Raise Your Game

The pressure's on… You've just won a big promotion and your new boss has high expectations. You have an important meeting and want to make a constructive impact. You're thinking of restructuring the team and need to show clear leadership. You know you're capable of so much more and need to grasp the opportunity. Meanwhile, you're drowning in a sea of unanswered email and voicemail… How can you raise your game and achieve your full potential? Peter Shaw, professional coach and author, shows how combining self-belief with practical action creates the basis for powerful change, helping you step up to the next level. Learn how to identify your strengths, take bold but calculated risks, build your network of supporters, convert your critics, live your values and find fulfilment and joy.

Acknowledgements vii Foreword by Suma Chakrabarti xi  Introduction xiii Section A: Take Stock 1 1 Develop your strengths 3 2 Understand your least strong areas 11 3 Embed your values 23 4 Create an equilibrium 37 Section B: First Steps 47 5 Address your self-doubt and your fears 49 6 Believe you can do difficult things 59 7 Know who your supporters and stakeholders are 65 8 Take some risks 73 Section C: Up the Pace 79 9 Stretch your muscles 81 10 Influence others and convert your critics 91 11 Understand how you respond to problems 101 12 Warm down thoroughly 109 Section D: Grow the Momentum 119 13 Keep your focus 121 14 Grow your resilience 129 15 Build your team 135 16 Renew your freshness 143 Section E: Where Next? 151 17 Keep an open mind 153 18 Recognise when the tide turns 159 19 Know what matters to you 167 20 Renew your vision 173 Section F: To What End? 179 21 What is fulfilment for you? 181 22 How do you want to be remembered? 187 23 What about family and friends? 193 24 Where does joy fit in? 197 Conclusion: Next Steps 203 Selected Bibliography 205 Index 209