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FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

DO YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS?

Let’s face it, running a business was never for the faint of heart.
It’s for the passionate, the determined, and the heroic.

What can make it more challenging at times is our own ‘stuff’; the beliefs, conditioning, baggage (!) that we take to work with us each day and have to wade through in order to achieve what we want. Of course, there is an incredible amount of skill and expertise there too because that’s what got you this far. It’s the areas in need of fine-tuning that hold us back. So what is that for you?

• Do you lie awake at night thinking about work, staff issues or all your to-dos?
• Is it a dragging effort to haul your body into work some days?
• Are the demands on your time seemingly endless and out of control?
• Do you find yourself reacting out in situations where you want to be taking a conscious, considered approach?
• Do you just know that you could be getting further by doing less, you just haven’t worked out how?
• Are you tired of trying to get your workforce truly engaged and productive?

What if you could get more in charge of what’s going on inside yourself – your stress levels, your frustrations, your clarity and confidence, and create the kind of changes you really want to see?

Because of course, when you are being your most resourceful self, you are much better placed to influence what is going on outside of you – throughout your whole business in fact.

IMAGINE THIS…

• Imagine getting to those things you never seem to have time for that are the valuable, business-enhancing areas you really care about
• Imagine what it would feel like at the end of the day to have made an impact in those areas
• Imagine seeing staff take hold of their work, excited and motivated and doing a great job
• Imagine seeing your business results and revenue increasing month by month because of the fine tuning you are doing
• Imagine switching off at the end of the day or week, getting a good night’s sleep and having a real weekend
• Imagine that!

WHAT YOU DO MATTERS; YOU’RE THE BOSS

I get an absolute kick out of working with business owners because I see the difference they make to their business just by beating their own gremlins, sorting out their stress, or simply getting their day more under control. And they get to enjoy their life more – especially given how much time they spend in their business. Hell, let’s enjoy it folks!

Change can happen at all levels of the business. I’ve had business owners describe the way their culture has changed because of the new way they are communicating with their management team and staff. You get immediate feedback when you take a new approach with someone, because their response often happens right in front of you. Often you can see the difference you’re making instantly. And of course change compounds over time to build an even stronger team and business.

“If you think you’re too small to have an impact,
try going to bed with a mosquito.”

Anita Roddick, OBE

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you are looking to fine tune and lift your game in some way, there are a number of options available to you.

COACHING is a good option if you want to dive in and focus on the specific changes that will make the difference for you, and maintain momentum over time. In particular, the Business Momentum Programme is ideal for leaders in business. Check out the options below.

90-DAY RESILIENCE PROGRAMME – If stress and balance is your big challenge, check out the Resilience for Leaders Programme, to truly get on top of stress and find freedom in your life, or check out our current Online Programmes.

GROUP TRAINING – if you want to bring new skills and strategies to your team for their wellness and performance at work, see more info below.

A GREAT FIRST STEP might be to arrange a free strategy session to explore what will fit best for you and your business. Email now or call me on 021 403 408.

OR simply subscribe to our Newsletter and receive your FREE Start Me Up Toolkit – a video and eBook giving you three strategies (you haven’t heard of) for taking charge of your state.

[For some of our programmes, you may be eligible under the NZTE Capability Voucher Scheme for funding up to 50% of the cost up to a maximum of $5,000. Please visit this link to register your company.]

Sometimes life throws a challenge which can be overwhelming. We were given such an opportunity six months ago; our business needed to grow very fast in a short time frame. Karen gave us the tools to tackle this challenge head on and also help us to resolve our fears and obstacles to achieve what we needed to. Karen helped us shift out of our stress, and to see who we wanted around us – the kind of people who would help us make it happen – from warehouse staff to a new bank manager. We now have a fantastic team around us. We’ve grown our business by 300%, gone from four to twelve staff in under a year and the future is bright! Stress keeps you from seeing what is important in life. Karen was able to strip this away so we were able to find a bit of calmness in this crazy and amazing place we call life. Thank-you Karen!”

Emma and Dane
Summer Supply Limited

BUSINESS COACHING – HELPING YOU GET EVEN BETTER

Are you looking to lift your game at work, deal with stress or develop yourself as a leader? I work with business owners, managers and leaders and can help you:

• Turn around your relationships at work
• Develop your leadership capability
• Get your stress levels down and enjoyment levels up
• Do less and make more money
• Manage your workload and deal with overwhelm
• Manage and delegate effectively
• Accelerate your development in a new role, or towards the next one
• Increase your confidence or motivation

Coaching is highly tailored to your needs. In a business context it can involve any of these three areas of focus:

1. Skills development (e.g. delegation, communication, time management)
2. Consulting (e.g. dealing with staff issues such as inappropriate behaviour)
3. Personal change (e.g. stress or nervousness/stage fright when presenting or speaking)

For more information about organisational coaching or training, click here.

Ahhh, what a relief! After years of struggling with various issues around confidence and stress at work I spent a few sessions with Karen and it’s transformed both the results I get and the quality of life I lead.”

Nick, Product Manager, Auckland

When I began I feared it would be awkward and I would not make the gains I have done. This didn’t happen and I continue to make progress. I wanted to change the internal ‘tapes/messages’ causing undue pressure. Now I feel confident, calm and have MUCH greater self-awareness. My communication skills have improved markedly. There is more clear thinking as a result and better decisions.
I’m most pleased with my communication, my sense of self and my ability to be calm when I need to model this for my team.
This work will change your life! Thank you, Karen. The work with you has taught me much and impacted me enormously. Talk soon.

S.S., Auckland

 

Single Sessions

Single coaching sessions are ideal for addressing a specific issue you would like resolved quickly. Sessions last 1-2 hours.

Book Now or call (021 403 408) or request a free consultation to find out more.

Packages

This range of coaching packages and breakthrough sessions are designed to help you not only deal with any immediate issues, but also create sustained change and momentum over time.

I wanted to become a better coach, improve my effectiveness, work well with other personalities, and how to manage my health and wellbeing better. I feel I have grown in all these areas and learnt new skill sets. I’ve learned techniques to assist with everything from managing my day to handling difficult situations.
I’m working on the business more, rather than caught in the whirlwind. I’m making better progress and completion times with key tasks. I would say if you don’t have a life/business coach yet, you need to call Karen Ross.

Peter Lloyd, Sales Manager, Soar Print

 

I was a little nervous at the start, thinking this sounds so great, but what if it doesn’t work for me? The changes I’ve experienced have made such a difference to my life … and have brought me so much closer to my work mates.”

Kim, Auckland

Resilience for Leaders – 90-Day Programme

A unique programme for leaders in business – helping you take charge of your wellness and performance in a sustainable, long term way.

• Are you worn out, tired of having so much to do, out of balance?
• Do the weeks just roll into each other, feeling like you’re on a perpetual hamster wheel?
• Are you finding you’re not getting to your most important goals and what you really care about?

Would you like to hit a reset button? Do want to be firing on all cylinders again?
Imagine you had energy. Imagine you could think straight. Or relax at night.
Imagine getting back that that old spark for what you do.
Imagine having real weekends!
You don’t have to imagine …
You can have it.

How easy is it to attend a workshop, read a book, or even a whole series of either, only to find a few weeks or months later you’re still caught in the same old patterns and the same old slog? That is why this programme was created: it is an antidote to that slow crawl towards what you want, because it is structured to help you make sustained change, now.

The programme is structured to ensure you don’t only receive and understand new strategies, but that you also embed them into your everyday life, and experience lasting changes. It’s not just about having good tools, it’s about taking a journey from old paradigms and creating a new one that you love.
The Resilience for Leaders programme is for those truly ready to experience life on another level. If you’re fed up with the status quo and really want a new normal, you’ll be a perfect fit for this group.
Get in touch for more information.

The programme has supported me tremendously at a time of a very large and fast change at work. Don’t under-estimate how much of an impact a programme and work like this can have on you, the direction of your business and what you think is possible. The blended nature and having it spread out over a few months has helped me to sustain change. The mix of practical do-able tools, as well as reflection and coaching, provides a balance between insights and skills. As well as a lot of practical and useful tools and processes, what I have gotten most out of the programme has been some large shifts through the coaching and workshop sessions, in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.”

Mark Carley, Owner, Hire Plants

TEAM WELLNESS AND PERFORMANCE

It’s All About Your People

You know that, that’s why you’re here right? And while it’s true there is no ‘I’ in team, it does contain a ‘me’, and individual resourcefulness has a huge impact on the team and business as a whole.

We take the approach that it’s about helping each individual be their most resourceful self, and then enabling the team develop as an effective unit. A team is only as strong as its members after all.

Imagine a fully engaged workforce that genuinely enjoys contributing to the business.
Imagine if those under-performing were accelerating over the learning humps and lifting their game faster.
Imagine the peace of mind of knowing your people are genuinely doing their very best for you.

What would that mean for your business?

Helping People Take Charge of Themselves

The trick to helping someone be their most resourceful self is in helping them be truly in charge of themselves. Think of it as giving people the instruction manual for their brain – so they can take charge of their thinking, their learning, their emotional responses and their communication. Then they can be their best selves, achieving the best results together.

Brilliant people make for brilliant results.

At Start With You we help people take charge of themselves through coaching and training, tailored to meet their needs. Find out more about Business Coaching here, or read on to find out about training and workshops.

The biggest barrier (and opportunity!) to the success of any business is the performance and commitment of its people. There are the other usual suspects – like not enough time, too much stress, difficult people to deal with and poor performance. But all of these things improve when people feel more in control of themselves, and empowered to take an approach they believe in. How are we leading them to do that?

“I thought the content was very relevant for our staff and I was able to walk away with practical tools I could immediately implement to aid me in managing my state of mind and reduce stress in all aspects of my life. I felt that you were quick to gain the confidence and trust of the audience, and getting a room full of accountants to participate so fully is no easy task.”
Debra Ryan, HR Manager, BDO Auckland

Wellness + Performance Seminars/Workshops

Athletes know well the connection between their mental state and their performance, the importance of correctly fueling the body, and how to deal with the pressure of competition. It’s time for the business world to apply this wisdom too!

Designed for executives and staff, these seminars are geared to help people in business understand how they can really feel in the driver’s seat – to enhance performance and get more satisfaction at work.

Beat stress, switch off, improve productivity and enhance morale.

Our tools and strategies are a response to a range of wellness and performance issues including stress, anxiety, overwhelm, low energy, low productivity, low confidence, emotional responses, procrastination, poor sleep, and so on.

Topics include:

• Managing your state of mind
• Myth-busting Stress and beating it
• Mindfulness at Work
• Switching off from work
• Foundation habits for a healthy life
• Taking control of your day
• Building a peak performance mind-set
• Building mental resilience
• Daily practices for more balance

Go here for more information on wellness seminars or download a PDF doc here. (click the link or right-click to ‘save as’).

We love to tailor sessions and programmes for you, from 1 hour – ½ day seminars.  Contact us for a custom quote based on your needs.

“While there are a number of providers on the topic of Wellness, we have enjoyed the way you combine information and tips with key information on the way things affect our bodies’ processes chemically, physically and mentally. Having this information really helps people to understand compelling reasons for making positive wellness changes to attain peak performance…  You always are able to adapt your material into brief, informative sessions that hit the mark.
Rochelle Greer, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts

The GO Programme

What would your organisation be like if your team was performing at its true potential? Do you ever wonder how you can engage people to really do their best? If so, The GO Programme has been designed for you. This in-house programme is designed to provide solid strategies to groups/teams around wellness and performance – from changing stress patterns and switching off from work, to building resilience. And not just that, but ensure those strategies are embedded and actually create sustained change.

It’s not just about upskilling your team, it’s about moving from a high-stress culture, to a high-performance culture.

It’s all about the powerful connection between wellness and performance. This innovative programme will empower your staff and leaders to drive their own results and achieve genuine high performance.

Achieving Wellness to Boost Performance

Benefits your organisation can enjoy include:

• Fewer sick days and lower absenteeism through improved overall health of individuals
• Improved concentration and focus, and better work performance
• Higher productivity levels (as much as 20-30% in some individuals)
• Happier staff and improved morale and working environment
• Higher levels of engagement and more discretionary effort
• A culture of high performance supporting individual wellbeing and personal excellence
• Better health, people, performance and results.

Find out more here, or contact Karen today to see if the GO Programme is the right fit for your team. Email her or call 021 403 408.

HOW WE LEAD REALLY MATTERS

Having worked with hundreds of staff and leaders in over a dozen countries, I have seen the difference when managers are skilled coaches and when leaders are resourceful, impactful individuals. What we say, do and believe influences the rest of the organisation, like it or not. Even not saying or doing anything impacts people. It all matters.

Interestingly, the most vital and impactful approaches to leading people are deceptively simple. The challenge for most leaders is to take the time for themselves to hone and develop, or to see the ‘gaps’ in the first place. I notice that leaders in business who are struggling to get the best out of their people often don’t know what they don’t know – about communication, delegation, coaching and recognition. They’ve been doing it ‘their way’ for a long time, and it’s worked for the most part.

Of course, it’s not rocket science, but it can seem like it when you’re steering down the end of your fifteenth meeting with a staff member about the same issue. Again.

If you’d like to talk to Karen about a free strategy session to explore your needs, contact us now.

Two days after Karen and I met, I headed into a 2-day leadership conference where I spoke to over 220 Gen-I managers. I’m happy to report I felt relaxed, present, authentic, and my presentation just flowed effortlessly. In just two coaching sessions Karen helped me create a stronger sense of peace to carry with me as I go about my work and life.”

Sally Mabelle, Leadership Speaker and Past President of the National Speakers’ Association of NZ (Auckland Chapter)

INSTILLING THE G.A.S. (GIVE A SH#T) FACTOR

Yes, I swore on this website. Are you shocked? Would you be more shocked if you walked around your business one day and saw every one of your team displaying the G.A.S. factor? Seeing them engaged in their work; focused, excited, and motivated to do a good job? Would you be shocked if people loved coming to work and gave 120%?

It’s like a light bulb has gone on. The relationships I have with staff have improved dramatically, I’m in a better position to be able to coach them and they’re more responsive to my approach. I’m also much better at dealing with stress which means I’m making better decisions.”

Michelle, Auckland

Yes, we want to be producing as good results as we can, making more money and seeing real business growth. And rubber really hits the road when every one of your team is helping you do that. And don’t we also want to know our team really does love coming to work? That they go home happy at the end of the day? That they are a positive presence in their family and community as a result? Do we really care?

I think we do.

The trouble is, I see a lot of business owners and managers struggling to find the balance between making sure people do what they’re supposed to (usually using authority and/or a stick) and engaging them to really feel part of something bigger and to care about their job. The latter often looks like it takes a lot more time, but it’s not about doing more, it’s about how you do it – more of the right approach.

You can find the balance, and it really helps to understand your own style of leadership, and the needs of your team so you can take the right approach with the right people to create the level of engagement you really want to see. Then you can watch the G.A.S. factor in your business go through the roof. Wahoo!

Give me a call if you’d like to discuss what you’re looking for – for you and your business – 021 403 408 or email me today.

The Guarantee

Don’t you like to know that something works before you use it or do it? When I went sky-diving for the first time, I wanted to know that my parachute would open, that the chute would work and that I would arrive safely on the ground. Fortunately it did! Stand by to hear if the next one works as well.

I take the same approach to my coaching, training and speaking. I want to know that the methodology I’m using or the skill I’m teaching works, and that whatever I’m offering you is going to give you what you need.

Every business owner or HR/L&D manager I’ve spoken to wants to know that the coaching or training service they engage is going to make a difference to the way their people think, work and act. They want return on investment. Fair enough. I am passionate about you getting return on investment, so if you are not completely satisfied with your first session or programme we will give you your money back.

CLIENT SUCCESSES

Hail the Havaianas – A tale of growing FAST

Emma Bidois and Dane Winter were originally the sales agents for those fabulous summer fashion items, Havaianas jandals. After seven years of that they were then offered the opportunity to take on the import license and widen their business into both importing and distribution. Brazil called and they answered.

While they could see glimmers of possibility in the offer, they could also see lots of challenges. It felt like a quantum leap. But rather than turning around and running the other way, they leaned right into their fears and dealt with their concerns, both individually and as business partners, and the rest as they say is history.

The first mammoth task was to relocate the existing stock from the previous distributor in the Bay of Plenty to Auckland. They bought 70,000 units of stock (think 200 pallets!). Imagine entering every one of those into the inventory system.

In July 2014 the first shipment from Brazil arrived into their new 800 sq ft warehouse and they were gearing up for summer. They have a tight team of warehouse, sales and office staff that work to supply the whole of New Zealand. Their philosophy is about having fun and being professional, and it’s a winning combination.

Sometimes life throws a challenge which can be overwhelming. We were given such an opportunity six months ago; our business needed to grow very fast in a short time frame.

Karen gave us the tools to tackle this challenge head on and also help us to resolve our fears and obstacles to achieve what we needed to. Karen helped us shift out of our stress, and to see who we wanted around us – the kind of people who would help us make it happen – from warehouse staff to a new bank manager. We now have a fantastic team around us. We’ve grown our business by 300%, gone from four to twelve staff in under a year and the future is bright!

Stress keeps you from seeing what is important in life. Karen was able to strip this away so we were able to find a bit of calmness in this crazy and amazing place we call life.

Thank you Karen!”

Emma and Dane, Summer Supply Limited 

 

 

They just keep getting better: Soar’s Awards in Print

Working with the team at Soar Printing over the past couple of years has been a real joy, and seeing their commitment to continuous improvement is too. In 2014 they received eight ‘Pride In Print’ gold awards – their biggest haul ever. Managing Director Fred Soar, says “success in the Pride In Print Awards is the best way to measure how we’re living up to our customers’ high quality expectations.”  He adds, “we may have flash machinery, but the team who run our shop are all craftspeople. Thanks to them, blank paper comes in and amazing things go out.”

On top of that, Soar’s subsidiary, Rocket Print, collected two of the gold awards – one for stationery and another for digital label printing. Rocket recently invested in a state-of-the-art HP digital label press and is changing the face of New Zealand’s label printing market. It’s so great to see what progress can be made!

 

This year has been the most stress free I have ever experienced, and business is going well!  It’s not just due the economic upturn, it’s the conscious alignment of our team to our goals, creating that higher level of engagement.

Our lean manufacturing program is now well entrenched and paying back dividends, the shop floor create great opportunities for improvement every week(OFI’s) ,our customer satisfaction is high and we are winning a lot of new business.

My coaching with Karen has given me more clarity about what I want to achieve, and how to communicate that to the team. My two hours a month is well worth the investment!”

Fred Soar, Managing Director, Soar Print