COACHING TIPS & TOOLS     In today's diverse marketplace, technical skills are not enough; everybody needs better people skills. (July, 2006) To learn more about the increased expectations for effective communication skills in the workplace and how to address them, click here and select the July 2006 tip from the archive list. To download the service sheet for the new Forward Focus Coaching Program for managers in the high-tech and financial services sectors (and IT and Finance Managers in corporations of any industry), click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help strengthen communication between technical experts and sales organizations, click here.     To increase sales success, become an expert not only in sales technique but also in your client's business. (June, 2006) To learn more about how the rules of engagement for sales and marketing teams have changed in today's marketkplace and how you can respond, click here and select the June 2006 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help your organization increase sales revenues by 20% or more, click here.     Everybody sells. (May, 2006) To learn more about re-connecting every employee to the revenue-generation process, click here and select the May 2006 tip from the archive list. To learn more about the Integrity Selling program, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you improve your selling ability, both to potential clients and to peers and managers within your organization, click here.     To communicate with assertive, hard-driving, fast-moving Type A bosses, package your message the way they like to receive it - assertive, hard-driving and fast-moving. (April, 2006) To learn more about communicating with Drivers, click here and select the April 2006 tip from the archive list. For a complimentary copy of "3 Tips for Communicating with Assertive, Hard-Driving, Fast-Moving Bosses," click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you communicate more effectively with people of different communication styles, click here.     When you are stuck in an unproductive place, reach out to "the enemy." (March, 2006) To learn how to have a breakthrough by learning from your enemies, click here and select the March 2006 tip from the archive list. To learn more about learning from those who are different from you, click here.     Turn criticism into knowledge. (February, 2006) To learn how to turn criticism into knowledge, click here and select the January 2006 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how to handle criticism, click here.     Instead of making a New Year's resolution this year, try letting go of a small resistance. (January, 2006) To learn how to let go of resistance, click here and select the January 2006 tip from the archive list. To learn more about the gentle approach to managing resistance to change, click here.     When you are fearful of taking the next step, take a leap instead. (December, 2005) To learn how to leap forward, click here and select the December 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about moving through your fears, click here.     If you want to be successful in the changing marketplace, master the art of selling with integrity. (November, 2005) To learn how to sell your ideas more effectively, click here and select the November 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about the Integrity Selling process, click here.     When you're feeling overwhelmed, clear out the clogs. (October, 2005) To learn more about dealing with overwhelm, click here and select the October 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you with time and energy management, click here.     When faced with the possibility that a goal will not be met, learn to distinguish between perseverance and going to a dry well. (September, 2005) To learn more about deciding whether a goal requires perseverance or a farewell, click here and select the September 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you let go of nonproductive pursuits, click here.     Ask your employees to stop reporting to you and start reporting to their best work. (August, 2005) To learn more about discovering your best work, click here and select the August 2005 tip from the archive list. For a complimentary worksheet on discovering your best work, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you set and meet your goals, click here.     Learn to discern the difference between an employee's "front-line intelligence report" and a request for help. (July, 2005) To read more about this tip, click here and select the July 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you understand your employees' concerns, click here.     If you want to improve performance, instead of setting the bar higher, build greater capacity. (June, 2005) To read more about this tip, click here and select the June 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you optimize performance through improving capacity, click here.     First accept responsibility for your own piece in a conflict; then invite others to do the same. (March, 2005) To read more about this tip, click here and select the March 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you analyze conflict, click here.     Pay attention to your hunches. (February, 2005) To read more about this tip, click here and select the February 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you work with your hunches, click here.     When what you are doing isn't working for you any more, audition for a new role. (January, 2005) To read more about this tip, click here and select the January 2005 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you create new roles for yourself, click here.     When you are frustrated by how little progress you are making towards your goals, spend more time reviewing your accomplishments. (December, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the December 2004 tip from the archive list. For a complimentary worksheet on daily planning and reflection, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you set and meet your goals, click here.     To get the results you envision, create a culture that encourages constructive realism. (November, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the November 2004 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you create a culture that encourages constructive realism, click here.     To rebuild employee morale, replace cynicism with skepticism. (October, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the October 2004 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you deal with cynicism in the workplace, click here.     Learn to lead from the middle. (September, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the September 2004 tip from the archive list. To purchase an article from Harvard Business Review on leading from the middle, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you work through the challenges of leading from the middle, click here.     Be careful what you make it mean. (August, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the August 2004 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you work through premature reactions to the words and actions of others, click here.     When you find yourself resisting change, identify the wisdom in your resistance and assimilate it into your next step forward. (June, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the June 2004 tip from the archive list. For a complimentary worksheet on Working through Resistance, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you (or someone you manage) work through resistance to change, click here.     When you want to influence a decision, don't insist on being right. Settle for being "not wrong." (May, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the May 2004 tip from the archive list. For a Decision-Making Checklist: Eight Perspectives, click here. For an article from ManyWorlds.com on Debugging Executive Decision Making, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you influence the decision-makers in your organization, click here.     When your goal is to take your team to the next level, practice doing nothing. (April, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the April 2004 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you strengthen accountability on your team, click here.     When you have difficulty saying "no", consider what you'd be saying "yes" to. (March, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the March 2004 tip from the archive list. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you learn to say "no" and "yes" appropriately, click here.     When you feel disempowered, create movement. (February, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the February 2004 tip from the archive list. For "Tips for Engaging a Disempowering Boss" referred to in the article, click here. For Sample Phrases for Engaging a Disempowering Boss, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you deal with difficult managers and co-workers, click here.     When you want to win the respect of others, catch them by surprise -- Listen. (January, 2004) To read more about this tip, click here and select the January 2004 tip from the archive list. For a copy of the Coaching Notes referred to in the article, click here. To learn more about how Forward Focus can help you master the art of gaining respect through active listening, click here.     When juggling multiple priorities, Focus on Energy, not efficiency (December, 2003) To read more about this tip, click here and select the December 2003 tip from the archive list. For a complimentary exercise on this topic, click here. To learn more about the Forward Focus Energy Inventory Worksheet and other coaching tools, click here.