The Traveling Pennies Exercise a/k/a Three Coins Method

September 15th, 2008 — tonymayo

Traveling Pennies

My executive coaching clients often ask how to translate their new insights into regular practice so that the benefit of the coaching is integrated into their lives. This is crucial, since the adult executives I coach have well established and largely successful habits that are expressed automatically.

How do we make new strategies and methods just as habitual? One of my favorite techniques is the traveling pennies.

Is there a practice you and your coach have developed that you want to make a part of your life? Perhaps you choose to center three times per day, express gratitude more often, or ask a clarifying question before responding to a inquiry. Here’s how to “operationalize” your good intentions.

Each morning for the next few weeks place

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© Tony Mayo 2008 except as otherwise noted.
Posted in For Executive Coaches, For Executives.

Enhance your Outlook

September 14th, 2008 — tonymayo

XobniI have been very happily using a simple, free tool to enhance my email. Xobni is a new product, still in beta release though quite reliable, to give you more functionality in Outlook.

    • As you read an email, Xobni displays that person’s photo and other information from LinkedIn.
    • Your email conversations with that person are organized into conversations (by subject line).
    • All of the email attachments you have exchanged are listed in a clickable window.
    • With one click, you can send anyone an email showing your available times for the next few days.

Xobni (inbox spelled backward) does lots of other cool things. I am particularly pleased that all the thousands of emails I have fastidiously retained are now readily accessible and tabulated in useful ways.

Try it.

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© Tony Mayo 2008 except as otherwise noted.
Posted in For Executives, Technology Tips.

Roadwork for Enduring Results

September 8th, 2008 — tonymayo

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I developed a talk for the initial meeting of executive coaching groups to prepare them for the slow, sometimes difficult aspects of their work. I have used it many times to great effect. Some of my coaching clients have even adapted it for their own presentations.

The talk is available here with

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© Tony Mayo 2008 except as otherwise noted.
Posted in For Executives, Videos & Podcasts.

Sick of Stress

September 6th, 2008 — tonymayo

Speaking of FaithOne of my favorite radio programs and podcasts is the non-denominational, non-doctrinaire Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett. Krista interviews deep thinkers with important ideas about the essential human experiences of awe, eternity, and community. Every show leads me to reflect deeply and, very often, to live a happier, more involved life. I consider it one of the most nurturing practices of my continual development as an executive coach.

A recent guest was Esther Sternberg, Ph.D., an expert on immunology and stress. She relates the remarkable history of stress’s role in heath and healing. It seem that every culture has always known that emotional and physical stressors contribute to

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© Tony Mayo 2008 except as otherwise noted.
Posted in For Executive Coaches, For Executives, Recommended Books.

Root Causing

September 4th, 2008 — tonymayo

Click to download poster

I often use the story below at the beginning of executive coaching engagements, particularly when coaching groups. These executives, especially my CEO executive coaching clients, have achieved a great deal by demanding and producing rapid results. Many results, however, require extraordinary diligence and patience. This “Bamboo Story” is a useful metaphor for individuals and teams out to produce significant and enduring new opportunities. [A free, single-page version of this executive coaching story is availabe by clicking here.]

A certain remarkable species of bamboo is cultivated in Asia. The root system is so complex that the farmer must water, fertilize, and weed for five years before the first shoot emerges from the ground. Imagine how this farmer must look to her neighbors: “Hey, how is your dirt crop coming along?” Season after season she sees others harvesting, eating, and selling their produce, while she labors for no visible result.

Once the root system is fully developed the first shoots emerge and the plants grow as high as 90 feet in a few weeks. The bamboo grows so quickly you can hear the rustle as the leaves spread. As anyone who has tried to remove a stand of bamboo knows, good luck stopping such growth once strong roots are established.


How do you tend to your root system?



Click here to download free, printable poster of this story.

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© Tony Mayo 2008 except as otherwise noted.
Posted in For Executives.

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