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Susan M Barber Coaching & Consulting, LLC > Blog > Blog

Is There an Art to Having a Difficult Conversation?

I was working with a client yesterday and discussing how to have a difficult conversation with one of his employees. He said “there really is an art to doing this well, isn’t there?” I hadn’t thought about it in that way, but I believe he is right. Although it would make it easier to follow a process, there is no perfect formula to follow for every conversation. Every situation is slightly different and you are dealing with human beings who…
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What Should You Prepare For With a Difficult Conversation?

Having a difficult conversation isn’t the hardest part.  Preparing to have one is much harder.  As I shared in the blog from last week, there are many things that can occur.  Some of these things you can prepare for and some you can’t.  All you can do is plan as much as possible to have the best conversation under difficult circumstances. Here are some of the things to think about when you are planning the conversation: What are all the things that…
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Are You Prepared to Have a Difficult Conversation?

  I remember the first really difficult conversation that I had to have with someone who worked for me.  They were not performing well and although we had discussions about it, things weren’t getting any better.  I could feel my stomach getting more upset as the time approached for the conversation.   I knew that it was not going to be easy to say what I needed to say and it would definitely not be easy for them to hear. …
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Did You Know That Self-Care Has Unintended Benefits?

I was thinking about all the benefits that self-care can provide.  You have less stress, you are healthier, more rested, calm and happier.  Those are all examples of the way that self-care can benefit you.  However, the other benefit that isn’t always considered is how it provides exponential benefits for those around you. You are setting an example for your children (if you have them), co-workers, friends and family.  They are able to see how the changes that you have made have helped you…
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What If You Do Just One Thing For Yourself Every Day?

This month’s theme is about self-care.  I have shared in the past that self-care isn’t something that I practiced consistently.  When you are working full-time with young children and getting no sleep you are just glad that your clothes match when you get to work! However, I have now seen the error of thinking that way.  If you can’t take care of yourself then you can’t care for others in the best way.  Iyanla Vanzant who is author and speaker, refers to…
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Are You Missing Out on the Important Signs?

Have you ever experienced those signs where your body is trying to tell you something?  You are familiar with the easy ones…when you are hungry your stomach rumbles, when you are thirsty you feel parched, but what about other signs that may occur?  Some people may experience these feelings in their bodies either in their stomach or their chest.  It may be referred to as intuition or trusting your gut as a way to describe it.  For example, you may…
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Would You Like to Experience More Joy in Your Life?

This past weekend I was lucky enough to see the author Byron Katie in person in Phoenix.  When she was in her 30’s she became severely depressed which lasted nearly 10 years. One day she realized that her own thoughts were making her suffer, not the actual world around her.  This led her to create what she now calls “The Work” to teach people how to use her process to help themselves as they work through their own thoughts. In Katie’s…
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What Do You Want the Story of Your Life to Be?

There is a saying that goes, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”  That happens for me a lot whether I am meeting a new person, reading a book or listening to a podcast.  My love of learning is my number one strength.  It fulfills me so much and helps me to be a better coach for my clients.  One of those “teaching” opportunities showed up for me a few weeks ago. One of my coach friends introduced…
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What Would a Simple Vision Look Like For You?

When you hear that you should “create a vision” what is the first thought that runs through your head?  Does creating something like that for yourself excite you or make you feel overwhelmed?  For many people that I have worked with they have said, “I have no idea where to start.” or “How can I think about something that big?”   No one says that it has to be really elaborate or that it has to be for a really…
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How Can You Ensure That Your Vision is a Success?

I worked with an organization a few years ago that was having a lot of challenges. The leader had come in a few years before and had painted a vision that got everyone excited about the future of the organization. If the teams could achieve that vision, then it would change how the group was perceived in the organization and it would help them be more effective as a team. Sharing a vision is a great way to motivate people,…
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