SPARKED // Blog

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7 Ways to maintain strong leadership at the midpoint of the year

Mid year is a noted time for reviewing performance. Here are seven ways to structure that review effectively.

FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Setting Clear Expectations

Clear expectations are necessary for a high performing team. Here are five ways to start

FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Mastering Communication

Communication tips for leaders, 5 tips.

Four skills every manager needs to perfect

Managers need to assess the culture of their teams. Here are four ways to get it done right.

How leadership is like driving in the rain

Leadership and driving in the rain share similarities; they require adaptability, clear vision, and the ability to navigate through uncertainty.

Leadership Lessons from a Singing Dog

You don't have to be a natural to shine, some great tips for first time leaders.

Why don’t you write a book?

What's it like to write a book? My reflections.

GOAL Framework for Meetings

Running around like a chicken with your head cut off - follow the simple GOAL framework.

You See, But You Do Not Observe

Being observant is key to great leadership. Sherlock Holmes gets Watson to realize this, and this blog gives you some ideas.

5 Ways to Manage Pressure

5 Simple ways to help you and your team manage pressure

The Ant in Spring

Perspective is everything - how do you see the world?

Breaking Point – Using Vision for Resilience

Stress is inherent in life. How can you use your vision to get you through?

Morning Choices

Each day offers a new opportunity, do we take it?

Tornados of Change

Change can be like a violent storm, how can you succeed on the other side?

Life of a bee

The life of the bee is one of focus and intention, much like Sparked's coaching philosophy.

Trees

Reflective poetry: Trees experience history and life

Finding your direction

Questions to ask that keep you on the journey YOU want.

Innovation and disruption – 5 keys to strategic growth

Successful companies routinely challenge the status quo and avoid falling into 'this is how we've always done it' trap. Build disruption into your strategy.

How was your day?

Time management and resilience start with reflecting on your day. Here's a simple approach.

5 Simple (and short) ways to press your reset button

Do you ever just feel 'blah?' Or overwhelmed and paralyzed? Here's 5 tips for a quick reset.

Clearing the air: Why difficult conversations are necessary

Avoiding conflict is a bad choice all around. It's stressful waiting for the encounter, and there is more to clear the longer you wait. Here are 5 ways to facilitate that conversation.

3 Ways you can help set the culture for return to work

To avoid a 'Game of Thrones' environment, practice these three behaviors.

5 Ways to Strengthen Weakness

Using your strengths to improve your weaknesses is a great start toward balance.

Honoring those who gave their all

How you can honor those who gave their lives for freedom.

ACTION – the antidote to excuses

Simple ACTION steps to stop making excuses, take ownership, and move forward.

Dare to be Different and DO!

Simple ways to create focus to reflect on your annual goals. Make the time!

5 Ways To Avoid Your Breaking Point

Sometimes you know when things aren't quite right, but you tell yourself you can manage. Here's 5 ways to help manage before breaking.

Plan and Remember

One month is down, how are you tracking against your personal and professional goals? Here's a process to help.

The Recipe for Personal and Professional Goal Setting

The new year brings about resolutions for many. Here's a perfect recipe for making them the best and sticking to them.

5 ways to acknowledge and celebrate a dispersed team

As restrictions remain in place, people are running out of ways to celebrate individual or team success. 5 reasons why it’s important and ideas to help.

Everyone is crazy!

People are trying to maintain composure when stresses are all around. Are you joining them?

Own the ‘new normal’

2020 is a year most of us won't forget. Take ownership of the changes and use the time to grow.

Tossing the gauntlet – will you pick it up?

A simple way for you to not only help yourself, but help others - will you do it?

5 ways to bring back balance

Struggling to keep life balanced now that your world is mostly constrained to four walls? Here are 5 tips to help you regain balance.

5 ways to reset change fatigue

Headlines and ‘news’ are showering change upon us at what seems to be an unprecedented rate. Here are 5 ways to create a means to manage and process the present.

Life’s transitions – manage the ‘burn’

Every individual experiences transitions in their lives to some degree. Managing through them is a challenge, coaches can help you through.

Four questions to be ready to answer when restrictions are lifted

The world has changed over the past several weeks. Have you thought what questions your employees will ask you how their work will be different upon returning to the office? Here are four questions you should have well thought out responses.

Team Motivation – New Ideas

Creativity flows in some and not so much in others. Let’s help by sharing our ideas for engaging teams over long periods of time.

Remote Working 101

Life always throws curves, especially when we're not prepared. Help yourself and your team manage remote working with some simple guidelines.

Experience Growth After the ‘Cut’

Changes in life happen. Read how corporate 'cuts' are analogous to making cuttings in the garden.

Strategic Planning – With a Twist

Strategic planning is done every year with an eye toward making next year better – here’s a unique twist to strengthen your approach.

Taking Flight: What I’ve learned Watching My Kids Learn A New Hobby

Effective teams require lots of moving parts to align - without attitudes or egos. Look to the young for examples.

Communication – 5 Reasons We Don’t Really Listen

Communication skills are critical to everyday interactions. Underpinning the five reasons I list is respect – does your respect for your colleague come through?

5 Ways to Bring Your Best

Here are 5 tips that help get your mind focused on the tasks at hand.

4 Actions That Give You Traction as a Leader

Many times we reflect on something we've said or done and wished we had prepared better. Here's how.

Thyme Is (of) The Essence

Time, it’s one thing in life we can’t negotiate for more - or get any back. How do we ensure that we use it wisely and model that behavior for our teams?

Why do we do this to ourselves?

This could never be you, right? I don't have time to train them. This client is too important for me not to do it. Have those words have entered your thoughts? We know delegating and empowering others is the right thing to do, why don't we do it?

Roadblock Ahead…

We all wrestle with things every day. How long do you let that struggle control your actions and behavior? What tools do you use to get through? Sometimes the petty and simple consume us and we need help to push through.

3 Steps To Recharge – A Lesson From Gardening

Farmers know that for the best soil health to rotate crops and use nitrogen fixers; what do you do to recharge?

Transitions – Part II: Finding Which Direction Is Right For You

Have you ever thought to yourself, in a career sense, why am I doing what I'm doing? Maybe you're at a point in your career to step back and think. In this follow-up to What Do I Want To Be When I grow Up, you'll take your initial thoughts, build your roadmap, and set your direction.

Transitions – Part I: What do I want to be when I grow up?

Eisenhower had a variation on a Moltke quote that is appropriate to this blog: "In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable." Do you have a plan, a direction that will guide and drive your satisfaction and success? You don’t have to go it alone, a professional coach can help you navigate and reflect.

Motivation – Getting You and Your Team Moving the Same Direction

Have you ever been part of a team where everyone feels they're communicating, but no one really understands? If an image of Abbott and Costello's 'Who's on First' routine pops into your mind, this post can help motivate and get the team moving the right direction.

Difficult Conversations – Part II: Have the Conversation

The majority of us avoid difficult conversations - and this is recognized by those around us. Part II of my blog gives you a technique and some tools to have the conversation.

Difficult Conversations – Part I: Start with you

The majority of us avoid difficult conversations - and this is recognized by those around us. Hopefully, this series will give you the confidence to reflect on the situation and then do something about it.

Why do I need a professional coach?

Coaches provide an impartial, safe environment that challenges you to expand your thinking and become aware of your 'presence'. If you are going through a transition, or have received feedback that shows a behavior you'd like to change, it may be time to consider an executive or leadership coach
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David L. Onks

David formed SPARKED to unlock other’s talents and skills, so they gain the confidence to follow their dreams, realize their potential, and achieve their goals. He loves to watch the light switch on when they solve a problem or come up with an answer to their question. With over 23 years of experience in the global corporate industry, David has successfully led departments with proven business improvement in both process and delivery excellence.

 

With his extensive experience as a manager and leader, he has coached and mentored clients across the globe ranging from entry level to seasoned executives. His experience as a coach spans across a broad spectrum of businesses from Pharma R&D and Sales, technology management, university, and legal professions.

David’s passion for an individual’s success and satisfaction energizes his clients, releasing their inherent leadership

potential so they can model effective and authentic behaviors, thereby inspiring others. His ‘whole experience’ coaching style helps his clients self-identify ways to become more productive, innovative, and successful not only in the workplace but also in their personal lives, bringing more quality and balance professionally and personally.

 

Coaching is a tool that provides both a qualitative and quantitative value that translates into bottom line return. David has seen that productivity, engagement, and retention are all increased in clients who are committed to coaching.

 

Let David and SPARKED help you uncover your unique talents as a leader and a person.

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