PERSONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Isla Baliszewska is a business support specialist and serial entrepreneur, having run businesses in property, publishing, asset management and IT. She now works with Smart Coaching & Training helping business leaders and their organisations flourish.
For more information contact info @ smartcoachingtraining. co. uk
or call Isla on 07828 516058
A day in the life of a serial... ised tango-ing entrepreneur
The Big Challenge Day Know that feeling of‘ being found out’, the one all good business people have at some point, that degree of self-doubt. It often happens on the day when you have a big challenge, a presentation, report, appraisal, or an important customer pitch.
The scenario: A day’ s training delivery, you’ ve prepared thoroughly, all your materials are ready and backed up, you have contingency plans for all possible eventualities. You arrive, everything is beautifully set up, your notes / Powerpoint / tools are ready and …. the thoughts start:‘ I’ m going to be rubbish, they’ ll realise I’ m not so great, I won’ t remember my stuff, they’ ll ask questions I can’ t answer, they’ ll heckle me!…”
The actuality: You arrived, all the technology worked, your day’ s format went smoothly, everyone was engaged and energised, you gave great answers to questions, and at the end everyone shook your hand, thanking you effusively for making a huge difference and giving them lots to think about and take away.
What really happened: Let’ s get down to basics. Some science: the human brain is programmed to look for negatives, to be ready for threats. This is because we evolved from a dangerous environment where we needed to run away very quickly from woolly mammoths( and other dangers). Nowadays everything is a potential threat, and our brains go to town on that. BUT … we have Tango Techniques to prevent us treating everything as a potential catastrophe, to recognise our abilities and our value in a challenging situation:
1. Remember your steps and use them in different ways and contexts – something in one context can freak us out in but not in another. Ask yourself honestly‘ Is this appropriate to worry about in this context, and to what extent? Contextualize your preparation, resources and abilities from other areas where you have performed well; the fretting will diminish.
2. Practice – talk to yourself in your phone camera for 3 minutes every day and watch yourself. You’ re good!
3. Flip it- Self-doubt is a motivator, yes, really! Who says you can’ t use your skills and abilities to get the results you want? Go for it!
4. Don’ t fight it – it’ s perfectly natural to question your abilities and competencies. The best dancers get nerves before going on stage.
For more Tangoing tips towards a successful business get in touch with Isla.
ProfitCLUB is delivered by award winning business coach Ellis Bardsley. Award Winning ActionCOACH.
14 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2016