UnglueYou worked for us – Would it work for you?Keeping performance and motivation levels at a constant high is a challenge even for the most driven and energetic of us. Coming back after the holidays still dreaming of bright lights and Christmas pudding, we can all do with a bit of help to refocus. Finding something new […]
Archive | Coaching
2ND JANUARY…HERE WE GO AGAIN…
Magazine Article: Steer Your Business – January 2019 issue. 2ND JANUARY…HERE WE GO AGAIN…Does this year’s budget feel like just another mountain to climb despite good intentions and new resolutions? Or are you ready to put in a winning performance in 2019? Take our 5-minute test.Write the answers to the following questions on a piece […]
Are you ready to put in a winning performance in 2019?
Or does next year’s budget sound like a big mountain to climb? Is your line up rehearsed and fired up? Perhaps you need a little extra sparkle in your plans?A choreographer understands you need a concise and impactful compilation of steps, movements, patterns and a clear vision of how it all comes together at the […]
You Will be a Much Better Leader When You’ve Retired
Many ballroom professionals say they have become much better dancers after they stopped competing. Sounds strange? Competitors are exposed to a lot of noise – around and inside them. They see a variety of teachers with different views and approaches. Constant ‘feedback’ by their partners and creative tensions add much to this noise. Often they […]
“Turn to water and not to stone.” – Amanda Dokman – renowned ballroom dancer
One of the main challenges in ballroom is to cope with the continuously moving competition on the floor. You develop a set routine to show off your technical abilities and style. You rehearse it to be part of your body memory. You practice keeping connection to move in harmony through challenging sequences. You need to […]
Who leads? Who follows?
The notion that men lead and women follow on the dance floor has been outdated for some time. To produce the performances expected now, it is not enough for the lady to “only” follow. Today’s dancing, which mixes artistry and athleticism, requires a more dynamic approach to leading within the couple. As a general rule, […]
The competitive positioning of Jam Butties and Cream Tarts changed my thinking.
Over the last couple of weeks, we have built our case that the world of business and ballroom dancing are fantastic metaphors for each other. Learnings from one can help to reflect on and enhance performance in the other. The last post finished on the thought that, once awarded, it is tough to steal either […]
Seizing the Market Is Like Convincing Shirley Ballas You’re the Champion
Here’s my thesis: The results in a ballroom competition are driven by buying behaviours similar to customers in a conventional market. I’d also say a ballroom champion is like a ‘market leader’ who has seized the highest market share. Let me develop that idea. Imagine your product like a couple, battling it out on the […]
Show you mean business
13 judges surround the massive dance floor. Notepads in hand, they look strict. Mean. Heat after heat, 20 couples on, 20 couples off. Tanned, made-up, hair slicked back. The men in black tail suits, numbers on their backs; the women elegant in sparkly dresses. The judges are in black-tie, with the ladies’ gowns rivaling those […]
Getting ready for the boardroom?
Try a sequin shirt or an organza skirt! Sport has long been a strong metaphor for business and, for many years, organisations have looked to sport and sport psychology to enhance performance. I was fascinated hearing the story of hospitals reducing death rates significantly after they benchmarked their ER with Formula 1 pitstop processes. In […]