Category Archives: Open Mind

International Coaching Week February 5-12, 2012

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PGModelfor2012CW

This week is International Coaching Week 2012.   Professional Coaches who are members of the International Coach Federation around the world join together to inform their communities about the benefits of coaching and the value it brings to people.

My gift to you today is a Coaching Tool, which is an interpretation of the Johari Window (JW).   The JW is used all over the world in everyday life, in many professions, industries, as well as government agencies. Decades ago, it was created and developed by Business Psychologists Ingham and Luft [see note below.]

Many of us have heard the phrase, ““feeling the pain” of not having something, or pushing ourselves through “the pain” in a sports activity.   Take a look at the Coaching Tool; it is called the Pain/Gain Window.  When you read through the tool’s window text, keep in mind how you would answer the questions.  Since most of us have something in our lives that we want, and don’t quite immediately know how to get it, this tool may assist you in your focus of the issues.

Try it out.  I presented it to someone a few months ago.  The professional, was thrilled to learn of a tool that organized thoughts and emotions together.

Have a great week and Enjoy!    Jo Ann M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent  as well as International Coach Federation (ICF) member.

Notes: (1) Discussions about the Johari Window and its applications can be found by visiting http://www.mindtools.com, http://www.businessballs.com and http://www.en.wikipedia.org.

Just One Minute. . .

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While housekeeping in my apartment late Sunday afternoon, I listened to a Spiritual Leader* speak about his views on how people seem so angry all the time.  Have you noticed the angst coming out of mouths of people lately, or for quite some time?  Spiritual Leader Rabbi Harold S. Kushner described it as “free floating rage.”

This was my first experience hearing Rabbi Kushner speak.  He came across as so honest and forthcoming about his life experiences that I was drawn into what he had to say.  I was attuned to coaching questions that were intertwined within his talk… When was the last time you experienced a random act of kindness?  How happy are you in your life right now?  What are you doing about it?

People have been so resilient over the past few years, dealing with unforeseen weather conditions, too much rain or too little; drought conditions; hurricanes, flooding, power outages lasting more than one week in outlining metropolitan areas,  first-time horrific tornadoes in some U.S. cities; earthquake tremors reaching across a few U.S. State lines or occurring in places close to our homes for the first time.  Whew! That’s just the weather and not everything else going on in our lives.  Is it any wonder we don’t seem to be agreeable?

Finding just one minute today to consider how much you really have coped with and what you are continuing to cope with in your life just might help you. After you’ve taken a few minutes to do so, why not give yourself a pat on the back.  Acknowledge your coping mechanisms for all the good that you’ve accomplished for yourself and for others.  Consider taking just one minute daily or weekly and keep reminding yourself the good that you do.   You may find your mood shifting upwards and becoming the person You Want To Be Known As.

Jo Ann M. Radja, Career Management Coach & Change Agent

*30 Good Minutes.org  (Sunday, January 22, 2012).

Is it a Recommendation or a Testimonial?

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When it really counts, how often do you get a Recommendation from someone?  How did you feel when someone said, No, to giving you a Recommendation?

Social Media doesn’t provide standard definitions for a recommendation or testimonial.  How would you define these terms?  I believe a Testimonial is given when someone thought you did really well and perhaps wants to keep a relationship going.  A Recommendation is given by someone who paid for and was satisfied by the work or service provided (volunteer service work included).

Testimonials are positive and very meaningful.  They provide recognition for a given period of time.  A Recommendation usually overs a specific time period.  Recommendations place responsibility on the author to discuss the recommendation, if called upon to do so.  Lastly, Testimonials live on while Recommendations get stale with time, perhaps due to Recruiters wanting current information.

Are you very satisfied with the work someone is doing?  Why not take a few minutes now and make a gift of a Recommendation.  You will feel pretty good about it and it will provide a great service to the recipient.

If you received Recommendations upon entering higher levels of education, do they still matter five years later, or do they get placed in the nostalgia bin?   What happens to employment Recommendations?  They probably are never looked at again unless something goes amiss with the employee at a future date.

Although for different reasons, Bernie Madoff’s name wil be remembered for a long time, as will Dr. Samuel Mudd.  Dr. Mudd was the physician who unknowingly treated President Lincoln’s assassin.  (The phrase, “Your name is mud” is an outcome of Dr. Mudd treating John Wilkes Booth.)  What Recommendations and/or Testimonials were given to Madoff in his decades-long Ponzi Scheme.  What value do they hold now for a convicted felon who will be jailed, with no parole, for the rest of his life?

As I conclude this Blog, I am aware that I asked quite a few questions.  That’s the business of Coaches.  Please continue to write all future recommendations and/or testimonials with considerable care.  They are definitely necessary and I hope will reflect Who You Want To Be Known As, while serving someone you know.

Jo Ann M. Radja, Career Management Coach                                                              & Change Agent