Students Of Success

A company must earn and keep trust or sales don’t happen.
Imagine that last Sunday, while you were reading the paper, you
saw an ad for a great deal on a digital camera. You’d been
considering buying one for a while, and this ad sealed the deal.
You went to buy the camera, and the sales person told you they
were sold out. They didn’t offer you a rain check and instead
substituted a different model for a “similar” price.

In this classic case of “bait and switch,” and you felt like
you’d been had.

After that, do you trust these people? Will you return to buy
from them? Were you aggravated at the paper for running a less
than honest ad?

In a similar fashion, maintaining a customer’s trust through
e-newsletters requires honesty, along with a commitment to
providing readers with a positive experience.

Valued visitors return

If people don’t regularly click through to your Web site a
newsletter may help build the relationship to the point where
the readers will visit the site. However, the Web site and your
newsletter must work in tandem to help readers make the
transition from reader to prospect.

If a visitor comes to the site from the newsletter and doesn’t
like it, all credibility is lost and a return visit is unlikely.
And vice versa. No matter how good a newsletter is, visitors
arriving at a Web site and receiving a lousy first impression
won’t sign up for any more issues. The product may be fabulous
or unique, but that doesn’t do any good if the site promoting it
doesn’t give the needed support.

Customers buy only when they can VIZibly:

* see value in a product or service;

* feel trust;

* believe in the stability of the company.

This mantra especially applies to the people involved with B2B
transactions because few sales are impulsive. Newsletters can
communicate this. A newsletter can be focused on a business
problem versus a product/service and features/benefits. Trust is
built when the newsletter engages the reader while addressing
his or her needs as opposed to focusing on the sponsoring the
company’s needs.

Characteristics of credible Web sites

Stanford University has just completed Web site credibility
research, and the result is “How Do People Evaluate a Web Site’s
Credibility?” According to the report, 46.1 percent of the
participants commented on the design look of the site more than
any other feature when evaluating a Web site’s credibility. When
arriving at a site for the first time, we quickly judge how we
feel about it. Forming first impressions takes little effort,
just like in a job interview. Sites that sell something have an
extra challenge — proving their credibility so customers can
trust and buy.

How many times have we been guilty of commenting, “Look at that
person! Can you believe she is wearing that?” We get so involved
in what the person’s wearing that we don’t begin to venture
forth and learn about that person. Unlike our dealings with
people, Web sites are much easier to leave — after a bad first
impression.

A credible Web site welcomes visitors because it:

* demonstrates professionalism through design and structure;

* shows a real organization behind the site;

* lets the facts and information do the talking;

* leaves the commercials to television;

* ensures visitors can easily make contact;

* respects visitor privacy.

Demonstrating professionalism through design and structure
comes when a Web site puts its customers first: it loads
fast, and features easy and intuitive navigation. Sites loaded
with ads, low quality text and design, and sloppy navigation
lose credit fast.

Showing real organization behind the site means having a
mailing address and not a P.O. box; providing phone numbers; and
providing an “About” section that includes photos, names and
bios of people involved with the company. These are just a few
of the ways a company can demonstrate people helping its
customers.

Letting the facts and information do the talking involves
third-party feedback through testimonials and unbiased newspaper
clippings (not press releases), and giving the facts without
superlatives and opinions by using words like fabulous,
wonderful and fast. Words like these sound like a late-hour TV
commercial produced cheaply. Ads splattered all over the page or
popping up faster than popcorn sends people running as fast as
you can say “click me out of here.”

Ensuring visitors can easily make contact happens by
providing phone numbers, email addresses, email contact forms
and mailing addresses in visible locations on the site to add
credibility. Customers that have a hard time finding contact
information think the company has something to hide or must not
really exist like those scam charities.

Respecting visitor privacy means by asking for limited
information and not requesting immediate “sign up” to get the
details; this establishes trust. Offering a clearly and simply
stated privacy policy that explains how the company won’t share
information with third parties seals the deal.

Developing trust through your newsletter

All of these Web site factors apply to your newsletter, as well.
By keeping your messages consistent and clear on the Web site
and in the newsletter, your company will be on its way to
becoming a trusted source. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and
it’s better to cultivate customer relationships over time. Once
the customer enters the door, the company isn’t done. The next
step is to follow-up through emails and newsletters with a smile
and keep every promise. Do this, and you’ll avoid the nasty
bait-and-switch.

The noted social scientist said that the world has become a
global village. Nothing illustrates this better than the
emergence of the mobile phone. A century ago, the wireless
radio, the telephone and the cable made possible the act of
communication, by sending and receiving of messages. Today a SMS
message takes am couple of seconds to reach a mobile phone,
anywhere in the world through the magic of undersea cables,
satellite transmission and local cell towers. This is a vast
improvement from the traditional methods of messenger, pigeon
post, sea mail, and the ubiquitous postman.

It is a vastly different world where your trusty mobile phone
becomes your best communication medium in times of festivities,
family occasions like birthdays, wedding days, anniversaries and
emergencies. It takes a few seconds to write and a second to
send it. Lovers, young and old, find it useful because the
messages remain private and ‘for your eyes only’ with none being
aware about it. It seems perfect that the I Love You message you
send reaches the intended destination straight and true like an
arrow. Of course, if the recipient’s phone number is a wrong
number, you have had it.

SMS messages can be short and sweet, or as long as you like, the
only limitation being that they do not exceed 150 characters.
When this happens, the message is split up and sent as separate
messages of 150 characters each. Book publishers have
appreciated this and are sending best sellers via SMS to
interested book lovers. Some SMS messages can bring the senders
lots of prizes through contests, sweepstakes and lucky
predictions.

SMS messages are cheap because mobile phone providers offer the
facility either for free or at a low price. Associations,
professional organizations, social welfare societies like the
Lions and Rotary Clubs, welcome the facility of sending SMS
messages announcing upcoming meetings, membership arrears
payment dates, payment due alerts and acknowledgements of fee
and subscription payments received.

Schools, colleges and other educational institutions find it
useful to send short communications of impending semester dates,
examinations and results as well as fee payment due alerts to
students and their parents. The students and parents appreciate
the relevant information in the messages.

Credit card companies, banks and financial institutions and
marketing companies are able to generate new business from
existing consumer database by using this medium to remind
customers of payment or renewal dates, new offers available, or
as a means of addressing customer complaints.

And laughing all the way to the bank are the mobile service
providers, who earn a windfall amount in additional revenue by
splitting the premium SMS message call charges with the
companies.

It’s time you know what the latest technological gadget is. In
fact, this new toy is buzzing everywhere nowadays. PDA cell
phones are popping up more and more in the market place. Young
or old, maybe you should be asking yourself whether this new
cellular phone is something you should consider owning? Well, if
you’re unsure about whether a PDA mobile phone is the right
piece of hardware for you, don’t be. Read on and find out
everything you need to know about these great wireless phones!
Many consumers understand the value of owning a mobile phone
today. They are really convenient and easy to use. We almost
take them for granted because they’re extremely affordable to
own and maintain. They come with tons of loaded features to help
make our lives that much easier. They store phone numbers and
addresses, can link you to the Internet, can download your email
on a whim, and allow you to chat on Instant Messenger with your
closest loved ones whenever you want. Bored? Not when you own a
cellular phone, equipped with the latest games, cool polyphonic
ring tones, and picture messaging. Use it to take notes, and
keep you up to date with important meetings. There is simply
nothing that a cell phone cannot do nowadays. They even take
pictures and video images – and to think, these nifty little
toys can be held, literally, in the palm of your hand. Well, the
newest trend to hit our palms is the PDA wireless phone – better
known as a personal digital assistant. Imagine combining the
convenience of a cell phone with the reliability of a PDA – it’s
a match made in heaven! Here’s why. First of all, PDA’s are very
portable. You can take them anywhere! They fit in your purse,
briefcase, even your own pocket. They’re also very durable, so
they’re built to last! PDA’s are also pretty inexpensive these
days. You can get yourself a pretty decent and affordable
personal digital assistant for about $150. Once you get one,
you’ll realize just how amazing these devices really are! These
awesome gadgets store your personal and professional
information, at the touch of a button! Wireless PDA’s are also
programmable. You can run the most popular of applications on a
palm pilot, allowing you to interact with your home or office
computer. You can store documents, graphics, notes – the
possibilities are endless, and transferring information from one
medium to another is a breeze! What does it mean when you
combine the power of a PDA with a mobile phone? Pure magic!
There are many companies offering this innovative product. Check
it out! PalmOne makes a PDA cell phone that makes it easier than
ever for consumers to keep their business and personal life in
order without all the excess bulk! Remember, these phones are
compatible with either Macs or PCs, making it simple for you to
download information when you need it the most. Key features on
these types of phones include a mini “qwerty” keyboard for
typing notes, Bluetooth technology, USB capability, and lithium
powered batteries. Many of these PDA mobiles also include MP3
features! It’s all you’ll ever need to get through your day with
ease! Many people may even consider getting rid of their mobile
phones and replacing it with these new PDA cell phones. If you
think about it, you really don’t need much else! Tons of
Americans walk around with briefcases or purses full of gadgets
that only store a certain type of information. At one time, a
cell phone was used primarily to make or receive calls. Now,
times have changed. Long gone are the days when mobiles were
bulky, heavy, and inadequate. As you may know, cell phones have
marked their way into the world today, helping millions of
people get what they need in their professional and personal
lives. Not only do cell phones help us when we’re in a bind,
they keep us well in tuned with the world. We can access the
daily news, read our horoscopes, check movie listings, and so
much more. Keep your address book updated with your contacts.
Store email addresses, contact names, phone numbers – the sky is
the limit! In fact, there’s nothing a cell phone can’t do these
days! Without a doubt, cellular phones definitely enhance our
lives. They can notify us when we have an important meeting or
date coming up. You’ll never forget a friend or loved one’s
birthday again! They come equipped with cool features, such as
unique ring tones, games, and colour screens. Want to get
online? No problem! You can picture message your friends, send
text messages on the fly, even go online and download your email
messages. These features come in handy, especially when
travelling. In fact, many mobiles today are designed to be used
anywhere around the world! So, there’s no need to worry about
bringing a day planner or agenda to keep track of your to do
list. A cell phone is all you need! Now, you can enjoy the
convenience and affordability of combining your heavily used and
much needed cell phone with a practicality of a PDA or portable
hand held system. Look around – you’ll soon see that many
popular cellular phone carriers are carrying PDA cell phones,
all equipped with different, but important features. In fact,
customers can pick and choose which PDA phone best suits their
needs. It’s all too simple! However, one thing is clear – owning
a PDA mobile is an effective way to keep your business sorted.
Imagine just how much information these powerful tools store!
Cell phones are extremely practical but their downside is that
they can only store so much information! For example, most
mobile phones come with phone books that store between 100-500
contact entries. Certainly not enough when you’re building a
list of personal and professional contacts. Having a PDA cell
phone is like carrying around a mini computer in your pocket and
the possibilities are surely endless! While it can’t fix your
family meals every night or make the kids go to bed, it will
keep you and your family extremely organized and in tune with
what’s going on day to day! While a PDA cellular phone is used
primarily for professional use, take advantage of the many fun
features it has to offer. If you ever wanted to own an MP3
player, there’s no need to buy one on its own! Some PDA mobiles
come with a Windows Media Player device to keep you occupied
with your favourite tunes during the day! If you’re travelling
and are looking to maximize your time, surf the Internet. Even
better, catch up on your emails! It’s like taking your office on
the road, wherever you go, whenever you go! If you’re worried
about using your PDA too much – don’t! Many PDA cell phones will
give you somewhere along the lines of 250 minutes of talk time
and 240 hours of standby time. Keeping spare chargers and a base
charger is always convenient to ensure that you’ll never go
without your phone when you need it the most! You’ll enjoy
typical features, such as a speakerphone, vibrating ringers,
text capability, and Internet options. Connect using Outlook,
and you’ll never have to search for a phone number or email
address again! Store it once and forget about it! For those
individuals who are constantly travelling and on the road or in
the sky, a PDA mobile phone makes sense. It’s the perfect gift
and travel companion! Sometimes, it can be difficult to take a
break from your day to find an Internet café or office that will
allow you to connect and check your email and important
messages. Now, imagine being able to access your information
from anywhere in the world! You could be having dinner, in a
car, or in between meetings, and you’ll never miss those
important messages ever again! It’s important to note, your PDA
cell phone contains the Internet, which will allow you to surf
the web. So, now you can book your hotel reservations, find a
phone number for a taxi, look for a restaurant in your area –
it’s all possible without having to exhaust other options! Sync
your phone with your laptop, and access your work, no matter
where you are. Access flight information with the touch of a
button! Get movie listings and find out where some of the best
attractions are when you’re visiting a new town. It’s obvious
that owning a PDA cell phone has its advantages. Remember, PDA
phones are extremely lightweight and portable. So much power for
such a tiny device – and to think, many phones will give you the
option to add more memory if you need it, for additional
storage! It’s also good to know that many companies will also
throw in extra cellular accessories, such as a headset, leather
case, belt clip or hand strap. These always come in handy to
protect and maintain the look of your equipment. They’re also
very suitable when on the road. Having a headset allows you to
use your phone while on the road keeping you safe as you drive
with both hands on the wheel! If you’re going to use your phone
on the road while driving, at least be safe! Be conscious of
yourself and the other drivers around you! It doesn’t stop
there! You can upgrade to a Bluetooth headset, or consider
buying an extra adapter, charger, or magnet mount antenna set.
You could also consider getting a starter kit that comes with
the essentials to make the most out of your PDA cellular phone.
One thing is for sure. The rave about PDA cell phones is
sweeping the nation. Stop and think for a moment. Many people
carry around more than one of the following - a cell phone, an
agenda or journal, a PDA system, a camera, an MP3 player. Well,
all you need is the PDA mobile! It will replace all of these
rather expensive items and provide for its consumers the
convenience of owning the best all-in-one device to ever hit the
market!

Do you know what intrapersonal communications is? Many have not
even heard of the word, yet it can be one of your most valuable
tools to achieving your goals. Many ask, “Isn’t that like
interpersonal?” No.

Intra means self, getting personal with your self. And I mean
intellectually. Intrapersonal communications is your thoughts &
conversations with yourself. And the ones that can benefit you
the most are the ones that use all of your senses. You see when
you tell your self what you desire and see the image in your
mind, you are bring clarity to your desire. When you add in your
other senses, of what it feel, smell, taste like etc, you are
then reinforcing the importance to yourself.

I think that in today’s society we are taught not to talk to
ourselves. There is almost a stigmatism that you are some how
not ok if you do. Yet, the irony is that, the successful people
in the world, the ones that succeed and achieve their dreams and
desires, the ones that are the movers and the shakers, talk to
themselves. And they do it daily.

And what are they saying? Several things actually.

They are: Encouraging themselves when things get challenging.
They know that it can be easy to slide into fear, worry or
negativity and that it is important to stay positive. They
understand it’s important to look for solutions and be open to
ideas to realize that all things are possible. You can’t do this
if you are bemoaning what is happening to you. They also
understand that it is through failures that we learn the best
and the fastest. They see the challenges as stepping-stones to
the next level and they remind themselves of that factor.

As well, they are asking themselves,

What are my goals for the year? What do I want to accomplish?
What does it look and feel like? What are the details? When
will this be done by? How will I achieve this? Who’s help do I
need?

I have heard from many of them that they will go one-step
further and even meditate on the questions they have until they
answers or solutions come to them. And sometimes, when they see
a solution, they think forward and ask, “And then what? What
else do I need to know and do to succeed?”

This is one of the reasons that their success is almost assured.
They know what they want and they know how they are going to get
it. Their communication skills with themselves, are practiced
and followed through on.

I have also noticed that people who don’t speak with themselves,
will just quickly make a new years resolution and then forget
about it. There is no clarity or details on what it is or how it
will happen. There is no emotion or desire driving them towards
it. Then another year goes by and they sit and wonder why hasn’t
anything changed.

My desire for you is to choose to make 2006, the year that you
make a difference. The year that you discover the value and
benefits of Intrapersonal Communication. Choose now to find out
who you really are. Start talking with yourself today and really
get to know yourself on a more personal level.

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The sign that your Mercury was in at the time you were born
shows how you take in information and how you communicate with
others. This is the thinking, logical mind, not the subconscious
or super-conscious mind.

Here is an example: At the time Joe was born his Mercury was
passing through the zodiac sign of Taurus. This simply means
that his thinking mind is strongly influenced by the tendencies
of Taurus. This reveals that he is attached to money, food, sex,
going slowly, taking it easy, keeping things the way they are,
and resisting sudden ideas and sudden changes. This is why
astrologers call Taurus a “fixed” sign. People with Mercury in
Taurus have great resistance to changing their mind. They
process information slowly and do not want to be rushed.

One of the primary desires of Taurus is to produce
results. This is why Joe will always tend to think about how
to make money in very specific ways. To him, receiving money for
what he has created is a true validation that he has produced
something of value. It would be very important for Joe to know
that he filters information through a Taurus attitude. This
means that he needs time to think about the information he
receives. He cannot be pushed into a decision.

It is important to understand that there are twelve signs of
the zodiac. Your Mercury could be in an entirely different sign
than Taurus. And since some signs are not in harmony with each
other, it is very helpful to know if it will be easy or
difficult for you to communicate with another person. You can
save yourself a lot of trouble by doing a little research.

You will quickly discover that by knowing what sign a person’s
Mercury is in, you will be able you to communicate much better
with them. Even though it may not be your style to think the way
they do, because your Mercury may be in a different sign, you
will certainly understand how to present your ideas in such a
way that they will be more open to them.

I am always astounded how little this knowledge is used by most
people. It is no surprise why most people don’t really
understand how another person thinks. They have no effective
method for determining what’s going on inside of another
person’s head and how they are processing information.

If you follow the normal route of learning how to communicate
with another person, it will usually take a long time. Most
people say, “You simply have to get to know them.” But if you
can learn how to check out the zodiac position of their Mercury,
this time-wasting path is really unnecessary.

Maybe it time for you to learn where your own Mercury is
located. You can find detailed information on the signs at this
location a>.

In today’s hi-tech world, Caller Id’s have become very popular.
These are used by large and small businesses to increase their
productivity and efficiency as well as providing response to
callers on a 24-hour basis. It is so simple. All you are doing
with a Caller ID is renting a monthly service. You don’t have to
buy anything because all you do is rent the service and have
your calls directed to your specific phone number.

There are many features to choose from with Caller ID service
and the ones you choose depend on your needs. Most services make
it possible for you have tailor-made calls to suit your needs,
such as your callers can press a key to find out more
information or to leave a voice message that you can hear when
you pick them up.

Before you get anything you should know exactly what you’re
looking for and what your needs for these services are. You can
determine this by how many different products you are offering
and how many outgoing messages you will need for your business.
This will allow your callers to press different buttons to hear
what they are looking for and to be able to leave messages
pertaining to what their interests are. If you have a number of
employees, you will probably need more than one voice mailbox.
This leaves the opportunity for the caller to speak directly to
the employee he/she dealing with.

Another thing to consider when getting caller ID is to make sure
you assign enough time for your customers to leave the message
that they want to leave. Cutting someone short can mean a loss
of business. If you want to take your own calls then you can get
what is called “Follow Me Live”, which is basically call
forwarding. This service will let the numbers ring until it
locates you. This is only a small portion of what is on the
market, so before you start shopping it will be worth the effort
to do some homework on what the market has to offer whether it
is a personal caller ID you need or one for your business.

There is a wide range of different unified messages and voice
mail available and they have all different features and calling
plans. These services charge a monthly fee for the basic
service, plus long distance, and most of them include a toll
free number. The monthly charge will vary on the kind of package
you choose, but you can get anything from basic service to
unified massaging with the works.

When you are looking for the right package to suit your needs
and you only want a toll-free number, then shop in your local
telephone book first and try to find service that just provides
this kind of service. Start comparing prices with all the
services and sometimes you can come up with some sweet deals.
You will find that with unified massaging it works a little
different. These packages will include such things as virtual
office, virtual assistant and much more. This is where a single
phone number does it all for you, it will automate your
communications and it will consolidate your messages constantly.
It never sleeps.

Why executive coaching services are expanding and how best to
use an executive coach.

Why use an executive coach?

Nothing to be ashamed of

Unfortunately, for years, the idea of using an executive coach
was looked on as a weakness. Somehow, the higher up people got
in a company, the more responsibilities they were supposed to
handle without any outward sign that they weren’t superman or
superwoman.

It wasn’t even supposed to be the image of the swan - serene and
calm on the outside, but paddling like hell underneath. No,
people were supposed to look serene and paddle serene as well!

Fortunately, these days things have moved on a lot. It’s not
considered a weakness to seek support. At least in some
companies. There will always be those that think the stiff upper
lip is better than admitting that not only people can’t do it
alone, but it’s a whole lot better if they don’t.

All the ‘big people’ have their own coaches, mentors, ‘gurus’,
counsellors or wise person. Indeed, having an executive coach is
nothing to be ashamed of.

Pressure ‘they’ put on you

You are a key member of your company. People rely on your
leadership, interpersonal skills, judgements and decisions and
expect you to continually ‘come up with the goods’.

As a matter of course, you are called upon to give keynote
speeches, chair crucial meetings, develop strategy and people,
focus on succession planning, handle crises and deal with the
internal and external pressures that go with your position.

Part of the deal is that others do expect you to handle all that
and more with grace, professionalism, energy and enthusiasm. And
then there’s the rest of your life, too: all that work-life
balance stuff.

Pressure you put on yourself

Not only that, staying under duvet may seem very inviting,
especially if you, too, set high (if not impossible)
expectations for yourself. Unfortunately, staying under the
duvet is not an option most of the time.

Putting additional pressure on yourself is not uncommon.
Somehow, the more responsibility people are given, the stronger
their sense of obligation. Now, that’s not a bad thing. It’s
good to be really committed and responsible.

However, the downside is that people give themselves a really
hard time when they don’t live up to the expectations they’ve
set themselves. And those expectations are usually way higher
than any their companies set. They really get to a point where
they can’t see the wood for all the trees they themselves
planted.

Good executive coaching should put all these pressures into
perspective and give you tools and additional skills to cope
more effectively with everything that’s thrown at you.

Benefits of using an executive coach

It’s a place to offload

When you use an executive coach, it’s a wonderful opportunity to
offload your concerns, issues and complaints without fear of
making a career-limiting move.

Your coach offers confidentiality and objectivity

These are qualities everyone could use in their life. You want
to know that what you discuss with your coach stays between the
two of you. At the same time, getting an objective perspective
on your situation is invaluable.

You will feel more motivated and enthused

When someone is totally on your side and guiding you through
some of the rockier times in your working life, energy and
enthusiasm are released. It’s very reassuring knowing someone is
there.

They will give you unbiased practical support

Without an axe to grind, your executive coach won’t be biased,
won’t have the same prejudices and expectations others within
your company may have. They will also be able to offer you
practical suggestions and options because they may perhaps see
your issues more clearly than you are able to.

They bring outside expertise

A good executive coach should have an array of expertise and
skills that you may not have. You can expect to have your own
knowledge and skill base developed the more you use a coach.

They aren’t part of your company

This is key. An executive coach who isn’t part of your company
won’t be caught up in the politics, intrigues, pettiness or even
just the day-to-day routines.

They bring an outside perspective

Following on from the above point, the fact that they aren’t
part of the company means that they will see everything with
‘untainted’ eyes. In turn, they simply won’t see the things the
way you do and will be able to offer you fresh perspectives to
help you tackle problems more creatively.

Your confidence will increase

With someone providing unconditional support, fresh perspectives
and who is there just for you, your confidence can only
increase. Having an executive coach is like having your own
private cheering squad (even if a discreet one!).

You’ll get better at what you already do well

A good coach should help you develop what you’re good at. By
giving you a variety of skills and techniques, your qualities
and talents will grow exponentially.

Leadership and executive coaching

Leadership vacuums

We definitely hear this a lot from our various clients, how
there is a big leadership void, how they don’t make leaders like
they used to, how things would be better if they only had good
strong leadership within their organisations.

We’ve written quite a bit on leadership (link here to leadership
docs?), but it’s important to look at leadership in the context
of executive coaching.

We agree. There are leadership voids in many organisations.
There isn’t however, a lack of people who could fill those
leadership voids. The issue seems to be more about how people’s
leadership skills and potential are perceived.

Owning up

We think this is one of the best indicators of a good leader:
owning up to mistakes and showing vulnerability.

It really is all right to make mistakes. You can’t and won’t
know it all and you will screw up every once in a while -
everyone does. When you do, try not to make excuses, point the
finger of blame at someone else, sweep it under the carpet and
hope it will resolve itself on all its own or justify your own
behaviour.

Humility and maturity go hand in hand. When something goes awry,
take responsibility for what went wrong and use your executive
coach to debrief. The more you can let your coach know what has
been going on for you, the better able they will be to give you
relevant, practical suggestions to ease you through the rocky
times.

Then you’ll be exhibiting true leadership behaviour.

Being a role model

People need role models

Great, even good leaders need to be role models for the people
around them. Others look to you for guidance, wisdom, surety and
confidence. They rely on your dependability. They want to know
you’re handling it all.

So what if you aren’t? Can you still be a role model?

Of course you can.

How executive coaching can help

This is exactly where executive coaching is most needed. In
these kinds of situations you can display true leadership
behaviour just by having an executive coach.

First, you’ll be demonstrating that you, too, need support,
which in turn gives permission to the people around you to
acknowledge they might need support as well.

Second, you’ll be letting others know that you aren’t
invincible. The knock on effect of that could be that people
will be more aware of just how much you have to cope with.

In turn, if chosen well, your executive coach can be one of your
role models. Because we can guarantee that your executive coach
isn’t invincible either!

Role models aren’t indestructible. And if you want to be a great
role model, let other people know it.

Choosing an executive coach

Who’s right for me?

The spectrum of executive coaches and executive consulting
services is enormous. The executive coaching services on offer
are seemingly endless. Different people offer different skills
and it’s really important for you to be clear about what you
want from an executive coach.

If you aren’t clear what you want when you start, then that’s
one good way to find out if you’ll be able to work with someone:
by talking with you even for a brief time, a good executive
coach will be able to help you pinpoint exactly what they could
do to support you.

But there are some essentials no matter who you use.

Your executive coach has to:

Be trustworthy Be hugely experienced in dealing with a variety
of people and issues Have your best interests at heart Be
empathetic Have really good counselling skills; be direct and
clear Get to the point and give practical suggestions

And most important:

You do have to like them Whatever anyone says, if you or your
company are paying for executive coaching support, you
absolutely must get on with this person.

Some companies may have a group of executive coaches they know
and use. If you don’t like any of them, find your own!

Having an executive coach could be a major relationship in your
life. You may use them only once or decide that you want them
supporting you in an on-going role. You may decide to have a
‘check up’ or ‘MOT’ once a year.

At Impact Factory, those of us who do executive coaching have
all kinds of coaching relationships:

people we see once who have an intensive, powerful and in-depth
session people we see regularly who like to know someone is out
there just for them people with whom we have a less formal
arrangement - they use us as and when things arise and they need
an outside eye to help them However and whoever you use,
executive coaching could make a significant difference to how
you feel and what you do.

What is a broadband phone? How does a broadband phone
work? Where do I find broadband phone service? How much can I
expected to pay for a broadband phone and broadband phone
service? These are the questions I have asked and set out to
answer in this article.

What is a broadband phone? A broadband phone is essentially a
telephone that makes calls to another telephone via a broadband
connection.

How does a broadband phone work? When a phone call is placed the
call is routed by a private branch exchange (PBX) from a
company like AT&T, SBC, or Sprint. The difference is that the
data from the phone call, which is the voice data from you
speaking, is transferred back and forth through the internet
using a technology called voice over IP (VoIP). A
traditional phone transfers data over phone lines.

Where do I find broadband phone service and how much does it
cost? A list of broadband phone service providers and their
lowest monthly rates is below.

Broadband Phone Service Providers

Lingo - $19.99

Net2Phone - $14.99

SpeakEasy - $83.90

Voice Eclipse - $12.95

Voice Pulse - $14.99

Vonage - $14.99

ZingoTel - $14.95

I hope I have been able to answer some of your basic questions
concerning broadband phones and goodluck with your future
broadband phone endeavors.