Darcy Luoma Coaching and Consulting

By

Difficult Conversations Don’t Need to be so Difficult

balance your courage compassion and curiosity shoes walking on stick jeans shoes green grass

Have you ever been part of a conversation where everyone is talking, but it doesn’t feel like anyone is listening?

There’s a reason that there are thousands of books, articles, and podcasts on communication. It’s a universal people problem, and it’s one we see all the time when we’re working with teams.

Communication skills are something that you need regardless of what industry you work in. Even if you work in a cube on a computer all day and never have to talk to clients or customers, you still have to communicate with your colleagues, or at the very least your boss.

In order to be successful, you have to find the BALANCE of three C’s to communicate effectively: courage, compassion, and curiosity. You need all three in order to have a conversation that balances what you want or needs with what the other person wants or needs. If you’re missing any of these three… well that’s when conversations get difficult.

Let’s take a closer look at all three C’s.

[Read more…]

By

How Strong Is Your Core?

I’ve been a coach for almost twenty years and have thousands of hours coaching leaders and teams in 48 different industries for hundreds of organizations.

I started noticing that there are some common problems that get in the way of – and sometimes prevent – leaders and teams from focusing on their work and accomplishing the mission of their organization. Regardless of industry, every team had people problems.  

So after extensive research, I developed my leadership model, Thoughtfully Fit, to help clear the hurdles caused by those people problems.

When you’re physically fit, all movements are easier. Whether it’s going for a walk or putting your own suitcase in the overhead bin. When you’re physically fit, you’re less likely to get injured, and you’re more prepared to take on any physical challenge that might pop up in your day. 

In the same way, being Thoughtfully Fit makes life easier, and you’re less likely to do things that you might regret later on. You handle your people problems thoughtfully, so you can get back to doing what you do best. 

What is key to being Thoughtfully Fit? You have to engage your core.

[Read more…]

By

Your Perspective is Not the Only Perspective

By Nancy Turngren 

I recently flew on an airplane. Normally, that’s no big deal. But in the year 2020 things are different! 

This photo is me on the E Concourse at O’Hare International Airport – one of the busiest in the world. I’ve flown one other time during the pandemic and purposely avoided O’Hare because I assumed it’d be too crowded for my comfort level. Suffice to say, my assumption wasn’t close to accurate.

We often walk into situations where we assume what is going to happen. We have an idea in our mind of how things are supposed to be. Due to COVID-19, we are seeing things from a new perspective, and our assumptions are often wrong. We don’t personally have past experience of a pandemic, so we can’t use our experiences to base our thoughts and/or behaviors. 

But perspectives and assumptions aren’t just present in global pandemics.

[Read more…]

By

Now is the Time for Listening

I recently presented a virtual training on coaching skills for managers. One of the activities focused on listening. For two minutes, the manager just had to listen to their partner and then repeat back what they heard. Sounds easy, right? 

Well, there is one comment I hear every time I do this activity. Can you guess what it is?

“It was so nice to be able to talk and just be heard.”

[Read more…]

By

Questions are Often the Answer

text reading questions are always the answer graffiti of black lives matter protest female focused message

 

I’ve been coaching business owners, executives, and managers for almost twenty years now. In the last few weeks, there’s been a common theme with nearly every coaching client.

I’m not sure what I should do.

What should I do about reopening, social distancing, and overall safety? What should I do to support my employees and colleagues who are hurting? What can I do about the injustice that I see in my community? Should I send my kids back to daycare or summer camps now that restrictions are lifting?

People don’t want to do the wrong thing. They don’t want to say the wrong thing.

No answers. Just questions.

[Read more…]

Don't miss our weekly Thoughtfully Fit tips!