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Browse published articles attributed to Charmaine Hammond, with full-archive search.
In the midst of re-branding our business, I decided to put a stake in the ground. I claimed the title Bounce Forward Expert. Many people wonder and ask why I chose the brand "Bounce Forward" (TM). I get asked as many questions as to what it means to me and how I implement it. There is a, not short but, simple explanation and I would like to share it with you today.
What comes to mind when you hear the word "Stress"? How do you define the word "stress"? I have asked hundreds of people these two questions, and the answers continue to surprise me. However, the responses always seem to fall under these four categories: people, situations, outcomes and feelings. People often define the word stress associated with a specific individual, symptoms of stress, causes or a situation they have experienced, the results or outcomes of stress, or by feelings related to stress. Rarely do I hear an actual definition of stress.
Many of us are well aware of situations or circumstances that cause us stress. In the moment we can recognize the signs of emotional response to the stress we are suddenly experiencing. Are we as good at recognizing stress over the long term? What about stress that slowly creeps in? This kind of stress starts off small but accumulates over time and before you know it, we are blowing our tops. We have all experienced this stress at some time or another in our lives. It isn't as easily recognized or noticeable in our lives until it builds up and becomes too much.
While watching a "sell this home" type TV show, I couldn't help but notice the similarities between renovating a home to sell it and developing effective sales skills in teams.r
During one of my recent Teambuilding Training Programs, I had the opportunity to ask the attending executives to identify the qualities of a "rich team". Of course, this question refers to the relationships and interactions of the team, not to how much money they generate. The responses I received were very enlightening. Here is what they said: Cooperation Communication Initiativer Respect Empathy Flexibilityr Unique (contributing as an individual with a separate and distinct personality) Loyalty Personabler Honesty Trust Commitmentr Responsibilityr
Smiling is a great stress buster and it can also change the environment around you. I have noticed the power of a smile when visiting workplaces for consulting or training projects. When the team is in their “serious mode”, it is obvious through their facial expressions (or lack of expression) and interactions with one another. Someone smiling in the room not only breaks the tension, but creates a ripple effect of smiles; it lightens the mood! Practice this at work; change your environment through your presence. Begin with smiling, and see what happens.
Most often people are tougher on themselves than on anyone else. During my Conversations with Charmaine radio show I had with Marilyn Suttle and Shawne Duperon they both asked the questio “how long before you forgive yourself?”
The reality television show Parking Wars is an interesting way to learn about human reaction in crisis, frustration and about how people accept (or don't accept) responsibility.
Self-care on a daily basis is essential to being able to cope with change, especially in the work place.
Business Vital Statistics Just like your trip to the physician includes a series of vital sign checks (blood pressure, heart rate and temperature to name a few), so should our business management include the same types of checks. As a speaker, consultant and author, I meet many entrepreneurs and authors who don’t know their bank account balance, do not have an accurate inventory of books (or how many have sold) and many who have not invoiced their clients for completed work. Knowing your numbers, your business “temperature” and stats is an essential part of business success.
My friend, and media coach, Shawne Duperon is an expert at helping people refine their message, manage their fear, and get more publicity. Shawne says “People do business with people they like. People buy from people they like. People talk about people and services they like. People post and tag people they like on Facebook. People re-tweet people they like. Reporters cover stories over and over again with people they like. Word-of-mouth epidemics build momentum when you leverage your marketing strategies and SEO with social media, video and media coverage.”
Work-Life Harmony... Balance... Whatever you call it, is a challenge at the best of times. Resilience is one key to maintaining wellness. Resilience is often defined as the ability to bounce back after change, challenge, crisis and adversity; however, I have learned that bouncing back might mean simply recovering. To bounce forward is to be resilient. Here are six tips to building resilience and bouncing forward. Examine Expectations and your Mindsetr
CLEAN Communication...what you say matters! After having facilitated thousands of discussions for my clients in conflict, mediating hundreds of cases and speaking to more than 60,000 people around the globe at conferences and events, I have learned a few things about communication. First, it is difficult to undo things that have been said, or things assumed and not clarrified.
Making an ASK (defined as a request) may not change your team, business, or life exponentially, but not ASKing will ensure the status quo remains. Making a request or an ASK can have a significant difference in the quality of your business, team, or life and help you quickly achieve what you need.
Recently I was watching television and caught the tail end of a powerful statement. I wish I knew who to credit for his/her brilliance. The statement was "Settle the past. Engage the present and believe in the future."
Developing goals both for the company and the team, as well as for individual performance improvement, are essential for business success. Goals keep the team moving in the same direction. The process of setting goals takes time and focus and dedication from everyone involved. The following is the process that I created for effective goal setting: S - Set the intention: Get clear on your goals; think about what success looks like. Make a decision to take action and succeed.r
Do you remember travelling with the family as a child? Did you ever eat at one of those restaurants that had the placemats with activities on them? The mazes always seemed so hard to find your way out of. Unless, you started at the finish and worked backwards toward the start. For some reason that made it easier to figure out. Often that same strategy works with planning too.r
As entrepreneurs (and especially those in small businesses) the roads in business can sometimes be somewhat lonely and isolating. One solution is to consider working in partnership or collaboration with other businesses and colleagues to provide a service. Being a collaborator vs. competitor ...
I have had the opportunity to hear Professional Speaker and New York Times Bestselling Author Lisa Nichols tell her incredible story of perseverance. Through trial and tribulation she never gave up and overcame her struggles to achieve great success. Over the years I have heard many stories from clients who confessed to giving up just as they almost reached their goal. I have also talked to colleagues who were Olympians and learned what helped them persevere to the finish line and win! Those who reached the finish line told me they believed they could win!
Lifestyle management, or being resilient, requires a balancing act and the juggling of a lot of priorities. For many years, I quite liked the concept of work/life balance. Watching other professionals who seemed to have it together and were living what appeared to be fairly stress-free lives, I noticed that balance wasn’t necessarily what they had achieved. I still got emails from them at ridiculous times of the morning or night, saw them at meetings in the evening when other people were home with their families, and I knew how much they had on their plate.
There are so many reality makeover shows on television that relate to fitness, appearance, one's house or yard. How about a business and team makeover as a way to bring change and welcome new success? Years ago, when I had two businesses, I loved the last week of the year. For me it was a time to clear up old projects and make room for the new. I used this time to de-clutter and reorganize the office, catch up and clear away outstanding projects, take stock of resources and supplies needed for the coming year, and to revisit values and goals for the team and our company.r