MOMENTUM PERFORMANCE COACHING BLOG

Mirror mirror on the wall.

Have you ever had a problem and you weren’t sure of the best way to overcome it, so sought out some sage advice from an expert?

A number of years ago, having recently returned from a much needed holiday, I found myself searching out such advice.

Having had three relaxing weeks away from my business, I returned refreshed and motivated. That all changed the moment I set foot in the door; to say I had returned to chaos would be a bit of an understatement. Numerous customer complaints, cash missing from the safe, a number of staff working their notice and a whole lot of the systems that I had put in place either ditched or not being put to use. What could have gone wrong? As far as I was concerned I left a perfectly happy ship just a few weeks before, so how could things go so wrong, so quickly and more importantly who was to blame?

I was due to have another weekend off the following week to attend a family event, but made the decision that I just couldn’t trust the team, so would have to cancel. That decision led to me having to have a conversation with my Dad, a conversation that would change my outlook on business and life for the rest of my days.

As I explained, to Dad the mess I had returned to, he asked me, “What are you going to do about it?”

To which I replied, “I feel like sacking the lot of them!”

“Really…” Was his reply, “Then what you will do?”

“I will go and employ some new people who will do a far better job.”

What he said next was the best piece of business (and indeed life advice I have ever been given).

“You want to know the best place to start looking for the people you need?.......in the mirror, your people, your business, your life are a reflection of you!”

Well that really hurt the ego; according to Dad all my woes were my fault and if I wanted to put them right, I would have to put me right first. So much for sage advice!

But over the following weeks and months as I reflected on his advice I came to realise that he was, as usual, right.

Why do I feel the need to share this story? In recent weeks I have had a number of meetings with a number of business owners who are, at present, are in a similar place to where I found myself all those years ago. Problems with cash flow, problem staff, problem customers to name but a few.

When I offered the suggestion that they need to look in the mirror, some were deeply offended which I could understand, I had been all those years ago. But what I came to understand and what these business owners came to understand during the course of our conversation is that if we address problems coming from the frame of mind of looking for who’s to blame for this, we become disempowered. The problem is outside ourselves and that means it is up to someone else to fix it.

A much better approach is ask yourself better questions, for instance:

“What is my part in this?”

“What do I need to put in place so that we never have this problem again?”

“What 3 things do I need to start, stop and continue doing in my business?”

“What would a great leader do when faced with this problem?”

“What do I need to change about me, so that a solution for this problem is found?”

These questions are solution focused rather than blame focused and will therefore provide better answers. Answers that will allow you to solve the problems you may presently be facing and putting you in a far more empowering position.

One of the best quotes ever really sums this whole concept up:

“Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. Never wish life were easier, wish you were better”….Jim Rohn

I would suggest that as business owners we have that quote tattooed on our eyelids because whenever we have a problem the answer is right in front of us. Or we could always just take a look in the mirror.

You may be wondering what the outcome was for me in my business all those years ago. Within twelve months the same team of fifty people were on the front page of industry magazines and winning awards because of the contribution they had made to one of the fastest growing businesses in the North West.

Thoughts:

“People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude”…John C. Maxwell

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude”…Zig Ziglar

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens”…Khalil Gibran

“The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up”…John C. Maxwell

Kevin Gallagher
Business Performance Coach

Our Next FREE Seminar 'Learn The Secrets to Unlocking the Success In Your Business' is on Thursday 11th September TO REQUEST YOUR INVITATION Simply email info@mpcforprofit.com and we'll do the rest.

Telephone 0151 348 1202 / 07802 434 782
Growing Your Profit, Transforming Your Business, Changing Lives
www.mpcforprofit.com