I’ve been dog-sitting for friends for the past 10 days, and have had an insight into the world of pet-keeping that I’ve never experienced before. I know ‘Pepper’ well, as I regularly walk her. She’s a beautiful 11 year old Dobermann, and soft and friendly with it.
Looking after a dog 24/7 is an insight into another world – the world of pack animals. I learnt a lot about establishing boundaries and seniority – especially when Pepper started to chew my slippers!
I also made discoveries about saying what I mean. Calling the dog to ‘Come here’ is a high pitched voice which tilts up at the end of the sentence while wondering if she will come back just does not work. Alignment of thinking, body stance and voice (range, timbre and expression) to put clear and assertive messages across worked far better.
I had been steered towards these discoveries by a friend talking about a place in Yorkshire where you can practice assertion through working with border collies as they herd sheep and other animals www.bordercollies.co.uk . Now I fully understand how this can happen.
Mind you, for Pepper, chasing rabbits and deer still take precedence over any mere mortal wanting to go home.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Media changes
I am a member of the RYA’s Paralympic Steering group, which decides policy and selection for the British Paralympic sailing effort. Recently one of us attended an update on 2012 www.london2012.org for our group and he reported back on a presentation from the BBC.
A very effective presentation (to be expected!) pointed out that the techniques for reporting on sport in 1948 (the last time London hosted the Olympics) and Sydney 2000 were essentially the same. Then there was more change between 2000 and 2004 than the previous 52 years. And the speed of technological advancement continues to heat up, to the point that every minute of sport in Beijing 2008 www.en.beijing2008.cn will be available somewhere (traditional media, websites, blogs) to anyone who can find it.
I am reminded to be grateful that I pay my license fee for the BBC www.bbc.co.uk since the freedom this gives them to stay at the forefront of such changes means 2012 will be great viewing, and will probably set new standards for sports reporting in the world.
In the meantime, one of the sailing magazines, Yachting World www.yachting-world.com is filling a gaping gap in sailing media with their Editorial blogs and podcasts. The international sailing community adopted internet communication very early on, and we have excellent ‘newspapers’ such as the Daily Sail and newsletters such as Scuttlebutt as well as websites galore, but the use of new media by Andrew Bray, David Glen, Elaine Bunting and Matthew Sheahan add comment and opinions more along the lines of the serious traditional paper newssheets such as the Guardian, the Times etc. I applaud the initiative.
A very effective presentation (to be expected!) pointed out that the techniques for reporting on sport in 1948 (the last time London hosted the Olympics) and Sydney 2000 were essentially the same. Then there was more change between 2000 and 2004 than the previous 52 years. And the speed of technological advancement continues to heat up, to the point that every minute of sport in Beijing 2008 www.en.beijing2008.cn will be available somewhere (traditional media, websites, blogs) to anyone who can find it.
I am reminded to be grateful that I pay my license fee for the BBC www.bbc.co.uk since the freedom this gives them to stay at the forefront of such changes means 2012 will be great viewing, and will probably set new standards for sports reporting in the world.
In the meantime, one of the sailing magazines, Yachting World www.yachting-world.com is filling a gaping gap in sailing media with their Editorial blogs and podcasts. The international sailing community adopted internet communication very early on, and we have excellent ‘newspapers’ such as the Daily Sail and newsletters such as Scuttlebutt as well as websites galore, but the use of new media by Andrew Bray, David Glen, Elaine Bunting and Matthew Sheahan add comment and opinions more along the lines of the serious traditional paper newssheets such as the Guardian, the Times etc. I applaud the initiative.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Coaching the 1st 100 days of a new job
I find the work I do for Berkshire Consultancy www.berkshire.co.uk fulfilling. I coach newly recruited high-flying executives through the first 100 days of their new job.
That first half year in a new company is often frantic – you have been employed to make a real difference, you are learning on your feet and the demands on your time and judgement just keeps coming at you relentlessly. Yet it’s a competitive environment – you don’t yet know who’s word to trust, and you dare not show a weakness. At the same time, your personal life may be suffering from the long hours you are putting into work, and if a relocation is necessary too, the going gets really tough.
I’m finding that top managers value a coach to get them through this time. I help them decide priorities, and act as a bouncing board to work through ideas and responses to challenges presented as they occur. My clients find they come out of the first six months with a clearer idea of where they are going, without having alienated people (colleagues and staff) unnecessarily, and with private needs acknowledged. In addition, the portfolio of initiatives they have generated is better balanced by having created time for reflection when under pressure to prove their worth. In short, they have established themselves to good effect to the powers that be.
It’s always great contributing to success!
That first half year in a new company is often frantic – you have been employed to make a real difference, you are learning on your feet and the demands on your time and judgement just keeps coming at you relentlessly. Yet it’s a competitive environment – you don’t yet know who’s word to trust, and you dare not show a weakness. At the same time, your personal life may be suffering from the long hours you are putting into work, and if a relocation is necessary too, the going gets really tough.
I’m finding that top managers value a coach to get them through this time. I help them decide priorities, and act as a bouncing board to work through ideas and responses to challenges presented as they occur. My clients find they come out of the first six months with a clearer idea of where they are going, without having alienated people (colleagues and staff) unnecessarily, and with private needs acknowledged. In addition, the portfolio of initiatives they have generated is better balanced by having created time for reflection when under pressure to prove their worth. In short, they have established themselves to good effect to the powers that be.
It’s always great contributing to success!
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