What's a Lesson You Learned From a Productivity Failure That Improved Your Coaching Approach?
Productivity Advice
What's a Lesson You Learned From a Productivity Failure That Improved Your Coaching Approach?
Drawing from the trenches of productivity pitfalls, we've gathered invaluable insights from Founders and Coaches on turning setbacks into coaching triumphs. From establishing boundaries for self-care to shifting from self-criticism to curiosity, explore the seven profound lessons these professionals have learned and how it reshaped their coaching methods.
- Establish Boundaries for Self-Care
- Value of Delegating to a Team
- Customize Individual Productivity Systems
- Align Actions with Core Vision
- Learn from Hands-On Experience
- Optimize Work Hours and Client Load
- Shift to Curiosity from Self-Criticism
Establish Boundaries for Self-Care
One productivity failure I experienced was becoming overwhelmed by my schedule and not leaving enough time for self-care. I had back-to-back speaking engagements and podcast recordings where I felt drained. My coaching was suffering as a result.
Now I establish firm boundaries around my time and say no more often. I've found that when I schedule in rest periods and make my mental health a priority, I'm able to serve my clients even better. The strategies and encouragement I provide are more impactful because I'm practicing what I preach.
For example, I recently turned down a handful of podcast interview requests to take a week-long vacation. I returned home feeling recharged and refocused. My next round of coaching calls was extremely productive, with several clients remarking on how inspired they felt. Protecting my own well-being has allowed me to improve my coaching approach by being fully present for my clients.
Value of Delegating to a Team
Failing to delegate tasks efficiently early on taught me the value of a good team. Doing all the client work myself led to poor time management and subpar results. I have since built a team of experts to handle various client needs.
For example, a medical issue arose last year that required my full attention. Thankfully, my team was able to properly assist clients in my absence. Without delegation, the outcome could have been quite different.
Investing in skilled staff has improved how I coach clients. I now know the importance of delegating work to focus on high-level strategy. My team provides the hands-on expertise to increase client satisfaction. The productivity failure of trying to do it all myself taught me to build a support system around my business. Success comes from learning to let go.
Customize Individual Productivity Systems
I've learned that, to be truly effective and impactful, a productivity system must fit the individual like a glove. If it doesn't, then the system will, most likely, be abandoned within three to six months. As a coach, I help my clients design, implement, and tweak productivity systems that meet their unique personalities, lives, and work.
I've also learned that a productivity system must be life-encompassing, addressing every critical domain of one's life, if individuals are to create lives of impact and significance. An excellent productivity system becomes part of the fabric of how we live and operate every single day of our lives.
Align Actions with Core Vision
One pivotal lesson I've learned from a productivity failure was when I deviated from our company's core vision to pursue an enticing new product line. This venture, although promising, was a significant departure from what our company was known for, leading us down a costly path of time and resource expenditure. The fallout was a stark reminder of the importance of aligning with our foundational goals.
This experience profoundly shaped my approach as a business coach. I now emphasize the importance of adhering to a company's 'North Star.' I guide leaders to not only define but relentlessly pursue their established vision, ensuring that their teams operate in synchronized efforts towards common objectives. This focus helps prevent the scattergun approach that can dilute a company's essence and consume invaluable resources without yielding the intended benefits.
Learn from Hands-On Experience
Productive failure is critical to understanding how things work and efficiency. I learn by example, and by doing so, if I've not seen an example of how something is done or works, I know I have to just dive into it, get the ball rolling, and see what obstacles pop up. Then, I can solve those problems without worrying about the end result because I know these steps will ultimately lead me to the best possible outcome—which is extremely efficient.
Optimize Work Hours and Client Load
Buying into the reality that I cannot be all things to all people at all times dramatically changed my productivity, impact, and my own quality of life. Accommodating as many clients as possible into a day may seem productive, but it actually fails miserably as a strategy for running a sustainable business and maintaining quality of life.
Optimization is key. Determining ideal work hours based on personal energy levels, building a financial forecasting model for services including appropriate pricing and ideal client load, made me a better coach, increased productivity and profits in my own coaching practice, and is one approach I teach clients to overcome their struggles with inefficiency and chart their course for success.
Shift to Curiosity from Self-Criticism
When my productivity falters, I've learned to shift from a critical inner voice to curiosity. I learned through my upbringing and the world that beating myself up was the modus operandi. For some reason, that never seemed to enhance my productivity or get me out of a slump. Coaching has taught me that awareness and curiosity are my best ways to create momentum again.
Now, I ask myself (and my clients) what this slowdown is trying to show with questions like: Do I need to rest? Is there a better way? Do I need to ask for help? Is my timing off? Do I have a limiting shadow belief that's ready to shift? Like magic, I'm moving again.
