Huwork

Category: Coaching for Coaches

  • 16 tips for coaching future leaders and nurturing their success

  • History Matters

    Hello from Cambodia! 

    Visiting Cambodia with my brother and mom for her 80th birthday. She said it was the best birthday she’s ever had!

    That picture was taken in front of one of the many gorgeous temples that are Unesco world heritage sites. I highly recommend visiting if you like great food, warm people, gorgeous architecture, clean cities with good roads that are not yet over-populated.

    In between temple tours while chillaxing at the hotel, my mom opened up about how hard it was when she immigrated from India to the East coast of America in 1972: the judgment she felt when she told people she was vegetarian (“How can you live like that?” and my favorite, “Do you eat grass?”), the lack of respect she got even in the hospital where she was employed as a physician, feeling like an outsider at work, and not having someone to help guide her or, at times, just tell her what to do to get more respect at work and more broadly in society.

    Perhaps partly to pay homage to her experience and make it easier for other Indians working for American firms, I started a program called SAPNA (South Asian Professional No-Nonsense Accelerator) last year. This is a 3-week accelerator program, where I have condensed the essence of what I cover in my 1-on-1 leadership coaching programs, into a compact, easy to follow program. And because it is cohort-based, I am able to bring the price point down significantly for this hybrid self-paced + 6 live calls program.

    So, if you are a South Asian woman or know a South Asian woman who could benefit from this leadership program to gain more respect at work, here is the link to learn more. The program starts on March 4, and runs for three awesome weeks!

    Here is what a senior HR executive and former student in the program said about SAPNA: “I loved working with Bijal throughout the SAPNA program. She made it effortless to reflect on and dream about what I would love to achieve in bringing more of myself to my work, and then broke it down into practical techniques for making it happen. Bijal is an expert listener and dot-connector, and her unconditional belief in her students coupled with a no-nonsense yet light-hearted style becomes just the push one needs to show up as the leader we want to be.” 

    After the last email I sent announcing this program, a couple people asked if there was an early-bird price. Thought that was a great idea, so if you use the coupon EARLY, you will get $100 off the $397 – that’s over 25% off. But only for people who receive my emails and only until 3pm MST on Friday, February 9th.

    I truly believe that if you want to have a bigger impact on the world… if you want to achieve your goals and dreams faster … and if you want to inspire others to help you make it happen… 

    The time to prepare for the next opportunity is NOW 

    And to do it in a way that allows you to remain authentically yourself, including your South Asian identify. The longer you hold off on learning what’s needed to get more respect at work, be listened to, have influence, and more, the longer you put off your goals and dreams.

    These skills are a must, and not just for leadership, but for any role working for an American firm today, including individual contributors. And they are especially important for us Indian & Pakistani women, to counter the stereotypes we face. 

    I’m not saying at the end of 3 weeks you will be an expert on what is needed to get that promotion, BUT what I am saying is that you will have AWARENESS of what is needed to reverse the impression that you are not ready for the next opportunity, or not seen as someone who is strategic. And stop being seen as that “Indian do-er” (sorry to be blunt, and I had to do the same work myself to reverse this impression.)

    OK, sorry for the rant, but I get passionate about this.

    To find out more and to sign up, visit the SAPNA sign up page.

    I hope to see your name on the roster!!! But hurry, because the $100 off expires on Feb 9th.

    P.S. if this doesn’t resonate with you, but you know an Indian or Pakistani woman, please share this resource with them in case it would be helpful to them!

    With so much support and warmth,

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • The Science of Happiness

    I’m thrilled to invite you to join me for a transformative in-person experience at an upcoming weekend workshop, “The Science of Happiness,” set against the breathtaking backdrop of #MiravalResorts in Tucson, Arizona, from February 15 to 20, 2024.

    MORE INFO: The workshop is structured around key takeaways that provide valuable insights and practical tools. Participants will delve into the 3 main components of resilience to better understand its role as a foundation for sustained happiness. Strategies for building resilience will be shared. We’ll explore positive psychology principles, address coping mechanisms, and discuss the importance of embracing authentic emotions and the power of self-permission. Walk away with knowledge and actionable steps to enhance your happiness and resilience levels.

    SPECIAL PRICE: I was able to secure a special rate for my circle. If you book using code SOCIAL, you’ll receive EXTRA nightly resort credit. You package will include $225 nightly resort credit (normally $175) to use toward luxurious spa services, wellness workshops, culinary experiences, and private sessions with Miraval Specialists. Link: https://www.miravalresorts.com/packages/social-influencers?src=prop_tusob_other_email_bijalchoksi_arizona 

    I hope you will consider using this opportunity to shake up your outlook on work and life if needed, embracing positive psychology and resilience-building strategies.

    Secure your spot today and let’s make 2024 a year of joy and resilience!

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • Join a Unique Year-Long Group Coaching Program

    Hard to believe it is almost November. It’s been a busy time amidst an emotionally challenging season. Personally, I’ve been teaching and coaching a lot, adjusting to having one child in college and another with a driver’s permit, and trying to remember to slow down to enjoy key moments every day despite the chaos in the world. And to celebrate wins large and small, which I normally plow through to work towards the next goal. So here is a public celebration of the 10 outstanding women who participated in an intense 3-week program I designed specifically for South Asian women working in corporate America.  I applaud the hard work they put in and the vulnerability they showed in our 1:1 and group sessions. 👏🏼(Read a couple testimonials below.)

    And I’m excited to let you know I’m launching another program! This is a year-long GROUP COACHING program designed exclusively for South Asian women. This transformative journey will provide members with invaluable tools, support, and a community that understands and celebrates a shared heritage.

    Not a South Asian woman, but know one who could benefit from this program? Please forward this email.

    Group Coaching Program Details:

    12 sessions, 90 minutes each. The dates and times will be determined based on the preferences of the first few individuals who sign up. By keeping the group small, limited to 10 participants, we ensure an intimate and personalized experience for everyone involved.

    I love a top 10 list so here are the top 10 benefits of joining this year-long group coaching program:

    1. SPOT COACHING: Receive personalized guidance and support tailored to your unique circumstances. Whether you’re dealing with not getting enough respect at work from certain individuals or a never-ending chai addiction, I’ve got your back!

    2. INFLUENCE LIKE A BOSS: Learn effective tactics to enhance your influence and make a positive impact in both your personal and professional life.

    3. CUSTOMIZED SESSION TOPICS: Help select session topics to ensure that the content is relevant and beneficial to your specific needs and goals.

    4. WORKING SESSIONS: Engage in interactive working sessions during each meeting, allowing you to actively work through topics and apply the strategies discussed. Worksheets, templates, and cheat sheets all included!

    5. CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING: Connect with amazing women who understand the cultural nuances and challenges faced by South Asian women because they too have had similar experiences, not to mention our love for Bollywood dance-offs 😉

    6. BRAND AND REPUTATION: Gain insights into the four key components of building a powerful personal brand and reputation, enabling you to stand out in your chosen field, while still being authentically YOU. 

    7. SUPPORTIVE NETWORK: Meet a group of amazing women who share your aspirations and values, providing you with a network of support, inspiration, and career help throughout your journey. Together, we’ll create a support system that will make you feel like the superhero you truly are.

    8. ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS: Benefit from accountability partners who will support your growth, ensuring that you stay motivated and on track towards achieving your goals.

    9. SOCIAL CAPITAL: Build your social capital by connecting with like-minded individuals to expand your professional network and create opportunities for collaboration and growth.

    10. TRUE NORTH STAR: Clarify your purpose and learn how to use your north star to guide your decisions and actions towards a fulfilling and meaningful career and life.

    Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to embark on a transformative journey of personal and professional growth. Join our year-long group coaching program exclusively designed for South Asian women. Limited to 10 people. Small group => HUGE impact.

    SIGN UP HERE

    So, are you ready to laugh, learn, and level up? Sign up now and let’s embark on this unforgettable journey together. If not now, then when? If not you, then who? 

    Testimonials from previous students: 

    • “This program made it effortless to reflect on and dream about what we would love to achieve in bringing more of ourselves to our work, and then break it down into practical techniques for making it happen.”  

    • “I am currently faced with a challenge of mass change. This program really helped me find some resolve and strength to feel ok with discomfort and being in transition and work on finding my Northstar to help guide me.”

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • Do you know your Superpowers?

    I recently had the privilege of teaching a few workshops at Miraval Resorts, a top wellness retreat center that is Oprah’s favorite! 

    Over the course of several workshops, I guided Miraval employees and guests on a journey of self-discovery, helping them unlock their inner superpowers. Participants:

    ✅ Identified their SUPERPOWERS

    ✅ Explored how to LEVERAGE their superpowers unconventionally

    ✅ Learned 4 TOOLS to handle the tasks in their lives that deplete them

    Through engaging exercises and thought-provoking discussions, we embarked on a transformative adventure aimed at unlocking the hidden potential within each attendee. Many of us minimize and downplay our strengths, so one exercise participants found valuable was thinking about what their best friend would say are their unique strengths. You can also substitute a peer or your boss if they know you well to identify work-related strengths. I encourage you to take 2 minutes to do this exercise right now: What would someone who knows you well say are your TOP 2 SUPERPOWERS?

    It was truly awe-inspiring to witness the moment when individuals recognized their inner superhero waiting to be unleashed. Whether their superpowers were creativity, empathy, problem-solving or a myriad of other ones, the energy in the room was electrifying as everyone discovered their distinct superpowers and began to envision how they could use them to make a positive impact in their lives and in the world.

    The retreat was a resounding success, with participants leaving feeling inspired, empowered, and equipped with the tools to continue their personal journeys. I believe that each attendee discovered their unique superpowers and now possesses the confidence to embrace and utilize them in their daily lives. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this incredible experience and witness these personal transformations. 

    If you have any questions or would like to discuss how we can bring this transformative workshop to your organization, please reach out.

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • Join me in September to recharge!

    Recently, my eye has been twitching. When I asked Dr. Google (dumb I know!), eye twitching might be caused by a lack of sleep (nope), too much stress (maybe), or a tumor (ummm…). Not sure about you, but throughout my adult life, when a medical situation arises, it prompts me to take a critical look at how I’m living my life, where I’m spending my time, and to question whether I’m falling prey to busyness versus having impact. 

    But we don’t need a medical crisis to prompt us to assess our lives and course correct. Sometimes we just need to take a step back from our daily rhythms to gain perspective on our life and career. There’s something about a “pattern-interrupt” that allows our minds to find creative solutions to situations that have plagued us and to hit the reset button on our nervous systems.  

    And if we layer in a structured retreat in a new location, I truly believe this is the best way to reconnect with our inner wise and insightful self. The one whose voice is softer and often gets lost when our to-do list is shouting at us, when our emails are overflowing, and when we have a deadline to meet.

    Join me this September in the gorgeous Appalachian mountains for a 5-day semi-structured retreat where you will have time to reconnect with your inner, wiser self.

    This Empowerment retreat is a 5-day immersive and experiential program September 1-5, 2023, held at Elohee Retreat Center in northern Georgia. Elohee sits in the midst of 220 acres of wild forest. This retreat is designed to help participants embody their capacities as humans and coaches and to reconnect with and strengthen their abilities for deep listening, powerful conversations and purposeful living. You don’t have to be a coach to attend! You do have to bring your curiosity and open mind to learn how to approach conversations with a coach-like mindset.

    Learn more here or join the next Learning Lab call on May 25th at 12pm ET. Click here to reserve your spot for the call. 

    The Empowerment Retreat is booking up quickly so sign up soon. As part of my community, you can  bring a friend for free. Reach out for details.

    And BTW, I finally made an appointment with my eye doctor for later this week, and will hopefully get to the bottom of this twitching.

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • Atlas of the Heart

    As a long-time fan of Brené Brown, a down to earth researcher of human connection, I was ecstatic to find the entire season of her new book and show “Atlas of the Heart – Mapping Meaningful Connection” on a long flight. I completely geeked out, taking notes on my laptop, and thinking about how this information might help my clients and community. 

    It is really dense, covering 87 human emotions as well as a framework for connecting with people in your world. Instead of a typical book review, I’m testing out an infographic style summary. Let me know if you like this format! (Plus, I couldn’t resist mocking up a photo of Brené and I side by side, which you’ll see on the infographic.)

    One key takeaway for me from this book/series: don’t control the path for the other person; it’s their journey. But, I am here for support.

    In case you are not familiar with Brené, she shot to fame in the early 2000’s with her research on the power of vulnerability. Here’s her Ted Talk on the topic.

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • How to communicate powerfully

    Communication skills can make or break relationships, whether at work or personal life. Do any of these situations apply to you?

    •  You think you are communicating clearly, but it doesn’t seem others are on the same page.

    • You take the initiative on a project, but then get frustrated when your manager indicates it was wasted effort.

    • Conversations don’t go in the direction you were hoping.

    • You find yourself having the same conversations with certain people without resolution.

    • People often seem defensive or triggered in conversation with you, especially when you are just asking clarifying questions.

    If you identify with any of those situations, come attend a 15-minute Facebook live on 12/19 at 12pm MST with me and Rod Francis, the founder of the Emergent Coach Training program. We will be discussing practical communication skills such as the art of asking powerful questions and active listening skills. We will also share details about a new supportive community for individuals wanting to incorporate coaching skills into their profession, whether they are in a coaching role or not. Tune in here!

    In addition, another colleague, Sherry Trebes, will be going live on Instagram this Thursday, December 15 at 12pm MST on how coaching skills can improve all areas of one’s life. Follow @interactualizer on Instagram for this event. This will be first in a series of quick, live learning events.

     

    I hope to see you there!

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • Human-centered leadership talk at Wharton

    I was honored to have been asked to give a guest lecture at The Wharton School again this semester. I was virtual and the class was in person with the professor fielding questions. I had a blast conversing with students about what motivates them, identifying their strengths, and how to keep team members engaged. I also shared a framework HuWork developed on how to be a HUMAN-CENTERED LEADER. This approach leads to happier, more engaged employees who STAY. Because compensation is only part of the story. According to recent studies, compensation is not the main reason people are resigning right now – it’s their employee experience. And the day-in, day-out employee experience is determined overwhelmingly by their direct boss. So leadership style at all levels of an organization MATTERS.

    The human-centered leadership framework centers on three concepts:

    ✅ CONNECT: schedule weekly 1:1 check-ins with each team member. These conversations should be person-focused, not task-focused

    ✅ ASK: ask questions to understand the what makes each of your team members unique: motivation, obstacles, history, tasks they love/loathe

    ✅ ELEVATE: customize the role as much as possible so it highlights the employee’s strengths and focuses on what they love doing at work (for at least 20% of their role)

    Reach out if you are curious and want more details. And I would love to hear your ideas on how to keep employees happy and engaged at work in today’s VUCA world.

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn

  • Schemas: helpful and hurtful

    Being the kinda nerd that I am, I’m currently reading the PhD researcher Kristin Neff’s insightful new book, “Fierce Self-Compassion”. My latest revelation from the book is her exploration of SCHEMAS. A schema is a set of internalized detailed steps and expectations for a situation. For example, a birthday party schema will generally include some sort of invitation, food and drinks for guests, conversation, a cake, and maybe presents. Schemas can be HELPFUL in that they save our brains the time and energy of recreating a template each time.

    However, SCHEMAS CAN BE HURTFUL, especially because they operate UNCONSCIOUSLY and move us to interpret the world in a biased way, such as with gender, race, or skin color. The universe very generously (wink, wink) gave me an opportunity to experience someone else’s schema firsthand. At an educational non-profit fundraiser last week, I was about to say goodbye to the host, when an individual asked me, “What is your role at the non-profit?” After a brief pause, I responded without emotion, “Oh I don’t work for the non-profit, I’m here as a guest. But I often encounter mistakes like that because of my skin color.”  He was silent for a minute while I spoke with the host, then apologized for his bias. We ended up having a 10-minute conversation about bias, stereotypes, and how to counteract them. When I asked how I might have shown up differently, aside from my skin color, so he wouldn’t have made that assumption, he could think of nothing. His advice: continue calling people out whenever bias like this happens. 

    My skin color triggered his schema of only white people being guests at this small, intimate fundraiser. When one has a schema in play, one is much more likely to ignore or distort information to be consistent with it. The gentleman did not notice my clothes, that I was holding a cocktail glass, or that I was hugging and chatting intimately with some of the other guests. Because schemas are often unconscious, one generally does not even realize how influential they can be.

    I invite you to explore: do you have a schema that might be hurtful to others?

    Warmly, 

    Bijal

    The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.

    Click here if you were forwarded this email and would like to sign up to receive my emails. You may unsubscribe at any time.

    Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC

    bijal@huworkteam.com

    Follow HuWork on LinkedIn