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Claire Palmer
Executive and Personal Coach

Claire@cpcoaching.co.uk
+44 (0)1403 270108
www.cpcoaching.co.uk

Claire is an experienced, independently credentialed executive coach. She works with inspirational leaders who want to 'fine-tune' their leadership whilst remaining authentic and clients who are in transition whether that's a role, career or life change.

Taking a holistic approach to coaching, Claire's style is a special blend of 'lightness and focus'. She is professional and results-orientated whilst being pragmatic, supportive, intuitive, enthusiastic and positive. She is there for the immediate issues whilst always keeping in mind the bigger vision for her clients.

Coaching Services

• Your own confidential strategic partner - Executive Coaching
• 'Fine tuning' your leadership - Leadership Coaching
• New role or other life change - Transition Coaching
• The ideal career - Career Coaching
• Know more about yourself - Assessments & Tools
• Coach Development - Supervision/Mentoring

Coaching Credentials

• ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
• Graduate of CoachU (the largest global coach training institution)
  
• Post-graduate diploma in 'Advanced Executive Coaching' with the Academy of Executive Coaching, London, UK
• President of UK International Coach Federation (ICF) 2006-07, past board member 2003-06
• Co-chair of the ICF Global Regulatory Committee 2007
• Member of Strategic Steering Group for Coaching Supervision project

"As a Managing Director you are often “alone” on the top with your ideas, concerns, and challenges in your business environment as well as in your organisation. Claire has an amazing talent of understanding the very specific in a given situation, thus being able to coach and guide you in the direction which afterwards can appear obvious – but before coaching not reachable. Each coaching session is a step forward in business as it is for your personal development!"
—UK Country Manager, Global Pharmaceutical Company

June 2010

In This Issue
Hello. Beginning this month, there's a change in the format of my ezine. It now includes one article in its entirety below. This month's article is about purpose -- how to find it in the work that you're already doing and how to create a career based upon it. As you read through the ezine, please don't hesitate to call if I can help.

The Business of Purpose
Beyond the Box
Relevant Reading
Today's Quote

The Business of Purpose
Two bricklayers are working alongside one another at a building site. A man walks by and asks one of them what they're doing.

The first bricklayer replies, "I don't know and I don't care. All I do is slap this crummy mortar on these crummy bricks and pile them up in a crummy line."

The other bricklayer smiles, proudly proclaiming, "I'm helping to build the new cathedral."

We've all met people who focus on the "what" they're doing instead of the "why" they're doing it. It's difficult to feel passionate about something when we're missing the meaning behind what we're doing and why we're here.

So why are we here? What's our purpose?

How a person defines purpose has as much to do with his or her mindset as it does with personal, philosophical, cultural, religious and scientific beliefs.

The Purpose of Knowing Your Purpose

Defining purpose in work, life and business is not about the daily tasks, it's about the reason for the tasks in the first place – the why, not the what. Discovering purpose allows a person to create the vision behind the tasks, and knowing that vision can dramatically change results.

For example, a chef's purpose is not to cook food – that's a task. The reason for this task is to help people enjoy life by having a good time with loved ones around a meal they didn't have to prepare (or clean up) themselves.

People who are fulfilled at work know how the work they do supports the company's vision, values and goals whether it's their own company or someone else's.

Knowing your purpose helps:

• Give meaning to everything you do.
  
  
• Guide you through tough times and difficult decisons.
  
  
• Encourage you to follow your instinct instead of following the crowd.
  
  
• Motivate you on your journey even (or especially) when you encounter failure or rejection.

How to Fulfill Your Purpose AND Make a Living
We've been talking about finding purpose in the work that you're already doing. If you want to envision a career, based on your life purpose, try the following approach.

1. Determine your strengths.

Life purpose is directly related to personal strengths. E.g., if communication is your strength then your purpose may be found in that area.

2. Determine your passions.

Passions are the things you love to do - with or without external rewards (like money or recognition).

3. Determine your causes.

Identify the causes that matter to you. Is there a condition in the world that makes you feel discontent or compels you to action?

4. Find the sweet spot.

After detemining your strengths, passions and causes, find the overlap between them. That's the sweet spot, where you're likely to find the most fulfillment in your work life.

5. Your mission, should you choose to accept it...

Based on the information above, write a personal mission statement – it can help guide your passions throughout your career.

It's not (necessarily) about the money.

Instead of focusing on a money goal, try setting goals that "add value" - a goal that improves the quality of people's lives or of the earth. Whether you're a bricklayer, a coach, a CEO or a solopreneur, it's ultimately through helping others that we all achieve our life purpose.

The following questions are designed to broaden perspectives, to open vistas, to widen the lens. There is no one right way to approach them. You can journal about them, talk to friends, create art, ponder them while driving, work out to them--whatever helps you explore "outside the box."

1. Like in the chef's example, in a few words, describe the purpose in the work that you do.
   
   
2. Do you feel fulfilled at work? Does your connection to purpose have anything to do with why you do or why not?
   
   
3. From the exercise in the article, what is your "sweet spot"? What would have to change in order for your work to embody your sweet spot?

Announcements

Are you good at what you do...

AND ...

• Want to take your career to the next level but you can't think how to go about it?
  
  
• Want to make your mark in your current role but you simply can't figure out why all your achievements are going un-noticed?
  
  
• Feel demotivated and unfulfilled but you have no idea how to break out and change things?

I currently have ONE space available for one-to-one personal development coaching.

As one client recently said, 'Claire's outstanding ability to get crystal clear on what's critical, her flexible approach and her depth of experience means she enables you to develop outstanding leadership skills and be successful and fulfilled in your working life.'

Contact me NOW to find out what's possible and for more information.

About Claire Palmer Coaching
My mission is to "Deepen Your Awareness, Expand Your Potential, Achieve Results." I enable my clients to realize and achieve what's so important for them. The work is geared to each person so it's specifically tailored to you, using tools and assessments where we think they can add value.

I work with leaders who want to 'fine-tune' their style to achieve success. I work with executives who value a confidential sounding board. I work with people who are moving into a new role, new career or life change. My clients can be the chair of the school PTA, senior leaders in organisations, or a young person. Just call or email me if you'd like an informal discussion about what's possible or a complementary coaching session.

Relevant Reading

Go-Givers Sell More, by Bob Burg and John David Mann

The Daily Six: Simple Steps to Prosperity and Purpose, by John Chappelear

Developing Exemplary Performance One Person at a Time, by Michael Sabbag

Today's Quote
"Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles."
~Steve Jobs (1955 - )

Copyright 2010 Claire Communications