Career Coaching for Anton Robinson

Click on the following link for your: Multidimensional Emotional Intelligence Quotient - Revised (MEIQ-R9)

Career and Life Coaching Session #1: Thursday 24 August 2017

- Anton's E-mail address is anto.i.robi@gmail.com - Anton went to Tranquality and then transferred to Malik. For CXC, he took: Maths, English A, Social Studies, TD, Building Engineering Technology. - The he went to St. Augustinine for "A" Levels. He took Maths, Sociology, TD, GP. - Then he went to UWI, and did a Bachelors in Mathematics, and a minor in Computer Science. He finished in 2008 and graduated in 2009. - He then completed a Masters in Information Systems at University of Greenwich. - He then participated in OJT at the Ministry of Finance. He learned systems and processes, and had good mentoring. This lasted a year and a half. - He went to Flavourite Foods as a Data Analyst/Computer Programmer. He stayed there for one year. - Then he went to Iluminat which became Massy Communications, which he did for a year and 10 months. - Then he went to Guardian Group as a Business Analyst, and has been there for four years. - He reports to Maureen DeGannes, Group Head of Process Optimization - Anton is not sure why Guardian is having this other person shadow him, and it makes him feel uncomfortable. - He is lacking career guidance himself. - He would like his next step at Guardian to be a managerial position. - Anton rated himself as follows:

Mentally 9/10
Physically 9/10
Spiritually 7/10
Emotionally 2/10

Acknowledgements from Session #1: - I also acknowledged him for coming to these Life and Career Coaching sessions to get a better understanding of himself. Takeaways from Session #1: - Anton liked the clarity he gained about why he might have been looking for a managerial position at Guardian. Action Plan from Session #1: - You agreed to complete the MEIQ-R9 assessment. - The next session was scheduled for Friday 1 September 2017 at 3:30 PM.

Career and Life Coaching Session #2: Friday 1 September 2017

- We discussed Anton's emotional IQ assessment. Anton's score on this assessment (87/155, 19th percentile) is satisfactory, but there is a great deal of room for improvement. Overall, he has some capacity to understand and deal with emotions, but he needs to further develop his skills. Awareness is key to helping him find the motivation to improve in this area - review the results below to better understand which areas he needs to work on developing. - The following is a summarized version of Anton's emotional intelligence results, categorized according to areas where he excels, areas where there is room to grow even more, and areas that he will need work on improving: EIQ competencies that Anton has mastered His strong social insight helps him understand human behavior He regularly uses his empathy to better understand others He is skilled at reading body language He is open to learning and self-improvement He has a good understanding of the complexity and depth of his emotions He is self-aware, and has a profound understanding of who he is He doesn't sweat the small stuff, preferring to let minor annoyances go He does not ruminate excessively EIQ competencies that Anton can cultivate further He can adapt his social skills to different situations and people, but it isn't always easy for him He is able to resolve most conflicts reasonably well He is fairly self-motivated He shows some degree of mental toughness, and can usually bounce back from hardship with relative ease He tries his best to live his life according to his values He has reasonably healthy self-esteem He has some self-confidence, but can fall victim to self-doubt from time to time He generally believes that he has what it takes to succeed He strives to pick his battles wisely, but some seemingly trivial issues may still upset him EIQ competencies that require development & improvement He often struggles to accurately identify the emotions he is feeling He is rather uncomfortable expressing his emotions He is generally ill-at-ease in emotionally intense situations or with emotional people He tends to have difficulty regulating his emotions He is not very flexible He generally doesn't set smart goals for himself He does not cope with stress in a very healthy or effective manner He is not very adaptable He has a fairly negative and perhaps even cynical outlook He is generally unable to assert himself effectively He rarely reflects on his emotions and the information that they can offer He often requires and/or seeks out other people's approval - Anton chose the following EIQ Limitations to work on: #1 He generally doesn't set smart goals for himself #2 He is generally unable to assert himself effectively #3 He often requires and/or seeks out other people's approval #4 He has a fairly negative and perhaps even cynical outlook #5 He does not cope with stress in a very healthy or effective manner #6A He often struggles to accurately identify the emotions he is feeling; #6B He is rather uncomfortable expressing his emotions Acknowledgements from Session #2: - I also acknowledged Anton for completing the MEIQ-R9 assessment. Takeaways from Session #2: - Anton liked the self-awareness he gained from the results of his MEIQ-R9 assessment. Action Plan from Session #2: - You agreed to review the MEIQ-R9 report in more detail. - You agreed to work on the following EIQ Limitations in the coming year, choosing one or two at a time every two months: #1 You generally don't set smart goals for yourself

Specific: Rather than simply stating "I want to increase sales in my department," have a number in mind, like "by 10% ".
Measurable: Being able to track your progress at set intervals (every month, for example) is important - you'll see and appreciate the efforts of your labors.
Attainable: This is the key to success. Goals that are too easy won't motivate you; goals that are too hard will discourage your team. Set a goal that is high, but reasonable.
Relevant: Why are you setting this particular goal? Why do you want to achieve it? You and your team will be much more motivated to achieve a goal that is meaningful.
Time-bound: Set a flexible, realistic deadline. This will keep your eyes on the prize. Setting a goal to be achieved at some vague time in the future is not going to stick. That being said, be willing to tweak your deadline if unexpected situations arise.

#2 You are generally unable to assert yourself effectively

Start small. Try to be assertive in mildly tense situations, such as requesting to be seated at a different spot at a restaurant.
Learn to say no. People worry that saying no is selfish. It’s not. Rather, setting healthy limits is important to having healthy relationships.
Let go of guilt. Being assertive can be tough — especially if you’ve been passive or a people-pleaser most of your life. The first few times it can feel unnerving. But remember that being assertive is vital to your well-being. “Assertive behaviour that involves advocating for oneself in a way that is respectful of others is not wrong — it is healthy self-care,” Marter said.
Express your needs and feelings. Don’t assume that someone will automatically know what you need. You have to tell them. Again, be specific, clear, honest and respectful.

#3 You often require and/or seek out other people's approval

Consider the implications for your life of always putting aside what you want to do or what is important to you to always accommodate other people's wishes.
Remember that other people constantly change their opinions about you, and that looking for positive affirmation from others by always trying to be a people-pleaser usually never works anyway. Try to see yourself as a valuable human being in the eyes of God, who is the only one whose opinion of us matters!

#4 You have a fairly negative and perhaps even cynical outlook

View setbacks as short-lived. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed and find yourself plunging into negativity, remind yourself that things can get better. If you're having a hard time in a class you're taking, for example, or you're having relationship problems, look at it as temporary. Whatever the situation, you can take proactive steps to deal with the underlying issues. Even if you are faced with something that you will have to deal with for a lifetime (like a health problem or family issue), there is always some way to improve the situation. You will grow stronger, heal, or find better ways to cope.
The good and the bad. Both good and bad feelings facilitate the thinking process by allowing us to view things from different perspectives. Did you ever notice how, when thinking pessimistically about a problem, you come up with solutions that are in line with that thinking, and when you think positively, the perspective and solutions change? Our feelings, good and bad, offer us different perspectives on the world. While one perspective may be more beneficial than the other, both angles offer us valuable information about the world around us, and about ourselves.

#5 You do not cope with stress in a very healthy or effective manner

Identify stressors. What causes you to feel stress? Becoming aware of how you cope is the first step to improving your overall coping skill.
Get moving. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress.
Engage socially. Reach out and build relationships because social engagement is the quickest, most efficient way to rein in stress and avoid overreacting to internal or external events that you perceive as threatening.
Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, be more assertive and communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you’ve got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk. If you don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the stress will increase.
Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.
Make time for fun and relaxation. Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle. In addition to regular exercise, there are other healthy lifestyle choices that can increase your resistance to stress, like a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.

#6A You often struggle to accurately identify the emotions you are feeling; #6B You are rather uncomfortable expressing your emotions

Stay in touch with your feelings. Pay attention to what triggers them and how you react.
Pay attention to your body when you're upset, sad or angry. What are the signs? Learning to recognize how you react in response to different sentiments can help you become more in tune with your emotions.
Be honest with yourself. Everyone feels things, and it's nothing to hide or be nervous about. Emotions are important signals that we need to listen to in order to feel more fulfilled in life.
Get to know yourself better. For example, make a list of your strengths and limitations. The more in touch you are with who you are, the better you will be able to understand and handle your emotions.
Take small steps if you're not used to expressing emotions. Start with those that are the least intimidating and you will surely find that it's not as bad as you think. On the positive side, begin with genuine compliments and then take it further to an expression of appreciation. When you need to communicate a negative feeling, try writing it if you feel too intimidated to say it. Like learning any new skill, it will get easier with practice.
Consider the implications of not releasing your feelings. A lack of intimacy with others, pent up feelings, health problems, etc.
Remember that communication involves a lot more than what is just said. Our gestures, expressions and tone of voice send just as strong (or even stronger signals) than the words we choose, and can let us know how others are feeling (and lets other know how we are feeling).

- The next session is scheduled for Friday 29 September 2017 at 3:30 PM.

Career and Life Coaching Session #3: Friday 29 September 2017

- Anton was able to manage his emotions better when he got into car accident recently. - The person who was shadowing him at Guardian now has his own portfolio, which is making Anton feel a lot better at work. - He still needs to work on his assertiveness. - Anton and I discussed the need to develop a B2B platform for consultants and businesses to connect. This would directly apply to him if and when he decides to become an independent Consultant. Acknowledgements from Session #3: - I acknowledged Anton for all the blogging that he has been doing. - I also acknowledged him for the progress he has made in his various EIQ limitations. Takeaways from Session #3: - Anton feels better about his progress in the area of assertiveness. - He is also excited about the development of this B2B platform. Action Plan from Session #3: - You agreed to begin designing a B2B platform for consultants and businesses - You also agreed to continue working on improving your assertiveness. - You agreed to work on improving your other EIQ limitations. - The next session will be scheduled when you are ready.

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