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Tara Orchard

Canada Area

20 years experience as a Coach for professionals / businesses leaders. Featured expert in two business magazines. Small business owner/adviser. Top social networking coach. Advised 100's of business owners/managers, entrepreneurs, start-ups and 1000's of individuals seeking to enhance performance, advance careers or businesses, make decisions and gain professional clarity.

I employ a psychologically informed process working with people from all over the world on wide-ranging professional, personal and business topics. I help people gain insights to better understand what they want and need to achieve their personal, professional and business actualization goals.

$2.00/min

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13

13 Reviews

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User Experience Personal Branding Talent Management Strategic Communications Talent Acquisition Online Community Management Relationship Management Work Life Balance Social Networking Strategy Career Development Coaching

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Content Creation, Business Communications, Writing

Consultation on written or verbal communications; website, promotions copy, apps, business letters, social network responses and more. Some of the most challenging business problems involve saying the right thing at the right time in the right way. I can help with that!

http://://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/08/fake-it-until-you-become-it-2/

Business Talent Acquisition and Management

Provided support to businesses on candidate screening, assessment and culture matching. Work with managers, supervisors and HR to address and manage work and team performance concerns.

http://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/09/hiring-better-fitting-employees-2/

Business Partner Relationship Management

Advise on maintaining, fixing, building better relationships with key business partners. If you are having challenges getting on the same page as someone vital to your business I can listen and provide guidance on strategies to address the relationship

http://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/08/need-a-leader-for-business-listen/

Social Networking and Social Community Management

One of the earliest social networking coaches. Since 2007 I have presented on social media and social networking for business and careers to audiences in Canada and the US.

http://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/01/how-connected-employees-can-boost-your-bottom-line/

Team Building and Management

Knowing how to build and manager relationships is an important part of business. I have assessed, advised and coached hundreds of people/employers/managers on how to best build, sustain and grow relationships

http://latinbusinesstoday.com/2013/03/who-are-your-influencers/

Branding Personal // Professional

I have helped individuals and small business/solo entrepreneurs identify and articulate their brands. I use a psychologically informed process to identify brand elements and superior writing skills to help clearly articulate brand for communication purposes.

Answers 4
Reviews 13

Answers

Tara Orchard answered

Lots of entrepreneurs work 60 to 80 hours a week. This isn't what I consider a good work/life balance. How would you improve it?

Being entrepreneurial is often an 'always on' state but it need not consume all of your thoughts and attention. Consider these solutons

1) Take micro-breaks that involve being mindful and 'in the moment' when you are with others. Carve out time, even 5, 10, 15 minutes while 'working' and do it frequently (every hour) and focus on other important tasks and people.

2) Practice better distribution your time, attention and energy as a way not to avoid your work but to enhance your ability to focus. Reading a report while on the treadmill can be efficient, reading the report while 'watching' your child's soccer time can be draining.

3) Create your own personal app that schedules an 'alarm' once an hour that says 'time out'. Control your own schedule by prioritizing what is important, and that includes you, your healthy, family and your business and bring a little more balance to your work/life.

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Personal Development

Work Life Balance

Tara Orchard answered

I am looking for a principal partner (like a cofounder) to an existing startup. Any suggestions on a strategy for this ?

FInding people who can be potential partners is an important step, but knowing who you are looking for should be part of your strategy. Just as when you are hiring you need to look for qualities that match your needs and also matches your preferences. Working closely with a business partner should not be painful (that does not mean there cannot be clashes).

Do you know your own strengths and weaknesses - not only technical and business but personal strengths and weaknesses? In Daniel Kahneman's 2011 book 'Thinking, Face and Slow' he discusses excellent information about how people approach thinking. If you understand your own thinking and decision making processes you might want to find a partner who helps balance your strengths and your weaknesses.

I recommend personality profiling and emotional intelligence profiling to help you sort your own performance strengths and weaknesses and consider who would be a good match to balance or counter-balance.

Certainly find someone who has the skills, qualifications and connections you need, but also remember that you have to work with this person and find someone who will enable you make the best decisions and take the most effective actions.

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Business Growth

Business Strategy

Lean Startups

Tara Orchard answered

What are some of the most important leadership trends of Today?

Different types of leadership is required at different times and for different purposes and people. As a leader an ability to recognize when you should employ different leadership approaches it an important trend. This is not about bending your leadership but about understanding how to apply it.

You often read about good and successful leaders in recent years that they practiced mindful leadership. Mindful leadership means being able to be in the moment and be conscious of all the variables, that includes your own thoughts, preferences and perceptions. Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahnamen wrote an interesting book a couple of years ago 'Thinking, Fast and Slow'. It reminds us that our thoughts, decisions and actions are influenced by many factors, but internal ones and how they perceive the world around us, are key among them. Do successful leaders become successful because they have perspective and can practice mindful leadership or do they achieve success and then gain a perspective that allows them to further develop the ability to be mindful and gain perspective? Perhaps both. But being mindful as a leader of the bigger picture and the picture in the moment should enable you to better listen and lead the people with whom you are working.

I think mindful leadership and being able to understand your preferences can be improved with self-awareness which can be gained through self-assessment. I use two tools, a personality profile tool (not because personality tools are perfect but because they open the door for self-awareness conversations) and Emotional intelligence assessment. I use tools called Typefocus and another called EQ-i 2.0. I have also worked with organizations that profile their leadership team so people can be more mindful and aware of potential differences in perspective and preference.

There are many leadership trends that work sometimes, in some places with some people. I think the best leaders (for the long term) include awareness of themselves, strengths and weaknesses and of the team around them.

Finding a good coach or partner who can help you gain perspective and see what you need to see and then use that to inform your leadership actions is always a good idea and one that is becoming more popular.

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Leadership Development

Leadership

Entrepreneurship

Tara Orchard answered

I've grown from being a solo PR consultant, to adding an assistant. Now maxed. How to take the next step? Get new clients or hire senior help first?

Consider carefully what you need/expect from the person you are thinking of hiring and how much time and energy you are willing to invest in both the locating, training and oversight of initially.

As a growing business you must be very conscious of quality control so you have to hire well.

Ensure your reputation is solid before you expand so you attract the right people.

You could consider hiring a contract or freelancer for extra work until you are in a position to comfortably find, hire and train a new member of your team. Contractors/freelancers are also aware of their need to maintain their reputation and deliver good quality product (do not cheap out on paying).

Clearly identify the qualities and that includes traits you believe will fit in well with you and your business. Many growing small business owners have taken a real hit by hiring the wrong person and giving them to much trust and responsibility to quickly. It feels great to be able to hire and give someone a job and great to expand your business. Sometimes small steps with a plan for more is the way to go.

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Entrepreneurship

Public relations

Business planning

Reviews

Tara is gifted with intuitive ability to envision and drive projects. Highly knowledgeable and perceptive, she uses her expertise to help her clients recognize, direct and channelize their potential towards establishing and achieving tangible goals.

Innovative, intelligent and multi talented, Tara is a huge contributor to the Career Development field.

Fleurette Puthran Source: LinkedIn

Tara is an exceptionally insightful professional who has consistently impressed me with her accurate, skilled and helpful advice on many different matters pertaining to personality type insights and social media. She never hesitates to go the second mile in joint projects and I’ve come to value her contributions to all our collaborations. She’s truly one in a million and I wholeheartedly recommend her without reservation.

Dave Wood Source: LinkedIn

Tara has become a great friend and colleague to our company Stryve Group. She is smart, talented, full of energy and always goes out of her way to help others. I highly recommend working with Tara

Sourov De Source: LinkedIn

Tara is a fantastic person to work with. She is not only a loyal and supportive person, but also an inspiring individual to work with. I would recommend Tara to any person looking for sound business advice or career coaching.

J. Bhagwat Source: LinkedIn

Tara is an individual who will exceed your expectations while making work enjoyable. She is personable, listens well and is eager to please. It is always a pleasure to associate with one who portrays the qualities that Tara does.

Bill Lins Source: LinkedIn

When I create new enrichment programs for corporations, organizations, education, associations, and individuals, I select top industry professionals to challenge my ideas, concepts, models, strategies, and processes. Tara is one of those industry professionals whose opinions and feedback I value and have come to rely on.

Developing cutting edge, state-of-the-art programs requires the best minds and “top thinkers” who demand we set the bar high and establish industry-leading benchmarks. This can only be accomplished when a team of dedicated professionals comes together and collaborates; and works through differing points of view to achieve the very best results possible. Egos play no part of the experience; contribution and pride in the “outcome” fuel the process.

I not only highly recommend Tara, but am sincerely grateful for her time, wisdom, insights, and feedback; as we launch the first-ever functional Protean workplace program. The Industrial Age workplace has been replaced with the Protean workplace. No doubt, Tara’s contributions will spark the kind of positive change needed throughout the workforce, and society at large, so all individuals and businesses can adjust to and thrive in our new, complex, and transformational workplace.

This is just the beginning. I am certain that Tara’s leadership and intellect will play a significant role in all we do, in all she does, and with all the lives she touches.

Thank you Tara for being part of our team. Your dedication and contributions went way beyond “the call of duty

Jay Block (13K) Source: LinkedIn

Tara Orchard is one of the best among all people I have ever met via LinkedIn. She has tremendous knowledge about the job market in Canada and knows how to accompany someone who is looking for professional career opportunities. The service she offers is of great value and even indispensable for someone who is looking for successful career. She has guided and consulted me on how to be successful in my career search. Tara is an excellent career coach and a very kind person to work with. I would be pleased to recommend Tara as my trusted advisor.

Kanishka Zohuri Source: LinkedIn

Mrs.Tara Orchard,

I am pleased to recommend Tara and career-coach for her excellent career consulting services. Tara provide me with valuable information, she was helpful and I was impressed by her excellent manner.

Tara - I also wish you every success in your career and family.

Good luck.

Al_Akhras Mohamed Source: LinkedIn

Tara introduced me to the broader aspects of social media and encouraged me to read Wikinomics which opened my eyes to possibilities I had no idea existed.

Dave Wood Source: LinkedIn

Tara is a visionary leader with a relentless focus on continuously improving the quality and delivery of service to students, faculty, staff and alumni. Her ability to envision the trends and challenges that impact career management, and effectively operationalize her recommendations through her own efforts as well as that of her team, has directly contributed to Laurier Univerisity's stellar and enviable reputation as a national leading Career Development Centre.

Keturah Leonforde MBA CHRM Source: LinkedIn

Tara is a first class manager and a professional in career development and advising. Not only does she have the ability to impart knowledge to others but also a desire to watch them grow and take on more responsibility. I think this is the difference between a good manager and a highly effective one.

Tara is very knowledgeable and thorough in her approach, and having worked closely with her, know how valuable her career guidance has been to students.

In particular, she is very skilled in workshop development and delivery. Her content is relevant, and supported with tangible examples. She has the ability to engage her audience quickly, varying her approach in line with their needs, and prompting questions that show a receptiveness to the points or issues she addresses.

Helen Davies Source: LinkedIn

Member since September 2013