Meeting Topic
Introduction
Read the article below and consider which of the 3 basic netball (and business!) actions you’ll focus on in the coming weeks! Share your insights with your group during your 1-minute introduction.
CATCH, TURN, THROW! By Jennifer Myers
If you’ve ever played netball, these 3 terms will be very familiar, as they form the basis of what you have to DO in netball in order to hopefully score.
Turns out, netball and business leadership have a lot in common! My two business partners and I discovered this a couple of months ago as we were prepping for a podcast episode, so we thought we’d share the concept with you here.
This year has been less-than-stellar for many businesses and downright scary for others. If you find yourself with a bit of extra time on your hands because the ‘phone isn’t ringing’, consider applying the concept of ‘Catch, Turn, Throw’ in your business in order to finish the year in a stronger position.
As a leader in your business (whether you’re a team of 1 or 20), regardless of how you FEEL at any given moment about the business climate, you still need to be ready to CATCH opportunities that come your way. They’re still out there. People are still buying products and services, so keep your head up, your eyes open, your head turning and be ready to jump on an opportunity – even if it’s a bit out of the square. Don’t sit back and wait for things to happen. Don’t go into hiding. Stay visible and active in your market, keep encouraging your team and be ready to catch the ball.
What happens once you catch it? You need to TURN and consider where you’ll throw it to get it further down the court. As a leader, this means evaluating everything in your business and being willing to adjust where needed. While you’ve got a bit of additional time on your hands, why not use it to:
- Evaluate:
- your target market – do they still need what you’re offering?
- your messaging – do you need to adjust how you’re pitching?
- your product or service – is it still fit for purpose and priced right?
- Review your processes and systems – where can you create more efficiency and spend less time on all the extra ‘stuff’ so that you can do more of the things that actually bring in money?
- De-clutter:
- Your office – clear out the old and make space
- your website – do you have too many pages that aren’t being viewed?
- your menu of services or your product range – what isn’t selling?
- your team – ouch. This one is a bit hard, but there may be people on your team who are just dragging your business or your team culture down. Do they need to have their ‘futures freed up’ to do what really spins their wheels?
Finally, once we’ve identified our next best step to move the ball down the court, we need to THROW it. For us as leaders, this means taking intentional action. Not flailing around as many people tend to do when the going gets tough, but clearly and calmly identifying what your next move is and then DOING it.
You might decide to ring up that client who has an overdue invoice and offer a payment plan to get the money in sooner rather than later. You might create a special package deal or offer a ‘sweetener’ to your ideal clients to encourage them to buy now or buy more. You may ring up a great past client and ask for a referral or two. Or you may decide to make a list of the top 10 people or companies you want to work with and then reach out to them directly to book a chat with the decision-maker.
Whatever the action is for YOU, take it! Don’t think about throwing the ball. THROW IT!
CATCH – be ready for opportunities.
TURN – be willing to adjust anything in your business to get it working better
THROW – take intentional action
And hopefully, you end up with points on the board!
Find out more about how the 90 Day Divas can help you get out of overwhelm and get your business moving here: https://www.90daydivas.com
Next Meeting Topic
Introduction
We’ve all heard of various methodologies for sorting out people’s personalities and tendencies, right? Well, here is another interesting one – the 5 Elements. The article below was contributed by Emily Hall and in it she shares how we can understand not only how each Elemental personality ‘looks’ in real life, but how the Elements interact with each other in different ways.
Using the Five elements to bring out the best in ourselves and others By Emily Hall
The ancient Chinese theory of the Five Elements can be applied to a wide variety of situations. It is the application to personalities that are particularly interesting. Most adults have 2 or 3 dominant elements. The elements are a repeating cycle of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element ‘feeds’ the next element and ‘subdues’ the third element in the sequence. People feel encouraged by the feeding element and irritated by the subduing element when they are in balance.
Wood archetypes are the boss, leader, or manager. Wood is goal oriented and driven. It feeds Fire and subdues Earth.
Fire archetypes are the performer, the clown, the star. Fire is charismatic and fun. It feeds Earth and subdues Metal.
Earth archetypes are the mother, the pre-school teacher and the peacemaker. Earth builds consensus and works out of the limelight. It feeds Metal and subdues Water.
Metal archetypes are the scientist, clergymen, yogi. Metal is disciplined and fact driven. It feeds Water and subdues Wood.
Water archetypes are the artist, philosopher and the baby. Water is creative and has strong will power. It feeds Wood and subdues Fire.
The following strategies help bring out the personal best in each element:
Wood
- Involve these people in setting goals for themselves or the group. 2. Give them responsibilities. 3. Let them be the boss. 4. Ask their opinion. 5. Tell them what’s “in it” for them. 6. Teach consideration of feelings.
Fire
- Have clear boundaries. 2. Play and socialize. 3. Fun, groups, role playing, acting out situations for learning. 4. Give Fire personalities the limelight. 5. Remove an audience to encourage reflection. 6. Teach them relating to others isn’t easy for everyone.
Earth
- Social tasks are ideal. 2. Focus on playfulness or helpfulness. 3. Do projects to benefit the group. 4. Let them build consensus in a group. 5. Remind Earth personalities that accomplishing goals are important. 6. Help them meet their own needs.
Metal
- Metal personalities thrive in nurturing and inclusive environments. 2. Let them set their own rules. 3. Redirect with gentle humor. 4. Be literal with language. 5. Independent work is ideal. 6. Share the “why” and “how” – they needs a “big picture” context.
Water
- Water personalities create solutions. 2. Give a timeline and small tasks to complete. 3. Alone time nourishes them. 4. Give them an organization system for things and time. 5. Balance the emotional landscape. 6. Redirect with collaboration and kindness.
Example:
In business we are engaged in Wood activities, even if we are not Wood personalities. To nurture Wood characteristics (goal orientation, staying focused and controlling emotions) we need Water (creative, unstructured downtime). If Wood becomes too ambitious, Metal (self-discipline, spiritual practice, introspection) will re-balance it.
Five Elements is a useful tool to bring the best out in people.
If you’d like to know more about how Emily Hall helps children lead their best lives, visit www.goodsorbeginningswellness.com and www.myfeedingcoach.com
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