Archive for category change management

Human Needs

Posted by Volker in cb consulting, change management, coaching on 12/11/2009

This week I continued to listen to the mp3 of Anthony Robbins, and the six basic human needs:

1. Certainty/Comfort.
2. Variety.
3. Significance.
4. Connection/Love.
5. Growth.
6. Contribution.

Having worked with my coach for a few week, and had another coaching session this week, I realise that these basic six needs are very important. Let’s assume you are in a relationship, in a job, play chess in a club, or anything that is important to you, and none or only one or two of these needs are met. How long would you stay in that situation and not change it? And why?

For argument sake, you are in a relationship but your partner doesn’t give you security because s/he is going off to gamble the hard earned money. Then s/he doesn’t’ show any love or connection to you and your kids, and you feel like you cannot grow or contribute to the situation at home. As Anthony would put it, the blueprint of your life of what you want to achieve and life itself are not equal. You are very unhappy.

Then this is the time for change! Change to either solve the situation if you can or get out of there. Find a situation that meets three or four of your basic human needs.

If you watched the video above you can see what I am talking about. It is just one of many videos on YouTube, so if you do a search for “Anthony Robbins” and “six human needs”, you should find answers to:

a) What is stopping us from having the life we want?

You ever tried to blame others for the situations you are in? It is my boss, it is the work environment, it is the commute, it is my neighbour, it is my wife/husband, ….. – there is only one person you have fully control over and that is YOU. You are the one that can change people, situations and of course yourself. You decide – have choice – to develop yourself the way you want. The answer for anything lies within you, something I try to explore with my blog on Buddhism and Management which is currently paused.

b) What is controlling and shaping your choices and emotions?

What is it you would like to achieve? Which pattern/behaviour do you have? How could you break it? Why do you do what you do? Look from the outside in and experiment what would be if you changed. Get a coach to do a time-line exercise to understand what you are looking for.

c) Why do we do the things we do if it is so easy to change?

This comes down to pattern, behaviour and routine. Don’t you get up every morning and have the same routine. And if something disturbs you in it, don’t you hate it? And, you cannot change any pattern without finding a substitution that meets the same needs.

Anthony says that if a habit or a pattern meets at least three needs it becomes an addiction – in a positive as well as a negative sense. If jogging or sports meet three needs then you might get addicted to sports, but if smoking gives you security, comfort and love as well as contribution to a social group, then this habit will be hard to break. So you need to find an alternative that meets exactly the same needs by doing something different!

Have a think about it and please leave a comment or contact me if you would like to find out more.

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Nudge

Posted by Volker in cb consulting, change management, motivation on 14/04/2009

In this weekend’s FT I read about Richard Thaler who wrote a book called “Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness“. Of course I ordered it straight away.

Since I did not know who Richard Thaler was, I had a look. He is the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioural Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Wow, what a title. He was advisor to Obama in his presidential campaign.
His book “Nudge” discusses how organizations can help to make better choices. The term “choice architect” was defined as someone who displays choice in a way for other people to chose, e.g. he uses the example of someone who writes out a school menu and depending on whether the healthy or unhealthy option is first, that “architect” influences the decision for lunch.

Below is a video I found of his presentation given at the RSA, the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, in London. Enjoy and please let me know what you think. I cannot wait to read his book!

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cb consulting London

Posted by Volker in NLP, cb consulting, change management, coaching, creativity, customer service, family, philosophy, spirituality and business on 24/02/2009

I have been asked over the last few days, what cb consulting really is? What am I doing as a marketing and management consultant?

It is both a playing field for SEO and web design but also my first own company. I founded it not short of 2 years ago to start selling some of my services, e.g. performance coaching, life coaching, career coaching, trainings and seminars, to some friends and corporates.

However, at that time and even now, I am still working full time to earn my living that way. And, I do not really want to change that or give up the security of my day job.

cb consulting really is a good way of showing off my skills and offering them to the greater world. I have excelled in helping people achieving their dreams, dream jobs and personal goals.

Also, I am about to start my first online marketing consulting project – keep your fingers crossed. Combining the right tools to reach the objectives.

Coaching is not always the easiest thing to do. You don’t really want to tell people what to do but be there for guidance and helping them to identify their own goals. Only if the goal has been clarified you can lay out the path for them with the client playing the mayor part. There is no use of a coach outlining any steps to a client if the client does not know where they are going.

Sometimes clients get set-backs. Getting them back on their feet, visualising their goals and get them to re-focus is a great challenge. Only who has been down and got himself up again understand how to it is to be on the floor, not knowing what to do and where to go.

Particularly in the recession career coaching becomes very important. So tune in and let me know how I can help you today?

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Managing Stress (2)

Posted by Volker in cb consulting, change management, health, personal on 20/02/2009

I want to complete the story about managing stress which I started on Wednesday.

How do we cope and manage stress so it does not affect our health nor our life style?

I guess one thing is the perception and your internal attitude towards things.

E.g. researchers still speak about negative and positive stress and some say that the latter should actually help us, similar to exercise. But the majority of articles say that it does not matter how you perceive stress, as in general it cannot be good for you.

However, if you think positive, you will be able to generate less stress. E.g. you cramp up less and you have less physical tension. That will help you to think clearly and get less wound up.

Exercise and hobbies – you remember in my last post I was writing about them. Yes, you need this all important time for yourself. You need that time and ideally combine it with a relaxing hobby, e.g. walking the dog or exercising. The latter combination would be best as e.g. exercising reduces your blood pressure combating heart diseases and if it helps you to reduce stress, it is a powerful healthy combination. Wow, we should all do it. I have done it but get too lazy doing it. Really, we just need to keep up the good work, don’t we? Ideally do it in a group. The group exercises I joined are more fun and you are more motivated staying with it than doing any exercise by yourself.

stress

So looking after yourself, taking a break from work, not working through lunch and relaxing whilst you work will help you. Healthy food definitely contributes to that. Stay away from greasy, fatty stuff.

Also, if you were in a situation that causes stress, confront it. This could be anything from work to your relationship. Don’t ignore the problem. Make sure if you travel to sort things out in advance and not to leave it until it is too late, e.g. be organised to get your passport, visa and immunisations sorted!

And, that is really it. Doesn’t sound that hard, does it?
I believe that in order to successfully manage stress you need to be aware of the problem, discuss and tackle it and get on with it. You need to create a healthy work life balance. With the right balance you will even be better at what you are doing, e.g. your work or studies.

So get on with it. Live it!

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Managing Stress (1)

Posted by Volker in cb consulting, change management, health on 18/02/2009

You might have guessed. I keep talking about stressful days, times at work and my love for work for a while. On the other hand I am talking about how much I love it. Contradiction? NO!

I love what I am doing and how much I am doing of it but I often get carried away and forget all about work life balance.

But, I noticed that some days stress can get to me. Some days more than others and I thought, what is missing in my life that has been there before?

- exercise
- hobbies

Overall, it comes down to my hobbies being what I love most: work at my main job and cb consulting, working on my blogs and websites.

Excercis: yes, I have neglected it too long and have to get back to a routine. And, I will! Not only did I start Tai Chi, but I also started going back to the gym. First once a week and I want to increase it to twice a week. As they say, the ant cannot eat the elephant in a day, it needs to have a bite at a time. Be patient Volker!

My friend at Balamadana says: Volker, I have known you for years and I believe you have all the right intentions but something gets in your way. You need to change and you will…. – and, he is right. It is about time.

Enough of a self analysis. I am neither stressed nor strained but I believe I sometimes let things get to me and do not switch off as easily as I used to. In uni for instance I had my hour exercise a day plus was less bothered about things. Guess that is what people say about student life, don’t they.

So, in this post about “managing stress” I want to see what stress is. Is there such a thing? What about positive or negative stress. Most of mine is positive but if you ask a doctor it still has the same effect on your body.

Oxford Brookes University published a nice website explaining:

Adaptive stress helps us rise to life’s challenges. Adrenaline, nor-adrenaline and glucose flow into our blood: we get a buzz of energy and feel alert, focused, and creative. Negative stress occurs when our ability to cope with life’s demands crumbles. If we don’t break down the stress chemicals (e.g. through physical activity) they stay in the blood, preventing us from relaxing. Eventually this results in a permanent state of stress. That initial buzz turns to worry, irritability or panic. Challenges become threats; we doubt our ability to do even simple things and problems appear insurmountable.

Wow, that sounds like a downward spiral. There are so many things that cause stress. I remember me not being able to cope with high speed drives after the experience of a car accident. And sometimes I cannot stand loud noise or when our neighbours used to be noisy at 4 am in the morning, that really caused stress.

There are 3 factors how stress affects us:

Physically: our heart beats faster, our blood pressure increases, muscle tension, butterflies in your stomach and faster breathing…..

Mentally:you might start having “weirder thoughts” or cannot “think straight”. Worrying is probably the main effect, and negative thoughts.

Emotionally: Fear, frustration, impatience, anxiety, insecurity and depression.

So how do we cope best with stress? I write about that the next time.

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Career Coaching in a Recession

Posted by Volker in cb consulting, change management, coaching on 12/02/2009

I was speaking to a friend earlier today. Really, I was helping him to get his CV updated and to tidy up his cover letter. Unfortunately, that was more work than I thought it was.

He has been with his company for a few years, has been in a few jobs, however the recession makes him fear he might lose his job soon.

So he asked me to look into that and since I run my own consulting and coaching business I was more than happy to do that.

He was pleased with the fresh input I gave him for his CV, the way he can sell himself much better now. And, he also is much more confident to apply for jobs and do his cover letters too.

I said, no problem, anytime. He answered that he would like to pay me but instead suggested to pay 2% of his new job’s salary to me. With his position, that could be a nice promise if he keeps it.

Maybe I should offer that to everyone – if you run your CV by me and cover letter, I help you to identify your goals, aims and objectives to where you want to be and coach you to find a job. You then pay me an agreed percentage of your new salary.

He got me thinking – did I get you thinking?

With Coaching it is all about having a personal consultant that looks at your processes, your aims, your career and identifies where you want to go. S/he helps you to see how you can get there and gives you support on the way. Why not try today?

Contact me through the contact form on the right or via my contact details of cb consulting.

Have a great weekend,
Volker

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The curious case of…

Posted by Volker in cb consulting, change management, personal on 11/02/2009

…Benjamin Button.

It has been a few days since I watched the movie, however it was a great movie to watch.

“Button” line is that someone is born but looks like he is old and with the years grows younger. Falls in love with a woman that grows old and they meet in the middle for a few years.

Whoever has seen the movie, you know what I mean.

I find it fascinating. Imagine you look better from day to day. Less grey hair, more women that run after you (if you look like Brad Pitt anyway) and you feeling better too. However, what is worse?

Thinking of going through puberty backwards and starting to wet the bed or growing old and wetting the bed and stop remembering what happened. It is an interesting thought to see how things could be different, if time runs backwards.

But, is it not all in our head? Isn’t it our mind which tells us what to think, how young to feel, and how to deal with life? Is it not our perception and life experience that makes it more worthwhile every day? If Brad Pitt had started with the experience and age but became younger and less experienced, e.g. a real backward journey, would the movie still have the same effect?

I don’t want to spoil the end – however life is similar on both ends, isn’t it? And, you are never to old to start all over again and make things happen. Really!

Yes you can – anyone can if you are ready and motivated. Whatever you can achieve, go for it!

Have a great night,
Volker

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new website live

Posted by Volker in HR, Marketing, NLP, SEM, cb consulting, change management, customer service, motivation, perception, performance, spirituality and business, time management on 29/12/2008

Hello All,

My slightly revamped cb consulting website is live. What do you think?

cb consulting

Volker

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Good Reading – Motivational Reading

Posted by Volker in NLP, cb consulting, change management, job, motivation, personal on 20/11/2008

As mentioned in a post a while back, I was reading Christopher Howard, Turning Passions into Profits. This book is a must read for anyone who likes to know what you can do with NLP.

This book is not for a novice to NLP who think that one could read this book and all your motivation comes true and you know NLP. However, for the experienced practitioner/master practitioner, this book gives a good example of case studies and how to use NLP in a “world context”. Almost too basic for the Master Practitioner it still gives a good overview and idea, or reminds you of topics you should reread, such as sensory acuity.

Me personally, I liked the book. Gives it great examples of sales and negotiation techniques based on NLP and other tools/techniques. The “wow” factor was there, the “I need to revisit that chapter” factor was there, so overall, a very good book to read.

I am sure you will find his websites useful too:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIPzXIBGSA0]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhAHcciWXB0]

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Facing the Giants…

Posted by Volker in NLP, buddhism, change management, gtd, job, leadership, motivation, personal, spirituality and business on 09/11/2008

I finally watched the whole movie of facing the giants as described in my earlier post. It is a very motivational movie. However, I was surprised that is based around god and the love of god to make it a success.

With having lived in the US for a year a few years ago, I know how important Christianity is in the US and that it helps people to motivate. However, it does not matter which faith you are as long as you believe in something, and someone – yourself.

I am not a great believer in contemporary church but find my spiritual guidance through Buddhism. Latter helps me to stay focus, help others and be motivated in personal life as well as in corporate life.

What wonders me sometimes is that there seems to be this “YES WE CAN” attitude in the USA, the American Dream that just this week was supported by the first ethnic minority president to be in the world. A country that has this approach will always be more confident and be more successful.

In Germany where I grew up and I believe it is similar in most European countries, this attitude is not on the schedule for high school kids. It is more about “this is an American thing” and that is that.

Why are we not taking the positive attitude, the “can do approach” from our big brother and use it to make us more successful, more motivated and more focused in life and work. Without thinking that this is only done “elsewhere”.

I believe we need to incorporate the basic and underlying approach of this attitude in our daily lifes to motivate ourselves and to get where we want to be. No surprise that things like GTD, NLP, Turning Passion into profits are all coming from one country.

In my opinion most of those ideas are based around the basic attitude of reaching out for the stars and making things happen. And to have this vision of reaching things, not to show fear and stay focus. That is not rocket science, is it?

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