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January 4th, 2013
 I have a (not-too-well-hidden) confession to make: I’m a New York Jets fan.
I don’t reveal this fact to become the butt of any jokes or to gain sympathy. Just the opposite; I proudly chant my team’s identifier…J-E-T-S…Jets, Jets, Jets!
As an avid fan, I do find solace in the fact that I’m not alone. Millions of others wear their loyalty openly, prominently displayed via their Sanchez, Chrebet, and Gastineau jerseys.
Despite a less-than-stellar season, the Jets have the ability, and the wherewithal, to regain traction next year. While they have some important decisions to make in the off season, it’s ultimately about self-leadership, motivation, and living-up to their full potential.
The Importance of Leadership
You probably don’t come here to read about my football fanaticism, so here’s the thing, in a sense, in examining the Jets over the past few seasons that proves to be insightful. A brash and blustery new coach took over in 2009. Rex Ryan burst on the scene in his first press conference, promising a change in culture, a Super Bowl title, and the traditional trip to the White House that follows. Over the next two seasons, he almost delivered.
What happened? We were so close.
Well, it seems – and this may shock you – an entrenched leadership style that conveys the same message over and over again may not effectively inspire team members to elicit their best performance.
Consider the variety of leadership styles and approaches a leader can use.
There are times to be a cheerleader, times to be a coach, times to be a sounding board, times to be a challenger, times to be a collaborator, etc. An effective leader can adjust his style and approach accordingly, while helping others see fresh and new perspectives.
Since every member of the team doesn’t have the same individual motivation, adapting and modifying our message to reach all members of the team, to get everyone’s buy-in, to get out of the way and let others lead, is critically important.
Leaders Leading Leaders
Now that we know Rex Ryan will be returning to the helm as head coach next year, I look forward to seeing a dynamic and unified team of leaders. Yes, that’s plural…leaders — each player motivated to play full out, energized by the sport they love, and committed to helping one another succeed. Now that’s what champions greatness and makes great champions.
As the first playoff weekend approaches, without “Gang Green,” I’m already looking forward to next season and having my kids join me once again in our beloved team cheer: J-E-T-S…Jets, Jets, Jets!!!
Live on Fire!
D. Luke Iorio, CPC, PCC, ELI-MP
President & CEO
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Tags: coach, coaching skills, expectations, leadership, motivation
Posted in D. Luke Iorio - iPEC CEO
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April 11th, 2009
by Michelle Kunz, Admissions/Career Coach and DC School Director
On a recent E-Factor call, iPEC founder Bruce D Schneider touched on a very timely topic for those of us who feel impacted by recent changes in the economy. He talked about how we define security.
Many of us have been taught to look outside of ourselves for security: find a great job, get into a great relationship, save a certain amount for retirement, get a great education, build this or that which will guarantee an outcome now or later. We feel secure when we have those “details” in place. As a result, when certain events change the details, our security can be shaken or even crumble.
Like any value, security is something we can choose to define for ourselves. We can choose to redefine what security means so that we become the source of our own security – instead of basing it on external details over which we have no control. When we are the CAUSE of our security, only we control whether we feel secure. When something else is at the CAUSE of our security, our security is reduced to an EFFECT of that cause.
As iPEC coaches, we have the unique opportunity to redefine security not only for ourselves, but also to support our clients in redefining what that means to them, whether that client is an organization or an individual. Once we help them reframe security such that they see themselves as the CAUSE rather than the EFFECT, they feel empowered, energized, and engaged. This is the shift our world is looking for right now.
Where are you putting your security in the hands of others? How can you reclaim that security and redefine it such that you are the cause? How will you feel when you have accomplished that?
To listen to the E-Factor show referenced in this post, “Overcoming the Fear of Recession,” click here.
Tags: cause and effect, coach, coach training, economy, life coach, motivation, new perspective, recession, security, values
Posted in Coaching and Coach Training, Current Affairs, Energy Leadership, Uncategorized
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February 12th, 2009
Today's guest blogger is Michelle Kunz, Director of iPEC's Washington, DC school.
February — the month of Groundhogs, Love and Presidents. What do these three have in common? At first glance, nothing at all. But if we look with curiosity — with the eyes of a coach, we begin to see a different pattern emerge.
We enjoy Groundhog Day as a fun, kid-centered tradition that will tell us how much longer winter will last. The expectation is that the groundhog will see his shadow or not, and this predicts our seasonal future. In our hearts we know there is little connection between a groundhog and the seasons, but we like the idea that we could really know how long until the sunny sun of spring can be counted on to stick around.
Valentine's Day — many people have a love/hate relationship with this day. If you're in a relationship, you may have expectations around what your partner should or should not do to observe the day which honors love. If you aren't in a relationship, you may have some feelings about that when people around you are receiving flowers and chocolates. Our society has laid plenty of expectations on us around what success in love should or should not be, and we often eat those messages up without giving very much consideration to how well they serve us as individuals.
President's Day traditionally honors our most famous and, some might say, heroic presidents from the past. Whether their stories are based on truth or have become the stuff of conventional legend is not as important to us on this day as that we have founding fathers that stand on very high pedestals and can provide role models for us. We often use these examples as guidelines for what we expect from our current leaders, regardless of the shift in cultural contexts which may have occurred since the founding of the nation. How can a modern president possibly stand up to the expectation to be a Washington or a Lincoln when these men have become more icons than actual men? And why would we measure anyone against the expectation to be anyone else?
Do you see the theme yet? Expectations. I learned earlier this year while on personal retreat a key difference between expectations and intentions, and it has to do with how much attachment we have around the end result. When we look at our goals with the eyes of a coach, we learn the difference between setting intentions and being passionately engaged in the activities which will get us there, and having expectations — insisting that the end result be this or that. We learn to be flexible within the context of our growth and development, and new possibilities enter our frame of reference as we move through our journey. I encourage you to explore this in your own life and see what you uncover.
Warm regards for a month free of expectations and full of intentions,
Michelle
Tags: coach, expectations, Groundhog Day, intentions, possibilities, President's Day, Valentine's Day
Posted in Uncategorized
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November 26th, 2008
“There’s no better time to appreciate the present than now.” Bruce D Schneider
Last year at this time I spoke on the E-Factor show about the idea of making a “Thanksgiving Resolution.” The resolution I suggested was not to wait until Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude, but to do it weekly, if not daily. I heard from many people about who and what they are grateful for. Some people shared traditions that they had about expressing gratitude. Here’s one I especially liked….
I love Thanksgiving, but not because of the turkey or the games on TV. What’s special to me about the day are my Thanksgiving presents.
Each Thanksgiving, as we sit down to dinner, every member of my family has a current “gratitude story” or "present" to share with everyone in the room. Our ”rules” are that the story must be very specific, and it must be happening right now, and you cannot echo someone else’s present (so you need to have several good ones at the ready).We call it giving each other our “Thanksgiving presents”.
This way, when we gather together every year, no matter what challenges any one of us might be facing, it again brings us back to the reality that, even when things may appear difficult, we can still make the choice to stop at any time to appreciate the moment, the people, and the valuable gift of life that is ours to share today.
What traditions do you have about expressing gratitude (or perhaps you’d like to create a new one)? What “gifts” will you bring to the table this Thursday?
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am very grateful to have each and every one of you in my life.
Tags: appreciation, coach, coach training, giving thanks, gratitude, thanksgiving
Posted in Coaching and Coach Training, Current Affairs, Law of Being, Life Potentials
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November 3rd, 2008
Our “guest” blogger this week is Liz Fisch, Vice President of iPEC. Liz is currently busy working on the development of iPEC’s niche-specific Leadership and Life Potentials training. These exciting programs teach coaching skills and philosophies customized to the needs and situations of people in a wide range of professions, ranging from human resource professionals to financial advisors, accountants, attorneys, direct sellers/network marketers, therapists, chiropractors, and more. Change and Choice are two words that certainly represent iPEC.
On the day before Election Day, I’d like to urge you to get out and vote tomorrow – to make a very important choice. Too often, people become complacent, not voting because “it won’t make a difference” or “one vote doesn’t matter.” Call me idealistic (you may say I’m a dreamer…and it’s true), but I truly do believe that each one of us privileged enough to be living in a country that gives us the right to vote should be sure to exercise that right.
Making a difference is why most of us at iPEC became coaches in the first place, so please, get out there and make a difference tomorrow by voting for the candidate of your choice.
And now, let’s talk about change. One of iPEC’s foundation principles is that “the only constant is change,” and that certainly can be applied to our own organization. Those of you who get iNSPIRE, our monthly newsletter, know of some of the exciting changes that are happening at iPEC right now. A new President (Congratulations Luke Iorio!), an incredible movie based on the Law of Being program and the life experiences of iPEC’s founder and CEO Bruce D Schneider, customized leadership, personal mastery, and professional development trainings to help people learn coaching skills to use in their own lives and work, and to open them up to the possibility and value of what coaching can help them achieve….and so much more.
Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll talk about each of these exciting announcements (and the driving principles behind them!) in the weeks to come. Change at iPEC, change in our country, and change, I’m sure, in your own life, just as in mine. Embrace change, and make conscious choices. (And remember to vote tomorrow!)
Tags: accountant, attorney, change, chiropractor, coach, coach training, financial advisor, HR, network marketing, sales, therapist
Posted in Business Development, Coaching and Coach Training, Current Affairs, Law of Being, Life Potentials, Training Programs, Upcoming Events & Workshops
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