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Core Connections | Expand Your Network

Over the years, you would have developed a circle of individuals around you, your trusted friends, advisors and colleagues. It is vital to continue to build on this group adding additional people who may be able to help you attain your goals more efficiently and faster. Expanding your circle is not all that difficult; the first step is to ask your current connections if they have any suggestions on who you need to know that would help you in your current role or attain your goals moving forward. Secondly, I encourage you to reach out to individuals on LinkedIn who you would like to get to know. When sending them an invite, add a brief note explaining your ‘why.’

I try to have conversations with at least ten new people weekly, and I walk my talk – I reach out to individuals recommended and connect through LinkedIn. LinkedIn had it right when they broke down their connections into 1st, 2nd and 3rd-degree levels. I am sure you have heard of the infamous six degrees of separation. It is a theory based on the premise that even though we live in a world of 7.6 billion people, in all likely hood we are only six degrees (or less) away from someone that we want to connect to. The idea is that we are all connected in some way, through personal or professional acquaintances, and if you want to communicate with a specific person, then you start by telling all you know of your request, and it goes on from there.

The thought of ‘networking’ often gives individuals a level of anxiety. I want to help you develop a different outlook on ‘networking,’ and during this time of COVID, I have felt it to be easier than it ever has been (yes, I really do mean that!)

The majority of my clients do not come from my social media feed, advertising or marketing but through referrals. The referrals primarily come from my circle of connectors (or circle of influence around me); they have gotten to know me well and readily refer people to me when they see a fit.

Core Connections | Expand Your Network - Challenge - Jenny Reilly Consulting

Jenny Reilly Consulting – June Challenge

June Challenge

Set a simple goal of initiating a meeting with two new people weekly (phone call, zoom or depending on where you live, an in-person connection). If you fail one week, don’t stop or lose your momentum; reach out to two more people and start again.

Be curious – ask questions rather than talk about yourself

Be generous – share your contacts or resources that may help the individual in their role

Be teachable – if the individual has a new or different opinion than yours, listen and learn

We can help you with your professional development or provide tailored executive coaching that can help support your leadership or your leadership team, please reach out to askme@jennyreilly.com to schedule a convenient time for a complimentary strategy session.

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Positive Intelligence | Are you Achieving Your Full Potential?

The term Positive Intelligence or PQ refers to one’s ability to conquer mental saboteurs.

Saboteurs are mind patterns that we tend to have habitually. When reading the definitions below, take note of those that particularly resonate with you.

Judge – you find fault always with yourself, others, and the situations you find yourself in

Avoider – you focus on the positive and avoid difficult situations or conflict at all costs

Controller – you need to take charge and control of all situations

Hyper-Achiever – you are a consistent and constant high performer

Hyper-Rational – you focus on rationalizing everything

Hyper Vigilant – you are anxious about surrounding dangers and the potential of what could go wrong

Pleaser – you try to gain acceptance by pleasing, helping, and flattering others

Restless – you are in constant search of greater excitement or need to be always busy

Stickler – you need perfection, order, and organization

Victim – you focus on negative feelings and painful situations

Saboteur Solutions

Our saboteurs are exhausting; however, the good news is that you can train yourself to pick up on them as they are occurring. To look at situations differently and with more positivity, to diminish your saboteurs, try:

  • Having an open mind and explore a situation with curiosity
  • Empathizing and focus on bringing compassion and understanding to any situation
  • Being innovative, bring new perspectives and out-of-the-box solutions to solve a problem
  • Choosing a path that is aligned with your values and personal mission
  • Take decisive action without getting caught up in your saboteurs’ idiosyncrasies

When you recognize that your saboteurs are in play, to make the shift, you can simply try one of the three methods below for 10 seconds to help you regain focus:

  • Take three focused breathes, a little more deeply than the other
  • Listen to the sounds around you and focus on the noise that is the furthest away, and then that of which is the closest to you
  • Feel each of your fingertips by rubbing them against one another

Challenge 1

I encourage you to monitor your thoughts for three hours and categorize them into how they make you feel, whether it be neutral, useful, or negative. When you can identify your thoughts and their impact on your performance, you can then implement specific strategies to shift your behaviour.

Challenge 2

Step 1. Think of one recent or current business challenge that is causing you distress.

Step 2. Come up with three scenarios as to how you could turn this situation into a ‘gift’ or opportunity for the company.

*If you are stuck with this challenge and can’t manage to see the situation as a gift, focus on letting it go and putting it behind you.

 

If you are interested in learning about how professional development or executive coaching can help support your leadership or your leadership team, please reach out to askme@jennyreilly.com to schedule a convenient time for a complimentary strategy session.

Get your leadership strategies and tactics in my monthly newsletter, sign up here to subscribe.

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