Liza runs a graphic design studio in lower Manhattan. A competent and talented professional, she’s always kept up with the latest design trends as well as the most cutting edge technology. But as her business grew larger and demands increased, Liza began to feel as though she was out of sync with her staff and her clients. She found it uncomfortable to delegate tasks, became anxious when conflicts arose, and frustrated with her ability to communicate her needs effectively.
When we spoke for the first time last summer, we agreed that she could benefit from some soft skills training to help her improve the way she relates to others.
As with many professionals, Liza was used to doing much of the work herself, and found it hard to give up the control, or trust that things could be done properly by others. Although this is a habit that’s sometimes hard to break, we worked out a system and criteria so that she could easily know when delegation was appropriate, and how to make decisions on who to delegate which responsibilities to. We explored ways to motivate her staff to do their best work.
Then we tackled communication which worked into both the delegation scenarios as well as helped to understand how to deal with a difficult situations which sometimes arose with clients or employees.
As a result, Liza’s life is much easier. Her staff knows what’s expected of them and they’re delivering on those expectations. It’s less stressful to deal with clients, even when things go wrong. And, the feeling of frustration is gone.
Soft skills training is not always easy. It requires a commitment to change, since we must unlearn knee jerk reactions and behaviors that have been developed over a lifetime. However, most people, especially those who’ve been frustrated by their ability to relate effectively with others, consider it a very worthwhile endeavor.
If you’re curious about how soft skills training can help you, apply for a Business Sanity Strategy Session today.
Susan Martin, Business Coaching
