Flo Coaching Blog

As the holiday season unfolds, it's a poignant reminder of a vital truth: 'True high performance is as much about intelligently stepping back as it is about pushing forward.'This time of year offers a unique opportunity to reflect on this balance. In the rush of...

"Oh, that sounds like one of those leadership lessons," I recently said half-jokingly to a client. The concept of how we view failures or setbacks determines everything, especially if you're in a leadership or manager role. I've written about this before, but it keeps...

I recently heard the following story. It got me thinking about how it applied to me and how I might be comfortably uncomfortable in certain areas, preventing me from achieving what I want to achieve. Read on. I think you'll find this valuable as I did.   A...

A leader who concentrates on a select few objectives will achieve greater success than one who is sidetracked by numerous distractions. Feeling a bit scattered and overwhelmed this morning as I sat down to my daily goals list, I realized I'd fallen back into an old...

As leaders, we often find ourselves in a constant state of reaction, responding to immediate challenges and demands. However, true leadership growth lies in transitioning from being reactionary to proactive. This shift requires purposeful reflection. Regularly...

Remember that text I sent on that Monday morning from the previous post: "I'm quitting, giving my two weeks, or maybe I'll just walk out of here," I texted my best friend.   It was a Monday morning, about a month into my new job and career. Admittedly, I was...

"I'm quitting, giving my two weeks, or maybe I'll just walk out of here," I texted my best friend.    It was a Monday morning, about a month into my new job and career. Admittedly, I was a hot mess. I'd been up since about 2 AM. It had been one of those...

Being a leader doesn't have to be all serious and boring. As a favorite boss of mine used to say, "If we're not having some fun here, we're doing it wrong!" Sure, we want to achieve our goals, but taking things too seriously can hurt performance. We need to find ways...

“At work, according to the most recent data, less than 16 percent of us are fully engaged, with the rest of us just selling our time and our talent and getting compensated for our trouble.” Marcus Buckingham Stop! Stop believing that this is just how it has to be!...

Do you work smarter, or harder? Working harder means doing more for less. It means saying yes to too many things, feelingoverwhelmed, running on the hamster wheel, and of course, burnout! Working smarter means saying yes to only the essential value-adding...

Spring, what a great time of opportunity, growth, and expansion! It's one of my favorite times of the year. The snow is melting, and there's a sense of possibility and new beginnings. I love watching the days get longer, and the weather get warmer. I feel renewed...

One question for you - As we step into spring and a new season: “What is one step I can take today to help create the outcomes I want in my career and current role?” Spend a few minutes to really think about this. Taking control back of your work and career begins...

Why do women struggle with confidence issues more than men? A likely reason is that stereotype of a confident woman = aggressive, difficult, “honey badger”, … fill in the blank. Confidence. It’s critical to career success. Confidence is attractive. We are drawn to...

Saying “no” is one of the hardest things we all struggle with, and as I’ve come to learn, especially women. Last week, commenting on the HBR post/article “How to Say No to Busywork and Supercharge Your Career” got me thinking about women’s disadvantages in the...

Are you tired of feeling drained and unproductive at work? In honor of global employee health and fitness month, I’d like to share a concept I use with my clients. I call this the daily four non-negotiables, a set of principles that can help you stay healthy and fit...

You’re an extreme athlete. Your sport is your work. To keep playing and performing at your best, it’s critical to take breaks for recovery. Have you scheduled time in your schedule for breaks today? Dedicate time to feeling human again. Take ten minutes after lunch to...

What is your unique skill that you do better than almost everyone else? That you enjoy and people compliment you on? You have more control than you think. Start small. Look for small opportunities to adjust your daily schedule so that you're doing more of what you're...

Remember (from the previous post), you have more power than you think.  As I mentioned, through small, deliberate actions, you can fashion your role so that it is more and more focused on the activities you like.  Here's how: First, get clear on what you...

"I'm overwhelmed and feeling burned out again. When we last spoke, I was in such a great place in my career. However, now, I feel like I've gone backward." Explained Mark. It had been over two years since Mark had stepped away from our executive coaching. I see this...

A year and a half ago, I had a powerful coaching call with a client that left a lasting impression on me. They were feeling exhausted and unsuccessful despite doing amazing, impactful work. As we unpacked this in the coaching session, it became clear their drive to...

Here's my favorite way to increase my performance during my workdays. And it's something that I recommend to all of my coaching clients.  It's a "nap hack" called NSDR or Non-Sleep Deep Rest. (A powerful way to unwind and relax quickly and deeply) But first:...

In our exponentially changing world, those who aren’t willing to experiment will fall further and further behind. Being able to let go of old convictions and embrace a curious and constant learner mindset is critical.  Test, learn, adapt, repeat.  Agree or...

Daily napping might sound indulgent or like I’m lazy, but here’s the thing: naps increase performance in amazing ways. Naps improve learning and memory (A 2010 study in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, participants who napped showed notably better...

Here’s another one of those things that pains me to admit – I overcommitted and found myself on the path to burnout, AGAIN! Argh! 😬 LOL! Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself! 😂 What happened? I was stressing out about too many things, not sleeping well, and...

What is one activity in your work that you are naturally drawn to? What do you like doing or even love doing? Can you spend at least 20% of your time doing it today? I had one of those days yesterday where I felt like it was all grind and no fun. While this is not...

Thinking of You While striving for excellence is admirable, it's important to remember that you don't have to go it alone. Exploring resources in your community, such as mentors, networking groups, and online communities can help you stay motivated and keep you on...

I’d worked my butt off! Had great results! I expected someone to acknowledge this with a promotion. I felt entitled and was not seeing any movement from my boss. I became frustrated. As shameful as this is to admit, I became a victim of the circumstance.  ...

Doesn’t it seem easier to avoid those stressful, scary, or uncomfortable things you know you should be doing? I was reminded of this as I spoke with a client recently. They were avoiding having a difficult conversation with a direct report. It turned out they were...

Conflict in teams is an opportunity to uncover the truth rather than a battle for personal victory. To approach conflict constructively, let go of the need to be right and cultivate curiosity for the actual truth. Embrace open-mindedness and active listening to...

You're not alone. I'm not alone. Creating and maintaining close bonds with others can be incredibly rewarding and beneficial in providing a sense of belonging. Taking the time to get to know someone on a deeper level, listening to them, and being supportive can go a...

What’s the one thing you can do this coming week that by doing so would make everything else easier and some of it even unnecessary?

How can you be more curious? More curious about the beliefs you hold as a leader. More curious about your peer's or direct report's point of view. More curious about how your assumptions might be wrong. Curiosity is a superpower for unlocking truths and unlocking a...

Let's face it, being a manager or leader can be stressful. And here's the thing: how you choose (and yes, it's a choice) to view the stressful situation determines everything.  By embracing discomfort, becoming curious, and asking better questions instead of...

Let go of having your ego control the situation. Let go of the need to be right. Let go of wanting to change their view. Practice listening from a conscious place of genuine, empathetic-based curiosity. Open up to the possibility that you might be able to learn...

Looking back 15 years ago, I wish I had known one crucial lesson: it wasn't about having all the right answers but rather cultivating a deep sense of curiosity. If I had embraced curiosity over the need to be right, I wonder how my journey as a leader would have...

Memorial Day Weekend! A time to relax and enjoy a long weekend. A great time to practice gratitude for those serving our country. A moment to pause and reflect.  AND… I'm suddenly aware that I feel a need to rush into Tuesday and the week. Already stressing about...

Great leaders and managers don't have all the answers. What they have are the best questions. Breakthroughs don't begin with an intelligent answer. They begin with an insightful question that elicits breakthrough answers.  Are you asking the right...

“You have more power than you think.” These were the words a mentor once told me as I complained about my job many years ago. Turns out, he was right. Through small, deliberate actions, I gradually fashioned my role so that it was more and more focused on the...

As a coach, it's critical for me to quickly build trust or, put another way, a sense of psychological safety with clients. Honestly, it's been a strength I developed during my time as a manager and leader. I've realized this skill is based on using language to create...

I had an "ah-ha" moment during a recent conversation with a client. It made me wonder who learns more from our meetings - them or me? This "ah-ha" moment was a recognition of a repeating pattern I've seen in clients who have successfully gone through some version of a...

The reality is that our new normal these days will always feel a little off balance, like trying to stand in a raft on rough seas and not knowing when the storm will pass. Because of this, now we must give ourselves permission and grace to rest and recover. To do the...

As we recognize and celebrate Pride Month, it's important to remember to listen to those of us that might have different views and opinions. I was reminded of the importance of this as I was reading Rick Rubins' book The Creative Act. Here's the excerpt: ...

What's the best way to stay on track to reach your leadership and career goals? Simple – have an accountability partner or partners.  When you lack accountability, letting things fall by the wayside is easy. Suddenly resulting in the year almost being up and...

I'm suddenly aware that I feel a need to rush into the day, the week. Already stressing about my never-ending to-do list! The need to make up for the long holiday weekend.  Stepping back, taking a few grounding breaths, I remembered a recent insight. The power of...

Jace (pseudonym) was in an entry-level sales leadership position. He was having a lot of success. His team loved working for him. However, he felt stalled out, frustrated, and limited in his ability to grow within the company.  Jace was unclear about the path...

One of a leader's most valuable skills is empathy- seeing another person's perspective. Empathy, as a manager and a leader, encompasses understanding and sharing the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of those we lead. It goes beyond mere sympathy or surface-level...

Is the grass greener somewhere else? Or are you not seeing the green in yours? With so much focus on the “Great Resignation,” it’s easy to think things are better elsewhere. And while often this is true, have you really looked at your situation? Are you only seeing...

When should you consider executive or career coaching? When you feel plateaued or stalled out in your leadership role or career.  When you're not growing, learning, and achieving your desired results.  When you feel like you are capable of more.  Do you...

“I see myself and this experience as a journey like I’m going from Steve the Grey to Steve the White,” said a client of mine recently. That’s when I had one of those eye-opening insight moments! My client described how he saw himself as going from Steve the Grey to...

Article at a Glance: The second step towards experiencing more success and fulfillment is about how you view your career. Your career is a business, and you're the product. Know your product (you). Identify and understand your customers. Identify and understand your...

Article at a Glance: The first step towards experiencing more success and fulfillment in your career begins with shifting your state of mind.   From: “I just don’t have time to work my career right now.” To: “Spending time working on my career is part of my...