4 Relationships that Shape your Work

Which needs your focus?

I coach leaders on improving their work-life: more success without the stress, and where does most of that stress come from at work? Relationships!

No leader is an island, and to make a massive impact in the world, we all need to work with others, be it our boss, team, peers, or clients.

We all do better when our relationships improve, and I spend much of my coaching time with clients helping them have happier, healthier and more productive relationships with these four stakeholders…which one would you work on first should we work together?

p.s. if you’re thinking of exploring a coaching relationship with me, book a 1:1 Coaching Experience or Group Coaching Experience now.

1. With your Boss

The Why - a boss can make or break a job - they say people leave bosses not work places - so great if you don’t have to.

The What - If you think your boss is 100% responsible for your relationship think again. A good relationship with your manager is co-created - when you both bring 100% (as with anything) that’s where the magic happens.

When I’m working with you we can’t make your Manager more communicative, empathetic or supportive, but we can ensure you’re supporting your Manager reach their objectives, help them understand what you want and need, and influence the direction of travel for the whole team.

We leave it up to them to meet you halfway. Much easier when you’re leading by example, even if that feels awkward at first, managing upwards. It almost always pays off.

2. With your Team

The Why - whether you’re a first-time leader, just inherited a new, bigger team, or maybe been promoted to lead your peers, humans are messy, and being charged with their happiness, career and performance at work can feel daunting.

The What -

“I just want them to get on with it rather than creating internal drama”

“I want to bring them with me, but they don’t seem to get it”

“I want them to show more initiative, but they just want to be told what to do”

Any of those sound familiar?

Having an external sounding board help you ascertain what you want from your team and establish how to get there (trying sh*t and seeing what happens) is game changing as I found with my first coach leading a messy but glorious team of 200.

You won’t always know what to do when multiple people want a piece of you, and business as usual throws challenges left, right and centre. One hour a fortnight with a trusted advisor can efficiently deal with so many energy zappers and free up headspace for more creative, innovative thoughts and projects.

3. With your Peers

The Why - not as obvious as your boss or team, but if you’re on a Senior Management team, you’ll know that your ability to influence and work well with your peers can make a huge difference to whether you’re progressing or stagnating in your career.

The What - how to be better at influencing your peers? Show empathy I.e. put yourself in their shoes - similar to your boss (above), find out what they’re trying to achieve, what good looks and feels like for them, then outline an aligned approach that helps you both reach personal and professional goals, together. Win-win.

We have so much thinking about what they’ll think of us, how they’ll react, how we compare to them…and you know what, they have this too. So show some empathy…it almost never fails.

And finally…

4. With Yourself

The Why - no matter whether you have a boss, a team or peers, we all have a relationship with ourselves, and it’s the biggest game changer in your work (and life) when this relationship improves.

The What -

Most of us wouldn’t dream of talking to others the way we talk to ourselves.

Most of us don’t cut ourselves as much slack as the people we love.

And most of us don’t dream anywhere near as big for ourselves as we do for our kids, partners and friends.

Herein lies the game-changer in investing in a coach who creates space, gets curious, pulls at the loose threads, gently challenges your b*llshit and requires of you a bigger dream and more action, (however messy) taken on it.

I get bored otherwise. And I’m not good with boredom. Non-action takers need not apply. But that’s not to say I’ll have you doing more. I attract driven, hard-working folk who honestly need slowing down before they speed up.

My objective for you is not to have you doing more, if you’re my ideal client, you lie in bed at night thinking:

“I’m doing too much, yet it’s never enough”

What if you could take aligned, efficient action on your goals and dreams, without internal judgement?

Get clarity, make progress, increase confidence and build momentum. Celebrate small wins and massive f*ck Ups alike?

Role model leadership in the best way you know how. To your boss, your team, your peers, your clients.

And most importantly, build trust in yourself, as someone who shows up for you. Because coming from this place, everyone else gets taken care of too.

If the time’s right, and you’re ready to slow down to speed up, get in touch, we should talk.

Not ready for a 1-2-1 exploration but would love to experience my coaching style in the safety of a group setting? Sign up for a Group Coaching Experience.

To your relationships

Mehalah.

Mehalah Beckett is a coach, consultant and trusted advisor passionate about people, the planet and empowering others to inspire positive change. She coaches purpose-driven leaders to impossible goals, hosts MasterMinds for hungry entrepreneurs and guides businesses through B-Corp. What can I help you achieve over the next year?