Vol 2 Iss 3

Well, I did it! Many of you are aware that last week I submitted my application for Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation (ICF). For coaching, this is a Big Deal. In the coaching industry, to become certified through the ICF, you must have proven beyond a doubt your commitment to the profession through education and practice.

Plus, you need letters of recommendation from previously certified coaches (preferably from a higher level) verifying that your coaching technique is exceptional. In order to do that, I had to coach my superiors. (Now, THAT will bring out the gremlins!) Rest assured, my letters of recommendation positively glowed, and I’m already planning how to reach the next and highest level, Master Certified Coach (MCC). When you see MCC and PhD after my name, you can say you knew me when….

What are you aiming for? One of the best things about coaching is that your goals are your goals. It’s not about the coach, it’s about YOU: Coaching is holistic, so goals can be around physical space, health, creativity, enjoyment, money, relationships, time, career – you name it. If you are looking to make any kind of change, please give me a call and let me show you how coaching can help you reach your goals more efficiently and elegantly.

So enjoy the rest of the month and please let me know how things are going for you.

My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.

Have you ever received an e-mail and wondered what the heck that person meant? It’s as though there were a conversation going on in their head and you only get to read the tail end of it. Or you hear a message on your answering machine that sort of wanders around, never really getting to the point, and by the time they leave their number, the last four digits are cut off. Grrrr.

When you are networking or job seeking, these errors can spell disaster for you. Many people know this and feeling inadequate, never make the call or leave the message out of fear of sounding stupid. That leaves you with a terrible tradeoff – sounding stupid, or never making contact.

Wayne Gretsky said “You miss 100$ of the shots you don’t take,” so my thought is to show up; make the call; send the email. Even if you don’t feel confident. Feeling confident is a matter of preparation, so this month, I’m offering a few tips to help you communicate concisely and effectively.

Since the majority of contacts with people are by e-mail and phone, I’ll limit my tips to these forms of communication. You can certainly adapt them to in-person and traditional correspondence. And always, if you’d like to run something by me, please send me an (elegantly drafted and concise :D) email.

First off, when you call someone, expect to get the machine. Unless you have an appointment for a conversation, they will not be sitting there waiting and hoping you’ll call.

Write down what you want to say ahead of time. You may not need to write it word for word, but at least get the structure down. Here’s one:

“Hello, this is ______ and my number is _______. (So and so) recommended that I contact you about (blah blah blah.) They said you are a good person to talk to because (blah blah blah). Would you be available for a phone conversation or coffee? Again, my name is ______ and I can be reached at ______.”

There are a couple of elements in this message that you might not expect. First off, give your name immediately and your phone number. Nothing is more annoying than to wait to the end of the message to get the number – and it’s a good idea to repeat it again at the end to be sure they got it.

Also, you want to give them a reason to call you back. Using a reference name is one way; acknowledging their expertise is another. Lastly, you want to end with a request. You wouldn’t be calling them otherwise. Put the request in the form of a question because it begs to be answered. And please don’t try to sound like their best friend if you’ve never met. Just be yourself.

Now, I know you hate the thought of reading from a script. So do I. It sounds so unnatural. This is why you need to practice it. One wise person in one of my workshops suggested calling yourself and practicing on your own voice mail till it sounds right. How brilliant is that? My preference is to just have talking points and use them to direct my message. That way it sounds natural and I get everything in that I want to say. But even I write it down first.

Do whatever you can to make your message brief and to the point. Rambling is not allowed. Practice till you get it right, then bribe yourself with a reward when it’s done. (Dark chocolate works best for me…)

Regarding e-mail, the same principles apply. Make it brief and to the point. Never, I repeat, NEVER put in an e-mail what you would not want printed on the front page of the paper. More so than routine correspondence, e-mail is public information.

Write your subject line after you’ve written the message. When I write it first, it always sounds like SPAM, but when I write it after I’ve written the message, it’s easier to distill the essence into a few words and it makes better sense. You want a subject line that will compel the reader to open it.

Remember, you will be judged by how you look on paper. Use common courtesy when you compose an e-mail. Conventions such as a salutation and close are nice touches, as is good grammar and correct spelling. Avoid confusing abbreviations. Spell out your words and use capital letters at the beginning of sentences. This is not a blog or a blast off to your posse, it’s an effort to get someone to respond. Someone whose help you need.

Be careful with attachments. If you need to send your resume, copy/paste it into the body of the e-mail. People are leery, with good cause, about opening an attachment. Some companies stop the attachment at the server and the receiver never sees it at all.

The good thing about e-mails is that you are more likely to get a response from a well-crafted e-mail than a voice mail. E-mails can be dealt with quickly, whereas a voice mail will most likely be answered with, you guessed it, another voice mail.

The whole point is to communicate effectively and professionally so that you can get your questions answered. When you get your questions answered, then you can begin to move forward. And isn’t’ that what it’s all about? Forward Momentum!

Learn the process of discovering your next career step whether it's a different job or a brand new career. We'll look at defining what work suits you best, look at various job search strategies, and develop action plans. You'll learn how to research and approach the companies you'll be happiest working for and how to network to find that company.

Highland Hills Parks & Rec

April 15 and April 22, 2006

We are living longer than any time in the history of mankind, and we are retiring at an average age of 57. What in the world will you do with the next 30 years? Learn the areas of life that will need attention in your retirement. It's not all about money!

Highland Hills Parks & Rec

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"By Debra DeVilbiss, CPCC, of Forward Momentum, LLC. Please visit Debra's website at http://www.ForwardMomentum.com for additional articles and resources on creating your right livelihood."

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