Asking the Right Questions
10.13.09

If you have been to a networking event lately, do you notice that most people ask the same question?  “Hi, I’m Brad, what do you do? “  Maybe you have been one of these people who sound like this!  What is the real purpose of this question?  Bottom-line, the person asking it wants to know if you are a match for what his needs and if not, they are off to the next prey!

What about in a romantic relationship, a business relationship, or any other relationship for that matter, do you hear the same questions over and over, like a broken record? (I’m dating myself here).   One of my specialties is that I teach businesses, their teams, and individuals to ask the right questions so they can get to their solutions, quickly and start having immediate results.

Here are 3 tips in asking the right questions:

1.       Show genuine interest in the person you are interacting with.  It’s not about how many people you can meet, rather the quality of the relationships you develop.  The person you just met may not be able to help you directly and if she felt that she had a connection to you, most likely she can give you the name of someone who would be an ideal client for you.

2.       Ask unique questions that provoke genuine thought.  For example, “What are you like at your absolute best?” will evoke the feelings of the person you are talking to and really begin to develop a connection with you if you are authentic and sincere in your asking.  A person will remember you by the types of questions you ask, whether at networking event, a job interview, or even a prospective date!

3.       Acknowledge.  The majority of the people just can’t wait until the other person stops talking so that they can put in their two-cents worth so they rarely hear what was just said.  Slow down your thoughts, really engage with the person, and continue to talk about what they just said.  Don’t worry, it will soon be their turn to ask you questions.

Brandon Moreno is the co-author of a forthcoming book called, Wake Up … Live the Life You Love: Bouncing Back and will be receiving his certification as a Core Energy Coach from iPEC and accreditation from the International Coaching Federation later this year. In addition, Brandon currently sits on the Board of Directors and acts as Vice President of Professional Membership for the San Diego Recruiters Roundtable (SDRR), which includes San Diego’s largest and best known HR networking communities that serve Human Resources professionals, executives, and consultants. He also serves as a mediator for the National Conflict Resolution Center.

 

 
HR: Business Partner or Business Foe?
09.17.09

In 2000, my employer was one of San Diego’s premier healthcare companies that included 5 acute hospitals and nearly 7,000 employees. I recall a management leadership meeting and the discussion was about a new buzz word that was being indoctrinated to the Human Resources community, “Business Partner.” The question was asked how we as HR professionals and executives could integrate this term into the robust healthcare industry. As we went around the room brainstorming, I asked, “why just a ‘business partner’, why not a Business Leader?”

In 2005 the San Diego Business Journal asked me to provide an expert’s opinion on this “new” concept called HR Business Partner. (Click to view article) Memories of this discussion 5 years ago were ignited and as I reiterated its importance not only as a business partner, but a business leader, there were a few things that were getting under my skin. First, I was impressed that my previous employer was so cutting edge that they asked the right question. As I pondered more, I realized that unfortunately, only the elite professionals and executives in the HR community had grasped this concept. However, I was still remaining optimistic that an influential and well respected journal was bringing it to the surface again, knowing the impact HR has in organizations.

Now, as we near the end the final quarter of 2009, most businesses and HR professionals have lost sight of the significant value HR has within the organizations. HR is often inundated with many hats — the counselor, the business advisor, the consultant, the employee advocate, the motivator, the bearer of good news and bad, and so forth. Too often, the people in HR lose sight of its own value, forget to be the business advisor, and therefore are not perceived by executives and leaders as key stakeholders in the business. The result — lack of clarity, mundane tasks, lost focus, and the inability to influence organizations to take them to the next level.

No matter what the position, the moment you cannot place a value on your own worth, you lose credibility and your value diminishes. Ask yourself these questions –“If I had to place a value on my time per hour, what would it be?” I’m not asking you to analyze what the market rate would be, rather what your time is worth. Is it $25? $300? What if it was $1,000 per hour? It makes no difference what the value is, however, it does make a difference what you perceive yourself to be worth; others will see that same value. Then, ask yourself this question – “What am I doing to raise the awareness of my value in my company, business, and personal life?”

Brandon Moreno is the co-author of a forthcoming book called, Wake Up … Live the Life You Love: Bouncing Back and will be receiving his certification as a Core Energy Coach from iPEC and accreditation from the International Coaching Federation later this year. In addition, Brandon currently sits on the Board of Directors and acts as Vice President of Professional Membership for the San Diego Recruiters Roundtable (SDRR), which includes San Diego’s largest and best known HR networking communities that serve Human Resources professionals, executives, and consultants. He also serves as a mediator for the National Conflict Resolution Center.

Brandon Moreno
Business Advisor | Coach | HR Mgmt Consultant | Speaker

Leading Edge Thought

 
Coaching: What IS the ROI
09.02.09

Coaching has been around for generations and has been called by different names. Executive coaching was typically only considered to be available to top leaders in businesses because organizations recognized the benefits to be far reaching and have a myriad of positive impacts on the person receiving the coaching. In a recent survey conducted by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), some indirect core benefits that a client will experience a significant degree of improvement as a result of working with a coach are*:

 

 Communication Skills - 72%  Interpersonal Skills - 71%
 Work Performance - 70%  Work Performance - 70%
 Work/Life Balance - 67%  Wellness - 63%
 Career Opportunities - 62%

Personal Organization - 61%

 Business Management - 61%  Time Management - 57%
 Team Effectiveness - 51%  Corporate Culture - 38%



 

ROI
The vast majority (86%) of those able to provide figures to calculate company ROI indicated that their company had at least made their investment back. In fact, almost one fifth (19%) indicated an ROI of at least 50 (5000%) times the initial investment while a further 28% saw an ROI of 10 to 49 times the investment. The median company return is 700% indicating that typically a company can expect a return of 7 times the initial investment.*

What are you like at your absolute best?  A coach will help you get there!

For Brandon Moreno, his work as a distinguished HR Management consultant, speaker, and coach isn’t just a job, it’s a mission. After logging nearly 2 decades in providing progressive HR leadership, he has helped Executive teams with key initiatives, drove company cultures to be more progressive and stakeholder driven, and navigates organizations through times of change.

Brandon Moreno is the co-author of a forthcoming book called, Wake Up … Live the Life You Love: Bouncing Back and will be receiving his certification as a Core Energy Coach from iPEC and accreditation from the International Coaching Federation later this year. In addition, Brandon currently sits on the Board of Directors and acts as Vice President of Professional Membership for the San Diego Recruiters Roundtable (SDRR), which includes San Diego’s largest and best known HR networking communities that serve Human Resources professionals, executives, and consultants. He also serves as a mediator for the National Conflict Resolution Center.

Brandon Moreno
Business Advisor | Coach | HR Mgmt Consultant | Speaker

Leading Edge Thought

 

*Source: ICF Survey, April 2009

 
7 Reasons to hire an Executive/Corporate Coach
08.24.09

There are many reasons organizations, HR, and executives hire coaches to help them succeed. As one area of your life improves (such as career, business, or financial), it increases the others by having a ripple effect. I have assembled 7 reasons why HR and executives are hiring coaches:

1. “I have no one to support me with my goals.”
Let’s face it, sometimes, being in HR is lonely! A Business Coach can devote one hundred percent of his or her time to you and the success of your business… Think of your Business coach as some one whose only desire is to focus on the topic “All About You and the Success of your Business”. Your business coach will help you plan, come up with ideas, and encourage you to face your fears to move you in the right direction to your success.

2. “I feel like there is little I can do to take a step forward… I am stuck”

Your Business Coach can serve as an third person view of your situation and help you figure out how to get past an obstacle. Remember, it is easier to see the problem from the eyes of some one who is not stuck in it, which is why a Business Coach’s input is very valuable.

3. Many leaders in the business world find themselves working in the business, but not working on the business.

Many times you find yourself handle mundane tasks without taking the time to find out what impacts the future growth of your organization and developing strategic initiatives to propel them forward.

4. Time management is a constant struggle. Many HR professionals and executives feel that they are wasting too much time doing certain tasks and feel their time can best be utilized elsewhere. A coach can help you improve your time management skills and help you set goals to get you where you want to be.

5. Most HR professionals and top business executives, find themselves struggling to find a happy balance with their work and personal life.

This can lead to unneeded stress in the work place and make their time at home less enjoyable. A coach can assist you in uncovering these issues overcoming obstacles causing this.

6. To have your employees in alignment with the company’s vision.

Too often, organization dynamics change and yet the employees are left thinking they are geared towards a certain vision, therefore, productivity suffers. Hiring a coach assists in bringing your workforce into alignment with where you want to go.

7. Because champions, leaders, Harry Potter, and Yoda had one.

Even the greatest of leaders have a coach to help them make it to the top and beyond.

Brandon Moreno
Business Advisor | Coach | HR Mgmt Consultant | Speaker

 
Life's Continual Journey
03.11.09

All throughout our life, it seems we are in search of success and living the perfect life that others have instilled into us; setting a pattern and sequence of events to unfold.  We often do not realize that as we grow older, our "software" in our brain needs to be upgraded to the latest and greatest version. 

We are our own worst enemy, the roadblock to our true happiness, and the obstacle to achieving all that we really desire.  It is only when we stop resisting to the circumstances in our life and give in knowing that the Universe/God have nothing but a stream of well being in store for us, can we begin to realize our true potential.  When we stop paddling upstream and "throw out the ores" and begin to flow with the current, we begin to recognize the "ah ha" moments.

 

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