kelly's beloved boss left her organization, the last in a series of events that had Kelly questioning her tenure and direction in her organization. Kelly loved her co-workers and her boss, so she had stayed beyond her "expiration date" even though she had grown restless.
Read MoreWe had a wonderful time exploring Detroit recently. We tried feather bowling, a weird combination of curling, Bocce, and shuffleboard--you bowl in long, dusty, rounded lanes. We explored an indoor Saturday market, wandered through an old-style antique/junk store, and visited the fish at the newly re-opened Aquarium on Bell Island.
One night, we snuggled in to watch a few movies and I suggested an old classic, Being There, starring Peter Sellers.
When it gets cold, I start thinking about finding gifts for my family.
I have adult kids and grandkids. My kids ask for practical things, and I get a list from the grandkids. Except for the books I give, my presents fail to surprise and delight. I take the time to find the perfect books. I want my choices to show how deeply I care and love them.
Read MoreI have a new puppy--Clicquot--named by my husband for the expensive champagne, Veuve Clicquot. Clicquot is a Beauceron, like his "older brother." He is exuberant, curious, underfoot, and rarely stops exploring.
Read MoreWhat inspires lasting change? We know fear causes us to change, at least temporarily.
My husband is a physician and often must inform patients that they need to exercise more or change their diet. He is gentle but clearly outlines the unpleasant future that is in store if their old behaviors continue. His patients know that unless their habits change, very bad scary stuff is in store.
Networking is a business necessity. I help my clients flex their networking muscles, even though it is tough. They hate networking--and I even have to make myself network. So let's just bag it, OK? Not so fast...
Read MoreThe most dreaded workplace phrase is: "Can I give you some feedback?"
That question always prompts a feeling of dread--and often the feedback itself will be largely ineffective.
At its root, feedback is a power trip.
Some of us have had teachers, coaches, and bosses who see our potential and help us see it too.
I learned how to open up possibilities for others with the University of Toronto's Solution Focused Conversations course lead by the most amazing teacher ever, Haesun Moon.
Each of us has the power to change. By exploring "What If", we can find new possibilities and practical and implementable solutions.
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