self-belief

Susan M Barber Coaching & Consulting, LLC > Blog > self-belief

Coaching: What is it and why should I do it?

I recently sent out a survey to do some research on challenges that leaders have so I could build some coaching programs. Some of the responses included some questions about coaching and how it works. I thought it might be helpful to answer those questions here in this post. What is coaching? The International Coaching Federation who is the governing body of certification for coaches defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them…
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Who Cares What Other People Think!

I have a confession to make.  I absolutely love to collect quotes.  I have them saved in my One Note and in my Pinterest account.  There are thousands of quotes that people save and re-pin on Pinterest every single day.  Quotes are used in so many ways.  They may be used for motivation, inspiration, reflection and as a way to help people move forward in their lives.  Have you heard a quote as you are going throughout your day that…
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Are you living your values?

I was reviewing my list of values from an assessment I took about a year ago.  I always find it interesting to go back and look at what the results were at that time and if they still resonate with me.  Here are my top 5 values: Helping Others Succeed, Learning/Knowledge, Coaching, Customer Service and Problem Solving.  Anyone who knows me should not be surprised by this list at all.  It is absolutely who I am and how I live…
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3 Keys to Success in a New Role

You just started working in a new role or at a new company.  You are excited about the possibilities of your new role and meeting new people.   Based on your experience you can see a lot of opportunities that need to be addressed.   Where do you begin?   Here are three steps to take in order to set yourself up for success. Listen, Observe and Ask Questions. Meet with your staff, key stakeholders, and management to understand the current state of…
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Let’s just let this perfection thing go….

I came across an article by Amanda Johnson called “The Common Misconceptions of Perfectionism.”  I totally agree with the myths of perfectionism that are highlighted in this article.   Why do we feel that we aren’t already perfect?  Why do we think that things have to be done in a certain way? I used to try to be “superwoman” by working a lot of hours, trying to do everything at home and getting very little sleep.  I was actually proud of…
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Listen to Bob Newhart. Just Stop It!

There are so many people with so much anxiety in their lives. Some of it is their career or job that they chose and it may not be what they expected. Some of it may come in their personal lives by trying to keep up with everyone else, issues in their relationships or financial struggles. I even see it from kids in high school and college. They feel that they have to get the best grades, go to the best…
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Do you want to be the Secretary of State?

I just watched the season premiere of Madam Secretary tonight. It is absolutely one of my favorite shows! I love the character of Elizabeth McCord who is the Secretary of State of the United States played by the actress Tea Leoni. She has a tough job to do as she is navigating the politics that surrounds her, managing up (imagine if the President was your boss?), staying connected with what is going on, having a good staff that she had…
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Are you one of the many leaders who has had an accidental career?

When you think about your career, have you planned it all out or has it been mostly accidental?  When you are asked to take on a new role, do you consider whether the role is a good fit for you or do you just agree to take it? Many people just take it.  Why is that?  Maybe you are flattered that someone picked you for the role, you are ready for a change, you are happy to learn something new or you…
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What do you do when you get stuck?

One of my favorite quotes is “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great” by Zig Ziglar. Have you ever struggled to get started on something that was new to you or you held yourself back because it was out of your comfort zone? What causes this hesitation? Is it fear, a lack of confidence, the fear of failure, the concern about what others may think or just the uncertainty of not…
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Launching the Blog!

Today is Leap Year Day and I am launching my website!  I am writing my first official blog and I wanted to post a picture of one of my favorite places to walk. if I went there tonight however, it would be covered in 8 inches of snow!   So what will I write about in this blog?  It will be a place to share new things that I have learned, inspired me or made me see things differently.  ( I am always open to topic suggestions!)…
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