“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.”

– Epictetus, Stoic philosopher

When I engage a new client in a customized coaching relationship, we spend a considerable amount of time exploring their key personal and professional relationships. I often have them rate these relationships on a 1 – 10 scale to determine both the current level of support they provide as well as the importance they have for this individual moving forward.

Social support is as important to the coaching process as the client’s own motivation and ability to pursue their goals.

Exercise:

Spend more time with those people who call forth your personal and professional best.

Spend less time with those people who are negative and critical.

Identify some people who uplift you and start spending time with them

Finally, identify some of the most negative, judgmental people and stop spending time with them or giving them any “mindshare”.