Are you achieving flow for 2.5 hours a day?

Written by Stuart Haden on February 22, 2018

We can be in flow for about 15% of our waking time, which normally equates to about 2.5 hours per day. This stat is probably quite easy to relate to…for a couple of hours a day we act and feel our very best.

So if this is how much rocket fuel we have at our disposal let’s consider using it wisely. When do we need to bring it? Equally when do we need to keep some in reserve, a quick boost

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How flow can help us to keep pace with the rise of the machines

Written by Stuart Haden on February 7, 2018

Being in flow is often reserved for times when you need it most, quite rightly. Important meetings, presentations or problem solving activities that require your ‘A game.’ We talk about optimising the machines around us all the time. Software – updates, upgrades, versions, bugs and fixes.

I apply the same approach to our human software (and hardware). How can we update our knowledge, upgrade our systems, be a better version of ourselves, iron out the bugs and fix our attention on

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Reflection – holding up the mirror to optimal performance

Written by Stuart Haden on January 24, 2018

The benefits of reflecting on performance are easily defined. Who wouldn’t want to sign up to increased self-awareness, an enhanced ability to make decisions, growth and the capacity to generate innovation and the ability to be compassionate. Sounds good right? However, reflection isn’t a silver bullet – it doesn’t always cut through complexity or provide an immediate solution.

Certain ingredients are required. We know that reflection won’t burn a hole in your bank balance, but it does require that precious commodity

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The route to optimal performance – skill, state, story & strategy

Written by Stuart Haden on January 10, 2018

I’ve posted previously about the differences between skills and state. But what next? Well if you can acquire skills and develop your state then this influences your story and your strategy.

Firstly, the stories you tell yourself can vary greatly depending on your current state. When you are filled with confidence your inner critic is silenced. But when you feel overcome with ambiguity, your perception of the story does not have such a happy ending.

This of course influences the strategy –

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Workplace Wellbeing Strategy – free 1-day course: 23 January, London

Written by Stuart Haden on December 18, 2017

Over the last few months I have been busy working with the CIPD to create a suite of courses for a new Health & Wellbeing Series. Perfectly timed for the New Year is an invite to a 1-day pilot of the Workplace Wellbeing Strategy course. Better still attendance is free of charge! That beats secret santa and any stocking filler hands down.

Please be aware that there are a maximum of 12 places so bookings are first come first served. If you would like to attend

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It’s Not About The Coach 7 of 7 – coaching paradigms

Written by Stuart Haden on December 13, 2017

On your marks, get set, coach! Well in this final video (of 7) we know full well that coaches are ready to explode off the blocks on the B of the bang! Here is what it looks like for the coachee however…

In paradigm #1 it’s transactional, our coachees are not ready and they have to start minding the gap. In paradigm #2 coachees are on the line of readiness, they are self coaching and there is still room for improvement.

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It’s Not About The Coach 6 of 7 – nine characteristics of coachability

Written by Stuart Haden on December 6, 2017

I guarantee many of the 9 characteristics of coachability that we touched upon in the last video will already be on your radar. We might not share the exact language but don’t let that separate us…

Complete with a few tips here is the source of coachability…

Authenticity – are your making your values valuable?

Develop awareness of self (and others) so that you can begin to attune your needs (inner) to the environment (outer). Watch out for the conflict between compliance and defiance when

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It’s Not About The Coach 5 of 7 – maps of coachability

Written by Stuart Haden on November 29, 2017

The questions just keep coming and coming, under fire a coachee has to deliver. If we are assessing coachability then we need a map to fall back on. A way of locating our present position, helping us out when we get lost and/or agreeing our next steps. In short, what are the characteristics of an effective coachee? There are 3 ways to go about this challenge…

The coachee maps out the areas that are important to them, so that they can be

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It’s Not About The Coach 4 of 7 – when the coachee is ready…

Written by Stuart Haden on November 22, 2017

Readiness for coaching is the primary goal for my It’s Not About The Coach book, online course and workshop. Here I have taken a well known mantra and given it a coachability twist…when the coachee is ready the coach will appear.

It doesn’t matter how ready and raring to go the coach is (but of course that is vital in its own right) the coachee has to be ready also. In my own experience I have proved to be lacking in coachability at

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It’s Not About The Coach 3 of 7 – readiness for coaching

Written by Stuart Haden on November 15, 2017

Questions, questions, questions – the source of coaching. A mark to ensure we can safely complete our quest. But how ready are people for coaching? If you were to assign a % to coachability, what scores would you award? 0% being low and 100% off the scales for readiness. Go on have a think and then watch this video for the answer…

So how did you get on? Did you aim low and identify an uphill struggle. Somewhere in the middle maybe, stagnant –

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