July 2009

 

Dear Subscriber

Many of you will know what a busy summer I've had so far. I've been trying to do too much and finally asked for help from colleagues. Without this I wouldn't have had the energy to do some of the personal stuff that I've been missing out on. Are you ever too embarrassed to ask for help and support?

Many people struggle to achieve their goals because they hit a brick wall and don't feel comfortable asking for help.

This issue of Positive Energy is going to help you to tap into your network of colleagues and friends to find the information and advice you need to move forward. I felt much less stressed when I got the help that I needed from my network.

Also in this issue:

As always, please don't hesitate to get in touch. If you'd like to comment on something you've read or you have a story to share you can email me or call me on 01697 747 821.

Best wishes,


The Positive Part – Do You Know Who to Ask for Help?

“If you have a goal in life that takes a lot of energy, that requires a lot of work, that incurs a great deal of interest and that is a challenge to you, you will always look forward to waking up to see what the new day brings.” Susan Polis Schultz

Not many people can claim success without acknowledging that they received a little bit of help along the way. Andy Murray employs a professional tennis coach. Pavarotti employed a voice coach. Even Alan Sugar has surrounded himself with people to support him in his business ventures.

You can't expect to achieve your dreams without seeking assistance along the way. But who do you turn to for help? There's always going to be someone out there who knows more about a subject than you do. The trick is discovering who they are and having the confidence to ask them for advice.

That's where your network comes in. Your network includes your friends, colleagues and acquaintances – all of which are sitting on a wealth of information and useful advice that you can tap into. You just need to discover which ones are going to be useful to you.

It's worth remembering that networking is a two way thing. If you actively help other people, they're going to be far more receptive to offering you their time and advice.


 
Positive Practice

It's time to tap into your personal network and discover the answers that have been holding you back.

Here's how you do it.

  1. Where's your sticking point? Think about your current goals and aspirations. Are there any that aren't progressing because you simply don't know what step to take next? It's time to get them moving again!
  2. What information do you need? So you've identified where you're stuck. Now think about what information you need to help you move forward. Perhaps you need advice from a professional body, but don't know which one. Perhaps you've got various choices, but don't know which one to take. Write them down.
  3. Who can help? Next, write a list of people you know who may have undergone a similar exercise and get in touch with them. If they can't help they might know someone else who can.

Don't ever be afraid to approach someone for help or advice. Most people will be flattered to have been asked. Put the shoe on the other foot – wouldn't you be?

Click here to view a worksheet on the website designed to help you learn more about how to recruit help to achieve your dreams.

  

The Resource Table

Click on the links below for resources to help you.

The power of asking for help from those you already know.

Increase your visibility with networking. Find out what else you can achieve by asking for help.

6 degrees of separation. You are only 6 people away from the person who can help you.
 
What Can You Do?

Jack from Preston was stuck with a decision.

Jack was facing a big decision later on in his career. He was stuck and couldn't move forward until he actually decided what to do. He had done all the usual stuff, writing down the pros and cons, sleeping on it, asking his wife and kids, tossing a coin! He wasn't satisfied with any of this. Then he remembered how the group of colleagues on his Fresh Steps programme had been really supportive of each other without being judgemental. He dug out their details and asked for help. He told them about his dilemma and got 5 different points of view or challenges about the decision. This really helped him to crystallise his thinking and after this he was easily able to see the path he should follow.

What's Happening?

I've already told you about our Fresh Steps taster that's running soon in Manchester. If you are curious about this or any of our other programmes, we can run a 2 hour taster for you. You'll leave with practical ways to be more successful and a real taste of what the full programme could deliver. Give us a call to get it in the diary over the summer when it's not so busy.

Next month we're going to look at practical ways to maximise your success in achieving your goals.


  
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