• Poor financial management.
• Mismanagement of human capital. 
• Pursuit of projects that are incompatible with resources and capabilities.
• Underperforming sales people.
• Lack of communications leadership.

• What challenges have you experienced as small business owners?
• Is continuing to bring in new business a challenge for you?
• How have you successfully grown high performing sales teams for your businesses?

Cheers from your host,
 
Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting 
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development

Coaching for Entrepreneurs

Small business owners out there, what was your experience?

• Have you struggled in managing the finances for your business?
• Have you experienced successes in outsourcing this function to an accounting or financial services firm?
• What are some additional financial best practices, tips, and tricks you’d recommend to other small business owners out there?

Please feel free to comment, We’d love to hear your thoughts!

A Fortune Small Business article that cites the annoying habits of entrepreneurs was quoted as saying “Entrepreneurs, almost by definition, are obsessed with achieving their goals.”  In interviewing executive coaches on that matter, an expert said, “Entrepreneurs kill themselves, literally. Their health goes straight to hell.” 
 

• Are you seeing an increase in the number of clients who struggle with finding balance in their lives?
• As coaches, how have you helped clients achieve greater balance?
• From a coaching perspective, has it been your experience that balanced people are happier – and more successful – than those who aren’t?

We look forward to hearing from you.  Cheers from your host,
 
Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting  
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development
Listen to My Weekly Internet Radio Show and Podcast Dedicated to Professional Coaching

With Academy Award winning actors acknowledging the key people who made their success possible, the acting coach is perhaps one of the most familiar professional coaches in the business world today.

Aspiring stars always ask how to make it in the business, but how do acting coaches make it?
 
Who are the top acting coaches and how do they work?

What methods do the best acting coaches employ, and what draws big-name talent to them?

How can these lessons translate from on-screen success to business or personal success?

This show featured some of the entertainment industry’s top talent and looked at some of their biggest names and best practices.

Highlights of the show included:

•   An overview of the acting coach field.
•   A discussion about the challenges actors experience that coaches can address.
•   What draws big name talent to the best acting coaches.
•   The skills a good acting coach must possess.
•   Why it’s important for executives to not become actors during conferences, presentations, and meetings.
•   Lessons from the acting world that can be applied to the business world.

Featured Guests:

Daniel Henning, Acting Coach and Artistic Director, The Blank Theatre Company
Lynette McNeill, Acting Coach and Director, Lynette McNeill Studios
Jerry Weissman, Executive Coach and President, Power Presentations Ltd.
Adrian Zmed, Actor and Acting Coach, Stella Adler Conservatory, L.A.

The IEC Debrief with Tom Floyd

We began the show with a quote from a USA Today article titled “Even A-List Actors Need a Coach.”  Larry Moss was quoted in the article as saying “I know some very big stars who don’t do a movie without a coach.  To be coached is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.”

As a coaching advocate myself (and a guy who has two coaches at the moment!) – I agree.  It’s absolutely a sign of strength, to know yourself, your areas of growth, and your weaknesses – it’s empowering.  It amazes me how some people feel the complete opposite though!

Lynette McNeill shared some actors are completely comfortable acknowledging and talking about the coaches who have had an impact on their careers and lives. 

However, others are not.  What do you think?

• Would you view an A-list actor or celebrity differently if you knew he or she had an acting coach?

• What would you suggest or recommend to a high profile actor, celebrity, or other well known personality who was concerned about the public being aware of his or her acting coach? 

Confidence.  As human beings we think about confidence often.  We’re naturally attracted to or inspired by those who naturally exude this trait, yet can very quickly lose confidence in the person we should admire the most – ourselves.
 
We discussed the challenges new or young actors in particular experience as they begin their careers, and confidence was an area our guests saw people struggle with time and time again.  Former TJ Hooker star Adrian Zmed highlighted the need to keep perspective.  For actors, he explained it’s important to remember if you didn’t get the role you wanted, it’s not because you did badly – it’s because you just weren’t right for the part.
 
This is an often an area where acting coaches can help – keeping their clients grounded, on track, and focused on moving ahead.
 

•  How do you keep self doubt from dragging your confidence down?
•  If you’re an acting coach, what would you say to young actors who may doubt themselves at times?
•  For our executive and life coaches out there, tell us how you’ve helped clients rebuild their confidence.

Please feel free to comment, We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting 
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development

I couldn’t wait to get into a discussion about the techniques that can be applied in both worlds, and Jerry made it clear one of the main overlaps is the very trait that comes up on our show time and time again – authenticity. 

Jerry emphasized executives should not view themselves as “performers”, but should instead focus on the message they’d like to deliver, the audience who will be listening, and being themselves when presenting. 

His point – while actors may go into character for a role, leaders in Corporate America should not. 

What are your thoughts?

• Have you ever been at a conference or presentation where an executive seemed like he/she was trying to be somebody they’re not?
• Are there ever occasions or times when you feel executives should act?
• For our coaches out there, feel free to share your stories.  How have you coached leaders to remain authentic and true to themselves?

We look forward to hearing from you.  Cheers from your host,
 
Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting 
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development

Estimated at costing the local economy more than $3 billion since it began last November, Hollywood’s 100-day strike came to a widely welcomed end on February 12th. 

This show explores those key lessons and also asks the questions, “What are the rules that come into play when a strike affects business as usual” and “How can professional coaches help leadership and workforces during a strike?”

Highlights of the show included:

Featured Guests:

David Brownstein, Founder, Hollywood Coaching
Jonathan Handel, Entertainment Attorney, TroyGould
Sherri Ziff Lester, Certified Life Coach, RockYourLifeCoaching
Patric Verrone, President, Writer’s Guild of America West

The IEC Debrief with Tom Floyd

This show provided a fantastic overview of this year’s Writer’s Guild strike.  I think Patrick summed up the reason behind the strike well when he said “if you make money – we make money.” 

Interestingly enough a December 2007 USA Today/Gallup Poll showed six weeks into the strike, 60% of Americans favored writers in the dispute.
 

•   Did you support the writers in their strike?
•   Would you support actors in the Screen Actors Guild if they move to strike for similar reasons?
•   What do you see as the primary lessons learned from the Writer’s Guide strike?
  

We look forward to hearing from all of you!
 
Cheers from your host,
 
Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting 
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development

Giving lip service to leadership development is something I see across many industries – I don’t think it’s just specific to Hollywood. In large and small organizations alike, employees are tasked with building the case for having a talent management strategy that includes things like leadership development, career growth, coaching, training, and succession planning.

• Is it okay to feel scared or be scared?
• What’s the best way to cope with fear during a life altering event like a strike?
• How have you prevented clients from giving into their fears?

Please leave a comment and share how you’ve helped clients grapple with fear in your engagements.

We look forward to hearing from you.  Cheers from your host,
 
Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting 
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development