My Compass

…it’s true—sometimes, feeling lost is exactly what helps us figure out what really matters. That’s why having a personal compass is so important. It’s not about always knowing the way; it’s about knowing what guides you—your values, your purpose,...
That way, when things get messy (because they always do), you don’t lose yourself in the chaos; by using the compass you stay true to yourself, no matter what and keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t clear.

So, what keeps you on track?

Business Coaching & Sports

I had the pleasure this week to have a coffee with a sports Coach and we both agreed purpose is key to building healthy teams. When people know their roles and work toward a common goal, trust, communication and motivation come naturally. A strong sense of purpose keeps teams focused, resilient and connected, making "winning together" not just a goal but a mindset. That's what turns a group of individuals into a true team.

Coffee with a Coach

Coaching-ul a avut și are în continuare un impact profund asupra dezvoltării mele profesionale și personale. Sunt încântat că pot să dau ceva înapoi comunității – acum sunt disponibil pentru 2 sesiuni de coaching în cadrul programului "Coffee with a Coach" de la #ICFRomania – 14 și 21 februarie, ora 15.
Link pentru înscrieri: https://lnkd.in/dNDTY63k
Hai să povestim la o cafea și să “gustăm” aroma coaching-ului!

What is coaching?

Yes! a new chapter begins

This week marks a significant milestone in my journey; this past year has been nothing short of transformative. It’s been about more than just ticking off tasks; it’s been about embracing the journey with a human-centered approach, coaching with patience and curiosity, and trying to find the flow in every moment.

As I reflect on this achievement of becoming Associate Certified Coach (ACC) by ICF, I'm grateful for the invaluable support of mentors and loved ones. I’m also grateful for the people I have met in this journey - countless moments of connection and insights enriching the experience of becoming a coach.

Moving forward, I'm committed to continuing this journey with authenticity, empathy and gratitude, inspiring others to do the same.

Metamorphosis of the HR Fixer: A Novel Journey into Coaching

As I navigate uncharted territories, the essence of my coaching ‘why’ emerges—a tapestry woven with threads of exploration and growth. The HR fixer within me evolves into a guide, boldly encouraging individuals to embark on their unique quests for self-discovery.

 Each coaching session becomes a chapter, a narrative of daring leaps into the unknown. Together with my clients, we dance on the edge of possibilities, embracing the thrill of doing and the exhilaration of unlocking untapped potentials.

 In this co-creation, I draw from my HR roots, infusing the journey with practical wisdom and a keen understanding of the difficulties of human dynamics. It’s not merely about fixing; it’s about illuminating the path for others to fix, to do and to become architects of their destinies.

 The joy of life fills this narrative, as I witness clients blossom into their authentic selves. It’s a joy born from the realization that coaching is not just a profession but a privilege—an opportunity to contribute in the beautiful tapestry of personal and professional growth.

And so, the novel journey unfolds, with the HR fixer embracing the role of a coach, not just guiding but actively participating in the narratives of courage, resilience, and success. This is a novel of transformation, where the protagonist and clients co-author chapters of empowerment, making every coaching session a page-turning adventure in the joyous book of life.

Gratitude for Transformation

I'm delighted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable PQ Coach program from positiveintelligence.com, which I recently completed through a grant. This transformative experience has equipped me with essential tools and insights to enhance my coaching practice and positively impact the lives of those I work with. I'm truly thankful for the opportunity to participate in this program.

Moreover, this program has yielded remarkable outcomes in my personal and professional life. I've found myself experiencing less stress when confronted with the unknown, now approaching it with curiosity rather than apprehension. Equally significant is the fresh and insightful perspective I've gained on the past, which has allowed me to learn from it more effectively and propel myself forward. The PQ program has been a game-changer, and I'm eager to apply these newfound insights in my coaching journey.

With newfound insights, powerful perspectives and a wealth of knowledge, I am now prepared to embark on my journey as a PQ Coach, ready to guide others toward their own path of positive intelligence and personal growth.

https://www.positiveintelligence.com/

Unleashing Greatness: The Heartfelt Fusion of Executive and Mental Coaching in Sports

I strongly believe that in the world of sports, where passion and dedication reign supreme, there’s a huge opportunity for a remarkable synergy between executive, performance coaching and mental coaching to bring out the best in athletes and teams. Whether it’s the camaraderie of team sports like hockey, football, and basketball or the individual focus of athletics, tennis, and badminton, the combination of these coaching approaches inspires a journey of personal and collective growth.

Team sports, much like successful businesses, thrive on effective leadership, clear communication, and well-thought-out strategies. Executive coaching lends a helping hand in cultivating these essential aspects, guiding team-members and coaches to inspire teamwork and adaptability. And, on the mental front, athletes discover the power of mindfulness and visualization to conquer their inner doubts, allowing them to shine even in the most pressure-packed moments.

For athletes in individual sports, the fusion of executive and mental coaching becomes a warm embrace, offering the tools to kindle self-motivation, set and chase ambitious goal and manage their time efficiently. Just as in the corporate world, setting clear objectives and following a well-structured path becomes a recipe for success. Mental coaching empowers them with the strength to bounce back from adversity, enveloping them in a cocoon of unwavering self-belief that uplifts their spirits through every challenge they encounter.

So, to all athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts, I extend this passionate call to action: embrace this powerful fusion of executive and mental coaching. Whether you’re part of a team or strive for individual greatness, these coaching approaches can be the catalyst for your personal and collective success. Unleash the greatness within you, reach for your dreams, and take your sporting journey to new heights. The path to victory begins with a warm heart and a clear vision – it’s time to seize it!

While I was away from here

…this is what happened:

• finalizing the Business Coaching Diploma by PWC Academy Romania - great learning journey and great colleagues. Insightful experience - very grateful for that

• joining ICF and EMCC as a member

• finalizing the second class of a leadership program done in partnership with INSEAD - (btw, that was a great experience to be back in Montmartre)

• activeky supporting an milstone of a very dynamic M&A process by making sure all HR proceses and tools are working fine, without interruptions

• more that 120 km biking, a lot of coffee and more than 10 hours of music, 5 live concerts, 4 places travelled

  …the more I learn, the more I discover the vast universe of possibilities waiting to be explored. There's an undeniable magic in nurturing the flame of curiosity within us, as it ignites the spark that fuels our growth...
  I'm grateful for the invaluable guidance and support I've received from all the people around me throughout this journey. I look forward to applying these newfound skills and insights to create a positive impact in the business world and beyond. 

Managing Your Energy, Not Your Time: Unleashing Productivity and Well-being

In a world where time is limited, managing our energy instead of our time has emerged as a game-changer for productivity and well-being. Rather than trying to squeeze more into our already packed schedules, focusing on energy management allows us to optimize our performance and maintain a sustainable work-life balance. By understanding our energy patterns and prioritizing rest, recharging and self-care, we can unlock our true potential.

Embracing this approach requires a shift in mindset. It means recognizing that our energy levels fluctuate throughout the day and tailoring our activities accordingly. It also means valuing the importance of self-care and setting boundaries to prevent burnout. By managing our energy effectively, we can supercharge our productivity and well-being, paving the way for success in both our personal and professional lives.

So, how ready are you to make the shift from time management to energy management, and unleash your full potential?

Recharging Through Live Music: Lessons in Leadership from Rock Artists

Live music has a unique power to recharge, relax, and re-energize us. Attending a live concert offers an immersive experience that stimulates all of our senses, from the sound of the music to the lights, atmosphere, and energy of the crowd. It provides an opportunity to escape the daily routine, connect with the music, and forget about our worries.

Rock artists are not only talented musicians but also effective leaders. They possess many qualities that make them inspiring leaders, such as a clear vision, collaboration, risk-taking, resilience, and passion. They have a strong sense of purpose that guides their actions, and they value teamwork and bring out the best in their bandmates. They are not afraid to experiment with new sounds, take risks, and evolve with their audience. Their passion for their craft is infectious and can inspire you as a fan to pursue their own passions.

The leadership lessons we can learn from rock artists are valuable in our own lives and careers. Having a clear vision and sense of purpose can help us focus on what's important and make decisions that align with our goals. Collaboration and teamwork are essential to building strong relationships and achieving common objectives. Taking calculated risks can help us grow and stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. Resilience allows us to bounce back from setbacks and emerge stronger and more determined. And pursuing our passions with enthusiasm and dedication can inspire others and create positive change.

In conclusion, live music and rock artists offer valuable lessons that can recharge, relax, and re-energize us while inspiring us to become better leaders. By experiencing the magic of live music and emulating the leadership qualities of rock artists, we can create powerful and memorable experiences, build strong relationships, take risks, bounce back from setbacks, pursue our passions, and make a positive impact on the world.

Embracing Uncertainty: Navigating Fear and Building Resilience

Like most of the people, I’m dealing today with high uncertainty at personal and professional level. These days I have found some inspiration and strengths in Khalil Gibran's poem "Fear", who beautifully captures the experience of uncertainty and the role that fear can play in our lives:

“[…] But there is no other way. The river can not go back. Nobody can go back. To go back is impossible in existence. The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that’s where the river will know it’s not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean.”

Like the river, we too may feel fear when facing uncertainty. We may look back at our past experiences and wonder if we're ready for what lies ahead. But just as the river must enter the sea to become the ocean, this is an invitation for us to embrace uncertainty to become stronger and more resilient, looking at current situation as learning experience.

• One way to deal with uncertainty is to focus on the things that are within our control. We can't control external factors, such as some people around us being great jerks, market conditions or global events, but we can control our reactions to them. This means taking a step back, assessing the situation, and focusing on what we can do to mitigate any negative impacts.

• Another strategy is to stay flexible and adaptable. When facing uncertainty, it's important to remain open to new ideas and be willing to pivot if necessary. This means being willing to change course if things don't go as planned, and being willing to try new approaches.

I find this topic being very relevant in business, as well; in a business context, uncertainty can arise from a variety of factors such as market volatility, economic downturns, changes in consumer preferences, and technological disruption. This can create anxiety and stress among business leaders and their teams.

• To manage uncertainty in the business context, it's important to maintain a clear focus on your organization's goals and priorities. It also means actively seeking out opportunities for growth and innovation, rather than just trying to maintain the status quo.

• Additionally, businesses can build resilience by investing in their teams and cultivating a culture of trust and collaboration. This means providing ongoing training and development opportunities, fostering open communication channels, and empowering employees to make decisions and take risks.

When facing uncertainty, fear can be a natural response. The most important lesson I have learned is that acceptance is a powerful tool for managing uncertainty and overcoming fear.

Acceptance doesn't mean giving up or resigning ourselves to a negative outcome. Instead, it means embracing the present moment and focusing on what we can do to shape the future. It means acknowledging the challenges ahead and using them as opportunities for growth and learning.

So if you're feeling uncertain about the future, remember that acceptance is the first step towards building resilience. Embrace the present moment, focus on what's within your control, and take action towards your goals. With determination, flexibility, and a willingness to learn, you can overcome your fears and emerge stronger on the other side.

Here For You.

Exploring - after 15 years of shaping people experiences and cultures across 4 continents as a Talent architect, I realized that it was time to embark on a new adventure. I am now combining my HR expertise as an agile fixer in the cutting-edge autotech industry creating trust in mobility with pioneering entrepreneurship, promoting innovative solutions focused on the future of work.

Daring - through my years of global experience, I have come to view coaching as a transformative journey that unlocks the full potential of individuals and helps them achieve their dreams. Just like travel, coaching is an opportunity for personal growth and positive change.

Doing - as a coach, I am passionate about helping people discover their unique strengths and capabilities. I strive to be a patient and supportive guide, committed to empowering individuals to achieve their personal and professional aspirations.

Growth - let's embark on this journey together. With trust, courage, and your own unique qualities, I invite you to join me in a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Together, we can chart a course that will lead you to your desired destination, and I will be there to support you to reach safely your destination.

Here for you. Exploring. Daring. Doing. Growth.

Thoughts about Talent Transformation

I guess you have noticed my passion for future of work; I was having few interesting conversations in the last couple of weeks, what does this mean to our profession and Talent agenda in general. Below you can see a summary of those discussions, highlighting key steps you can take to adapt and make the necessary changes to stay ahead of the trends in the future of work.

1. Conduct a skills audit: Understand the current skills and capabilities of your workforce, identify any gaps that may need to be filled in order to meet the changing needs of your organization. This will help you understand which areas of your workforce may need to be reskilled or upskilled.

2. Assess the impact of automation and AI on your workforce: Understand how automation and AI may impact your workforce and identify the roles that are most likely to be affected. Develop a plan to help employees transition to new roles if necessary.

3. Rethink your recruitment strategy: Consider the use of virtual recruiting and assessment tools to identify and evaluate candidates who may be working remotely. Also, think about how to attract and retain top talent in an increasingly remote and flexible working environment.

4. Rethink employee engagement and management: Develop strategies to create a sense of community and connection among remote employees and ensure that managers are equipped to lead and manage remote teams effectively.

5. Focus on upskilling and reskilling: Develop a comprehensive plan to upskill and reskill your workforce to prepare them for new roles and technologies.

6. Create an inclusive and diverse workforce: Ensure that your Talent agenda is inclusive and reflective of the diverse society we live in. Create a more inclusive and equitable culture, and provide training and development opportunities for underrepresented groups.

7. Communicate with employees: Keep employees informed about the changes that are happening, the reason behind them, and how they will be impacted. Be transparent and honest with them.

It's important to note that these changes will take time to implement, so it's important to be patient and keep employees informed throughout the process.

Learning. Growth. Evolution

That's a wrap! As Adam Grant said “The more I help out, the more successful I become. But I measure success in what it has done for the people around me. That is the real accolade.” I was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn and collaborate with a diverse group of highly talented Veoneer colleagues. Grateful for the experience and ready to apply my newfound knowledge.

Until next week, bye and take care,

Cristi

Future of work and “rebels”

Hi again,

I was very much influenced by “Corporate Rebels” when starting this new adventure and I really appreciate the work they are doing. I started to think and to clarify (at least for myself) what’s the meaning of “being rebel” in an already turbulent world.

And here are my thoughts:

1. A focus on employee satisfaction: this is about prioritizing the well-being of employees, emphasizing job satisfaction, autonomy and a positive work-life balance.

2. A flat organizational structure: move away from hierarchical structures in favor of flat, decentralized teams that are more collaborative and creative.

3. An emphasis on flexibility: do not stick around traditional workplace rules and expectations. Be open to flexible working hours, remote working and other nontraditional arrangements.

4. A focus on innovation: focus on innovation and experimentation, encouraging employees to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.

5. A commitment to transparency: be committed to open communication and transparency, both internally and externally. This helps to build trust and foster collaboration.

Easy to say, hard to embed this is into strategy and translate it in actionable insights; with good and bad, I can share what I did and what can be done here.

Until next week, bye and take care,

Cristi

When failing being Resilient

Hello

Today I would like to talk about resilience – and this can be defined as the ability to adapt and cope with difficult situations, stress, and change. It involves bouncing back from adversity and remaining strong in the face of challenges. It is the ability to maintain or regain one's sense of balance and positive outlook during difficult times.

Just reading this, I guess you can see that I failed cultivating resilience in the past weeks…I started to reflect why is this:

1. Not taking care of myself. People who don't practice self-care may find it difficult to cope with stress and adversity

2. Maybe too much negative thinking. Negative thoughts and beliefs, such as self-doubt, can make it difficult to bounce back from adversity

3. …and a bit of too much stress. Prolonged exposure to stress can take a toll on physical and mental health, making it harder to be resilient

I have used this time to reflect and to establish some ways to train and develop my resilience:

• Practice self-care

• Challenge negative thoughts: Identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that may be holding me back

• Practice optimism: Cultivate a positive outlook by focusing on the good things in my life and learning to see the silver lining in difficult situations

• Learn from past experiences: Reflect on past difficult situations and think about what I have learned from them and how can I apply that knowledge to future challenges

• Take calculated risks: Taking on new challenges and trying new things

Keep in mind that, building resilience is a process that takes time, effort, and practice. It's also important to remember that everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for another

 Until next week, bye and take care,

Cristi

Despre Incredere

Multumesc Tibi, pentru inspiratie. Pe langa incredere, raman cu o intrebare - si totusi, cand nu mai poti?!

Future of Work (I)

The future of business is a topic that has been discussed for decades. And with the rise of the corporate rebels, it is now more important than ever to understand what the future holds for businesses and how they can prepare for it. The future of work is changing rapidly with technological advancements. In order to thrive in this new era, businesses will have to adapt and change their mindset about work. They will have to think outside of the box and create new ways for their employees to work together and collaborate on projects.

What is one key shift happening in your area? Let’s connect to briefly talk about your challenges.

Talk soon and take care,

Cristi

Still in reading mode…

Coming soon, thanks for being patient,