Darcy Luoma Coaching and Consulting

By

Assess Your Trail and Act Accordingly

My friend, Randi, decided she wanted to give cross-country skiing a try and asked if I’d take her and her daughter. I’ve loved cross country skiing since I was in 7th grade in Minnesota, and the trails are fantastic this winter—so I was happy she asked.

In case you’ve never been cross country skiing, let me fill you in on one important thing to know when you’re out on the trails. Along the way, you’ll see trail markers in different colors: green means it’s easier, blue indicates more difficult, and black is most difficult.

At the first intersection, Randi noticed the sign with two choices: left for easy (green) and right for challenging (black). She asked, “Why would anyone choose the black trail? Isn’t cross country skiing supposed to be relaxing and fun?”

[Read more…]

By

The Stories We Tell Ourselves Aren’t Always True

Once upon a time I had a video call with a coaching client. We took a couple of minutes to catch up, and she seemed to be in a good mood. We started coaching and suddenly something shifted. She was distracted. She seemed to stop listening. She asked me to repeat myself.

My brain started coming up with possibilities of what could be going on. Did someone just walk in her room? Did I say something to offend her? Is she not enjoying the coaching? Then she said, “Darc, hang on a sec.”

[Read more…]

By

We Never Had To Talk About This Before

I watched “Meet the Press” last weekend, and in one segment they interviewed average Americans about the first presidential debate. One man’s thoughts, “We don’t know how to have a conversation anymore.”

I don’t disagree. There are lots of reasons for this in 2020. Let’s look at a few…

  1. There is polarization. Opinions are strong. Leaders talk over each other. There’s not a lot of listening going on. The desire to be understood is stronger than the desire to understand others or find a resolution. (I admit I’m guilty of this on certain social issues when I disagree with every fiber of my being.) 
  2. This is all new. People are dealing with circumstances they’ve never experienced before. A coaching client recently said work-life balance doesn’t exist anymore—everything’s just blurred together. Another client said they never imagined needing more contact with co-workers because they’re feeling so isolated at home. 
  3. Uncertainty creates fear. Nobody knows when the pandemic will end, the economy will improve, or the outcome of the election. When people operate from a place of fear or anxiety, fuses can be short. Conversations between even the closest colleagues can be strained. And combining fear or anxiety with relationships that are already low on trust? Well, that’s where things can go downhill exponentially fast.

[Read more…]

By

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.

[Read more…]

By

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.

[Read more…]

Don't miss our weekly Thoughtfully Fit tips!