Jennifer Marek
Prioritizing Your Leadership Journey

“Prioritizing your leadership journey will give you greater clarity

and confidence in bringing your best leadership

to everyone and everything you do.”

As Leaders of ourselves, first and within our Leadership Coaching Business, we are grateful for the month of March! March provided amazing opportunities to prioritize the “NEW” that is being prepared for you, our clients. It gave us the benefit of Leading you, to greater clarity and confidence within Leadership Coaching and with our Know Your Genius / Know Your Worth Seminar. And, it brought new learning curves, solving problems and moving ourselves and business forward behind the scenes.

Prioritizing Your Leadership Journey
Jennifer Marek
Leading Your Conversation with the 5 C's Roadmap

Welcome back to TC&A’s weekly leadership coaching newsletter. Last week we gave you a roadmap and video to build trust in your conversations. You can view it here if you missed it.

As we build upon your ability to build trust in conversations you may find yourself saying some of the statements below:

  1. I don’t trust the people I work with

  2. I need to set better boundaries with co-workers

  3. Everything is so chaotic, I can’t slow down

  4. I don’t have anyone I can delegate to

  5. I never have enough time

These are often statements we regularly hear from clients and we’ve said them in the past too! I remember when I worked at a top luxury hotel in NYC and there was a deep lack of trust, no boundaries and constant chaos within the team – it was suffocating. If only I had the roadmap to building trusting conversations, then!

In the leadership coaching process, we want the best for you and our intentions are always to guide you toward being the leader of yourself, first, so that you can build trusting conversations.

Leading Your Conversation with the 5 C's Roadmap
Jennifer Marek
Building TRUST in Conversations

Hello March! We are grateful to be entering into this month with positive energy as TC&A focus’ on building TRUST in conversations.

Also, we are excited to be celebrating International Women’s History Month! TC&A has several events planned to support women in the workplace with our seminar, Know Your Genius / Know Your Worth. If, you are interested in hearing more, click here.

As we introduce the topic for this month, it is a topic that repeatedly comes up in the Leadership Coaching process -

Building TRUST in Conversations
Jennifer Marek
TRUST 💫

Welcome back to ‘Your Choice’, TC&A’s weekly “free coaching” newsletter. It is our pleasure to bring our leadership coaching expertise, knowledge and hearts to you each Monday.  

This year, one of our intentions is to share more stories! We have hundreds of client stories of resilience, transformation, promotions, career changes and massive mindset and energy shifts. Put simply, our clients have better outcomes and have become better humans since working with us – and it truly is our privilege to be on the journey with them. You may very well be one of our clients, we are grateful for you. And we are grateful to land in your inbox every Monday. Thank you for your trust. 

TRUST is our 2025 word and it aligns with our interview with Denise Junqueiro. We imagine you were inspired by her story of her self-development, knowledge and growth last week. This week, we share more of her story on the video below. Our intention is for you to know you are supported and perhaps even intrigued to know more about the leadership coaching process.

TRUST 💫
Jennifer Marek
“It is not always one big step, but a few steps ...

“It is not always one big step, but a few steps forward.”

~ Denise Junqueiro

This week we have the pleasure of sharing parts of the transformational story of one of our original clients – Denise Junqueiro. Denise and Tess met in 2014 when she was a fellow attending the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation program. Tess was a part of restructuring the Ag Leadership learning and seminars and provided the Leadership Coaching for the program. In fact, Denise was a great support when Tess Cox & Associates was just beginning to launch the business.

“It is not always one big step, but a few steps forward.”

Your Inner Pillars of Strength: Competence, Consistency, Creativity

Your Inner Pillars of Strength: Competence, Consistency, Creativity

Welcome back to ‘Your Choice,’ we are so happy to be on this journey with you, where we share knowledge and insights into building who you are as a leader and as a human. We believe in your abilities to experience the best of outcomes and your opportunities to turn all of your desires into reality. One thing we know to be true: every desire we want to turn into a reality, needs a strong foundation.

Sample Character qualities are: Honest, Trustworthy, Reliable, Respectful, Fair and Resilient.

Last week, we shared the story of The Leadership Blueprint: Becoming the Architect of Your Life & Work and encouraged you to tune into your Character qualities. Your Character is the foundation from which everything else you want in life and work is built upon. Your transparency with who you are, will be experienced with how sustainable your foundation is. So, it matters most to you to be truthful, open and honest with the strength of your Character qualities.

With a Solid Foundation, Opportunities Expand

With a Solid Foundation, Opportunities Expand

Welcome back! This week we are taking you back to 2017 when Tess’s first book: The Leadership Blueprint: Becoming the Architect of Your Life & Work was published. Tess had a vision that the principles of the book would be the foundation for TC&A and her life moving forward. Not surprisingly, her intuition was correct. 

I’m excited to share how I, Chelsea, went ALL IN with the 5 C’s when I chose to transform my life back in 2016. I was at a crossroads after an all-consuming work and life adventure led me to complete burn out. I had a difficult choice to make. 

Keep going as I was….succeeding in important hotel roles and achieving external success

OR

 Take the path less traveled…go inward, learn more about the core of who I was and start to pave a new path forward where true success was found internally from my own being

What happened next was almost… unbelievable! 

The Foundation of Opportunity

The Foundation of Opportunity

Welcome to our first Fall Newsletter of 2024! We are grateful to be in your inbox every Monday with ‘Your Choice.’ Our intention is to provide you with support, encouragement and opportunity to grow in who you are, grow in your abilities to lead and manage your team and experience overall growth in your business and life.

As you read about the TC&A Origin story in September, for the month of October, we are expanding upon the opportunities of our business story. Over the years, we have had many learning, growth and celebratory experiences in leading TC&A, we trust our intentions and our encouragement will support you creating your own opportunities. 

The Full Circle of TC&A

The Full Circle of TC&A

This quote tends to summarize our TC&A experience and existence:

"Keep Believing in Your Potential.

Keep Utilizing Your Strengths.

Continue to be a Lifelong Learner.

~

You will find that you will experience

 more than you ever IMAGINED."

- Tess

Because of YOU - You have given TC&A more than we could ever have IMAGINED. And, by serving YOU, we continue to IMAGINE EVEN MORE…

Chelsea and I LIVE every day of our LIVES to LEAD ourselves, FIRST, so that we can LEAD & COACH YOU. 

Emerging Opportunities

The TC&A Origin Story Continued...

Remember from week 1, I was riding the wave of great opportunities within Leadership Development and Coaching as an Independent Contractor with my mentor and his company.

Remember from week 2, HARD decisions were made from CEO’s and my mentor. The HARD decisions were beyond my control. It was a very difficult and, challenging time. And, I had a choice what to do and how to move through the HARD.

What was interesting – I was still contracted with the non-profit and multi-faceted world of Agri-Business. 

What was interesting even further – as individuals graduated from the program, many requested further Leadership Coaching. They were finding it difficult to transition from being in a learning environment with a full focus on personal and professional growth and development and being in their workplace of roles and responsibilities where the company or organization had not changed – BUT, they had changed! TC&A had a new vision and a new purpose.

What was even more interesting to me and the opportunity I saw

– Leadership Coaching has a place in every workplace!

Wherever there are people and all of their differences within their stories, education, life experiences, relationships and work experiences, there is an OPPORTUNITY for Leadership Coaching. Along with all of the other opportunities, in support of Leadership Development with Individual Coaching, Triangle Coaching, Team Building, Seminars and Team Retreats.

When TC&A began over 8 years ago, the focus was to bring Individual Coaching and Team Building to businesses as ownership and leadership saw the need to develop their employee’s and teams. I am grateful that 8 years later, more and more business owners and leadership understands the benefits of developing themselves, their employees and their teams with our wide range of TC&A Leadership Development Services. 

What is most meaningful to TC&A is – Serving you, our clients. What a privilege to serve you and to support your journeys within your roles and responsibilities and within your personal life, also. Everything we bring to Leadership Coaching and Development, we practice ourselves, as well.

Over the years, as Chelsea has joined TC&A, we have learned that something new can be birthed when we are willing to serve others.

We’re curious, is there something in your work and life that you have created when seeking to serve others?

KEY Words to Remember from our TC&A story:

Interesting, Focus, Meaningful, Growth, Something New, Serve

What are KEY Words that stand out to you?

We are here to support you and/or your organization in the ongoing journey of being the leader of yourself, first. We encourage you to engage with our opportunities, listed here, and look forward to your continued growth and expansion in all ways.

A STORY OF CHALLENGES & NEW OPPORTUNITIES

A STORY OF CHALLENGES & NEW OPPORTUNITIES

THE ORIGIN STORY OF TC&A Continued…

Upon working over seven years with my, (Tess) mentor and leader of his company, we were enjoying ALL of the benefits of serving our clients. We both loved the Leadership Development, Coaching and Training that we were doing and the influence we were having upon the lives of leadership. It truly was a transformational time for many who were learning more about leading themselves within their roles and responsibilities.

Then, we experienced a turn of events simultaneously. Within weeks of one another, the high-end Tech Company and the Hospital hired new CEO’s, which we knew, as we were a part of the conversations. Within a short period of time…both of the CEO’s, of the Tech company and Hospital had different ideas, plans and visions for their organizations, which was not predicted due to our conversations. And, they both made a decision about our contracts that were up for renewal - they were NOT going to be renewed! With respect, both the Tech company and Hospital made budgetary decisions versus what was going to be best for their leadership overall.

THE ORIGIN STORY OF TC&A – A REFLECTION

THE ORIGIN STORY OF TC&A – A REFLECTION

We rarely DO this!

We rarely talk about ourselves. 

We do share insights from our experiences with you, our clients.

With our new TC&A Catalog of Services, I (Tess) thought it would be supportive of your journey, to read the origin story of TC&A throughout this month of September – The beginning of when we learned to “Lead Ourselves, FIRST.”

Years ago, before I started Tess Cox & Associates, I was working as an Independent Contractor/Coach. I joined opportunities to lead and Coach for a high-end Tech Company that was world-wide and based in New York City. I enjoyed opportunities in the health-care industry, coaching Dr’s, Nurses and Director/Managerial support in Rancho Mirage, California. And, I had the good fortune of working with a non-profit organization with a focus on revitalizing their curriculum and adding Leadership Coaching for up-and-coming leaders in the multi-faceted world of Agri-Business throughout California.

Your Strengths Are Your Future

Your Strengths Are Your Future

Welcome back to ‘Your Choice,’ where we are spending the month of August focusing on your competitive advantage. In week one, we encouraged you to identify what your competitive advantage is in your workplace.

This month, as we continue to be inspired by the Paris Olympics, we’ve listened to the words that describe the athletes STRENGTHS. We have heard the following:

  • His story is one of resilience

  • She has trained and worked to be physically strong

  • He has worked with his coach to be mentally strong

  • Before her competition she states that she visually sees her great outcomes

  • His mindset never gives up

  • This team has a deep belief in themselves

  • Every Olympian who has gathered at the 2024 Olympics is here because of their family, friends and their community that have supported them to be here…..

Creating Your Competitive Advantage

Creating Your Competitive Advantage

As the Olympics are in full swing this August, we are inspired to think about the competitive advantage athletes have as they live out their life long dreams in Paris. I (Chelsea) find myself sentimental for my competitive athlete years as I chose from the age of 4 to dedicate myself to gymnastics and become an NCAA gymnast. I was driven by my passion of being physically strong, working together with my mind to compete both individually and as a team. I attribute much of my competitive advantage today to the drive and determination I learned from my earlier years.

We encourage you to think about your own leadership, your team and your organization, "Where is your competitive advantage?"

Leadership & Development Program Creation

Leadership & Development Program Creation

It is a privilege to support Leadership & Development programs in business. We value your trust and the opportunity to partner and work with you to CREATE an amazing and sustainable program for you, your teams and organization.

 

We will: 

  • Customize our approach on behalf of building your organization's leadership and development program. 

  • Partner, coach and collaborate with you to build a program that supports individuals, teams and organizational culture to thrive and be sustainable.

  • Provide TC&A proven tools and resources that support further motivation, purpose and success.

  • Curate directly to the needs of your organization from our expansive list of resources - including assessments, books and seminars.

  • Consult and partner with you, to empower your leadership, teams and organization to reach the highest levels of potential and best of outcomes.

Wishing all of our clients, family and friends a very Happy 4th of July! We are grateful to be of service to you!   This month we will be taking a break from our weekly newsletter, ‘Your Choice,’ as we recharge and reener

Wishing all of our clients, family and friends a very

Happy 4th of July!

We are grateful to be of service to you!

This month we will be taking a break from our weekly newsletter, ‘Your Choice,’ as we recharge and reenergize for the rest of the year!

You will still hear from us every Monday this month with opportunities for you and your organization to magnify your potential and thrive.

We are already booking into 2025 and look forward to connecting with you for your leadership and development needs.

With Gratitude

Tess & Chelsea

Crucial Conversation Tools – Choose the right topic when in a crucial conversation!

Crucial Conversation Tools – Choose the right topic when in a crucial conversation!

As we continue to utilize tools from Crucial Conversations and use them in the coaching process, we know it is a skill not to get caught up in the emotion and height of a Crucial Conversation. A dialogue can bounce between several different topics. Before you know it, you and the person you are in dialogue with may not even be focused and talking about the same subject. A good way to stay focused on the right topic is to simplify what is most important to be discussed. 

Join us in practicing CPR, which consists of three simple steps to gain clarity, while staying focused during complex interactions. 

When you need to address an issue….

When you need to address an issue….

Think about when you didn’t address an issue and you knew you needed to. The internal feeling can be painstaking and deplete your energy when holding the tension of avoidance.

As we continue to explore Crucial Conversations, research shows that the lag time between the time an issue occurs and the time it is addressed is the determining factor between success and failure in resolving the issue. You may want to read the last sentence, again. We agree and have found that in conversations with our clients that the bigger the gap, the greater the misunderstanding.

Tools for Crucial Conversations

Tools for Crucial Conversations

As Leadership Coaches, our role and responsibility IS to listen. Over the last several months, we are listening as you learn with our TC&A tools and resources, team building opportunities and topical seminars. Recently, we have found, Crucial Conversations to be at the top of your focus within the Leadership Coaching. And, we are here to further support you with our TC&A weekly newsletter!

Crucial Conversations are defined as extremely important conversations that will promote further understanding and improve relationships. Also, the book “Crucial Conversations – Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High” defines them when… “opinions vary, the stakes are high and emotions run strong.” We’ve all experienced them. You may want to think about the last time you had a crucial conversation. What was the outcome? Were you satisfied with your approach and responses within the crucial conversation?

Manage Your Mindset on Behalf of Your Time

Manage Your Mindset on Behalf of Your Time

Last week we mentioned the most helpful question to ask when new tasks and responsibilities come up within your team:

is this urgent or is this important?

In fact, that question was posed earlier this year in a cohort we were coaching through The Engagement Blueprint. The question reinforced how important it is to ask – it’s on everyone’s mind when given a new task, project or goal.

It’s likely that most of the work you do is very important. At the same time, it may or may not be urgent. Click here for a quick coaching video on how to discern. Considering the time of day you have your best energy may influence how urgent a certain task, project or goal is. Considering your energy will help you to prioritize so you can utilize your mindset, behaviors and strategy within your peak performance times. (Note: we all have peak performance times.)