Opportunities in Chaos

BY: COACH SEAN MOLLOY

For many people, all of life is currently caught up in trying to make it through this pandemic. The all-encompassing nature of COVID-19 is making it very challenging as leaders in business and the professional world; we’re all dealing with challenges never before faced and trying to learn as we go.

            However, in the midst of this craziness, there’s some great opportunities for all of us as we continue to pursue our professional goals and seek to grow. 

As I talk to people trying to navigate their businesses through this, I find that this pandemic is impacting people in two broad ways. Let me suggest a couple things for both groups as we all seek to find the opportunities.

First, some people and businesses are actually busier than ever.  This is increasing demand and it’s hard to keep up with it all while dealing with limited resources. If your industry is still moving along and this is actually keeping you busy, it would be tempting just to hold on for dear life and ride this busy wave! Let me suggest another option. You’ll find there is actually great potential to continue to grow in the middle of this. Look around and what you might see is that others in your industry aren’t able to keep up with the demand that’s out there, or maybe because of the new rules in place because of social distancing, you will begin seeing ways in which you can become more efficient in your processes and more productive in your systems.  Finally, as busy as you may be now, are there new needs that are in demand that you can meet? Instead of only trying to survive this, ask yourself how you can thrive.

Second, for many people, the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing business to a halt. We are doing our best to survive. How can we possibly grow or reach goals in this environment? While some of us have more time on our hands than we’d like; this may be the perfect time to recalibrate our goals and vision for our business. For some of us, life can be so busy that we never get a chance to unplug and really think about what we are doing and where we are going, but this situation is forcing down time for some of us. The opportunity for those of us with time on our hands may be to really slow down and process where we want to go professionally, and what it will take to get there. As bad as this pandemic is right now, this too shall pass, and things will get back to normal again. Will you be ready to start taking the right steps to reach your goals? 

If you need help figuring out the best way forward, we at Laine Schmidt Coaching can help walk alongside you through the process.  Contact us today.

 It may feel like you’re out of control in this situation, but these circumstances may be just the right time to leap ahead and take the opportunity that is in front of you. Let us be a part of that process and help you get where you need to go!

Interview Like a Pro

BY: COACH LOUANNE SLEVINSKI

Everyone wants to be selected for their dream job.  What's the best way to approach it and how do you make a great impression?  

1. Be Prepared:

Research - Before going to an interview, research the company.  For example; how long have they been in business? What is the product, what is the company's mission, values, the company history?  Know the BRAND.

Practice, practice practice - this is vitally important.  An interviewer knows who is prepared for the interview within a couple of minutes.  It is very helpful to roleplay with friends and family. Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself answer questions, pay attention to body language.  Another helpful tool is to record yourself and listen to how you sound.

Resumes - Your resume should be limited to one page.  Bullet point your skills, experience and accomplishments.  If you already have a formatted resume, plan to adjust it to fit the job description.  Use power words in your resume to fit the words used in the job description and qualifications.

2. Presentation:

Dress for success!  Be sure you present yourself as a respectable professional. Keep accessories to a minimum; you don’t want to distract from the content of your answers. 

Introduction - Introduce yourself, shake hands, look them in the eye.  This is your opportunity to show a healthy level of confidence and enthusiasm. Be aware of your body language.  Be open, be calm, be in control of your movements. 

3. The Interview:

Try to establish a rapport with the interviewer immediately. If you don’t already have information on the interviewer, try to find a common interest.  This will humanize you and make them feel you are interested in who they are as an individual. 

Prepare with the STAR interview process: Situation, Task, Action, Result.  What situation have you been through in which you can speak to each of these things?  The most important part of STAR is the results...show that you are a person who can find solutions and bring them to life.  

In advance, have at least 4 to 5 situations that you can pull from previous work experience.  Example: Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond? I can't emphasize enough the importance of being able to retrieve these answers in a timely manner.  It is imperative to have taken the time to study and have these answers prepared in advance. Listen carefully to the question being asked. It's fine to ask the interviewer to repeat the question, if necessary.  Use power words: Passion, rapport, multitasker, creative thinker, dependable, team player, goal oriented. 

4. Closing:

Sell yourself at the end of the interview; this is not the time to be timid.  Bring to the table their job description and qualifications and how your experience and knowledge matches all of the requirements. Explain how you can contribute to the company and that you would be a great asset to their team. This is a very important technique that will put you a step above the rest. Most importantly: ask for the job.  Show them you want it.

Within 24 hours after your interview, be sure to send a thank you email stating your gratitude for their time and consideration, and reiterating why you’d be a great fit for the team.

If you’re in a career transition and could use coaching to prepare for your interview, contact us today and we’ll get you in touch with Coach Louanne.

Making Decisions During Times of Uncertainty: The Fighter Pilot’s Method

BY: COACH BILL HARVEY

While working in a dynamic business environment during uncertain times, it’s helpful to have a decision-making framework to foster adaptability and flexibility in your organization. John Boyd, a fighter pilot and military theorist, developed the concept of the OODA Loop to help individuals and teams understand how they respond to events within their environment. This concept is relevant in any competitive and dynamic arena. Regardless of industry, size, or stage in a company’s life cycle, the OODA Loop can benefit organizations as they respond to changing business climate.

My first contact with the OODA Loop came while studying military theory as a Marine Corps fighter pilot. I used the concept of the OODA Loop to prepare to lead teams in combat and train pilots at home. In particular, Boyd’s notion of how organizations develop an orientation—prior to entering the operating environment—is particularly helpful. Building a common understanding of how to synthesize and analyze information within a team was a great way to get aligned. This focus on orientation also helped ensure the team’s actions aligned with the overall strategy of our organization. The OODA Loop helped me focus during mission preparation and make decisions during execution.

The OODA Concept:

Here’s how to understand the diagram as it applies to a business:

Observe—Gather Data

·      Gather data about the market, economic situation, and competitive forces

·      Collect information from and the results of any previous tests or actions

Orient—Build Understanding

·      Determine your position in the market relative to your vision.

·      Consider your vision, values, business model, structure, and history to help guide your understanding

Decide—Form a Hypothesis

·      Form a hypothesis of what actions will reduce the gap between your vision and reality

·      Determine action steps needed to test the hypothesis

Act—Execute the Plan

·      Test your hypothesis in the current operating environment

·      Identify the resources used in execution

Leaders can develop agility in their teams by focusing on developing the components of their team’s orientation. They’ll need to develop and communicate a vision for the business and imbue common values. A business model and organizational structure that complement the vision and values will drive alignment. If you’re experiencing a pause in operations due to social distancing, it’s a great time to develop your team’s orientation to prepare for speeding up later!

If you’d like to know more about John Boyd and his work, start here:

Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram

If you’re interested in working more with Coach Bill to help your organization navigate these uncertain times, contact us today. 

An Opportunity to Digitize

BY: COACH KEVIN HACKETT

Traditional business owners are finding themselves shutting down or asking their employees to make the ill-advised commute to work. Meanwhile, everyone in quarantine is spending their money on ecommerce products and digital services.

Many businesses have infrastructure required to run their operations which limit their ability to make the digital transition. But, sales, marketing, accounting and supply chain management don’t have to be among those. Many companies would benefit these areas by starting their move to cloud-based tools.

Here is a breakdown of the 5 major tools a company can focus on:

1.     Microsoft Office 365 - If your business is operating in the cloud you’ll have much more effective collaboration on documents and reports. Moving files from your work to your home office won’t require remote logins or the nightmare of emailing versions back and forth to yourself.

2.     NetSuite ERP – If you’re a smaller business, you’re probably operating on Quickbooks or something similar, but if you have complex operations, you’re likely using an ERP that requires servers on site. NetSuite enables you to make your operational software available from anywhere, anytime.

3.     Slack – This tool has gained popularity over the years, especially with digital teams. Slack enables you to communicate quickly without the need to search among lengthy email signatures and subject lines. It also has some interactive features that let you share screens and documents quickly.

4.     Salesforce – This customer relationship manager will allow your sales team to enter sales orders, research customers, follow up on leads and send their forecasts all without ever stepping foot inside your office. With some basic management guidance, this ease of use can really energize sales teams and managers.

 5.     GoToMeeting – Digital Meetings have become a staple of quarantine life and with Zoom in the hotseat for privacy concerns, GoToMeeting is a solid alternative.

While you’re in quarantine, start thinking about how you can make the transition for your organization to the cloud. Maybe for your organization it’s as simple as signing up and getting started. If you have a more complex organization, the transition may need to be more structured and planned.

The products listed above are the Cadillacs of cloud technologies today, but they also serve certain niche markets better than others. If you are a larger organization, I do recommend looking at their competitors as well since some may serve your particular business better than others. 

If you would like specific coaching on selecting or implementing the right technologies for your business, let us know and we’ll get you connected with Coach Kevin today.