October 2021: Distracted at work? Try improving focus in nature

June 2021: Emotional Intelligence, Burnout Prevention, Well-being, Build Trusting Teams

March 2021: Coaching Outdoors; Nature Roaming; New Podcast

February 2021: Hike 21km (13 miles) in 2021!

Did you know that walking in nature helps improve your mood and self-esteem and helps you think?

[Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this event. We are hoping to host a retreat later this year. Stay tuned!] We want to welcome you to our 21km hike to push ourselves in 2021 and make new connections doing so. 

This event will include beautiful scenery and --

• Two virtual meetups before the hike to talk about what you need to bring, how to train, what to expect and a meet and greet to meet fellow hikers and find hiking buddies. 

• A post hike beer or non-alcoholic beverage at a local brewery near the trailhead. 

• The opportunity to meet other women in the DC area who are interested in the outdoors

• Networking and relationship building. Meet others in your field.

• Education and discussion. Opportunity to learn about sustainability topics such as climate change, clean energy, water conservation, land conservation. 

• Physical activity and adventure. 

• Wellbeing and mindfulness. We will take some time during the hike to walk mindfully. 

More details:

• Depending on the number of hikers, the cost will be $65-85.

• Our limit is 10 hikers.

• Trailhead will be within 2 hours of the DC metro area.

• COVID procedures. We will hike spread out on the trail and will wear face coverings when gathered as a group, such as at an overlook.

Walking is good for you

You probably know this already but I'm including some articles in case you want to be motivated to walk even more. 
It helps you think. 
It can improve your mood and self-esteem. 
You can be more productive and creative while walking. 
 

Know someone who would like to receive this newsletter? 

Please forward this to a friend or colleague if you think they'd like this newsletter. They can sign up for my newsletter here or by emailing me at jennifer@jwillscoaching.com. 

December 2020: Your North Star (Your “Why”); Identify your values

What is your North Star?

I recently read Simon Sinek’s book, Start With Why The basic premise is that it’s not what you do or sell or how you do it that people want to invest in. Rather, people invest in why you do it. 

While this is relevant to businesses, I see this as relevant to individuals as well. It's the key to being authentic. If you are trying to ‘sell’ your ideas, think about why you are doing that. Why do you care so much? Are you trying to sell a promotion or job change to your boss? What is your why for that? And if you're selling something that isn't in line with your purpose or North Star, how will that be received? 

My purpose or why or North Start is to help people grow so that they can make the world a better place. I feel that personal and professional growth is part of the essential human experience. 

My belief is that when you combine your 'why' with your strengths, you can make your biggest contribution to the world.

Your values

Acting in accordance with your values is also important. In this HBR article, two of the top leadership competencies identified by 195 leaders are 1) demonstrating strong ethics and 2) creating a sense of safety. When a leader does not act in accordance with their values, they cannot create a feeling of safety. “If you find yourself making decisions that feel at odds with your principles or justifying actions in spite of a nagging sense of discomfort, you probably need to reconnect with your core values.”  

Three of my top values are:

• Connection;

• Continuous improvement;

• Service to society.

And this makes sense because my purpose is to help people grow, which is in line with all of these values. I feel energized when I'm helping people with their continuous improvement/growth and I feel that I am in service to them and to society as a whole in this way. And the connection I make with my clients is real.

Want to identify your values? Below is a list from Indeed.com to help you get started. I'd be happy to coach you through it as well.

November 2020: Mind Mapping; Making a difference

Resources: 

https://www.prolificliving.com/mindmaps-for-career-planning/

https://lifehacker.com/build-your-career-master-plan-with-a-mind-map-5991819

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-use-mind-maps-to-unleash-your-brains-creativity-1348869811

https://www.mindmapping.com/

http://www.inspiration.com/visual-learning/mind-mapping

Here are images of mind map art for the creatives. http://www.mindmapart.com/ 

_________

Making a difference

Many of my clients want to make a difference in the world. They are seeking more meaning in their careers and lives. Some of those clients are fresh out of graduate school; others have been in the professional world for more than two decades. 

What does “making a difference” mean to you? Is there more than one way to make a difference? Try mind mapping what it means to you!  

September 2020: Meaningful Life & Career; Career Transitions; Personal Branding

Finding meaning in your life and career. 

Many people are seeking more meaning in their lives, especially in their careers. Even if you are not currently seeking a career transition, the books about career pivots in my blog post are still useful. It’s not too early to consider what’s next and even if you don’t see a change in your foreseeable future, you should be continually identifying and developing new skills.  

Speaking of career change . . .

I asked several prominent environmental lawyers for their tips on career transitions. Here’s the full article. Below are the highlights. Even if you aren’t a lawyer, these tips are relevant to anyone. 

• Continue to hone and develop the skills and abilities you acquired in your previous position so you do not lose any “muscle memory” in those areas.

• Take the time to get to know the culture of the entity.

• Be kind to yourself and take every opportunity to push yourself at crossroads. Don’t do things without thought and direction.

• Don’t take a job you don’t want to do because you think it will get you where you want to be.

• Keep your eyes open for opportunities even if you don’t think you’re ready for a switch.

• Build and maintain your network. Stay in touch with colleagues. 

• Map out scenarios for your transition, with an ideal outcome and a few alternatives.

• Identify dedicated sponsors to inform your options.

• Don’t be afraid to take a little (informed) risk.

• It rarely works out exactly the way you imagined. Be prepared to make the best of whatever the new role offers.

• Don’t underestimate the cultural differences between your former employer and new one and be prepared to adjust.

• Personal resilience is key to whatever you do. 

• Your network is important for finding opportunities, seeking advice, and helping you prepare for a new role.

• While it’s important to have a network, you should trust your own judgment and listen to your inner voice.

• Get to know your new team and help them get to know you. 

• Any job transition requires you to recharge/recalibrate/refresh. 

• Be prepared for the financial impacts of a career change. 

• Be aware of potential time-management changes and learn how to balance  new expectations.

• If possible, try the other career as a side hustle for a little bit.

Your Personal Brand

When researching personal branding for a client recently, I compiled the following resources on personal branding. My client wants to ensure that she conveys her personal brand to her new supervisor and team when she moves to a new position. This compilation is useful to those who already know or have a strong sense of what their personal brand is and is also useful to those seeking to identify their brand.

Why is your personal brand important? In Tips on Creating and Growing Your Personal Brand, Laura Lake, says it well: “It’s something no one can take away from you, and it can follow you throughout your career. It’s a leadership requirement that lets people know who you are and what you stand for.” 

How to Define Your Personal Brand in 5 Simple Steps, Ryan Erskine

Before starting to generate lots of content online to distinguish your personal brand, identify your goals. Otherwise, all that work could be a wasted opportunity. 

“Determining your own story arc will be crucial to crafting a brand narrative that your audience will relate to and remember. Your brand narrative will come naturally if you ask yourself the right questions: What obstacles have I overcome? What desirable goals have I reached or am in the process of reaching? How have I changed for the better?”

Reinventing Your Personal Brand by Dorie Clark (author of Reinventing You)

“The key is not to explain your transition in terms of your own interests (“I was bored with my job and decided to try something else,” or “I’m on a personal journey to find the real me”) but to focus on the value your prior experience brings. 

Consider it “search engine optimization” for your life: The more connections you make, and the more value and content you regularly add to the stream, the more likely it is that your new brand will be known, recognized, and sought out.” 

August 2020: Accepting Change; Nature Roaming™; New Publication

Staying Well & Accepting Change

I hope all of you are staying well, physically and mentally. If you're like me, it feels like a  roller coaster of constant change. I've been reading a book called Pivot: The only move that matters is your next one, by Jenny Blake. It highlights the importance to continually update your skills because careers and the needed skillsets change rapidly. The same goes for life. Learning to accept change and accept that change is constant will be key to wellbeing for now and for the rest of our lives. 

What can you do to change your mindset about change? 

Nature Roaming™

I am pleased to introduce Nature Roaming™. I have been working on this concept for months and I am so excited to tell you all about it! 

What is Nature Roaming™? 

Nature Roaming™ combines the power of nature with guided coaching to lead to expanded self-awareness and self-compassion. Through inner reflection, outward connection, and forging a path forward, the keystones of this outdoor coaching experience, you can shift your perspective, see new possibilities, and learn about yourself. You will leave feeling rejuvenated and with a plan to move forward.

Essentially, with your coaching contract, we will do some standard coaching sessions (on the phone or video) and some sessions will be outdoors. We’ll go outdoors (on the phone, together), ideally in the woods or in nature, take some time to get centered, focus on your surroundings and how those surroundings relate to or are metaphors for the topic of coaching. There are no walls, physically or metaphorically. You use all your senses. Using the outdoors plus coaching, can help you open up to new possibilities. 

If you’re interested in signing up for coaching sessions that include Nature Roaming™, contact me! I’d be happy to get you outdoors and focusing on what’s important to you.

Career Corner

Accomplishment statements. One issue that comes up frequently with my clients is how to articulate accomplishments from professional work and volunteer experience--in resumes and in interviews or even when discussing your work. Resumes should include accomplishment statements, not a list of duties. You want to show your future employer what you can do for them; not the duties you did for your former employers. I have found that it can be very time consuming to go back through emails, memos, press releases, etc to find the details that you might need to write your accomplishment statements. It’s easier to keep track as you go. 

For this reason, I recommend that you keep track of accomplishments on a weekly or monthly basis. Make it a habit. Some key pieces of information to record are the ACTION you took (consider strong action verbs--you can search for these online) + PROBLEM or PROJECT that you worked on + RESULT. Include as many details as possible. If there are links to articles or press releases, include those. You can always go back and omit excess information when it comes time to include the accomplishments in a resume. 

I’d love to hear if you find this helpful. 

I've been published!

Corporate Social Responsibility -- Sustainable Business

A little over two years ago, a good friend of mine asked if I'd like to co-author a chapter in a book about #corporatesocialresponsibility. A wonderful mentor is an editor of the book. Of course!, I responded. After countless versions and edits, it's in print! The chapter is titled Environmental Frameworks and Corporate Social Responsibility. There are many aspects of CSR and we outlined the key pieces to environmental CSR--domestic and international. If you’d like a very in depth read on CSR and sustainable business, this is the book for you. 

March 25, 2020: Well-being, Leadership, Outdoor Coaching & More

Your Well-Being

I'm starting this newsletter with a well-being exercise. We all need to focus on our well-being so that we can continue to care for others. My mission- and purpose-driven friends and colleagues are especially prone to forgetting their own self-care while caring for others. While caring for others is critical, it's important to remember that you must care for yourself as well. The middle path is doing both. With that in mind ...

You can’t pour from an empty cup. 

What’s one thing you could change today that would improve your well-being that involves self-care? What’s keeping you from making that change? You might say circumstances or time. What is within your control to change? 

Journal about your answers to this over the course of the next few days. Review these entries and see what you notice about yourself when you make a change, even a small change. I hope that you feel more energy to care for yourself as you do for others. 

The power of nature to your well-being

This article by George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being on the power of nature for your wellbeing provides an easy activity you can do outside to get the benefits of being in nature.

Leadership Corner

New podcast: Fortune’s Leadership Next. Business leaders are redefining the relationship between business and society, focusing more on purpose and how business impacts the world.

Articles I'm reading 

• Non-COVID-19 related

Companies Gen Z swipes right on

The article discusses the companies Gen Z wants to work for. (Spoiler: they are looking at purpose, policies and balance such as flexibility in work location and schedule, equity policies, carbon footprint reduction and other climate related measures.) 

“Generation Z, or post-millennials, those born between 1995-2015, demand more than a good salary package from prospective employers. They want to work with companies that have it all—from climate consciousness to inclusive and flexible work policies.”

• COVID-19 related

That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

By putting a name on what we are feeling, we are better able to let those emotions move through us. The author adds a sixth stage of grief: meaning.

Sustainable Business

GreenBiz’s State of Green Business Report 2020

The report includes sustainable business trends to watch such as decarbonizing the shipping industry; nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change; clean energy for last-mile transportation; new technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere; employee activism; measuring circularity.

Coaching in the Great Outdoors

I hosted a wonderful retreat in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia just before coronavirus sent us into small, distanced groups. We hiked at Cacapon Resort State Park. Eight women walked silently into the woods, pondering their intentions as they reflected inward. My intention was to consider what an abundance mindset looks like for me. For instance, the sun’s energy struck me as so powerful and abundant. It's there all the time and yet not harnessed as it should be. How does that show up for me? Is it that abundance is always around me but I don't notice it? How can I notice it more often? 

Halfway in, we stopped along the trail to wander further into the woods separately and journaled about what we learned.We shared our thoughts with one another, which in turn ignited more thoughts and learning as we connected outward. One participant considered the connectedness of humanity, just as the trees are connected by roots underground. Another considered the connection between water flowing and creative problem solving. Finally, we walked back out of the woods as we established what we would do to move forward, to apply what we learned about ourselves and our intentions. 

I’m hopeful to be able to host more outdoor coaching experiences in the future. For now, I’ll put them on pause as we continue social distancing. 

March 2, 2020: Outdoor Coaching, Writing an Action Plan, Personal Board of Advisors and More

Hello! 

I'm excited to share my first newsletter with you. I hope you find the content useful. Please check out my website, forward this newsletter if you find it useful, and connect with me on LinkedIn.

I founded J. Wills Coaching to better align my passion for helping people and helping the environment. I had been an attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for more than 15 years and it was time to do something where I could directly impact the people I work with and use my strengths in different ways. I continue to use the skills I developed as an attorney, such as asking questions to get to the core issue at hand. I coach professionals in Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability who want to transition careers to sustainability. To further develop my coaching skills, I completed George Mason University’s Leadership Coaching for Organizational Wellbeing certificate program. This opened my eyes to the importance of well-being and I want to share that with my clients. I think of those who feel they are burning out from their mission-driven work and those who are working on wicked problems, particularly those in sustainability roles. Well-being is essential for continuing the good work that you do!

My love for the environment started at a young age. Growing up, I played in the woods and creeks in Kentucky. All. Day. Long. I stopped doing that as a teenager but found my way back to the woods in college. During my undergraduate studies in biology, I studied plants, insects and ecology. It was during that time that I learned about environmental law and decided that was the career path for me. I went to law school and graduated with honors. I practiced law with the EPA until I left to focus on coaching. The woods still call to me and I now take small groups out to experience coaching outdoors where they reflect inward, connect outward, and move forward. I also coach indoors. Indoors or outdoors, I help professionals grow their leadership, expand their awareness and maintain their wellbeing.

Outdoor Coaching Experience

I'm hosting a retreat for some amazing women in less than a week. My outdoor coaching partner, Renée Blosser, and I are doing a group hike that involves coaching and self-awareness building. I'll share some photos in the next update! We are planning to do more outdoor coaching with groups so if you have a group that would be interested, let me know!

If you need more reasons to get outside, check out 5 Ways Hiking is Good for You and learn about Japanese Forest Bathing!

How to write an action plan 

Action plans are good for meeting your goals. They help you identify the goal, the steps to reach the goal, who needs to be involved and deadlines for interim steps. 

I’m working on an action plan template for a leadership skills development course that is part of a masters program through Virginia Tech's Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability. Students (professionals with full time jobs) who want to improve or develop one or two leadership skills will develop an action plan covering five months of the program. In helping students develop that action plan, I looked at some templates and articles about how to write an action plan. 
Here is one that I found helpful.

Leadership Corner

You’ve probably heard of board of advisors before, or maybe kitchen cabinet, or personal board of directors. These are people who are there for you to ask questions, get feedback on ideas, seek advice, etc. You trust them. They believe in you. They have experience beyond yours so they can see what you might not be able to see. To learn more, check out Fast Company's Why every professional should recruit a personal board of advisors. 

Fill those seats with your personal board of advisors!!

What's the difference between a board of advisors/mentors and coaching? Mentors share advice and some will also coach you. They tend to be busy and you should consider their time when reaching out. Theirs is a long term relationship. 

Coaching is a professional relationship, where the time is yours. The length tends to be shorter than mentor, from 3 months to 12 months or more. A coach will help you create awareness around situations in your life and about yourself in a more holistic way than a mentor. A mentor will likely advise on a specific situation.