The Four Agreements in the Workplace and Beyond!

The Four Agreements®

1. Be Impeccable with Your word

Let go of self-judgement and blame

Being impeccable, you take responsibility for your actions, but you do not judge or blame yourself for anything.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally

Relinquish self-importance

Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about “me.”

3. Don’t Make Assumptions

Be aware of unconscious assumptions

Assumptions are made so fast and unconsciously most the time because we have agreements to communicate this way. We have agreed that it is not safe to ask questions; we have agreed that if people love us, they should know what we want or how we feel.

4. Always Do Your Best

Don’t overdo

Always do your best, but don’t overdo! When you overdo, you deplete your body and go against yourself, and it will take longer to accomplish your goal.

–The Four Agreements® by don Miguel Ruiz

Obviously True

I was sitting with a friend last week talking about business and life and how The Four Agreements®(1) has played a part, when he said something that really struck me. He said that once he began to implement The Four Agreements®, he realized how obviously true they are. We talked a while longer about the economic situation we are in, and the reaction that many people have had. Many of us have heard that it’s not so much what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. But do we really take heed of that? We seem to react, then look back and wonder what happened. The reaction is not necessarily thought through; in fact, we’re usually not even aware of what’s really going on within us before we take action. 

 

Being impeccable with your word (The First Agreement), is about being aware of your self, your reaction to situations, and acting in alignment with your truth. It is achieved by not reacting out of fear or panic or anything that is not authentic, or helpful, to you. Many of us get lost in the chaos of it all, and forget who we really are. We forget what’s important to us. We begin to doubt, and when that doubt takes over, we are no longer impeccable. Then we take things personally (The Second Agreement): we think it’s all happening to us, because of us, or even not in consideration of us! We hold on so tightly, out of fear rather than inspiration, that we create a resistance that repels rather than attracts. We make assumptions (The Third Agreement) by filling in information that is not really there. The assumptions are not only about others, but about our abilities and motivations as well. We’re so worried about the future, or regretting the past, that it’s difficult to do our best (The Fourth Agreement) and stay in the present moment. We fall further from our true selves until we hardly recognize ourselves. 

 

Consider business owners and bosses who react in anger or frustration. Their comments and even nonverbal behaviors can cause subtle negative influences that  filter through to employees. This can create a ripple effect of discouragement that leaves these leaders wondering, “what is going on with my sales team?” Or, think about companies who have reacted by cutting marketing and training, and then wonder, “why aren’t people creative and productive around here?” and “why are we slipping in sales?” Without awareness, leaders can end up simultaneously breathing down a sales team’s back, hoping to increase productivity, while actually reducing the team’s ability to deliver results.

 

When we hold up a mirror and look within, that is when we see the obvious truth. It is not so much what is happening in the world, in our workplace, in our families, or in any relationship with others. It is what is happening within us that causes the reaction and the change. It’s obviously true that the only person who can create your story is you. 

 

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(1) The Four Agreements® is a national and New York Times best selling book by don Miguel Ruiz. Unlimited Coaching Solutions has exclusive training rights in upstate New York.

Unlimited Coaching Solutions Signs Agreement with Publisher of National Best-Selling Book “The Four Agreements®”

Pittsford, NY, March 31, 2009 – Unlimited Coaching Solutions, Inc. has signed an agreement with Amber-Allen Publishing, publisher of The Four Agreements®, based in San Rafael, California. The agreement grants Unlimited Coaching Solutions the exclusive training rights in upstate New York, and non-exclusive rights nationwide. Using a practical application of the principles from The Four Agreements®, Unlimited Coaching Solutions has been training and developing leaders and employees for the past 7 years. Due to the success of the program, namely the immediate and lasting behavioral changes companies have experienced, the author and publisher have agreed to a more formal arrangement.

“One of the biggest problems companies face is employee engagement,” says Joslin, founder and president of the full service professional training and development firm. “More time and money is wasted with disengaged employees than you’d ever want to count!”

“Most training is too focused on the value to the company, and employees feel this. The Four Agreements® is a win/win, creating immediate and lasting value, individually and organizationally.” Turning these concepts into reality for companies in Rochester and across the country has been the result of Joslin’s dream for more enjoyable and productive workplaces.

After 15 years in a corporate environment, Laurie was inspired to strike out on her own, building a training company that would bring positive cultural change to companies in any industry. From law firms like Nixon Peabody to banks like Canandaigua National and even military organizations like the US Navy, Joslin and her team help companies align employee behavior with strategic initiatives to maximize productivity. “Our programs are built on foundational concepts that go deeper, touching employees on a more personal level. Let’s face it, payroll is the biggest line item on most corporate balance sheets. To have employees working to their fullest potential is in the company’s best interest,” says Joslin. “When you align your employees’ behavior to your company’s strategy, the employees can clearly see their role and it gets them engaged in the process. The four deceptively simple principles from The Four Agreements® are the secret to engagement. Employees become more accountable for the company’s success. Results generally exceed management’s expectations. And in this challenging economic environment, creativity and productivity are crucial. Only those companies who keep their workforces engaged will survive.”

For more information on how you can bring the Unlimited Coaching Solutions programs to your company contact us at 585-248-9322 or info@unlimitedcoaching.com