Darcy Luoma Coaching and Consulting

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What are your People Problems?

Do you ever have problems with the people you work with? Maybe they’re little ones that you just sweep under the rug. Or maybe they’re big problems that cause tension and conflict on a daily basis. Regardless of size, if you have people problems at work, you’re not alone.

My team and I have worked with leaders and teams at more than 200 organizations in 48 different industries. And even though each organization is unique, all of them had one thing in common: people problems. 

Because if people work together, there are going to be problems. People disagree. They have different styles. People are uncertain of priorities or expectations. They blow off the handle or just shut down during meetings. People get frustrated and don’t know what to say. They feel stuck and don’t know what to do.

Can you relate? I’m guessing you could add to this list.

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The amazingly simple secret I learned from Angelica Schuyler

As you likely know, Hamilton was released recently on Disney+, and it has generated a lot of renewed interest in it. And rightfully so. It’s an incredible production!

There are so many moments in this musical that just enthrall me, but none more than Satisfied. This song starts with a literal rewind on stage that features the amazing Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler. The entire ensemble is replaying the previous scene around her, and you can see every emotion that her character is going through. And, of course, she is singing and rapping what is arguably one of the most difficult songs in musical theater.

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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.”

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Stop Asking the Wrong Questions

We have encouraged you to bring your inner coach to work. Wondering what that means? Worried that you need to be ready to teach everybody how to do their jobs and call all the plays? Not sure how to do that given all the additional challenges in the world right now?

Good news, coaching is all about getting other people to help you do the work. With my clients, I don’t need to figure out exactly what they need to do. My job is to help them figure out what they want or need to do next.

And if you are coaching at work, you get everyone else to problem-solve and innovate.

How does this happen? By getting curious and asking lots of questions.

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What Your Team Can Learn From Our 90-Pound Foster Dog

Of all the accolades I’ve earned in my life, I’m particularly proud of an award I received last month.

Along with my daughters, we were named “Foster Family of the Month” from Fetch Wisconsin Rescue.

The girls have been asking me forever to get another pet. So in the middle of quarantine, when they were homeschooling and missing their friends and activities, they asked me again if we could get a dog. After watching our poor 14-year old cat tolerate them dressing her up in homemade face masks, because “they were sooooo bored!”, I finally agreed. 

With a caveat. That we get a foster dog.

A few weeks later, Sirius arrived. As in Sirius Black. He’s a one-and-a-half year old, Great Dane/labrador mix. Overnight, the girls became responsible for a 90-pound dog that was experiencing severe separation anxiety and had significant behavior issues. 

But he was also incredibly sweet, and we all fell in love with him immediately!

Suffice it to say, the work we did in between me agreeing to get a dog, and the day that Sirius arrived at our house, is what led to being Foster Family of the Month. Does that maybe surprise you to hear that the recognition was earned because of what we did before he even arrived? Read on.

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