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Tag Archives: Margaret Smith life coach

April 6, 2022 A Month of Courage (plus, my new eBook!)

Do you have days when you’re feeling timid or unworthy? Are there times when you’re afraid to participate in a certain meeting or take a certain action? Do you occasionally feel like you’re the only one in the room that doesn’t “get it,” while everyone else is coasting along with ease?

Believe me, you are worthy, your input is valuable, and you deserve to be in the room alongside everyone else. The problem isn’t you, it’s your courage.

Courage comes in many forms. It takes guts to ask for a raise or negotiate a severance package. It takes self-assuredness to lead a team project, give a major presentation, or engage in a difficult conversation. Courage can mean many different things, and has largely to do with mindset (yes, it is possible to train yourself to take on this mindset!)

Many of us suffer from self-consciousness or a lack of courage. We’re our own harshest critics. Whenever I deliver a presentation or workshop on my book, The Ten-Minute Leadership Challenge, I usually ask about the leadership attributes the people in the room would like to work on. One of the most common areas of improvement is courage.

Because of this widespread desire to become more courageous, I decided to compile the decades of information and techniques I’ve acquired into an eBook: A Quick Guide to Courage. This eBook is an easy read—46 pages filled with illustrations and activities—but it’s packed with information. It also includes links to others resources, such as my video on the 5 Ps of Courage.

To celebrate the launch of this book, I’m declaring April “Courage Month!” This month, all my blog posts will be dedicated to an aspect of courage. I’m also offering my book at a special discounted price.

Let’s celebrate courage this month, and carry that courage with us into the year ahead!

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE.

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March 23, 2022 6 Traits of an Effective Problem-Solver

It pays to be a problem-solver. Rather than either A) Sitting around and waiting for things to resolve themselves or B) Counting on others to solve your problems, it’s better to take a proactive approach. For one, the problems you’re facing may not resolve on their own. Or, they may not resolve themselves in the way you want. If you take “approach B” and let others solve problems for you, you lose crucial opportunities to learn and grow. Not to mention, your fate (or the fate of a project) will always be in others’ hands, beyond your control.

It’s much more rewarding to be proactive and attempt to solve problems yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to go about problem-solving on your own. The most adept problem-solvers use whatever resources (human or otherwise) which are at their disposal.

Work on becoming a problem-solver in your workplace! An effective problem-solver is…

1. Courageous

Some risk may be involved in finding solutions to sub-optimal situations. You might have to speak up, contact your superiors, or tap into uncharted territory. Be courageous, knowing that you’ll be learning valuable skills, no matter the outcome.

2. Adaptable

Not every solution is going to keep you squarely within your comfort zone. Be prepared to be flexible.

3. Innovative

Think outside the box! The best solutions may be paths you have not yet explored in your workplace. Look to other industries or unlikely sources for problem-solving inspiration

4. Resourceful

Don’t be afraid to seek help. Online research, your HR department, co-workers, or your professional connections could be sources of advice or inspiration for you.

5. A Unity-Builder

If a problem is affecting an entire department or group of people, it pays to rally the troops and get everyone working toward solving your mutual issue. You know what they say about several heads being better than one!

6. Vocal

Silence is the worst way to deal with a sticky issue. Refusing to address a problem with open communication will only suppress it or force people to talk about it in whispers.

Embrace your courageous, vocal, innovative, and adaptive sides! Rally the troops and use whatever resources are available to you. Be a proactive problem-solver, and you’ll gain a better handle on your future. Not only that, you’ll also develop valuable skills along the way and likely gain recognition from your superiors as someone who is unafraid to face problems head-on.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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March 2, 2022 Small Actions Make a Big Difference

In this big, complicated world, it’s easy to feel small and insignificant. Right now, we’re in the midst of global turmoil, political divisions, and environmental uncertainty. Everything seems tense, complex and, frankly, overwhelming. And we don’t necessarily need a war or a pandemic to feel this way. It’s certainly possible to feel overwhelmed and anxious in the face of a large, complicated work project or a major life change.

What can you do when you’re feeling small and helpless?

I encourage you to focus on mini action-steps and tiny progressions. Small steps can and DO make a big difference. Fundraisers often rely on grassroots donations of $15 or $25. Pollution can be cut significantly by reducing single-use plastics or switching to more sustainable modes of transportation. A few kind words or a helping hand can make an enormous difference to someone who’s struggling.

Thinking about this from a work angle, small action steps are essential to completing large projects. A 50-page report is written one word at a time. A sales goal is achieved one buyer at a time. When you’re staring down a big project, try reframing it.

Here are a few steps to try:

  • Break the project down into smaller components
  • Create a project calendar with deadlines for the smaller pieces
  • If you’re working with others, figure out the best way to divide the work and monitor your collective progress
  • Identify small tasks you can do NOW
  • If possible, delegate or automate parts of the process

We’ve established that small action steps can eventually lead to the completion of large, daunting projects, but that’s not all they can do. Small actions can also provide some much-needed motivation. If, for instance, you’re feeling disheartened by your ever-growing to-do list, try finding the easiest item on the list and doing it NOW.

It’s best if the item only takes a few minutes to complete—answering an email you’ve been putting off, cleaning out a certain file folder, tidying your office for an afternoon Zoom meeting. The act of accomplishing something (no matter how small!) will give you a jolt of motivation and will probably inspire you to keep going. You’ll get to cross something off your to-do list and have a small sense of accomplishment.

Though it’s easy to feel helpless and small at times, know that your actions do make a difference. Every significant thing on earth—from ocean beaches to the first airplane—is the result of smaller components and/or action steps.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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