This Saturday is True Life Coaching’s 3rd Annual Women’s Leadership Summit and we have a great line up of speakers for you! We are honored to share with you one of our guest speakers, Debra Trappen. Hear what she has to say about the Summit.

Here’s Debra…

Hi there!  If you are at all like me… you are SO SUPER EXCITED for the Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) on Saturday!  Seriously… I can’t wait!!  Those of you who know me know that I attend and speak at several conferences a year, so I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks for getting the most out of the day!   Attending the WLS – with fabulous local women – opens up a world of opportunity for growth, learning, and connection!  My hope is that these five points help you focus and maximize your experience… Here we go!

1.    Set Goals Before You Go

Before the event, write down some goals that you want to accomplish during the summit. These could include items about specific skills you want to hone, questions you want to have answered, people you want to connect with there, etc.  Be specific and be tenacious with holding yourself accountable! 

2.    Be Prepared… 
Think about what would make your experience smoother and easier at the summit. Here is my list of must-haves:

• Biz Cards – for the tech savvy – have your CardMunch or bump app ready to go! (Moo Cards are a fun alternative…)
• iPad w/ my Evernote app loaded and ready to go (of course, any tablet will do, including paper!)
• iPhone fully charged and in my Mophie (of course, any  smartphone will do here too!)
• Power-pack – I take a TON of notes and photos at events, so I bring this along, just in case…
• Mints/gum for fresh breath – we will be enjoying/tasting Starbucks coffee and tea all day!
• Shawl/Light Sweater – the temperature can be a bit wily at events… enough said, right?
• Vitamin C Face Spritz – This provides an energy boost, smells fab and gives your skin a glow!

3.    Come with an open mind…

There are going to be speakers and conversations about many topics, so your initial instinct on some of them might be, “that doesn’t apply to me or my business.” While that may be true, don’t rule anything out.  There are many ways to translate tips, tricks, and advice!  Not sure HOW to interpret it? During a break, ask someone how they will implement the idea in their world!  Conversation Starter + Learning = Double WIN!

4.    Connect and Engage (Before, During and After!)
WLS is a spectacular opportunity to make yourself known and to get to know others. You have already set some goals that will get you started, now be alert to other opportunities.

Before: If you are on Twitter, start following the summit’s hashtag #2012wls.  There is also a Twitter List of attendees to follow!  I often say that Twitter has forever changed going to conferences for me… I never go “alone” anymore… I always meet someone on Twitter before I get there, tweet back and forth before the event… and immediately have a new connection to look forward to!  Also, be sure to LIKE the WLS Facebook Page and see who has commented and posted there before you attend the event!  These can be great conversation starters!!

During: Actively listen to what others have to say… be present in your chats… and offer something to the conversation if you want others to remember you. I would like to challenge you to try something DIFFERENT on Saturday… instead of asking the gals what they do for a living… ask them what they do for FUN!!  I started doing this a few years ago – and the conversations are always a ton of fun… and you always get to the “do for a living” questions! Of course, always have your answer to “What do you do?” ready to go! If you are stuck on this… we will touch on this at the summit!  Also, be diligent about being helpful… offer a kind word or a referral/lead that might be useful to other attendees.  When you accept a biz card, be sure to write a couple of key points from your chat on the back… it makes it easier to remember later!!

After: Schedule time immediately following the summit to take care of biz!  If you promised to send a referral or name to someone, do it right away.  “Friend” the people you met at the summit over on Facebook, connect with them on LinkedIn, and if they are on Twitter, follow them there too.  Add them to your contacts in your phone, if you didn’t at the event.  If someone offered you advice, a referral or lead – send them a thank you note – preferably a handwritten one if you know their address!  Trust me – that note will make an impression like no other act in today’s digital world!

 5.    Don’t Over Commit

Don’t make any commitments that you cannot keep, even though it is easy to get caught up in the high energy of the conference. Period.

I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday… and to sharing the day together!  If you want to connect with me on any of the Social platforms, you will find all of mine here: http://about.me/debra11 

Updating...

I met Meg Nelson via her play-by-play blog on the 2011 Women’s Leadership Summit. It was so real and authentic, I was excited when she emailed me to talk executive coaching. A long-time client and friend, Jason Richards, had recommended her, so we went right to work. In one year, this woman blossomed. I don’t use that word flippantly. She did the work, she listened to truth, she defined her values, and she is now investing herself in others. Her next level is only one of many. She cares about others, she is extremely talented, and I truly delight in her growth, discovery, and, well, just her.  

Here’s Meg…

It’s strange to think that it was only a year ago that I attended Shandel Slaten’s Women’s Leadership Summit (Read my initial reaction here). Reflecting back on the year that has passed since I’m going to attempt to describe the monumental shift that has happened in my life.

A year ago, I was exhausted, emotionally drained and extremely unhealthy. Having co-founded my first company a year and a half prior, my main priority at that moment was my business. We had gone through our share of the usual start-up woos and my partner and I were devoting every bit of our energy to get the company to the next phase. I had let my family, friends, and health slowly slip away from me. I didn’t realize how detrimental those decisions were at the time.

The Summit was a wake up call for me. A lot of things in my life were wrong but I couldn’t put my finger on what, why or how to fix things. As I spoke to different women at the event, I realized I wasn’t the only one going through these issues. I wasn’t alone. What’s more, some of the women I spoke with had taken steps to identify what they didn’t like about their life and had changed it.

What Shandel said on stage that day had really resonated with me so I asked if my company would sponsor some coaching sessions with her to see if I could get to the bottom of some of my issues. The first couple of sessions, Shandel listened and asked questions to push me to explore certain topics more deeply. I remember now that all I talked about those first couple of sessions was who or what was holding me back.

On the fourth session, reality struck. Read the rest of this entry »

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The poet Matthew Arnold made a prediction in the 1800s:

“If ever the world sees a time when women will come together purely for the good of humanity, it will be a power as the world has never seen.”

In this edition of the Ask Shandel podcast, we discuss the 3rd annual Women’s Leadership Summit.  In 2010, I could see the need for women to come together and learn, encourage and mentor each other. That is when the Women’s Leadership Summit was birthed and on May 19th we are doing it again with an incredible line-up of women speaking as well as the real value… the women attending in the room. 

This is an incredible opportunity for women corporate leaders and women entrepreneurs to gather together to develop in both the professional and personal arenas. Read the rest of this entry »

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This week’s “Ask Shandel” podcast is on Building Teams and the importance of trust and confidence with all team members. It is a passion of mine and I am inspired when work groups are functional, like each other, and over deliver on their results.

How would you rate your leadership team’s effectiveness? Are you compromising great results for good ones because you don’t want to deal with the issues? Is your team a joy to watch like the Blue Angels, or is it a nightmare that you wish would just go away? Be bold and courageous and build your team!

I love the Blues!

 In my experience, U.S. Navy Blue Angels are one of the best evidences of team work. Last week I was on vacation near Pensacola where they are stationed. They were kicking off their season in a week, so invited the public to watch their practice shows along with friends and family. What an incredible experience for me.

I took this picture and was in awe at the precision. Can you imagine if you didn’t trust the guy on the left to: Read the rest of this entry »

3rd Annual Women’s Leadership Summit – LIVE STREAM

May 19, 2012 –  8:30 – 3:30
Starbucks Corporate Office
Our mission is to Connect, Equip and Mentor women.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you are not on my monthly newsletter list then you miss out. Subscribe today and make sure you don’t miss April’s issue. I received great feedback on this featured article, so thought I would give you a sneak preview while I am on vacation.  Look forward to hearing your comments below.

Are you a liar? 

Maybe that’s too harsh. Are you a liar, or do you “just” tell white lies to get what you want?

Are you feeling defensive right now? Is a twinge of guilt washing over you as you to scan for the unsubscribe button?  

This article is for leaders who believe they are people of integrity. Anyone who holds “integrity, honesty, respect” as core values, this is for you, because I believe you truly want to honor your values. Sadly, it is inevitable that we lie almost every day — to ourselves, our loved ones, our colleagues, and strangers. We consider ourselves honest, but we lie whenever it serves us.

The Stress of Lying

Why am I being so direct and harsh? Read the rest of this entry »

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During this episode of ASK SHANDEL, we had a good time discussing my solitude trip. As I write this, I am on a plane across the United States to warm Florida for a week of vacation. Much needed and very grateful for the downtime and my dear friend Christy who offered her beach condo for me to enjoy. I’m ready! Got our newsletter out (did you get it via email? subscribe here), daily quotes are all picked out, and Jenny is rested from her Spring Break ready to serve you all.

In this podcast, we discuss what a solitude trip is and how necessary it is for leaders and really everyone to get that time of perspective and renewal. Now, I am single and am the leader at my company so that allows me a little more flexibility to pursue that desired alone time to think, strategize, and relax. But everyone can get away for an INTENTIONAL moment, be it 24 hours, an afternoon, or an hour. It is about unplugging from the day to day to see what in the world is going on in life.

Because of my job, I am in continual need of personal and professional growth so I can continue to coach my clients to greater heights. What good is a coach who is taking evolving and growing as serious as you?

In This Episode: 

A. What a solitude trip is.

B. Who should be taking these trips

C. Why it is important.

D. How the rhythym of solitude works Read the rest of this entry »

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I have been coaching young entrepreneurs for a dozen years. There is a certain DNA the successful ones have and Mike Ma has it. His visionary ability to see solutions from various points of view — ones that make money — continues to astound me. Yet, that is not what makes Mike so special. His desire to live with purpose and find the reason he is on earth is the inspiration he consistently brings to our coaching sessions.

 He is never satisfied with his development. He doesn’t just want to be a successful entrepreneur; he wants to be known as a great leader and a person who brings value to other people. So often an entrepreneur claims that so that he can build an effective culture or can get more money from his investors. But Mike truly has it in his soul and lives it.

 Mike kindly did a testimonial for TLC’s up-and-coming company video, but I was so blessed by what he said that we put together this video with just him talking about his coaching experience. Thank you, Mike, for your kindness in giving back to TLC, and, really, to the world. I look forward to seeing your greatness continue to help as many people as possible. Here’s to the ROI! I would be your business partner any day … and in fact I have an idea we have to talk about soon! For example, here’s just one of Mike’s great apps.

Here’s Mike…

After leaving a cushy corporate job to pursue a dream of being an entrepreneur, I ended up at Judy’s Book www.judysbook.com, a local Seattle business recommendations website. It was a start to an exciting but stressful time. I began to see my own identity closely tied to the performance of the company; I was happy when things were going up, and I was depressed when things were going down. So I hired Shandel.

Right away she helped me gain clarity through her assessments to understand who I am and how I am wired. She also brought clarity to what I didn’t know I didn’t know! Through the coaching journey, not only did Shandel help me to see the hindrances that pulled me back, but also understood my strengths, clarified my values, and best of all, brought clarity and confidence for myself and where I am on this life journey. This clarity also brought in newfound confidence in the strength and the gifts I already have.

Currently, I am letting my creativity flow through new projects and helping other entrepreneurs and companies to develop better product strategies and execution.  As I’ve started to focus on something bigger than myself, the world has gotten bigger. I believe we all have a purpose, and it only makes sense to figure out what that purpose is. I am now equipped with tools and knowledge to continue to grow, to learn, to heal and to impact this world with my unique gifts and purpose. I want to change the world.

 -Mike Ma

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Do you ever hide your weakness by over compensating with one of your strengths? Are there areas that you know you need discipline and focus, yet get defensive when people point out that area out to you?

I know for me there are plenty. I am a huge believer in working and focusing on strengths AND I believe there is a huge amount of discipline that is needed to strengthen difficult areas. We must lay aside our defensive posture so we can learn and grow in our areas on blindness. Unfortunately, many times we are lazy in our character and skill training. 

Lessons From The Court

On the basketball court I love playing defense. I can be pretty good at it too. I need to be, because I can’t shoot. The only way I add value to the team is to play a hard defense and pass aggressively to my teammates. That makes me look like a great team player, but it doesn’t help the team win over the long haul. I need to be able to drive it in and score. Read the rest of this entry »

Last week, I had the opportunity to film a debrief on our new TTI Talent Insight assessment. We are going to produce a DVD to assist folks in debriefing their own reports. Super fun time. Pictured here is one of my favorite analogies explaining the difference between High Compliance (affectionately called Hi C) and Low Compliance (Low C) and how differently they solve problems.

Some folks are better planners and analyze before they start a project and others like to just do it and figure it out as they go.

This month we gave away 10 of these assessments on our Facebook page to folks who “like” us.  I can already tell a few of those winners are high Compliance folks. I can’t wait for them to be free to know who they are and live with more intention because of it. I thought I would pass on some tips from the report on communicating with the Compliance folks in your life.   Read the rest of this entry »