Serving others starts with self care because you can’t pour out of an empty pitcher.

I love Rachel Hollis who speaks about how society can view mothers for example. She says, “You rarely hear people cheer on mother’s who run a marathon saying ‘good on ya girl, what a great mum’!”

In my view, I’m a huge fan of self care, as long as the self care activity isn’t completely taking over and there isn’t any neglect, then running a marathon could most definitely help the mother be the best mum she could be! A healthy, endorphin filled, energised, happy mum who is also demonstrating what it takes to run such a distance. The training, perseverance, dedication, commitment and may even inspire their child to do the same one day, or something with the same dedication and character building qualities.

One thing I see a lot when coaching my clients, is that many would like to do a few things for themselves, like go to the gym, have a massage, take an art class or even a night off to hang out with their girlfriends. But they feel guilty and worry too much about what everyone else will think of them.

Meanwhile they stay going full out doing everything for everyone else and worst cases I see, they fall victim to complete burn out. And when that happens, unfortunately, they are very suddenly in no state to help anyone and are then forced to help and look after themselves, for a change.

I support everyone taking time in their week to do what’s important to you, what fills you up, gives you some ‘me time’ and time to take care of yourself. So that, your needs are not put last and ultimately, you prevent burnout or worse frustration that you’re never getting what you really want.

Being so frustrated, doesn’t help you light others up when you’re with them either.

If you need help designing your life to include self care and learning how to communicate this to the people in your life, that not only leaves you feeling good, but also with them respecting and supporting your self care regime, check out my options below.

Until then, enjoy implementing some self care into your routine today!

Live your best life!

Jacqueline Pigdon BSc, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert, is an Australian rowing champion, Wealth Dynamics, Talent Dynamics and Health Dynamics Performance Consultant, a spiritual life, career and business coach, speaker, author and award-winning entrepreneur!

M: +61 (0) 447728677

E: jacqueline@jinalife.com 

Here are 3 ways I can help you achieve your goals and create a life you LOVE!

1. Book a FREE 30 min consultation to discuss your specific situation and how I can help you.

https://www.timetrade.com/book/6S2R1

2. Get yourself a copy of my book on Amazon: Love Mondays Now – 5 Steps to a Career & Life You LOVE!

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Mondays-Now-Steps-career/dp/0992393809

3. OR if you’re ready to get started and moving towards achieving your goals right away…

Book a powerful and insightful 90min Strategy Session with me where will gain a new perspective on your situation, clarity on what is most important to you, strategies to overcome your biggest challenge and leave the session with newfound enthusiasm and excitement for your life!

https://www.highperformersonpurpose.com/product-page/book-love-mondays-now

Since it’s Valentine’s Day there’s no better day of the year to talk about one of the top 6 human needs ‘Love & Connection’.

For those of you who are not familiar with Anthony Robin’s Top 6 Human Needs, here is a quick run down.

1. Certainty

Which means we all like a bit of certainty, that we’re going to be safe, secure, have food on the table, a roof over our head and maybe knowing that our family is there for us when we get home, or always on the other end of a phone call. 

Too much certainty can however, be boring. When we know exactly what is going to happen next, maybe your life feels a bit like Groundhog Day… and we don’t want to know what happens at the end of a movie, we would like to enjoy the journey of the unknown.

Which brings me to the next one…

2. Uncertainty

Where we like variety, the need for adventure, new experiences, change and new stimuli which can make things exciting! 

Too much uncertainty can make people feel unstable and fearful, not knowing where the next pay cheque is coming in, whereas, others love the challenge.

3. Significance

We all like to feel important and valued. A feeling of significance can be the feeling that you’re special, in your relationship, team at work, that you’re needed and things wouldn’t be the same or would fall over without you. 

Too much importance on significance however leave some people always wanting to be in the lime light, coming across as more important than others, arrogant or swamped with people around them, because no one else is quite as good as they are!

4. Love & Connection

A strong feeling of closeness or a union with someone or something. This is definitely a top need of mine out of these top 6 human needs. I love the feeling of giving love, being love, speaking from my heart and feeling deeply connected to others. For me, nothing else beats it.  

How to get more love and connection? Read my tips below to get more Love & Connection on this Valentine’s Day.

5. Growth

This is my second top 6 human need, expanding upon your knowledge, capabilities and learning. I’m definitely a dedicated life long learner and without this in my day, my brain just doesn’t get the dose of endorphins it loves!

Too much growth, can leave you overwhelmed or give you growing pains, don’t grow too fast that you end up falling over.

6. Contribution

A sense of service and purpose, helping and supporting others. Of course I love this one too, and when I’m growing and coming from a place of love and connection, is when I feel I give back the most. The happier and more loving I am, the more I give and get back!

What top 2 needs are most important to you in your life?

Top Tips for generating more Love & Connection in your life:

• Open your heart and speak from a place of love, compassion and understanding. What most people really want deep down under everything else… is to be loved (stay tuned for my upcoming post and more on this) and typically people are always trying to do their best. Aren’t you? It might not be your very best that you’ve ever done, but given the situation, environment and what’s going on, you are doing your best, because, ya know, if you could do better, you would.
• Be fully present - it’s the best gift you can give to someone. Throw multi-tasking or multi-thinking out the window! Make the person you’re with feel like they are the most important person in your world right now. And if they’re not and you don’t want to be talking to them, that will come across in your energy so you may as well quickly take your presence elsewhere…
• Really look at the person - I like to say, ‘see straight through them’ it can be eerie in one way but quite amazing to feel it from someone else at the same time. Like they really know you, they see through the barriers, the persona you put on and can feel your true and pure essence and love you all the more for it. To do this for others, start with being inquisitive, seek to learn about them, and not jump to judge or want them to be just like you. Be curious to their points of view, experiences in the world and unique selves, ask more questions and really listen. You never know, you just might learn something and that will help fill up your Growth Human Need.
• TIP - To really see and know someone straight away helps when you really know yourself. If you’re great at self awareness and dedicated to self mastery, you’ll be great at this. 
• Be vulnerable and your real self - if you have barriers up, if you’re trying to be someone you’re not, if you’re trying to be the person you think the other person wants you to be, will like or you will impress, you’re not connected. There will be a wall.
• Which brings me to Speak Your Truth - when you do this, it’s refreshing, the other person can tell and the best thing about this is it gives permission for the other person to do the same. Of course there is a way to do this that leaves both you and them feeling good. (more on communication strategies for truthful conversations coming here soon). If you open up and share who you are, it can give a sense of safety that the other person can too and then guess what – you’re connected on a whole new realm. 
• Take your walls down, stop being scared of what others might think, and BE YOURSELF.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Top 6 Human Needs and that my tips help you generate more love and connection in your life.

If you need help getting deeply connected with others in your life, book yourself a free strategy session with me today where I’ll show you how.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Until then, Happy Valentine’s Day!
Live your best life!

Jacqueline Pigdon BSc, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert, is an Australian rowing champion, Wealth Dynamics, Talent Dynamics and Health Dynamics Performance Consultant, a spiritual life, career and business coach, speaker, author and award-winning entrepreneur!

M: +61 (0) 447728677

E: jacqueline@jinalife.com 

Book A Free Strategy Session today!

One of the biggest questions I have for my clients when they are avoiding a conversation in fear of confrontation and therefore conflict is:

‘Why does it have to be a difficult conversation?’

If your think it will be hard chances are it will be. Because what we put out there is what we get back.

Thinking it has to be ‘hard‘ is only a thought or a deeply ingrained belief. Maybe you’ve had many of these conversations and they’ve always turned out badly.

But do they always have to be like that in the future or even right now, today?

No they don’t.

Not if you know how.

Everything is easy when you know how. Maybe you just haven’t found the strategy yet that works for you.

And how do you know you’ve overcome difficult conversations and that it has worked for you?

You’re left feeling peaceful within. You’re happy about the conversation. You walk away feeling good about it.

Would you like to have a peaceful outcome? 

Let’s break down ‘Conflict Resolution’ to just Resolution i.e. resolving an issue.

What’s an issue? To me, I believe it is anything that’s on your mind. As small or silly you might think something is and that it really ‘shouldn’t’ be bothering you, if it is… It’s something that is unresolved, something that disturbs your peace.

And until you ‘resolve’ that thing, it’s only going to hold you back from achieving bigger things in your life, reaching your goals and your potential.

An issue that needs to be resolved, something on your mind, may come and go and you might try and push it aside but it randomly or sometimes aggressively reappears.

What can you do about this?

Change your perception on it. 

See it as an opportunity to resolve it, to grow and learn. For if we don’t address and resolve things when they are a seed. Guess what happens? The issue just grows. It can grow into a giant oak tree and if and when that happens it means we can’t ignore it any longer and it takes much more work and strength to chop it down.

So start early, get onto it, don’t be afraid of sorting out a tiny issue.

HERE’S HOW

Step 1 – INTENTION

I believe our intention is huge and very powerful – what is your intention going into the conversation? I.e. what do you ultimately want to achieve?

My advice for a good intention is to have the goal of coming out of the conversation feeling good about the conversation, that your issue has been resolved and you also left the other person feeling good about it too.

Now this is quite an art and can take a bit of practice but it’s completely possible.

What I find is that if you have an issue about a particular thing with someone else, they often have an issue about it too.

So actually addressing it and resolving it, can take a load off their mind too. 

Confronting – no, you’re actually doing them and yourself a favour!

So don’t be afraid. 

Of course if you don’t have a strategy or an idea on how to do this, you will be afraid.

Step 2 – ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PART

In any conflict resolution, I find that 9 times out of 10 each person has done or said something of value. A good point. But at the same time each person could have also done something differently or better.

So when having a conversation it’s essential that you acknowledge what the person has done right. 

Why? You’re thinking what??? But what about all the things or THE thing they did absolutely badly or how they hurt me or did wrong by me!?!?!

The reason why you acknowledge a true point they have made (and that might be an attack, even criticism of you, if it’s actually true, own it) is because then they will feel heard. i.e. They will see you were listening to them.

And when a person feels heard, they relax and calm down and are more likely to be open to listening to you. 

Step 3 – CALM CONVO’S

Keep your eye on your intention, even if the conversation is going off path and you feel like it’s getting out of control. Remember the goal!

Once they’ve calmed down and you’ve remained calm and after you’ve acknowledged what you could have done differently, be assertive and deliver your point respectfully.

When you own your own actions, acknowledge a point they have made without making excuses for it, it gives the other person permission to do the same.

They come down from being defensive and/or aggressive and meet you at where you are.

MY INSPIRATION?

I was inspired to write about this today after seeing the above featured image. I know there are peaceful ways to both live and communicate in this world, and personally I like to operate this way 99% of the time, but I also know there is power and opportunity for growth, in our frustrations. The benefits can sometimes seem hidden within, but if we look for them, we so often find the answers to our biggest questions. 

This is just a high level quick snapshot on one strategy on how you can address issues by confronting them without conflict.

If you would like help on how to prepare for and confront a specific issue with someone in your life that is leaving you avoiding them or a conversation, or you’re having conversations with them that leave you feeling mad, upset, uneasy, powerless of change and/or really frustrated, then please feel free to get in touch with me and my team. 

I look forward to the opportunity to teach you how to have empowering conversations that not only resolve your issues but leave you and the other person feeling great! 

 Jacqueline Pigdon, is an Australian rowing champion, international spiritual life and business coach, Wealth and Talent Dynamics consultant, author, speaker and award winning entrepreneur!

 Become the Champion in your  life and business that you know you can be!

All across the world, women enjoy longer life spans and live on average 5% longer than men.

According to the world health statistics – The gap between male and female life expectancy is greater in high-income countries, such as Australia, where women live around six years longer than men.

So what does this remarkably consistent survival advantage of women mean for women and their finances?

It means that chances are, they will be left alone to manage their finances without the support of their husbands in the final years of their lives.

This can be a very scary situation especially since, among married women, only 11% of Boomers are reported as the primary financial decision makers throughout their married life, compared to 22% of Gen X and 38% of married Millennial women.

Suzanne Alexander Adv Dip(FP), a Financial Adviser at Melbourne’s Abound Financial and Lifestyle Planning who specialises in helping women with their finances, has discovered that after suffering the loss of their husband, many women are left feeling overwhelmed at the enormity of their financial situation, which now resides solely in their responsibility.

Alexander says many newly found widows quickly discover that they have multiple accounts and investments and are not sure what to do or where to begin. “They can be left feeling confused as to what account relates to which investment and in addition, they may not be aware of what investments are actually in place,” she says.

Left feeling confused, lacking in confidence and vulnerable and not wanting to be taken advantage of, studies show that women are now seeking out female financial advisers that they feel they can trust.

Alexander says older women can face losing their partners age pension (if applicable) and not knowing how they can create an income stream from current investments.

Here are key areas that Suzanne Alexander helps older women with who have recently found themselves on their own.

• To assist in creating a level of control over their finances
• Understanding their expenses by undertaking a budget
• Establishing a structure to their finances so they know where everything is and it is designed appropriately for their specific situation
• Security in knowing that their finances are being professionally managed
• Continuation of income and sense of comfort in knowing that they will be ok financially (where projections are provided).

Suzanne also provides a personalised and on-going support program ‘Financial Fitness for Women’ ~ Advice for women wanting to gain financial independence and control of their lives, which consists of:

• Coordinating women’s finances and making sure investments are in line with their lifestyle goals
• Acting as someone who they can turn to who has an impartial view to their money i.e. to focus on their needs, rather than that taken by children who may see ‘their’ inheritance as something to preserve at all costs
• Accountability coaching to track their goals

Suzanne reported, “We have clients who have stated that they couldn’t have done it without our help (manage their finances).  In particular, one client post the loss of her husband, had ‘friends’ coming to her to invest money which she was willing to do, without taking into consideration her own needs.  As a result of acting as a sounding board this didn’t go ahead, as it didn’t allow for her own financial needs to be met and at her age would have put her in a high risk position, as the business was a start-up and small businesses have such a high failure rate in Australia.”

If you are a woman who has recently found yourself on your own and would like the support of Suzanne’s financial advice, please contact her today 03 9373 3500 suzanne@aboundlp.com.au  www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-alexander-42a6788to request an appointment or to discuss your specific needs.

Article written by: Jacqueline Pigdon, a Spiritual Life and Business Coach, author and award winning entrepreneur who specialises in coaching Financial Advisers and empowering women to create a career and lifestyle they love.

Would you like to learn how you could transform your business or career to become location independent?

To work anywhere at anytime?

Mix amazing adventure travel experiences while your work comes with you?

Visit family and friends around the world without eating up precious holiday time?

Please go ahead and watch my video on how I transformed my career and business to become a laptop business and live a location independent lifestyle.

CLICK HERE!

If you would like help to transform your business or career into one you love, that is exciting, challenging and location independent please contact me today!

Live Your Best Life

Jacqueline Pigdon, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert is an Australian rowing champion, a spiritual life & career coach, author and award winning entrepreneur! Beginning her career in corporate IT and as an elite sports person she knows firsthand how to achieve goals and make a successful and fulfilling career transition. Jacqueline has dedicated her life to helping other women all around the world do the same and create a career and life they love!

T: +61447728677
E: jacqueline@jinalife.com
www.lovemondaysnow.com

To get a copy of Jacqueline’s BOOK ‘Love Mondays Now – 5 Steps to a career & life you love CLICK HERE!

It’s important that your teams are in flow and collaborating at the highest level to ensure you get the best out of each and every one of your employees.

I believe in loving what you do, ensuring you’re always professional and also bringing FUN into the workplace!

Well why not?! Life is meant to be fun! :-) 

Watch today’s video where I reveal one of the very cool things I’ve been doing with two of the teams I coach across continents.

 https://youtu.be/NxSZwk-HQtU

Creating an annual humorous video has been so much fun, it helps teams relate to and see another side to the personalities of team members whom they email and have skype meetings with. And you learn a little bit about your own funny quirky traits at the same time!

If you need help to connect your teams in your office or across continents simply request a coaching session with me today.

BOOK ONLINE CLICK HERE!

I hope you enjoyed this video and until next time… have a fantastic day!

Live Your Best Life

Jacqueline Pigdon, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert is an Australian rowing champion, a spiritual life & career coach, author and award winning entrepreneur! Beginning her career in corporate IT and as an elite sports person she knows firsthand how to achieve goals and make a successful and fulfilling career transition. Jacqueline has dedicated her life to helping other women all around the world do the same and create a career and life they love!

T: +61447728677
E: jacqueline@jinalife.com
www.lovemondaysnow.com

To get a copy of Jacqueline’s BOOK ‘Love Mondays Now – 5 Steps to a career & life you love CLICK HERE!

I recently filmed this video tip while I was in London and my inspiration came from one of my birthday cards a very good friend of mine gave me while I was there.

I believe the world is moving into a place where there will be less focus on material possessions and more focus on having memorable and exciting ‘experiences’.

As a location independent entrepreneur I travel a lot and therefore I travel light. I cannot afford to carry around, and personally have never been interested in having too much stuff.

I discovered that I fall into the category of being a ‘minimalist’ and I have to say there are plenty of positives about this situation.

• There are fewer things to manage therefore you free up time
• It can give you a greater sense of freedom by removing things around you that just weigh you down
• It’s easy to be and stay clutter free
• You can enjoy your environment more
• Break free of feeling stuck from dead energy piled up around you…

…and ultimately you can have more time and money to spend on fun adventures and experiences in your life with the people you love most!

Here is a great Ted Talk from Graham Hill where he addresses the question:

Can less stuff lead to more happiness?

http://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness

If you need help to lighten up in life and onto a path where you have less stuff and more fun, request a coaching session with me today.

BOOK ONLINE CLICK HERE!

I hope you enjoyed this video and until next time, I hope you have a fantastic day!
Live Your Best Life

Jacqueline Pigdon, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert is an Australian rowing champion, a spiritual life & career coach, author and award winning entrepreneur! Beginning her career in corporate IT and as an elite sports person she knows firsthand how to achieve goals and make a successful and fulfilling career transition. Jacqueline has dedicated her life to helping other women all around the world do the same and create a career and life they love!

T: +61447728677
E: jacqueline@jinalife.com
www.lovemondaysnow.com

To get a copy of Jacqueline’s BOOK ‘Love Mondays Now – 5 Steps to a career & life you love CLICK HERE!

We can be creatures of habit, we can easily get set in our ways and I fully support setting yourself up with a recipe for success  (routine or schedule) that works for you. ‘If it’s not broken then don’t fix it!’ 

However sometimes this can hold us back and we can fall victim to creating the same day as yesterday… 

When is this a problem? When we’re looking or waiting for something to change. 

Now if you’ve been trying to reach a goal or attract something significant into your life for a long time, you may well be thinking that something ‘big’ has to change.

But it doesn’t always have to be this way, sometimes the smallest of things can dramatically shift your situation.

~ YOUR SPECIAL INVITATION ~

New Path Exercise – I invite you to join me for a fun experiment (I love experiments that show us just how powerful our own thoughts, decisions and intentions are – more of these to come in my future videos). This excises consists of making simple changes in your routine to shake things up that create instant change.

CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS COMMON SCENARIO…

You get up at approximately the same time each day. you eat the same breakfast, you order the exact same coffee or morning drink at the same coffee shop, you drive along the same route to work, you have the same kind of day at work, you leave work at roughly the same time every day, you travel home on the exact same route, have the same types of conversations at home, watch the same TV shows or spend hours on social media before you go to bed at about the same time each night.

This can cause you to create the same day as yesterday… So if you’re not 100% happy with the days you are creating, or you’re looking for change, try this fun and easy exercise for 1 day to spice things up and take yourself on a new and different path. 

Get up at a different time, eat a different breakfast, order a different morning drink, travel on a new or different path to work, engage in conversations with new people and/or on different topics and travel on another route on your way home. Keep your eyes out for new and different things that surface on this new day path and share with me what showed up! You just might be surprised!

I hope you enjoyed my video I filmed on the beautiful Greek Island of Corfu and I look forward to bringing new videos your way soon!

Live Your Best Life

Jacqueline Pigdon, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert is an Australian rowing champion, a spiritual life & career coach, author and award winning entrepreneur! Beginning her career in corporate IT and as an elite sports person she knows firsthand how to achieve goals and make a successful and fulfilling career transition. Jacqueline has dedicated her life to helping other women all around the world do the same and create a career and life they love!

T: +61447728677
E: jacqueline@jinalife.com
www.lovemondaysnow.com

To get a copy of Jacqueline’s BOOK ‘Love Mondays Now – 5 Steps to a career & life you love CLICK HERE!

Developing your ability to have laser focus in the workplace is an essential ingredient for a successful career.

The good news is that it’s a skill you can learn and develop.

Laser focus takes practice and the more you do it the stronger it will become.

“What fires together wires together.” Donald Hebb, Canadian Neuropsychologist

I recommend that you utilise every chance you have to develop your focusing skills.

You can do this both at work and at home. Try being laser focused on your spouse or partner when they are talking to you, instead of thinking about other things or being distracted.

Here are my top 10 tips on how you can practice, develop and strengthen your ability to focus at work.

#1 STOP MULTI-TASKING

Trying to do two things at once means you’re dividing your attention and energy which eliminates your chance of achieving 100% of your potential result on any one thing you do is wiped out.

What kind of results do you want to achieve? Average, mediocre or outstanding?

If you’re struggling to focus stop multi-tasking immediately and watch your results and achievement soar!

For example: If you’re ‘sort of’ listening to someone while really reading an email on your screen you run the risk of agreeing to something you don’t even know you’re agreeing to! This can cause major issues in your workplace. Plus it immediately shows disrespect to the person, that you don’t have time or the care to stop what you’re doing and listen to them. You will have poor working relationship if you multi-task on this one…

Now I’m all for multi-tasking sometimes (and I stress ONLY SOMETIMES) for example:

1. Catching up with friends while walking to socialize and exercise at the same time or,
2. Turning your travel time into a learning environment, by listening to audio books while on the train or driving.
3. Listening and dancing to music while cleaning your house!

BUT still if I really want to do something outstandingly well, I will turn on my laser focus skills and apply 100% of my attention and energy to get my best results. I recommend that you do too.

#2 OBSERVE WHAT DISTRACTS YOU 

Different things distract different people e.g. mobile phones, pop-up messages, chatter in the office, loud music, email messages, too many applications open, a messy desk the list goes on.

If you develop a laser focus you can block all of these things out. Trust me, once I sat at a desk which was located right at the main door. I decided to switch on, my all time best laser focusing skills because I knew my boss wasn’t paying me to sit there and say hello to everyone who walked past all day long.

Usually the majority of your distractions are in your mind i.e. your thoughts which are not on the present moment or on the current task at hand.
Your mind may wonder, thinking about all the other tasks you need to do next, worse you’re too busy judging what others around you are doing or not doing and this only clogs up your brain space. Either deal with it, i.e. any issues that are on your mind by effective communication with that person, or let it go and focus on YOUR work.

#3 SET UP YOUR ENVIRONMENT SO IT SUPPORTS YOU

Turn your phone on silent and put it in the bottom drawer, close down applications you don’t need right now and tidy up your workplace for if you work in a chaotic environment chances are your mind is chaotic as well.

#4 COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN YOUR TEAM

Communicate with your team members and others in the office to find out what you might be doing that distracts them, and share ideas to help everyone in your office develop excellent focusing skills.

Having laser focus in the workplace doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t stop to help others or enjoy a little bit of social time too. It’s all about balance.

You can educate your fellow office workers when you are about to go into your laser focus zone. I love using this approach which teaches others when is a good time to ask for your help and when to avoid interrupting you. You can use this example:

“Hey everyone I just want to check in to see if any of anyone will need me in the next 2 hours. I’m about to concentrate on a detailed piece of work in this time, so if you have any questions for me, I can either help you now before I start or afterwards, which will be at 3pm.”

People will either catch you now or say 3pm is great for me I have a few questions for you then.

Agree to that time and then get into your focus zone. If that person attempts to interrupt you after 10mins, do not get frustrated! Simply answer with something like this:

“I’d love to help you out with that, however as discussed, I’m currently focused on X task right now up until 3pm. Is it ok if I help you at 3pm or has something come up that is urgent and I need to help you with right now?”

If it’s urgent, good you want to know and help out, if not, you’re just letting the person know that you take your focus time seriously. It’s not that you won’t help them, but there are times set for when it’s best for you, to both help them and get your work done each day as well.

TIP: At 3pm stop what you’re doing, even if you haven’t finished because you want to be true to your word. Go over to the person and let them know that as agreed, you’re ready to help them now.

Chances are they are not ready! If so, just smile and remind them 3pm was agreed, they will hurry up and not fail to be ready for you next time.

The last thing you want to do is not follow up on your promise, because then others will not trust you that you will help them, when you put them off to another time.

#5 LISTEN TO MUSIC WITHOUT LYRICS

This is a common way for open plan office workers to block out distractions from others.

#6 WEAR SOUND PROOFING EAR MUFFS

These are all the rage now, with people wanting more peace, quiet and tranquility in the world. You may see people walking around in airports, busy train stations and even open plan workplaces to block out noise and distractions for peace and quiet.

This can be a good alternative to asking others around you to be quiet, or listening to music when you just want peace.

#7 GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP, EAT WELL & EXERCISE DAILY 

It’s difficult to focus when you’re tired, dehydrated, hungry or feeling lethargic. Get out for a quick brisk walk to get your energy flowing before sitting down to focus on your work.

Taking regular breaks between focus times helps too.

#8 DON’T ALLOW YOUR STRENGTHS TO BECOME WEAKNESSES 

If one of your strengths is attention to detail or making things perfect, sometimes these strengths can get in the way of delivering your work in a timely manner.

Be careful that you’re not letting your work performance down by spending too much time trying to make something perfect or getting off track zoning in on minor, sometimes unnecessary details that take you away from seeing the bigger picture and ultimate goal you’re trying to achieve.

Perhaps you love helping others, be careful that you’re not too busy stopping to help others all day long that your own work is at risk of being done.

#9 TRAIN YOUR BRAIN 

First, get crystal clear on EXACTLY what you want to focus on and do in this moment and for the next e.g. 90 minutes. Then every time your mind wonders off… thinking about another task, bring your focus back to the task at hand.

As you commit to doing this, you will build the strength of your focusing powers until they become a natural and easy way in which you work.

#10 SET TIMERS & YOUR OWN STEEP DEADLINES 

Establish how long you think a task should take you, or set yourself a new target to complete it in, check the clock and stay committed to completing the task in that time.

You will be surprised that for every 5 minute interruption or distraction, it can completely wipe out that latest hour in your day of doing real focused work.

It’s up to you how you spend your time!

Studies show that when a person is distracted, even if for only 5 minutes it takes them 25 minutes to get back into flow. Only to be interrupted again within the next half an hour, people in the workplace often can expect to have only 2 hours of real work time!

Research also shows that people will take as long a time as they have, to get the job done. That’s why when we have big looming deadlines we can work fast with focus and literally move mountains! This is because we know we do not have time to think about or be distracted by anything. When workflow is slow, we slow down right along with it.

What I do here is set myself my own tight deadline with a reward once achieved, so I’m not left wondering where on earth the week went and feelings as though I barely got anything done.

No wonder so many people leave work feeling as though they didn’t really get anything or enough done. Let’s change that, with encouraging and developing laser focus, high productivity and efficient brains in your team!

Live Your Best Life

Jacqueline Pigdon, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert is an Australian rowing champion, a spiritual life & career coach, author and award winning entrepreneur! Beginning her career in corporate IT and as an elite sports person she knows firsthand how to achieve goals and make a successful and fulfilling career transition. Jacqueline has dedicated her life to helping other women all around the world do the same and create a career and life they love!

T: +61447728677
E: jacqueline@jinalife.com
www.lovemondaysnow.com

To get a copy of Jacqueline’s BOOK ‘Love Mondays Now – 5 Steps to a career & life you love CLICK HERE!

“Feedback is the breakfast of Champions!”

My Top 10 Feedback Tips

#1 GIVING & RECEIVING FEEDBACK

We all need feedback and as you know, it can be challenging for some people to receive it (when they are very sensitive, passionate about what they do and are trying really hard etc) and also challenging to give it (e.g. to your boss!).

#2 WE ALL NEED FEEDBACK

Without feedback we can only rely on our own self awareness and observations when others around us might be able to assist in speeding our personal and professional growth by providing us with their view on how we can improve.

#3 WHERE GOOD FEEDBACK COMES FROM

Good feedback must always come from a place of helping the person never blaming, criticising or complaining about them. This builds positive workplace culture and family relationships too!

#4 LISTENING TO FEEDBACK

We must always listen to feedback, even if we disagree with it, or feel it is hard to take or if it’s delivered in a harsh way. Also regardless of whom it comes from, not only our boss but from our peers and direct reports too. Everyone has a different perception and could all be a teacher for us. Being closed or thinking you’re always right is a sure way to miss out on valuable feedback.

We need to rise above feedback being perceived as a negative thing and look hard at ways to take aspects of it to improve our personal and professional development.

Other people always have different perspectives and views compared to our own, right or wrong, so it’s important to be open and listen to others and also share your own views so they can hear your perspective on the same issue.

Sometimes you will be able to see and agree with the person giving you feedback, other times you may not. If someone is giving you feedback and you really want to follow their guidance but don’t know how, ask them to give you a specific example on what you can change which would show them you have successfully implemented their feedback.

#5 ACCURATE FEEDBACK

It’s important to give as accurate feedback as possible. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s great if you can get some specific measures that support your feedback. E.g. 

“Well done, you are improving the growth of the business because you successfully signed up 5 new clients this month in comparison to 2 per month for the previous 3 months.”

Remember, not everyone will always provide accurate or the right feedback all the time either – even your manager or if you’re the manager giving feedback to your team! There can be many reasons for this, stress, not being close enough to the work to see accurately or not having looked at figures to back up statements.

Sometimes others may think you’re doing well when you don’t think you are! This is a mis-match to simply be discussed.

#6 HOW TO COMMUNICATE FEEDBACK

Use the CRC Technique (commend / recommend / commend). Ref: Toastmasters International

Keep things simple with your communication by listening and discussing feedback, with a common goal of getting the best out of everyone in the team.

Be careful of never giving feedback when you’re in a place of frustration or upset yourself. First get yourself under control, think clearly and professionally and deliver your feedback in a helpful and uplifting way for the other person to receive.

Try to aim for your feedback to be inspiring for the person to achieve more rather than putting them down and leaving them feeling flat and unmotivated.

#7 REPEATING FEEDBACK

Sometimes people need to hear the feedback a few times or from a few different people to really understand it’s a problem for them and something to be fixed for their best interests. Other times people are trying but haven’t yet worked out a way to overcome the challenge of making the desired change.

A person may not implement a piece of feedback because they don’t actually believe it will help them or provide them with better results. When this happens it’s important to address the belief, not just tell them they must do it.

Be patient with people, ask how they think they are going with previously delivered feedback first, perhaps they have made some changes you’re not aware of and then support and encourage them through what else they can do.

Of course if you’re trying to provide someone with valuable feedback that you know will help them and they continue to ignore it, first check in with the accuracy or if the person actually sees that as something important for them to change. They might not be trying to change because they don’t see the value in making it a priority.

Sometimes direct and assertive feedback is required. Show the person how you think implementing the feedback will directly help them and what you see will or could happen if they don’t. It’s important for you when giving feedback to select the most appropriate way of delivering it to get the desired outcome.

#8 YOUR RESULTS

You can quickly identify if your feedback is working by asking the person if they found it helpful and observing if people are following your advice or not.

#9 BE OPEN

Being open to another person’s feedback when perhaps you don’t agree with it is very important too. This can build confidence, you might not think you’re improving when they say you really are can be very helpful! You might not see it yourself.

Each person must stop and really think about what the person is saying before they dismiss it as incorrect or remaining stuck in their own ways.

#10 FREQUENCY

Frequency of feedback helps when it’s common practice in an organisation. For if and when it comes ‘out of the blue’, especially from the top, people can be shocked or perceive it as though it is a bigger deal than it actually is.

It’s best to work through things when they are small and manageable rather than not communicating feedback and allowing small issues to build into a big problem.

#BONUS TIP – FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT! 

It’s not fair if a person doesn’t get the feedback they need as it doesn’t give them the chance to improve before something may be taken away from them etc.

Check in with how you are giving and receiving feedback and take note of any actions you think you could improve upon in your organisation.

I hope you enjoyed today’s article and if you need any help with feedback, either your own or in your organsiation please contact me today! 

Live Your Best Life

Jacqueline Pigdon, The LOVE MONDAYS Expert is an Australian rowing champion, a spiritual life & career coach, author and award winning entrepreneur! Beginning her career in corporate IT and as an elite sports person she knows firsthand how to achieve goals and make a successful and fulfilling career transition. Jacqueline has dedicated her life to helping other women all around the world do the same and create a career and life they love!

T: +61447728677
E: jacqueline@jinalife.com
www.lovemondaysnow.com

To get a copy of Jacqueline’s BOOK ‘Love Mondays Now – 5 Steps to a career & life you love CLICK HERE!