Newsletter - February, 2006 - Issue 4 - Where is the love?

"Whatever happened to the values of humanity?"
From the Black Eyed Peas' song 'Where Is the Love'

By Lindsay Sukornyk, Founder, North Star Coaches

I just returned back from running my new favourite workshop called "Ignite Your Sales: Coaching to Results." We had the national sales team of a hot media company gathered from across the country. After a powerful day of articulating their core individual purposes, examining the fears that stop them from playing their biggest games and articulating the vision for what they wanted to create, it was time to play with some powerful perspectives to help them achieve their goals. I really wanted to challenge them to step out of their comfort zones, so I asked;

"What if you fell in love with each and every one of your clients?"

We have Valentine's Day upon us and we will be bombarded with images of love all around. For some reason it is acceptable to talk about the "L" word in our private lives, but it is considered taboo to mention it in professional settings. I think this is nothing short of tragic.

I invite you to use the plethora of pink and red around you this month as a reminder to find the love in the places you're least expecting. Look at the people around you and see their humanity, rather than their title. Instead of "direct report," "boss," "potential sale," or "thorn in my side" try looking for the humanity beneath the details of rank and role.

As you challenge yourself to find something fascinating and interesting about the people who surround you, you just might surprise yourself into discovering "funny," "well-traveled," "volunteer hockey coach" or "new best friend."