Tuesday, September 4, 2018

CRAVING CHANGE FOR THE BETTER


We all hunger for transformation.  We want big changes, within short space of time.  we are no longer content with sitting by the site lines, waiting for things to change incrementally.  we want to see change, carved in the lines of the vision in our hearts and minds.

6 Common Strands To Make It Big And Achieve Dreams

1.   Envision the future
2.   Surround yourself with people who believed in their goals
3.   Don't listen to the naysayers, the negative critisms
4.   Forged on ahead regardless, buoyed by an inner confidence and self-belief
5.   Worked hard. Nothing comes easy
6.   Engaged with people


Bringing about small changes, much less transformative changes, has its share of challenges.  This is the lesson we all have to take to heart.  We need to stay true to our vision and continue ahead regardless of what challenges may come our way.

Related image
Credit to dadangkadarusman.com

Shared from article by:
Sheila Stanley
Different Spin
Starmetro, Friday 30 October 2015

THE LEADERS DAILY TIPS

Image result for WIN VS LOOSE CARTOONS
Credit to CartoonStock

1.     When asking your people to tell you about something,          let them realize that it's safe to answer.

2.     Effective leadership means that the work gets done              and that followers feel good about it.
        Empathy is being aware of or sensitive to the feelings,          thoughts and experiences of another.
        Delivering support isn't just speaking in a friendly                tone  of voice.  It is working little by little to maintain          a very real, very natural human connection.

3.     Sometimes we do the wrong thing for all the right                reasons.  the route to success often comes with                    keeping all thoughts of tomorrow in check and leading          to what is, not what could be.

4.     Carrying too much 'weight' can kill you.
        Carrying too much 'wait' exacts its toll in productivity,          piece of mind, and personal effectiveness.

5.     The role of leader involves achievement through                  others, often many others.  Get comfortable with                these few strategies:
             - delay is a strategy, use it; anger takes 5 to 7                       minutes to resolve physiologically (emotionally it                 can take years); schedule resolution instead of                     reacting in the moment
             - stop wishing for a better past
             - stop dwelling on the impact on you; make it                         about them
             - melt the ice, don't try to break it; you'll be                         surprise at what a little kindness can do

6.     People get hurt in arguments; if you win, they get                hurt....if they win, you get hurt....even petty                      arguments carry anger and damage.
        Win less and learn more.  Focus on the battle, not the          combatants or casualties.

Image result for WIN VS LOOSE CARTOONS
Credit to CartoonStock

HAPPINESS MATTERS

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Credit to Quora

Happiness matters for a number of reasons.  The most important being that happiness enables passion, and passion creates energy.

Happiness brings energy and passion, and we add that to our work.  Social interaction can be very good for us.  The top doesn't have to be lonely if they are willing to make room on it for others.  Keep in mind that you are never alone unless you choose to be alone.

Image result for HAPPINESS
credit to Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

MINDING YOUR MOBILE MANNERS



Shared from:
Article by Richard Charles Nicholas Branson
SMEBiz, Monday 16, May 2016



Smartphones have become such an important part of modern life.  It seems that some people just can’t put their devices down.  Thus, the issue of smartphone etiquette has come up

No one foresee how completely these devices transform our lives.  But still to conduct a meaningful dialogue, you need to look at the other person in the eye.  As business leader or entrepreneur, it’s important to think about how you share your ideas.  But do you realize
·       How many times have you sent a series of texts or emails when a single phone call would have been more expeditious?
·       How many times have you sent a text to someone a few offices away rather than walk down the corridor and talk to them directly?

Ultimately, business is about relationships.



My notes:
Communication comprises of verbal and non-verbal communication.  Verbal communication has no meaning or desired effect without tonation, expression and body language.

Texts and emails are mere words without any tonation, expression and of course no accompanying body language may it be a smile on the face.  Texts and words can be read ini any form of tonation as being perceived by the reader.  Bear in mind that there are many ways/tone that can be put when reading texts and words.

So when it comes to texting and emailing, be careful of the words chosen when forming sentences.  Emojis do help…..But still, do be careful of perception.


Monday, August 6, 2018

BRING OUT THE BEST IN VERY EMPLOYEE PART 3


SHORT NOTES 

Don Brown and Bill Hawkins
Mcgraw Hill (200 pages)

 
THE PROTOCOL

A protocol is
·       An accepted code
·       A prescribed approach for correct conduct or action
·       A set of conventional principles and expectations


TOOLS NEEDED FOR EFFECTIVE INFLUENCE
I.               LEARNING TO BE PRESENT: AWARENESS AND ATTENTION

You have learn to focus on the core of your team.  You have studied the anatomy of your communication.  Now all you need is to build the millennial leadership.

In our personal lives, the capacity to be present is strongly correlated with lower levels of self-absorption, depression, anger, anxiety, hostility, and impulsiveness and with higher levels of happiness and well-being.  Professionally, there is a direct relationship between being able to reside in the moment while interacting with others and self-regulation.

Most important to a leader is the activity to be present and is directly related to the skills of emotional intelligence and some aspects of social desirability.  Leading today is no longer about the state of the relationship.  Instead, it is about the state of the moment.  The state of the moment involves developing a competency for being present with your people and yourself.

Being present is a function of 2 variable; awareness and attention
          Awareness:
-        Being informed of current developments
-        Can be aware of something without necessarily paying attention to it
Attention:
-        Is a focused awareness, a narrowing of consciousness and a directing of the mind, concentration and fixation
-        Attention is built upon the foundation of awareness
-        Brings the subject from background to fore ground

The whole idea of mindfulness as opposed to mindlessness is all about conscious, purposeful awareness and attention.

Image result for cartoon employee
Credit to: Cornerstone OnDemand

POWERFUL TOP 20 SUGGESTIONS
1
Activate your five senses
-        Look for opportunities to engage your sense of smell, taste, touch, sight or hearing
-        eg actively listening as in hearing vs listening

2
Approach those you interact with
-        the brain is constantly judging whether or not another person is a threat, and in the absence of data, your brain will go with threat.
-        Try to approach others, especially as their leader.  Your position of power often creates separation you’re not aware of

3
Audit your continuous partial attention (CPA)
-        This radar needs to be audited to get an idea of what you tend to be distracted by

4
Befriend those you meet and those you know
-        Engage another person in light conversation
-        The person will perceive that you understand and care
-        Reinforce the empathy connection
-        Purposeful small talk engages your target and sharpens your interactional skills

5
Breathe the one count in, two counts out
-        When conversations gets intense, we forget to breathe, we lose energy, and we lose focus

6
Cancel the meeting
-        Stop having meetings that don’t focus on the relationships among the people you’re meeting with

7
Condition your physical being
-        Rest, diet and exercise
-        Taking care of ourselves pays dividends
-        The less we care for ourselves, the less we are able to care for others

8
Dedicate time and attention to those you are with
-        Try to do better at paying attention to the people you are with

9
Disconnect from annoying technology
-        Designate technology free zones and technology free times
-        Set some rules

10
Formalize your communication practices
-        Use more than one message, more than one medium and document in whatever method you need to make it stick

11
Measure the quality of your interactions
-        If you can measure it, you can change it
-        Rate the effectiveness of your attempts at interpersonal improvement

12
Mirror the response you want to see
-        The image you project might be one of unrelenting drive and will to win

13
Narrow the scope of your intentions
-        Be sure to focus because multitasking may affect performance
-        Even though multitasking, tackle them one at a time

14
Notice the impact you have
-        Become ‘first class noticers’
-        Noticing strengthens connections in your brain and reinforces results

15
Personalize your connection
-        We engage other people’s brain when we speak their name

16
Reboot your interpersonal RAM
-        Go for a short walk, get a cup of tea, take a few deep breaths

17
Schedule regular, intentional, daily interaction
-        Set aside time for interaction
-        Anticipate the interpersonal workout
-        Schedule one everyday

18
Study for its own sake
-        Understanding brings change
-        Be a student of interaction
-        Be a first-class studier as well as a first class notice

19
Substitute a new route or routine
-        Change habit, a healthy one can heighten your awareness

20
‘Silence’ the auditory interrupters
-        Give yourself some pause; the few minutes of quiet everyday


Your skill at being present with others is how you engage effectively in a normal world.  Being present builds empathy.  Through empathy you engage, and through engagement you build capacity without adding head count.




II.             MAKING EVERY MOMENT COUNT: THE LEADER’S PROTOCOL

The leader’s protocol is defined as a code of behavior or correct conduct or action.  The author categorized followers’ need into communication, feedback and autonomy.  And in doing so, leaders need to build their skill set at ‘being present’ in order to adhere it.

i.                Communication
-        Communicating     - to relate
- to influence
- to inform
Effective communication revolves around first understanding your purpose and then adapting your style to best understand and be understood.  Communication is perhaps the most important protocol for leading.

ii.              Feedback
Your people wants to know how they are doing.  They want to know what you think.  They want feedback.  They need your reaction.  They want your evaluation of their contribution.

In feedback, the 3 relevant words are quality, quantity, and time.  Quality is a factor of performance.  Quantity is always the number.  Time is a reflection of performance with respect to deadlines.

These 3 words are relevant when offering praise: effort, contribution and growth.  Effort is about energy and should be the first focus of praise.  Contribution is about results and as a form of recognition.  Growth is about improvement.

iii.           Autonomy

2 steps in managing autonomy:
·       Jointly acknowledge the task
·       Clarify ownership



The End