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I’ve been working on a project for the last couple of months and yesterday reached a huge milepost. This project for a mid-size business had been worked on by three other people over seven years. None had been able to reach the milepost I crossed yesterday.
I am convinced that this achievement was primarily due to my coaching skills in addition to technical, leadership, and managerial skills. I don’t believe that the project leads before me had the complete set of skills to move this project to the point I have been able to. What coaching skills did I actually use?
Trust – I worked to build trust that the project would work and that I would be able to fully perform the duties needed to carry through with the entire project.
Risk – In this economic time, the risk involved with this project is HUGE. And despite that, I was able to help the team understand that there is never a right time for a project of this magnitude. There is only the present moment and the willingness to say yes.
Process and Systems – I broke the system down into managable tasks and steps. Over time, my little steps added up to the giant step taken yesterday.
Intention – I kept the focus of several key players on the goal – long term profitability and efficiency. That is the real value, the core need, the final destination.
Communication – I talked positively about the solution. I admitted there were challenges, and provided alternatives to mitigate the problems. I expressed my belief and faith that this would be successful.
If I had missed any of these steps, this company might not have stepped forward and taken a risk. Ultimately, being an entrepreneur or business owner is all about taking risks. Yesterday, they took a huge risk and I couldn’t be prouder of them.
Truly Yours,
Joseph Lyons
P.S. What risks did you avoid today? Was it a risk that could earn you millions in the long run?

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