Lee Sumner Certified Professional Coach
for inspiration, strategies, and results	MARCH 2005	Vol. II - Issue 3

Ready for Prime Time? Catch Coach Lee in action on NBC-TV 13 Nightly News 5:00 p.m. the week of March 1 Words of Wisdom "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." ~Winston Churchill DISCover what makes you tick... $50 DISCOUNT in March DISC Behavior and Communication Profile: $135 for 24-page report plus phone consultation Click here to see a sample DISC report. Can't get no... How satisfied are you with your work/life? Answer "True" or "False" to each statement based on how you have felt most of the time during the past few months. 1. My work is as intellectually challenging as I'd hoped it would be. T F 2. I have enough time to spend with my family. T F 3. My work provides sufficient opportunities for professional development. T F 4. I have enough time to devote to my personal needs (e.g., relationships, health-related activities, other interests, etc.) T F 5. I am satisfied with the amount of control I have over the selection of projects. T F 6. The atmosphere at work is personable and supportive. T F 7. The pressure at work is at an acceptable level. T F 8. I am able to enjoy the money I earn. T F 9. My work is recognized and valued. T F 10. The work I do is consistent with my values. T F 11. I approach my work with enthusiasm. T F 12. I am free of damaging habits (e.g., excessive alcohol use, overeating). T F 13. I am angry or irritable less than twice a month. T F 14. I rarely have unexplained headaches or stomachaches. T F 15. I have felt excited, proud or pleased at some point during the past few months. T F If you answered True to most of these statements, you're probably pretty satisfied with your current work situation. The number of False responses may be an indicator of the degree of your work / life dissatisfaction.

The Top 10 Ways to Triple Your Effectiveness Within a Week 1. Expect twice as much from others as you expect from yourself. Be shameless. And don't hold your productivity back by assuming your team won't/can't do twice as much as you can. Let go of any fear of consequence. Get used to hearing people say no to you. 2. Ask for exactly what you want and need by when you most want it, not what you think is reasonable. Create a Same-Day culture around you - where everyone thinks in terms of immediate response, resolution, request fulfillment. It really can work. Just raise standards. And share with the person why what you need is so important and interest them to help you on-the-spot. 3. Have a list of people to whom you can immediately delegate tasks, problems, and ideas. Develop a reserve of extra folks, standing by. And properly hand off new projects / tasks / accountabilities within minutes. 4. Get the information you need immediately. Don't wait. Don't be put off. When they say "no," consider that "no" to be the BEGINNING of the conversation, not the end. Ask to be put on hold, ask for immediate attention or resolution, ask for an exception. If needed, schedule a call-back time when the answer/info will be available. 5. Cut in half your normal appointment block time. If you schedule 30 minute meetings, cut them back to 15 or 20 minutes. Instant productivity on BOTH sides. Simply box yourself in, time wise. More will get done, usually without stress. 6. Respond to problems with 3 times as many resources as are needed. The highest levels of productivity occur in Problem-Free Zones. In order to become more Problem-Free, invest time and resources into solving the SOURCE of problems vs. just band-aiding them. Make problem-solving an investment in your company, not an expense. 7. Stop tolerating what you don't like. Be selfish. Put up with little. Coach and train others to do it your way or to your satisfaction. You can accommodate and compromise, but don't drop your standards or shrink your boundaries. Productivity and tolerating don't mix. 8. Keep your word. Under-promise if you have to. Enjoying living on the PLUS side of the performance ledger. Keep the integrity uppermost. Productivity increases naturally in an environment of integrity. 9. Beef up systems. The ultimate in productivity is when things occur that you didn't have to make happen once you set up a system to have them occur. In other words, automate and systematize so that results occur by themselves, through others or by computer. Reinvent ways to handle an increasing flow. 10. Reject requests. Say no or negotiate when saying yes is going to burden you. About the Submitter This piece was originally submitted by Thomas J. Leonard, founder of coaching. Lots of you have told me you feel swamped at work and you’re trying to come up for air. Experiment with one or two of these tips this week and watch your effectiveness expand. Here’s to your success! Lee Sumner is a Certified Professional Coach based in Birmingham, Alabama, who has helped hundreds of people create high-quality lives. She is President of No Limits Coaching and is a popular speaker, columnist and facilitator. (205.870.1877) Click to email: lee@nolimitscoach.com Click to visit the website: www.nolimitscoach.com You are receiving this e-mail because you signed up for this service, are a valued client, a prospect or someone I met who expressed interest, a colleague, or a former client I want to keep in touch with. At any point you may opt out of this subscription. I NEVER release, sell or give a subscriber's name or e-mail address to anyone. If you received this mail in error I apologize. Please unsubscribe to be deleted from future mailings, and feel free to re-join at any time. DUPLICATION of this FREE newsletter is encouraged. You may copy, forward, or republish it only in its entirety and with all attributions intact. Copyright © 2005 Lee Sumner, all rights reserved.