As summer winds down and I prepare for the demands of a busy fall schedule, it is important to take the time to clarify my priorities and find ways to improve my effectiveness. Balancing my business and personal goals are important if I want to walk my talk. Here are 3 things I’m working on this fall. Hopefully they’ll inspire you to create your own list.

  1. Clear purpose. I want every client interaction, conversation, coaching and training session to align with my personal values, standards and ethics to ensure I deliver value to my clients.
  2. Listen hard! Being a good listener is hard work. I want to demonstrate my interest in, and understanding of, my client’s requirements in order to provide relevant and beneficial solutions.
  3. Tell stories. I enjoy sharing memorable and relevant stories with my clients. This enables them to know me better and makes me real. Stories provide insight to the things that are important to me and paint a picture in the listeners mind and create feelings and emotions that will have impact and linger in their memory. They also make it easier for my clients to connect with me on a personal level and build trust.

Have you set some goals for this fall that will make you better, take you out of your comfort zone and make you more valuable to your clients, colleagues and family?
“Your business and results are a reflection of you. Your business and results will grow in direct proportion to your own growth.”
– James A. Ray