When it comes to coaching, what resonates most with people? Going by the numbers, there is a wide range of topics, everything from career coaching to dealing with difficult people to the challenges of self-employment. What follows is a precis of my top 10 blog posts. I hope that you, too, will find them useful and informative. Have fun…I sure did!
Coaching hot topics
Here they are, with a few editorial asides:
- The pros and cons of career coaching. It’s not often you’ll hear me quote the Bible, so listen up: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14. Applied to coaching of any type, that translates into, “Everyone can benefit from coaching, but not everyone is willing to invest the time, money and effort that’s required to achieve their dreams.” Check out the four big questions you need to ask yourself when your knee-jerk reaction, “But I can’t afford it!,” kicks in.
- Are you a bad luck magnet? You often get exactly what you expect in life, so if your life or career is circling the bowl, it might be a good time to examine your mindset and figure out why. Learn the three words you need to remove from your vocabulary — the sooner, the better.
- Are toxic people stealing your energy? Oh my! Don’t we get tired of people trying to manipulate us? If you need help recognizing and dealing with toxic people, read this one. P.S. If any of the descriptions in this article fit you, consider adding “reduce toxicity” to your personal development plan for the year.
- How to deal with passive-aggressive people. Speaking of descriptions, check out this post if you’d like to learn how to spot typical passive-aggressive behaviors. This comes with a handy-dandy list with step-by-step instructions on how to handle them.
- The basic principles: How to deal with difficult people. Find out the five steps that will help you say what’s on your mind while at the same time preserving your own sanity. There’s good news and bad news here: The bad news – this requires actually talking to people about their behavior, which many people are loathe to do. The good news – I’ve included sample conversations you can practice to help you get through the talking part.
6. What to say when you’re speechless. I had a lot of fun writing this one, particularly since I am so rarely at a loss for words. Need a snappy comeback? I’ve got ‘em! Write them down. Practice them. Never be without words again! Bonus tip not found in the blog: If your mind does totally blank out in the heat of the moment, you can always go back and deliver your pithy comments at another time. They are often better served cold, anyway.
7. Do you need help with procrastination? One of my smart-ass friends read the headline and said, “Why, no, I don’t need help with procrastination. I can procrastinate all day long with no assistance whatsoever!” OK. Maybe not my best-ever headline, but the article has 10 useful tips that can help you finish what you start.
8. Take advantage of your strengths. We women, in particular, like to focus on our weaknesses, until we have reduced ourselves to a quivering mass of Ben & and Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy ice cream. Guess what? You can stop beating yourself up, because these days, it’s all about focusing on – and improving – what we do well, and dumping the rest. There. Don’t you feel better? (You’re still good to go on the Chocolate Therapy; have a pint for me, too, in celebration.) Check out this article to find a strengths inventory; pay particular attention to the items that make you break out in hives.
9. Top 10 excuses why women give up before they start. I took enormous pleasure in debunking these stories that women tell themselves. Included are samples of how to change those tall tales.
10. How to deal with the biggest challenges of being self-employed. I could have titled this one, “Please! Learn from my mistakes!” This oldie but goodie was written a little more than a year after I left my day job, at age 60, to focus on my building own business. And these pointers still are valid today. Check it out if you’re in business for yourself (or want to be) and please…don’t make my mistakes!
So. There you have my top 10 blog posts as determined by my brilliant, discerning and sensitive readers. Enjoy! P.S. If you have any burning topics that you would love to see here, please add in the comments below. I’m nothing if not agreeable.