Recently I was featured as a guest on Elevated Radio to speak about Personal Development.
This is a topic that I’m so passionate about and it brings me great pleasure to be able to share tips and tricks with all of you and the Elevated Radio audience.
[01:05]
Rick: So, now before we get started here Doctor, do me a favor, tell everybody a little bit about yourself and what you do as the owner of On Track Coaching.
Maggie: Okay, a little bit about myself personal. I’m a wife of 35 years, a mother. I’m in the grandmother stage now very happy about that and very exciting time in life. at At On Track Coaching, what we do is we provide professional development via coaching, one on one coaching, and primarily training for organizations, and both private and the public sector.
Rick: Right. And now, how long you been doing this?
Maggie: This company has been in business since 2014. So, almost five years.
Rick: All right. And I gotta ask what took you down this road to get into the coaching field? It could be a loaded question. Here we go.
Maggie: Well, having worked in higher education for almost 20 years, I realized that a lot of leaders especially are struggling with their own self image, and struggling with how to become the effective leader that they really wanted to be. And having myself worked in the job market for other people for over 20 years, I realize what it’s like to have to work under a leader that doesn’t have excellent leadership skill.
Rick: Right. Yeah. And that’s something that I think is missing when people get moved up the food chain, so to speak, in their career, at their job, a lot of times and I’ve seen it in sales. And let me know, Doctor, if you’ve seen this too, or at least work with people in this capacity where somebody is a great salesperson. So, the company says, you know what, you’re going to manage our sales.
Maggie: That’s exactly right. I’ve seen that so many times. And yet, we wouldn’t go to a doctor or a dentist who was like that. I mean, just because they could do great molding, we wouldn’t all of a sudden want them to be our dentist, nor they graduated in 1968, haven’t had a conference, haven’t had any training, haven’t read any books, but we go to them for them to work on our teeth.
Rick: Yeah, exactly. So, you’re taking someone that could be performing very highly in a specific area now changing the entire dynamic. But probably as that company, you’re not really giving them the training that they need. And that’s probably where you step in, right?
Maggie: That’s exactly right. Because the reason why training is so important is it costs money to have employees that are not trained. Because untrained employees equal unhappy employees, untrained workers have low production value, untrained workers are inefficient, they cost lost time and money due to mistakes. It increases miscellaneous mistakes, and insufficient staff training means loss or potential loss of customers.
Rick: Right. And that also leads to high turnover, doesn’t it?
Maggie: That’s exactly right. So, the retention rate is very poor, which we know means more cost in the HR area for hiring new employees, very expensive to bring on a new employee.
Rick: Yeah. That’s true. People like to kind of promote from within and think, well, this person, they’ve been here long enough, they know what they’re doing. But a lot of times, they need a little coaching as well to get them in there to overtake their new position, right?
Maggie: That’s exactly right. Because the skills that are needed at the current level, when a person gets promoted, may not be the same skills that they need at the new level. Even within leadership, as you go up in leadership, some of the skills you don’t use in the lower levels are required in the higher levels of leadership. If you talked about something like negotiations, and financial management, in the first levels of leadership you may not need to have those skills, but you certainly need them as you continue to grow in your career.
Rick: Right. So, take me through this process here, Dr. Maggie, when somebody does reach out to you, maybe it’s a small business, an entrepreneur, or maybe a larger corporation is like you know what, we’ve got to shore up our people, how does that whole process start with you?
Maggie: Well, if as an organization, we start with a climate assessment to find out what’s actually going on to where the training really needs to take place. And from there we go on to designing, working with the organization to design the training to meet the need. And then depending on the workforce, whether they can come into one location and have the training or do we put training online? Or do we use some other mode of technology like [??? 6:04].
Rick: Right. So, now take us through it. Do you have like set up– I want to say programs that say, okay, we’re gonna it’s going to run this amount of time and from there you start working on goals, or how does that work?
Maggie: Okay, and the training process, it really depends, because we have training that’s offered first of all online. So, that is the employees can go in and take the training anytime, they’d like to take it or individual. Anybody can go on to our website and go online and take a class. But if a company wants to do it, then we set up with them how many seats they want in the class, and we take them through the class. Now, if they want onsite training, we work with them, if on most of our training and leadership is a two day process, and so we have the employees come in for two days. However, some organizations cannot afford to have their people off the floor, out of the work words for today’s. And so we tried to provide them with the most beneficial skill sharpening tools that we can in a one day, usually from eight to four.
Rick: Okay. And so now, when you are working, say you’re working within the corporate setting, right, you’re consulting, you’re training with a group, is it set up for like a one day weekend kind of thing? I mean, take me through that, how you’re setting it up, so they know what to look for? Do you do team building as well and stuff like that?
Maggie: That’s exactly right. We do the soft skills for leadership because technical knowledge is not enough. So, we do leadership, we do team building, emotional intelligence, teaching people how to communicate better with one another. We use assessments, leadership assessments, such as the conflict management assessment, the emotional intelligence assessment, or one of the biggest ones is the disc assessment. And with those, we can foster better team building, improved communication, and teaching people how to appreciate differences, which then influences and enhance the teamwork.
Rick: Right. All right. Well, that’s good to know. Again, we’re talking with our guest, Dr. Maggie Sizer. She’s the owner at On Track Coaching based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. OnTrackCoaching.net, if you go there, you can see a lot of the information that you know she does with people in terms of training, coaching, doing assessments, read a little bit about her, you can contact us through there as well. Hey, let me ask you this because on the training, right, you do on site, but you also mentioned an online program.
Maggie: You can reach to online programs straight through our website. It’s right there on the front page, it’s MS-Training Solutions. And you have an opportunity to go in and see the classes that we also have. Three special classes up right now, for based on [??? 9:08] promotion and if people want to take one of those classes at the promotion, they can have a coupon code and the coupon code is ‘Elevate’ and they can receive the online class–
Rick: All right. Can you say that again? Your phone dropped out.
Maggie: Oh, okay. Sure. We have three special classes right now that will help sharpen leadership skills on our website. And if they use the code, ‘Elevate’ from listening today’s program, the coupon is worth 50% off of the class.
Rick: Okay. Now, what are those courses called because I think I’m on the right page, but I’m not sure.
Maggie: Okay. So, the first one is how to be a likable boss, and that goes through the skill building for being able to show empathy, being able to work with people who are different. Another one is assertiveness. I’ve done assertiveness training both for Project Management Institute, PMI, and for individual organizations, and that’s a huge one for a lot of people. Especially I know the class was taken by a lot of my international students. And then the third one is time management, learning how to manage your time so it’s not going to manage you.
Rick: Oh my goodness. I think we all need that not only at work, but throughout our entire lives. Right?
Maggie: Exactly right. Yes.
Rick: And you know, it’s interesting too now that I mention it, stuff like this, maintaining the balance, the assertiveness you’re talking about or being a more likable boss, and even the time management, I guess those things are transferable to other parts of your life. I mean, yeah, it’s great to have them for work. But to be able to say, you know what, now I can go home and I can kind of manage because we always get bogged down with stuff, whether at work or at home.
Maggie: Exactly right. And one of our classes that’s coming online next month is how to maintain work life balance. The skills that we use in leadership – universal, we can use them at home, we can use them in our community, we can use them in our social activities. They just [??? 11:15] through to help make us a more well rounded and more effective individual.
Rick: Right. All right. So, if you want to look into that, again, the online training program, so if you’re not in the Virginia Beach area, or you’re not working in a company that’s currently working with Dr. Sizer, go online, look into it. Whether you’re working on communication, active listening, conflict management, team building, leadership; it’s all contained in, they’ve got these three great programs right now featured courses on assertiveness, how to maintain balance, learn how to respect yourself while respecting others. You’ve got time management. Well, we all know what that means, and how to be a more likable boss. We all want bosses we like, right?
Maggie: Yeah.
Rick: So, it would definitely behoove you to check these out. Again, going to the website, OnTrackCoaching.net go under training the tab for training and then you’ll see the online training courses there on your right hand side. Hey, Doctor, we got to take a quick break. All right.
Maggie: Okay.
Rick: Okay, so let me just remind people, we’re talking with Dr. Maggie Sizer, the owner at On Track Coaching. You want to reach out to her privately, do so Toll Free 888-515-3131 or OnTrackCoaching.net. Right now quick break more with her after these words right here on Elevated Radio.
Commercial Break
Rick: And welcome back to Elevated Radio again. My name is Rick Delgado, I’m your host and you’re listening to professional development with Dr. Maggie Sizer, the owner at On Track Coaching based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Give her a call directly and privately Toll Free 1-888-515-3131 or go to the website, OnTrackCoaching.net. She’s got a lot of great information about her, the work she does, how it can be beneficial to you, your organization, your people and you know it’s all about making everybody happy. Right, Doc?
Maggie: That’s exactly correct. Also, they’re interested, we also have a monthly newsletter which gives some best practices and tips for leaders. They can sign up on our website as well.
Rick: All right. Well, that’s good to know. Now, let me ask you this, what is the big takeaway when somebody’s working with you? And I mean that on different levels because it is about coaching, and I think we’ve all seen whether you’re trying to develop yourself as a high performer or a high performing team; you see the best people in the world, the Steph Curry’s of the world, the LeBron James of the world, all these athletes, they’re still on top, right? They’re the best at what they do. But guess what? They’re still working with coaches.
Maggie: That’s exactly right. It’s very important to be able to look at the cage. And I like to say we have heart here at On Track Coaching. It’s standing for – we share and listen to people, we find out what problem it is that they want solved if it’s a [??? 15:50] we develop and help them achieve their long term goals. We even work on improving performance, we engage, we not only listen but we also engage with the to people to hear what it is they really want to achieve [??? 16:06] easygoing and gregarious. – offer resilient, robust training, spirited and strong and – team which is most important to [??? 16:17] we provide transformational coaching, transformational training.
Rick: Right. You know what’s funny too, is that one of the things that and you’ve got it featured here on your under training on your website, OnTrackCoaching.net. And what you’ve titled Immunity to Change, it kind of makes me laugh. You know because everybody talks about it, right, Doc, that oh, you know what we have to change, we have to do this, or they make those new year’s resolutions; I’m going to do, I’m going to– you know what, I’m going to lose 872 pounds, I’m going to have a body for the beach by June, blah, blah, blah, change, change, change, and all of a sudden, they run into a little bit of resistance, and they fall right back into their old habits.
Maggie: That’s exactly right. That’s why coaching is so important and more organizations are starting to realize that training by itself is not enough. You’ve got to have that follow up coaching because that’s what happens, people get excited, and in our training, they even get ignited to go out and make change and do it better. But then when the pressures of life hits they revert back to what they know. So, what coaching does 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, is it reinforces that and it helps the individual be able to make those changes they want to even when life really gets going at them.
Rick: Right. And it’s about that accountability too. I mean, let’s face it, if nobody’s watching, are you gonna do it or are you gonna let it slide? Just because well, I could do it tomorrow.
Maggie: That’s exactly right. Rick, can I share something with you really quick?
Rick: Sure.
Maggie: Okay. Now, I don’t know the author of this, but it’s one of my favorites and I share this with people all the time. It’s about an interesting -. So, one day, all the employees of this company reached their office and saw a big sign on the main door, which said, “Yesterday, the person that was hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared.” So, they are go into the room, and they all start looking around, and they see everybody there. So, they thought, well, who was the person hindering their progress? Who was that that passed away. Long story short, they got in line, they went around the casket and each person who lives in the casket, they saw a mirror of themselves. There was only one person who was capable of setting limits in their growth, it’s you. And that’s the word I want to leave with everyone today. The only one who’s hindering you in your career growth, from the aspirational desire is you. And we at On Track Coaching can help your organization or you as an individual achieve those desires.
Rick: Right. That’s pretty powerful. What was the– did they follow up with any backup as to what happened following that with those people because when you look in the mirror, and that’s what it is, you’re looking in the mirror? And it’s been said numerous times Doc, that we are our own biggest obstacles.
Maggie: That’s exactly right. That’s exactly right. Haven’t followed up with those people but that’s an interesting though that you have that question.
Rick: Right. Yeah. And it also comes to that accountability.
Maggie: Absolutely. And that’s one of the things [??? 19:49] as well is helping individuals with that accountability, even if it’s just self accountability.
Rick: Right. Yeah. I mean, that’s a I learned when I was a kid, high school and college, having coaches, and teammates as well, is that you did not want to let that person down.
Maggie: Exactly, exactly. But as society is changing, people are having different thoughts about that. But to be effective in the business world and the business community, to where it’s got to mean something. And we have to build resilience and tenacity. And unfortunately, we’re starting to have to teach people these things because they didn’t learn it in school.
Rick: Yeah, it truly is something that needs to be– and I’m not sure if the PC climate door technology, which is making people you know, feel like, well, things are easier now. I don’t have to try as hard. You know what I mean?
Maggie: Exactly. We even heard in the university setting. I didn’t get it an A in my class and they come just see you as the Dean and they say well I tried hard. Well, okay, so you got the grade that you earned based on how you tried hard, you don’t get an just A because you tried.
Rick: Right. It’s all those participation medals that people are striving for.
Maggie: That’s exactly right. Now, when I was coming up [??? 21:19] my age when I was coming up, if you were the link weak link on the chain people as you know it. But now to be politically correct people don’t know until they’re adults. And that’s awfully hard to learn that lesson when you’re an adult.
Rick: Right. Yeah, exactly.
Maggie: And some people are really struggling.
Rick: Right, which means you’re going to be busy because people need to learn this stuff because they’re not learning it when they should.
Maggie: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.
Rick: Amazing. Again, we’re talking with our guest, Dr. Maggie Sizer. You’ve got an interesting background, don’t you as well?
Maggie: Yes, I do. I started with the United States Military as Air Force Air Traffic Controller. And from there, I went into the private sector and worked in leadership. And then upon finishing my PhD, I went into adult education as my profession. So, I’ve been an academic Dean, and I served a year as a Regional Dean and as the market changed, and the school started downsizing, was when I got the idea of that I like teaching, I like training, I like facilitating so I’m going to start my own thing. So, that’s about four years ago when it started.
Rick: Right. Well, you know what, thank you for your service. I mean, Air Force that’s a huge deal.
Maggie: Yeah, and being an Air Traffic Controller too. So, thank you.
Rick: So, do you mind if we do a fly-by there ghost rider?
Maggie: Really, I’m really right off at Oceania. So, sometimes I have to tell people hold on, the plains are passing.
Rick: You know what? Okay. I got to ask you because that was a big part of your background there. So, is that something pilots would do? They do fly-bys and stuff like that?
Maggie: No, it’s too highly regulated. No.
Rick: It’s just a Top Gun thing.
Maggie: Yeah. That’s for the movies.
Rick: Right. Exactly. Well, you know what if you’re talking about inspiring and looking to get the best out of yourself, maybe the best out of your team the best out of your business, the best out of your life, reach out to our guest, Dr. Maggie Sizer. She’s the owner at On Track Coaching. She’s based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. OnTrackCoaching.net is her website. She’s also available by phone. All you have to do is dial or up Toll Free, 1-888-515-3131. Hey, tell me again about the coaching deal you’ve got going on? So, they’ve got to go to training and then hit the tab on the online training, right?
Maggie: Right. So, the online training now that’s a training for an online class, and if they use the coupon ‘Elevate’ from listening to this program, then they get the 50% off. But they have to use the coupon “Elevate”.
Rick: So, you gotta type in elevate when you’re logging in, when you’re signing up, and you’ll get that at 50%. Again, it’s through OnTrackCoaching.net. You go through OnTrackCoaching.net, click on the training, you’ll see it there on the right hand side. She also does onsite training. So, if you’re in that area, or you want to just fly her in and say you know what she’s used to flying, let’s fly her in and have her help our people. Maybe work on strategy, work on diversity and inclusion, project management, motivating for a higher performance from your team or from even yourself. Reach out to Dr. Maggie Sizer, 1-888-515-3131 or OnTrackCoaching.net. Doctor, great stuff today. Thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.
Maggie: Thank you for having me.
Rick: Yeah, you’re very welcome. You have a great day. We’ll be back with more on Elevated Radio right after these words.
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