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Bandiera Italiana  IT

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Talent and Performance
Everything you wanted to know about coaching but were too afraid to ask! According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), coaching is a partnership with clients ( individuals and teams ) in a thought-provoking, creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. To accompany through coaching, the coach uses his/her skills and tools : he/she focuses on what the client says and does not say, to support self-expression and exploration; he/she facilitates the client's insights and learning using questions, silence, metaphors, analogies ...   But why should we undertake a coaching path?   Coaching leads first of all to an increase in our self-awareness . Thanks to it, you can become more aware of everything, potentially! Of your emotions , your thoughts and your behaviors , and how they combine with each other to create recurring patterns; of your needs, priorities, values and goals ; of your strengths and the skills to be nurtured . Thanks to coaching, each of us can discover new worlds and new ways (of exploring, thinking, doing ...). But coaching does not only increase self-awareness: it can also be a valid support in increasing awareness of others . Coaching can help us to fully understand their language , emotions, patterns... to evaluate the impact that our behaviors can have and to choose , consequently, what to do (and how to do it), to get closer to the impact we desire. How many times have we behaved in a way that was not aligned with the needs of others (listening little; giving little recognition; taking all the limelight...) and then felt frustrated because we did not receive their collaboration when we needed it? How many times have we remained still, waiting for others to do it, because "it was right this way", because "they had to think about it"..., ending up with nothing? Coaching offers us the opportunity to reflect before acting , to reflect on why we are not acting; to define constructive strategies; it supports us in recognizing and training ourselves to manage our emotions, to develop our communication skills, to create healthy and satisfying personal and professional relationships (and opportunities). This is how the coach, through questions, feedback and other tools, accompanies the client (individual and team) to transform awareness, learning and intuition into actions. Coaching releases power . Coaching releases potential. Coaching sets us free, … by emphasizing the present (the oft-cited “here and now”), accompanying us to find and keep the focus. Coaching uses the past as a life lesson : it does not pretend to resolve what has already happened, which is, in fact, past, gone, closed, on which we can no longer act .... Instead, it allows us to look at the past to draw useful learnings for our today, at the service of a conscious construction of our future . It helps us understand how to proceed one step at a time , verifying the effectiveness of our actions and the adequacy of our resources with respect to our objectives, thus allowing us, gradually, to reach our goal, or, to discover, one progress after another, new perspectives, new goals more relevant to us. Try to imagine being on board a high-speed train: sure, you will arrive at your destination quickly , but what will you notice along the way? Will you enjoy sightseeing? Will you discover any intermediate destinations that might be worth visiting? Will you have enough time to enjoy the journey? No. On a regional train , however, you may feel impatient . But you will have the opportunity to observe the many panoramas that follow one another; you will be able to see how they change, enjoying the inspiration of the multiplicity of scenarios and perspectives. You will be able to decide that, perhaps, an extra stop to explore, might be pleasant and be useful. You will be able to choose with greater clarity. But there is a catch. Before starting a coaching journey , it is necessary to agree on mutual responsibilities (a key theme in the coach's skills). As a coach I remember it every time: I can accompany you or your team to see that there is a door, to discover how to open it with the tools available, to check for obstacles and identify how to overcome them... but the final choice to open the door and cross the threshold is up to you alone. This, for me, is the beauty of coaching: promoting the autonomy of the client, creating Independence, because each of us has our own tools , we just need to want to discover them and put them into action!

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Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
The perspective of lack and the perspective of abundance “If I could have a bigger house, there wouldn’t be all this mess. If I had more money, I would certainly change this furniture…lucky Marco who can afford to buy even the glass table, made by a craftsman” “If I were thinner, I would have an easier time finding clothes that fit me” “With the life I lead I can only see my friends once a month” “I couldn't get that executive position” “The only people I still hang out with are Lucia and Giovanni” _______________________ “I have a house. It is small but it's my house. I also managed to furnish it. Sure, maybe my furniture is not very luxurious but it does its job and allows me to feel surrounded by something that reflects me and welcomes me” “Well, I may not be thin but I enjoy life! And then, now, it's easier to find pants that also have elastic at the waist, which makes me feel more comfortable and at ease, even with a few extra pounds” “Even though I have a demanding job and many family commitments, I still manage to organize some dinners and weekends with friends. I see them every month!” “Even though I haven't managed to become a manager yet, I know that I work well and it makes me proud to leave my mark on what I do” “Lucia and Giovanni fill my life: I know I can count on them and they are close to me. Not everyone has someone who really cares”   You've already noticed, right? The sentences in the first block and those in the second block tell exactly the same situation . What makes them so different? The perspective.   The first sentences look at life from the perspective of lack: the focus is on what we don't have The latter look at life from the perspective of abundance: the focus is what we have.   If we nourish the perspective of lack, it will be increasingly difficult to be satisfied, to rejoice: we will always find a good reason not to do so. And with great probability we will also sabotage the beautiful moments that will appear before us... to the point of not even noticing them anymore, so much will we be burdened by the frustration and discouragement that we ourselves will have fueled. If, instead, we nourish the perspective of abundance, day after day we will realize more and more of all the beauty that we have within reach , of how much we can be grateful and how beautiful it is to be grateful. Gratitude fuels our sense of fullness, satisfaction, joy. And it fuels fullness, satisfaction, and joy even in those around us.   An abundance perspective not only helps us appreciate what we have, but also offers us the ability to seize new opportunities, find creative solutions, and overcome difficulties with an open, curious, lively, and resolute mindset. And it can also positively impact our mental and physical health!   We can choose to smile at life or let our smile fade away. We can choose whether to bring light or shadow. We can choose what glasses to wear when we look inside ourselves and look around us.   If we give ourselves even just a moment every day to appreciate what we have, we will realize how rich we are and we will feel serene, powerful and even happy.  

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Specials
CHECKMATE: Achieving goals through choice In the world of chess, checkmate is the ultimate result of reflections, strategies, decisions. A game of chess is a bit like life: we are constantly faced with choices and, to reach our goal, we often have to leave something behind. Every decision, whether it is accepting a new job (leaving the previous one), dedicating time to a project (inevitably taking time away from ourselves, relationships, other projects), or investing in a relationship (more than others), implies a sacrifice. Hard to accept? Yes, very hard. But essential if we really want to go somewhere, get to something…on the other side of the chessboard. Actually, it seems that there are games in which a player manages to win without sacrificing any piece. Often these are educational or “low” level games. Even in life, when the investment is not so high (low emotional, economic, time investment, etc.), we do not perceive the sacrifice. We do not feel that we have to give up something to go somewhere else. It seems, however, that even among the most famous chess games, there are similar examples. Bobby Fischer, in the 1972 world championship, in Reykjavik, managed to defeat Boris Spassky,   without sacrificing any pieces. Fischer exploited positional superiority, strategy and careful planning. Can we therefore say that it is possible to win without “sacrificing” anything even in the most complex challenges? Perhaps Fischer did not leave pieces on the field! But how much energy did he have to invest in the game? And before? In planning, in (fore)seeing, in an almost obsessive way?   For most of us, the path to success, the commitment to “making things happen” requires sacrifices: of time, energy, relationships, opportunities… Alas, we cannot have it all, keep it all… So what? All we can do is welcome CHOICE, calling it by its name. When we give up something, when we let go of a piece of our chess, let us remember that we are choosing to do so in order to have something else, to go somewhere else, to follow our own path…in relation to the circumstances. Let's focus on what we are building and not on what we leave behind; let's welcome the investment (NOT the sacrifice!) of energy, time, relationships... because this investment allows us to build something that is more important to us. And then, let's make our move, the first step, to see how it goes… to adjust the tactic from time to time, so that it can support the strategy and the vision. Let's proceed by recognizing which chess pieces we are willing to leave on the field and we move forward without brooding: when the move is made the most useful thing we can do is think about the next move. Let's get ready to play our game, knowing that every move counts and every choice, easy or difficult, can bring us closer to our checkmate. Let's accept the challenges and prepare to win!  

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Specials
LOUD VOICE, LOW MESSAGE Raising your voice can be helpful in some specific situations, but it is important to do it carefully and consciously.   In case of emergency, of danger, screaming is certainly a functional choice: it helps us to attract attention to get help; to alert to protect; to scare (ill-intentioned guys)… Raising your voice may also be necessary to communicate in noisy environments, such as at concerts, crowded parties; it can be suitable to give energy in sporting contexts, to underline a particularly important passage in a public speech…Uplifting joy can be positively contagious!   The fact remains that the 'loud voice' should be used sparingly and always with the intention of improving communication, not to intimidate or to give vent (in a social context) to a reaction. In these cases, in fact, raising your voice rarely leads to being heard.   How many times have you heard a manager or a colleague raise their voice in frustration over a late project, an error in the data, in a meeting when a debate has heated up? How many times in your family have you heard someone raise their voice (or have you raised it) because your son hasn't done his homework, your partner has left a mess in the house, you have received an unpleasant response in an argument? How many times have you heard someone raise their voice (or have you raised it) to make your opinion prevail over someone different from yours?   In cases like these, if we raise our voice, the other person generally closes down. He isolates himself.   Because, if they 'scream at us' too often, our attention shifts from the message to the annoyance that the noise causes us. And so, we equip ourselves with earplugs, closing ourselves in a protective silence. And we probably remain there even when our interlocutor actually raises his voice to alert us, resulting in us being more exposed to risks and our interlocutor less effective.   If we want to be heard, then let's turn down the volume and start listening first.   Let's listen not only to words but also to gestures, facial expressions, emotions…   Let's listen carefully. And with intention, avoiding being carried away, crushed, by reactions, by haste, by the desire to solve immediately.   Let's try to understand what the needs of our counterpart are, what he/she is willing to accept, therefore building bridges. Only in this way will we be able to create a space for a constructive dialogue, perhaps meeting halfway along the way, doing good for ourselves, our teams, our loved ones.  

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Specials
Team Coaching and Group Coaching: why companies should engage in it even during times of success In organizations, coaching is often required to face challenges accompany the transformation manage conflicts improve communication  develop and strengthen interpersonal relationships But in times of apparent success and process fluidity, coaching is frequently overlooked. To ensure sustainable growth over time for our organizations (and ourselves!) it is essential to continue working on the potential of our people, even when everything seems to be going well. Getting used to success can lead to stagnation, as the emblematic case of Kodak teaches us. In the 90s, Kodak dominated the photography market with its film-based business model. Confident of its dominance, it did not adequately consider new prospects, which led to its decline, culminating in bankruptcy in 2012.   Even when we feel that nothing can touch us, it is therefore crucial not to rest on our laurels. We must constantly question ourselves   if we are adequately exploring context, opportunities and resources  if we are expressing all the potential at our disposal Ignoring coaching in these moments can expose us to unexpected risks, making us vulnerable…for example to market changes.   In times of success, it is also important to pay even more attention than usual to a phenomenon that groups and teams often encounter: "Group Think". "Group Think", a concept developed by psychologist Irving Janis in the 1970s, is manifested in the prevalence of consensus over critical evaluation of alternatives. Some of its typical indicators are: pressure on dissenters, explicit or implicit self-censorship, whereby group members tend to overestimate the degree of consensus and self-censor their own observations the illusion of unanimity, whereby lack of dissent is interpreted as evidence of consensus the illusion of invulnerability, which leads to underestimating the risks rationalization, whereby warning signals are ignored, trying to justify the decisions taken the stereotyped view of opponents: those who oppose are labelled negatively These last three aspects in particular can be amplified in periods of success, when team members feel confident in their decisions, which can lead to extreme criticalities, as in the case of Kodak. : new ideas and potential risks are systematically overlooked.   In relation to Group Think, coaching can play a crucial role in: Creating safe spaces for dialogue: fostering an environment where people feel free to express dissenting opinions without fear of reprisal. Valuing diversity: not only in terms of cultural or professional background, but also in terms of thinking styles. Stimulating debate: encouraging members to question prevailing ideas. Keeping your focus on your goals: countering tendencies towards conformity.   Investing in coaching, therefore, not only promotes individual growth, but also has the power to transform group dynamics, leading to more informed decisions and better results. It helps us ensure that our organizations are ready to seize future opportunities, truly maximizing their potential: it is an opportunity to prepare for future challenges, ensuring that the organization remains competitive in the long term. Coaching is a strategic resource that must be exploited not only in times of crisis, but also in times of success, to build a prosperous future.  

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Specials
Christmas in the heart: A kaleidoscope of Emotions The "magic of Christmas" evokes wonder, surprise, enchantment.   Christmas is an explosion of lights, glittering decorations, trees and nativity scenes that tell ancient stories. It is a time of fantastic stories, of reindeer and sleighs, of Grinches and chocolate factories, of songs, of films to watch from the couch, with a soft blanket to warm us and lit fireplaces. It is the smell of freshly baked cookies, the rustle of bingo cards and the atmosphere of charity parties. It is celebration and repetition of traditions that create connection: from opening gifts to preparing special foods, to religious ceremonies that unite families. Christmas is childhood memories, which bring with them the scent of wonder, celebration, surprise…of feeling part of a bigger whole. Christmas is (re)connection, even with ourselves: through reflection and introspection we can open up hope and renewal.   The emotions we feel at Christmas intertwine and overlap, like the shapes and colors of a kaleidoscope.   At Christmas there is the joy of meetings, of gifts chosen with love, of laughter that resonates in the rooms, of playing, of doing things together. There is compassion, the generosity of sharing food, listening, warmth, hospitality… even with those who do not belong to the close circle of our friends or family, with those who are going through difficult times. But at Christmas there is also the nostalgia of memories, the melancholy of the absence of those who can no longer celebrate with us; the sense of guilt towards the people who have been deprived of the serenity of being able to rejoice; the sadness of loneliness and illness, both physical and mental; the stress of organizing. Anxiety about expectations can then generate fear of disappointment; the internal conflict between the need to balance work and family relationships can increase tension.   Christmas is full of different and even contrasting emotions, for each of us. To live it fully, it is essential to recognize and welcome all these emotions, both the pleasant and the unpleasant ones, learning to share both joy and melancholy, both festivity and the sense of impotence, to experience, in an even deeper way, the magic.   Welcoming our emotions and welcoming, in a broad sense, makes us human. Freeing our emotions and liberating, in a broad sense, makes us human. (For)giving and (for)giving ourselves makes us human.   My wish for this Christmas is that humanity awakens in each of us and wants to shine, so as to light up every home in the world with celebration.

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Specials
Epiphany and coaching: welcoming and transformation Epiphany, celebrated on January 6th, is a holiday rich in meanings and traditions that are intertwined throughout history. The word "Epiphany" comes from the Greek and means "manifestation" or "apparition." In Christian tradition, it represents the revelation of Jesus Christ to the Magi, symbolizing a moment of great spiritual importance and research. The cult is then intertwined, probably since the Middle Ages, with the tradition of the Befana who brings sweets and coal to children, recalling, in the popular imagination, the search for good and justice. It is celebrated in various ways, with traditions that vary from country to country. In Italy it marks the end of the Christmas holidays. As my grandmother used to say: “Epiphany, all the holidays are taken away”.     Epiphany and coaching Epiphany is a moment of revelation, an experience of openness and discovery, which resonates deeply with the essence of coaching. It invites us to reflect not only on the meaning of divine manifestation, but also on the transformative power we can access through reflection. Coaching is a personal and professional development process that is based on a relationship of trust between the coach and the coachee, in which the coach acts as a facilitator, supporting the coachee on his or her journey of self-discovery. Just as the Magi undertook a long journey to follow the star that would lead them to Jesus, the coachee is invited to travel a path of inner exploration, where self-awareness becomes the light that illuminates it. The encounter between the Magi and Baby Jesus is an event full of symbolism: it represents the acceptance of the unknown and the ability to recognize the sacred in new experiences. This moment of revelation marks the beginning of a profound change in their lives. The journey of the Magi is not only physical, but also brings with it an inner evolution, an opening to new perspectives and a renewed sense of purpose. Similarly, in coaching, transformation occurs when the coachee is willing to nurture new perspectives, embrace their emotions, value their uniqueness, and embrace vulnerability and the unknown as part of the growth process. The coach supports the coachee in exercising empathy, not only towards others, but also towards themselves: compassion and acceptance are fundamental to psychological well-being. Coaching is a gift, to ourselves and others: because it unveils our potential, transforming our energy and our impact.   So what? Celebrating Epiphany, we can draw inspiration to listen to our inner voice, promote well-being and success, for ourselves and others, and build authentic relationships, supported by curiosity, openness, and acceptance. Epiphany is therefore an invitation to reflect on our personal and professional journey, encouraging us not only to seek the light within ourselves, but also to share it with the world; coaching is a means to cultivate individual and collective well-being. In a world where we often feel disconnected and isolated, the art of coaching and the message of the Epiphany invite us to rediscover the power of human connection, for ourselves and for others.

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Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
The body language: how emotions take shape Throughout history, numerous scholars have attempted to explore the intricate interconnection between body and emotions. From psychology to neuroscience, research has shown that our physical state can profoundly influence our emotional state and vice versa. The theory proposed by James and Lange argues that emotions arise from the physiological responses of the body. According to this perspective, we are not sad because we cry; rather, we cry because we feel sad. In other words, emotions are the result of our physical reactions to external stimuli. Charles Darwin, for his part, contributed significantly to the debate on the link between body and emotions with his work "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals", in which he underlines the adaptive value of emotions, functional to the optimization of social communication and, even before, to guarantee survival! Paul Ekman , inspired by Darwin, has conducted extensive research on emotions and facial expressions. There are universal emotions, recognizable through specific expressions, regardless of culture: joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and contempt, which we communicate through brief and involuntary manifestations, known as "microexpressions" Richard Lazarus then introduced the Coping Theory, emphasizing the role of cognitive appraisal in the emotional process. According to Lazarus, emotions are not only physiological responses, but are also influenced by our interpretations and appraisals of situations. This implies that by modifying our perception and our bodily responses, we can influence our emotions. Awareness of how the body reacts to emotions can therefore become a valuable tool for managing stress and negative emotions. And, if it is true that emotions manifest themselves in the body , it is equally true, according to studies, that the body can influence emotions. The connection emotions – body – mind is a continuum in which each element influences the other, in a circular way.   How then can we use our body as a tool to manage emotions? Posture: Posture has a direct impact on our emotions. Try to maintain an open posture: shoulders relaxed and head held high. You will notice an improvement in your perception of yourself and in the perception that others have of you. Mindful Breathing : Breathing can bring us back to the present when anxiety takes over. We breathe in the here and now, not in the past or the future. Focusing on our breathing keeps us grounded in the present. When you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to focus on slow, deep breaths, allowing your body and mind to relax. Movement: Whether it's a walk, a run, or a yoga session, physical activity releases endorphins, which can elevate your mood and reduce tension. Facial Expression: Although emotions may come up involuntarily, we can practice using positive facial expressions. Smiling, even when we don't feel happy, can trick our brain into improving our mood. Meditation and Mindfulness : Meditation and mindfulness practices can increase awareness of emotions and the body. Learning to recognize emotions without judgment allows us to limit reactions and act more consciously.   The theories of Ekman, James, Darwin, Lazarus and many others offer us inspiration to explore and understand emotions and their connection to the mind and body more deeply. By using our body as a tool, we can influence our emotions in a positive way, improving our quality of life and our relationships. Every small change in posture, facial expressions, listening and breath management can have a big impact on our emotional state.   Are you ready to discover how body awareness can transform your emotional world? Start your journey now and enrich it with experiences every day! Curiosity makes us alive, awareness makes us powerful.  

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