Most of us baulk at the idea of indicating, even in the slightest manner, that the boss is anything but god-like in his decisions and ideas.
“Let’s do X merger” “Yes, boss!”
“I think the sky is green today” “Yes, boss!”
People who do nothing but agree sycophantically are scorned as ‘yes’ men, but is the alternative even possible? We’ve all felt the pressure to stay in the boss’ good books, and one of the easiest steps seems to be to agree with said boss. Right?
Wrong.
Stating a fact or airing an opinion that contradicts your boss is not necessarily career suicide. In fact, doing so may show that you have courage as well as a working brain, both of which are positive characteristics that may work well in your favour when it comes to your annual appraisal! That said, you are not advised to embarrass your boss or openly cause dissent, because that would be unprofessional and can come off as petty or vicious. Here are 5 easy steps you could take to make your point or stand without ruffling any feathers.
1. Above and beyond everything else, remember that your boss is still your boss. That means respecting his or her authority; so watch that tone. It’s important to phrase your points carefully, eg: “I understand your point, but…” Avoid, at all costs, saying things like “This is MY area of expertise,” as it will automatically make your boss go on defensive mode and may lead to sparring matches from which you will definitely emerge the loser.
2. Be professional. You want to be heard and not shut out immediately, so avoid whining or taking things to a personal level. Do say things like “X way will save the company up to RM Y” and avoid saying things like “My way is better.” The best way to get your boss’ attention is to show that your point is being made with the company’s best interests at heart.
3. Set a proper time for the discussion. One good way to ensure that your points are heard is to plan your timing well. Arrange a time that is convenient for your boss as well as yourself, by asking either verbally or through writing – via email would be a good option, so your politesse is recorded. You will find that with proper timing comes better results! After all, you wouldn’t like it either if you were ambushed on your way to the car park with criticisms or complaints so don’t inflict it on others.
4. Don’t give up after one try. Nobody will change their opinions overnight, so just one great presentation may not be enough to turn your boss’ frown upside down. But that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel and call it quits: If you truly feel that your idea is a fantastic one, persist in trying to pitch your idea. But be pleasant about it! Try saying “I took your previous comments into consideration, and have revised the plan some more. Could I have 5 minutes of your time to show you the amended copy?”
5. That said, you also need to know when to let it go. While you shouldn’t give up after one try, 10 tries is just too much. If you sense your boss is starting to avoid you, or worse, resent you then it’s time to step back gracefully. And by gracefully, we mean avoiding statements like “I’m invisible around here,” and “Nobody listens to employees.” Try statements like “Thank you for your consideration” or “Thanks for listening to my views” instead; and if you know what’s good for you, never climb over your boss’ head and approach his boss instead! The bottom line is, it is possible to have your own opinions and stands. Bosses are not (usually) totalitarian dictators, so a mature discussion about the best move for the company should be perfectly doable.
by
Saturday, March 03, 2012
An effective team member is one who also thinks and behaves like a leader.
Walk into any bookstore or library and you will find no shortage of books on leadership. A search for the word “leadership” on Amazon.com results in more than 60,000 entries. Search for “followership” however and only 150 entries pop up.
While there is clearly an overwhelming desire to learn about leadership, interest in followership is decidedly underwhelming. Does this mean that it is very easy to become a good follower?
If your idea of a good follower is someone who does whatever he is told, then the answer is “yes”. However, the organisation of today does not want its people to simply follow instructions.
Indeed, organisations expect every individual to take the initiative and constantly seek to achieve higher levels of personal effectiveness. In other words, followers should think and behave like leaders.
While many of us understand the need to practise personal leadership, people may take on attitudes that detract from their effectiveness as followers.
Here are some such attitudes:
Not clarifying
This is the mindset of “do what you are told; don’t ask questions”. Sometimes when you are tasked to do something, you tend to work on it without asking questions.
The fear is that if you ask too many questions, you may come across as negative or as someone with “attitude problems”. However, understanding the rationale for a task is very important. It leads you to get a big picture of your work.
For example, if you are tasked to organise a company dinner, ask questions to find out the underlying objectives. Is it meant to celebrate success, recognise individuals or promote team bonding? With a clear understanding of what is expected, you stack the odds of success in your favour.
Not challenging
This is characterised by the assumption that “the boss is always right”. A classic example of how the boss is not always right comes from the legendary Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company.
In the early 1900s, powered by the Ford Model T, the company produced more cars than all other car makers combined. Ford was so proud and protective of the Model T that he once famously remarked: “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.”
Four years after the first Model T was produced, his engineers surprised him with a prototype of an upgraded version of the car. Ford was apparently so incensed that his prized asset was modified, he destroyed the prototype with his bare hands.
Thereafter, his engineers never dared to suggest modifications to the Model T, and it remained unchanged for the next 15 years. The company was finally superseded by other carmakers who continued to innovate to produce better cars. Despite efforts to play catch-up later, Ford never regained its No.1 position.
Today, business has become so complex that it is no longer possible for one person, including your boss, to be an expert in all areas.
Your boss may have blind spots in terms of his prejudices, perspectives and knowledge. A good follower is one who can highlight these blind spots to his superior. The idea is not to challenge the boss but rather, to question the thought process behind the decision.
Not committing
In moments of frustration at work, many of us may think: “I don’t agree with the decision, so I am not going to carry it out” or “I’m just going to pretend to do so.”
Intel addresses this with a slogan that says “Disagree and Commit”. They encourage people to disagree, raise arguments, innovate and find better ways of doing things during the decision-making process. But once the group makes a decision, everyone is expected to commit to its implementation even if they disagree with it.
By all means, challenge a decision objectively and openly, but do not undermine it once it is made. Commit to its success even if you do not personally agree.
Everybody should realise that they work as members of a group and sometimes trade-offs and sacrifices have to be made for the greater benefit of the organisation. Covert resistance, such as bad-mouthing the organisation or your colleagues, not only undermines the success of the organisation, it creates tension, distrust and toxicity in the workplace.
Effective followership
It is somewhat unfortunate that the topic of followership has not received as much attention as leadership. Being a follower is the first thing that everybody must learn to do well when they enter the workforce.
Practise the 3Cs of effective followership: clarifying, challenging and committing to become a more effective team member. Even if you aspire to lead others one day, you must realise that to lead, you must first learn to follow. -
Article by Lim Poh Guan, vice-president of Learning & Organisation Development at the United Overseas Bank. Singapore Straits Times/Asia News Network
While there is clearly an overwhelming desire to learn about leadership, interest in followership is decidedly underwhelming. Does this mean that it is very easy to become a good follower?
If your idea of a good follower is someone who does whatever he is told, then the answer is “yes”. However, the organisation of today does not want its people to simply follow instructions.
Indeed, organisations expect every individual to take the initiative and constantly seek to achieve higher levels of personal effectiveness. In other words, followers should think and behave like leaders.
While many of us understand the need to practise personal leadership, people may take on attitudes that detract from their effectiveness as followers.
Here are some such attitudes:
Not clarifying
This is the mindset of “do what you are told; don’t ask questions”. Sometimes when you are tasked to do something, you tend to work on it without asking questions.
The fear is that if you ask too many questions, you may come across as negative or as someone with “attitude problems”. However, understanding the rationale for a task is very important. It leads you to get a big picture of your work.
For example, if you are tasked to organise a company dinner, ask questions to find out the underlying objectives. Is it meant to celebrate success, recognise individuals or promote team bonding? With a clear understanding of what is expected, you stack the odds of success in your favour.
Not challenging
This is characterised by the assumption that “the boss is always right”. A classic example of how the boss is not always right comes from the legendary Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company.
In the early 1900s, powered by the Ford Model T, the company produced more cars than all other car makers combined. Ford was so proud and protective of the Model T that he once famously remarked: “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.”
Four years after the first Model T was produced, his engineers surprised him with a prototype of an upgraded version of the car. Ford was apparently so incensed that his prized asset was modified, he destroyed the prototype with his bare hands.
Thereafter, his engineers never dared to suggest modifications to the Model T, and it remained unchanged for the next 15 years. The company was finally superseded by other carmakers who continued to innovate to produce better cars. Despite efforts to play catch-up later, Ford never regained its No.1 position.
Today, business has become so complex that it is no longer possible for one person, including your boss, to be an expert in all areas.
Your boss may have blind spots in terms of his prejudices, perspectives and knowledge. A good follower is one who can highlight these blind spots to his superior. The idea is not to challenge the boss but rather, to question the thought process behind the decision.
Not committing
In moments of frustration at work, many of us may think: “I don’t agree with the decision, so I am not going to carry it out” or “I’m just going to pretend to do so.”
Intel addresses this with a slogan that says “Disagree and Commit”. They encourage people to disagree, raise arguments, innovate and find better ways of doing things during the decision-making process. But once the group makes a decision, everyone is expected to commit to its implementation even if they disagree with it.
By all means, challenge a decision objectively and openly, but do not undermine it once it is made. Commit to its success even if you do not personally agree.
Everybody should realise that they work as members of a group and sometimes trade-offs and sacrifices have to be made for the greater benefit of the organisation. Covert resistance, such as bad-mouthing the organisation or your colleagues, not only undermines the success of the organisation, it creates tension, distrust and toxicity in the workplace.
Effective followership
It is somewhat unfortunate that the topic of followership has not received as much attention as leadership. Being a follower is the first thing that everybody must learn to do well when they enter the workforce.
Practise the 3Cs of effective followership: clarifying, challenging and committing to become a more effective team member. Even if you aspire to lead others one day, you must realise that to lead, you must first learn to follow. -
Article by Lim Poh Guan, vice-president of Learning & Organisation Development at the United Overseas Bank. Singapore Straits Times/Asia News Network
Personal branding: Make your first impression your best impression
Branding is not just for companies and products. Professionals also need it to project the right impression to colleagues, bosses and customers.
Wendy Lee, a professional image consultant and president of the Malaysian Association of Brand & Image Consultants (Mabic) answers some questions on personal branding.
What is personal branding?
Lee: Personal branding is the business of marketing the brand called YOU. Personal branding is a way of communicating what makes you different and special. It is about understanding your unique attributes — strengths, skills, values, and passions — and using them to separate yourself from your competitors or peers.
But, do bear in mind — your brand is not your logo. Your brand is not your company name. Your brand is not your product.
In reality, you do not own your brand. Your brand is owned by your customers, the people you work with, and anyone else who has an impression of you. Your brand is other people’s perception of what it’s like to do business with you, work with you, or be with you.
Your brand is really a collection of perceptions in the mind of others.
If a client wanted a full branding makeover, what are the steps you suggest he takes?
Lee: I would use a simple formula known as:
YOU = mpc2 (M = Mindset, P = Packaging, C2 = Consistency, Consistency)
Mindset: Having the right mindset to embrace change, to grow as an individual and to move forward is of utmost importance. Your thoughts are everything. They form your moods, attitudes and habits.
Packaging: Your packaging or Personal Branding Toolkit must convey the same message as your brand. This includes: Your wardrobe, business card, websites, Facebook, blogs, Twitter, email address, etc.
Consistency, consistency: Once you have established your own style and your brand, stick to it. Walk your talk. Make the effort to ensure you gain a reputation for saying what you mean and meaning what you say.
How does one know if he or she needs a professional image makeover?
Lee: There are a few ways to know if you need a makeover:
·You want to create YOU™ — Your own personal brand.
·You would like to create a great impression on everyone you meet.
·You are fresh out of school and would like to master the art of dressing for both business and leisure.
·You have not been working for years and do not know what is deemed suitable at an office environment.
·You have not been receiving positive comments on your dressing or on the way you look.
·You are stuck in a style rut.
·You feel you have nothing to wear although you have a closet full of clothes.
In my years of experience as an image consultant, I have had clients coming to me for various reasons — people who recently got promoted, who are now coming out to the workforce, who have not bought any clothes in ages, or who just simply want to learn something new.
How should someone present himself or herself when potential employers call or e-mail?
Lee: You must have your “elevator speech” ready. The term “elevator speech” was probably coined from the idea that we sometimes meet the important people in our lives in elevators. The odd situation we encounter in most elevators is that nobody speaks or looks at anyone else, and yet we have a captive audience for that short period of time.
Very few people are ready to interact in case someone does speak. The idea of an “elevator speech” is to have a prepared presentation that grabs attention and says a lot in a few words.
Who you are, what you do, who your clients are, and what happens as a result could be part of your “elevator speech.” For example, this is my elevator pitch:
“I’m Wendy, I’m an image consultant.
“I work with both companies and individuals to enhance their image for effective customer relations and sales.”
So, when your potential employers call or e-mail you, don’t say:
“I’m Jared, and I like to meet people and conduct sales calls.”
Say instead:
“I’m Jared. I like helping businesses improve the way they market their products, so that they find more clients and close more deals.”
It sounds more professional and makes you sound more interesting.
What are your five easy tips for a polished look?
Lee: 1. Your hair is your crowning glory.
Men — Billionaires don’t sport oily looking or long dishevelled hair. Think Simon Cowell.
Ladies — No grandma perms and keep your hair away from your face. Your style must say
current, healthy and professional.
2. Your face is your fortune.
Men – Keep your face clean without stubble.
Ladies — Light makeup is a must.
3. Your clothes show your style.
Men – You wear your clothes, not the other way around.
Ladies — Think feminine yet professional. Not loud and trashy. A suit is a foolproof way if you are unsure of what to wear.
4. Your posture shows your confidence. So, stand straight and smile, genuinely.
5. Your smell shows your personal hygiene. A light spray of eau de toilette will earn you extra brownie points.
The proverb goes “Do not judge a book by its cover,” but really, in this day and age, do we even have the time to delve deeply into a person’s psyche before making a decision? Your outward — physical as well as cyber — appearance can and will make an impact on how the world perceives you. With so much hinging on your ability to present yourself in the best and most appealing way, are you sure you can afford to take personal branding lightly?
Wendy Lee, a professional image consultant and president of the Malaysian Association of Brand & Image Consultants (Mabic) answers some questions on personal branding.
What is personal branding?
Lee: Personal branding is the business of marketing the brand called YOU. Personal branding is a way of communicating what makes you different and special. It is about understanding your unique attributes — strengths, skills, values, and passions — and using them to separate yourself from your competitors or peers.
But, do bear in mind — your brand is not your logo. Your brand is not your company name. Your brand is not your product.
In reality, you do not own your brand. Your brand is owned by your customers, the people you work with, and anyone else who has an impression of you. Your brand is other people’s perception of what it’s like to do business with you, work with you, or be with you.
Your brand is really a collection of perceptions in the mind of others.
If a client wanted a full branding makeover, what are the steps you suggest he takes?
Lee: I would use a simple formula known as:
YOU = mpc2 (M = Mindset, P = Packaging, C2 = Consistency, Consistency)
Mindset: Having the right mindset to embrace change, to grow as an individual and to move forward is of utmost importance. Your thoughts are everything. They form your moods, attitudes and habits.
Packaging: Your packaging or Personal Branding Toolkit must convey the same message as your brand. This includes: Your wardrobe, business card, websites, Facebook, blogs, Twitter, email address, etc.
Consistency, consistency: Once you have established your own style and your brand, stick to it. Walk your talk. Make the effort to ensure you gain a reputation for saying what you mean and meaning what you say.
How does one know if he or she needs a professional image makeover?
Lee: There are a few ways to know if you need a makeover:
·You want to create YOU™ — Your own personal brand.
·You would like to create a great impression on everyone you meet.
·You are fresh out of school and would like to master the art of dressing for both business and leisure.
·You have not been working for years and do not know what is deemed suitable at an office environment.
·You have not been receiving positive comments on your dressing or on the way you look.
·You are stuck in a style rut.
·You feel you have nothing to wear although you have a closet full of clothes.
In my years of experience as an image consultant, I have had clients coming to me for various reasons — people who recently got promoted, who are now coming out to the workforce, who have not bought any clothes in ages, or who just simply want to learn something new.
How should someone present himself or herself when potential employers call or e-mail?
Lee: You must have your “elevator speech” ready. The term “elevator speech” was probably coined from the idea that we sometimes meet the important people in our lives in elevators. The odd situation we encounter in most elevators is that nobody speaks or looks at anyone else, and yet we have a captive audience for that short period of time.
Very few people are ready to interact in case someone does speak. The idea of an “elevator speech” is to have a prepared presentation that grabs attention and says a lot in a few words.
Who you are, what you do, who your clients are, and what happens as a result could be part of your “elevator speech.” For example, this is my elevator pitch:
“I’m Wendy, I’m an image consultant.
“I work with both companies and individuals to enhance their image for effective customer relations and sales.”
So, when your potential employers call or e-mail you, don’t say:
“I’m Jared, and I like to meet people and conduct sales calls.”
Say instead:
“I’m Jared. I like helping businesses improve the way they market their products, so that they find more clients and close more deals.”
It sounds more professional and makes you sound more interesting.
What are your five easy tips for a polished look?
Lee: 1. Your hair is your crowning glory.
Men — Billionaires don’t sport oily looking or long dishevelled hair. Think Simon Cowell.
Ladies — No grandma perms and keep your hair away from your face. Your style must say
current, healthy and professional.
2. Your face is your fortune.
Men – Keep your face clean without stubble.
Ladies — Light makeup is a must.
3. Your clothes show your style.
Men – You wear your clothes, not the other way around.
Ladies — Think feminine yet professional. Not loud and trashy. A suit is a foolproof way if you are unsure of what to wear.
4. Your posture shows your confidence. So, stand straight and smile, genuinely.
5. Your smell shows your personal hygiene. A light spray of eau de toilette will earn you extra brownie points.
The proverb goes “Do not judge a book by its cover,” but really, in this day and age, do we even have the time to delve deeply into a person’s psyche before making a decision? Your outward — physical as well as cyber — appearance can and will make an impact on how the world perceives you. With so much hinging on your ability to present yourself in the best and most appealing way, are you sure you can afford to take personal branding lightly?
Reduce staff turnover by increasing flexibility
Workplace flexibility is a term that has been around for a while now, but most organisations are not as flexible as they can be.
Sure, if you fit neatly into a category like “working mother”, they will be politically correct and offer you flexible hours, as long as you don’t mind feeling like you are on the career track to nowhere.
Senior management in many industries still believe that people who are serious about their careers do not take up workplace flexibility options, and there is certainly anecdotal evidence of this.
The real test of any flexibility programme is not how many people take it up, but how many senior people take it up and how they are viewed as a consequence.
Let me give you an example: I have a client who has invited me to facilitate their management conference for the last couple of years. Prior to the event, I met up with each division’s senior manager to go over their contribution and discuss the event.
Last year, one of our meetings ran over time and I was advised that my final appointment for the day would have to be rescheduled as the senior manager had to leave to see his child play a sport. This comment was made without any negative tone or eye rolling. This is a workplace that truly believes in work-life balance for all. Would it be the same in your workplace or would that manager be seen as less than committed to his role?
Perhaps your organisation is making attempts to be more flexible but doesn’t really understand what flexibility means.
I met a senior manager from an accounting firm recently who proudly told me his partners had introduced a workplace flexibility scheme, which involved everyone having the Friday afternoon off. He didn’t understand why staff were not that impressed with the new policy. They had missed the point.
The other growng phenomenon is that people who are younger, childless, or both, want flexibility.
Here’s another example I use in my programmes on engaging younger generations.
The human resource manager had a visit from a young male staff member wanting to renegotiate his working hours from five days a week to four days. He put forward a well thought out case for why the job could be done in four days without affecting customers. When the HR manager asked why, he responded “so I have time for my life”.
As there was no precedent for this type of request in the company policies, the HR manager referred to the chief executive officer. The response was a definite “no’’ and eventually, the young employee left the company, taking with him valuable skills and knowledge.
No singular solution
So why don’t more organisations do it properly? As far as I can see, it boils down to two issues: administration and fairness.
Creating a good flexibility programme will mean more administration but think of the up side. If you do it right, you should have less staff turnover, fewer performance management issues and less stressed managers.
This argument is like the disorganised person who doesn’t have time to attend a time management course. If he goes, then he would be more organised.
On the issue of fairness, a lot of people confuse “fairness” with “sameness”.
Ask yourself: “Would you buy all your children the same Christmas or birthday present?” The answer is no; you would tailor it to their needs. The same is true of workplace flexibility options. If you try to make a one-size-fits-all option, you will end up pleasing no one.
The local context
So, how do Singaporean organisations rate in terms of workplace flexibility? A report in late 2008 issued by the Manpower Ministry, which surveyed 2,940 companies employing over 840,000 workers, showed that only one in 10 employers are adopting flexible work arrangements.
On the upside, eight out of 10 employers granted more than the legal requirement of leave. Besides the legislated annual, sick and childcare leave, they also granted compassionate leave and many allowed wedding leave.
If you recognise that your organisation can be more flexible, you may start to think what you can do differently.
Here are some ideas:
Purchasing extra leave;
Grandparent leave;
Compressed work week;
Job sharing at a senior level;
Floating cultural day;
Birthday leave;
Community service leave;
Bringing pets to work;
Aged care centre;
Outcome-based employment contract; and
Extra leave to compensate for business travel.
To take action, there are two aspects of workplace flexibility issues to consider.
First, closely examine your workplace flexibility policies and procedures to see if they need upgrading to include the areas mentioned above.
Second, and most importantly, do an informal survey to find out if the policies and procedures are being used in practice.
In other words, how these policies are perceived by staff at all levels, including senior management. Only when these are actually being used can you say that your organisation is really flexible.
- Source: Singapore Straits Times/Asia News Network
Sure, if you fit neatly into a category like “working mother”, they will be politically correct and offer you flexible hours, as long as you don’t mind feeling like you are on the career track to nowhere.
Senior management in many industries still believe that people who are serious about their careers do not take up workplace flexibility options, and there is certainly anecdotal evidence of this.
The real test of any flexibility programme is not how many people take it up, but how many senior people take it up and how they are viewed as a consequence.
Let me give you an example: I have a client who has invited me to facilitate their management conference for the last couple of years. Prior to the event, I met up with each division’s senior manager to go over their contribution and discuss the event.
Last year, one of our meetings ran over time and I was advised that my final appointment for the day would have to be rescheduled as the senior manager had to leave to see his child play a sport. This comment was made without any negative tone or eye rolling. This is a workplace that truly believes in work-life balance for all. Would it be the same in your workplace or would that manager be seen as less than committed to his role?
Perhaps your organisation is making attempts to be more flexible but doesn’t really understand what flexibility means.
I met a senior manager from an accounting firm recently who proudly told me his partners had introduced a workplace flexibility scheme, which involved everyone having the Friday afternoon off. He didn’t understand why staff were not that impressed with the new policy. They had missed the point.
The other growng phenomenon is that people who are younger, childless, or both, want flexibility.
Here’s another example I use in my programmes on engaging younger generations.
The human resource manager had a visit from a young male staff member wanting to renegotiate his working hours from five days a week to four days. He put forward a well thought out case for why the job could be done in four days without affecting customers. When the HR manager asked why, he responded “so I have time for my life”.
As there was no precedent for this type of request in the company policies, the HR manager referred to the chief executive officer. The response was a definite “no’’ and eventually, the young employee left the company, taking with him valuable skills and knowledge.
No singular solution
So why don’t more organisations do it properly? As far as I can see, it boils down to two issues: administration and fairness.
Creating a good flexibility programme will mean more administration but think of the up side. If you do it right, you should have less staff turnover, fewer performance management issues and less stressed managers.
This argument is like the disorganised person who doesn’t have time to attend a time management course. If he goes, then he would be more organised.
On the issue of fairness, a lot of people confuse “fairness” with “sameness”.
Ask yourself: “Would you buy all your children the same Christmas or birthday present?” The answer is no; you would tailor it to their needs. The same is true of workplace flexibility options. If you try to make a one-size-fits-all option, you will end up pleasing no one.
The local context
So, how do Singaporean organisations rate in terms of workplace flexibility? A report in late 2008 issued by the Manpower Ministry, which surveyed 2,940 companies employing over 840,000 workers, showed that only one in 10 employers are adopting flexible work arrangements.
On the upside, eight out of 10 employers granted more than the legal requirement of leave. Besides the legislated annual, sick and childcare leave, they also granted compassionate leave and many allowed wedding leave.
If you recognise that your organisation can be more flexible, you may start to think what you can do differently.
Here are some ideas:
Purchasing extra leave;
Grandparent leave;
Compressed work week;
Job sharing at a senior level;
Floating cultural day;
Birthday leave;
Community service leave;
Bringing pets to work;
Aged care centre;
Outcome-based employment contract; and
Extra leave to compensate for business travel.
To take action, there are two aspects of workplace flexibility issues to consider.
First, closely examine your workplace flexibility policies and procedures to see if they need upgrading to include the areas mentioned above.
Second, and most importantly, do an informal survey to find out if the policies and procedures are being used in practice.
In other words, how these policies are perceived by staff at all levels, including senior management. Only when these are actually being used can you say that your organisation is really flexible.
- Source: Singapore Straits Times/Asia News Network
Unleash your Net Generation employees' FULL pontential!
Whether we like it or not, we are living in the digital age where new rules are made and changed by those who have grown up in this era.
Digital natives, otherwise known as the Net Generation (Net Gen), are no longer satisfied with the old human resource model of recruiting, training, supervising and retaining. Companies should adopt a new model in acquiring and retaining them, that is, initiate, engage, collaborate and evolve.
Net Gen employees are ideally suited for the current working conditions. They are savvy, confident, upbeat, open-minded, creative and independent. This can also make it a challenge to manage them.
To meet their demands for more learning opportunities and responsibilities, ownership, instant feedback, greater work-life balance and stronger workplace relationships, companies must alter their culture and management approaches.
Properly cultivated, this generation’s attributes will be a critical source of innovation and competitive advantage to the organisation.
Thus, employers have two options. They can refuse to adapt to this group, stick to their old hierarchies, and reinforce the generational firewall that separates the managers from the newly hired. But if they do, they will forfeit the chance to learn from the Net Gen employees — to absorb both their mindset and their tools of collaboration.
Companies in the corporate world that choose to embrace the Net Gen employees’ collaborative ways will emerge winners.
Research shows that companies that selectively and effectively embrace Net Gen norms perform better than those who don’t.
There is a difference between those who have grown up digital and those who are introduced to technologies in later stages of life. While these digital immigrants (those over 30) can become very good at using technology, few achieve the ease and comfort of a member of the Net Gen, to whom technology is as natural as breathing.
How then can employers on these two generations to produce a more productive organisation?
Learn to adapt
For a start, design work systems according to the Net Gen norms. Look to the Net Gen culture and behaviour as the new culture of work and the new enterprise.
Re-think authority
Be a good leader, coach, mentor, facilitator or enabler, but understand that in some areas, you will be the student and the Net Gen employee will be the teacher. Net Geners need plenty of feedback, but recognition must be authentic. False praise doesn’t work.
Lifelong learning
Rethink training and engage them for lifelong learning. Rather than traditional training programmes that are separate from work, look to strengthen the learning component of all jobs. To achieve this, encourage employees to blog.
Harness social networks
Don’t ban Facebook or other social networks. Figure out how to harness them. New tools like wikis, blogs, social networks, jams, telepresence, tags, collaborative filtering and RSS feeds can be the heart of the new high performance workplace.
Encourage collaboration
Rethink management processes and design jobs and work for collaboration. Give the Net Gen staff a chance to put collaborative tools to good use — for example, by joining one of the company’s volunteering efforts.
Listen to them
Unleash the power of Net Gen capital in your organisation. Listen to the young people. Put them in the driver’s seat alongside you when designing work spaces, processes, management systems and collaborative working models.
The Net Gen youngsters should also do their bit. They should:
Go to college
It’s more interesting than high school and you will need more than a high school diploma to succeed in a knowledge economy.
Be patient
Keep calm, especially when you see old, outdated technology and bureaucratic ways of doing things. Your knowledge about collaboration will drive innovation and success this century. Boomers might be your best allies. They have kids like you and are more likely to understand you and your use of technologies.
Value experience
You are an authority on something important — but you are not an authority on everything. As you enter adult institutions, you have much to teach, but you also have much to learn. If it doesn’t work out, your experience will make you a better entrepreneur, activist, teacher or whatever you choose.
Don’t give up
When adults criticise your generation, don’t take it personally. You are the smartest generation — really. You are the first global generation. You have a better world within your grasp. Reach out, hold on and make it happen. – Singapore Straits Times/ Asia News Network
Article by Dr Don Tapscott, the author of Grown Up Digital: How The Net Generation Is Changing Your World, and the founder and chairman of nGenera Insight.
Digital natives, otherwise known as the Net Generation (Net Gen), are no longer satisfied with the old human resource model of recruiting, training, supervising and retaining. Companies should adopt a new model in acquiring and retaining them, that is, initiate, engage, collaborate and evolve.
Net Gen employees are ideally suited for the current working conditions. They are savvy, confident, upbeat, open-minded, creative and independent. This can also make it a challenge to manage them.
To meet their demands for more learning opportunities and responsibilities, ownership, instant feedback, greater work-life balance and stronger workplace relationships, companies must alter their culture and management approaches.
Properly cultivated, this generation’s attributes will be a critical source of innovation and competitive advantage to the organisation.
Thus, employers have two options. They can refuse to adapt to this group, stick to their old hierarchies, and reinforce the generational firewall that separates the managers from the newly hired. But if they do, they will forfeit the chance to learn from the Net Gen employees — to absorb both their mindset and their tools of collaboration.
Companies in the corporate world that choose to embrace the Net Gen employees’ collaborative ways will emerge winners.
Research shows that companies that selectively and effectively embrace Net Gen norms perform better than those who don’t.
There is a difference between those who have grown up digital and those who are introduced to technologies in later stages of life. While these digital immigrants (those over 30) can become very good at using technology, few achieve the ease and comfort of a member of the Net Gen, to whom technology is as natural as breathing.
How then can employers on these two generations to produce a more productive organisation?
Learn to adapt
For a start, design work systems according to the Net Gen norms. Look to the Net Gen culture and behaviour as the new culture of work and the new enterprise.
Re-think authority
Be a good leader, coach, mentor, facilitator or enabler, but understand that in some areas, you will be the student and the Net Gen employee will be the teacher. Net Geners need plenty of feedback, but recognition must be authentic. False praise doesn’t work.
Lifelong learning
Rethink training and engage them for lifelong learning. Rather than traditional training programmes that are separate from work, look to strengthen the learning component of all jobs. To achieve this, encourage employees to blog.
Harness social networks
Don’t ban Facebook or other social networks. Figure out how to harness them. New tools like wikis, blogs, social networks, jams, telepresence, tags, collaborative filtering and RSS feeds can be the heart of the new high performance workplace.
Encourage collaboration
Rethink management processes and design jobs and work for collaboration. Give the Net Gen staff a chance to put collaborative tools to good use — for example, by joining one of the company’s volunteering efforts.
Listen to them
Unleash the power of Net Gen capital in your organisation. Listen to the young people. Put them in the driver’s seat alongside you when designing work spaces, processes, management systems and collaborative working models.
The Net Gen youngsters should also do their bit. They should:
Go to college
It’s more interesting than high school and you will need more than a high school diploma to succeed in a knowledge economy.
Be patient
Keep calm, especially when you see old, outdated technology and bureaucratic ways of doing things. Your knowledge about collaboration will drive innovation and success this century. Boomers might be your best allies. They have kids like you and are more likely to understand you and your use of technologies.
Value experience
You are an authority on something important — but you are not an authority on everything. As you enter adult institutions, you have much to teach, but you also have much to learn. If it doesn’t work out, your experience will make you a better entrepreneur, activist, teacher or whatever you choose.
Don’t give up
When adults criticise your generation, don’t take it personally. You are the smartest generation — really. You are the first global generation. You have a better world within your grasp. Reach out, hold on and make it happen. – Singapore Straits Times/ Asia News Network
Article by Dr Don Tapscott, the author of Grown Up Digital: How The Net Generation Is Changing Your World, and the founder and chairman of nGenera Insight.
The eureka moment
This article is about innovation or creativity in business. The “Eureka” moment refers to that blissful moment which signals the solution to a challenge.
But isn’t innovation or creativity the reserve of poets, artists, musicians, inventors and scientists, brilliant people working on their own and having fantastic ideas?
Sure, these people represent the popular stereotypical “creative genius” but innovation or creativity is fundamental to all business and organisational success.
Without creativity, stagnation, decline and demise are ever more quickly inevitable in a frighteningly competitive globalised marketplace.
I rather like the quote by John Sculley, a former boss of Pepsi and Apple, who quipped: “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious”. According to Steve Jobs, late iconic guru of innovation at Apple, IBM were spending huge sums more than Apple on R&D but it is Apple’s white earphones you see everywhere connecting bobbing heads to an IPod!
Let’s have one more quote to free up what we mean by innovation. This time it’s by Einstein, the legendary physicist: “Imagination is more important that knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create”.
Innovation in business – and that includes any private or public organisation - is not easy. Famous names from finance, manufacturing, retail and the public sector are now memories in the business graveyard. They got stuck in the rut of “it worked in the past so it’ll work in the future”.
Of course creativity in business isn’t just about product innovation, important as this is. It’s also about staff morale, customer and supplier relations, finance, HR and manufacturing processes, shareholder relations, marketing and PR, including social media profile, and government and professional body relations.
This means innovation/creativity has to be part of the leadership “vision” and given the enablers like support, encouragement, incentive, time and opportunity to make creativity part of the organisational culture, part of corporate life, year in and out.
Innovation is essentially an exercise in collective wisdom tackling - in creative ways - a realistically defined problem which has eluded solution by conventional means but which, intuition and experience suggest, should be capable of cost-effective solution in the marketplace.
The failure of the conventional solution process is essentially a failure of the traditional analytical or “convergent” thinking which successfully drives the day-to-day functioning of the processes of any organisation.
What is required is the play of creativity or “divergent thinking”. This doesn’t proceed from a fixed point in a logical, linear way, dissecting, comparing, evaluating, selecting; rather it jumps, expands, is naïve, silly, outlandish, futuristic, rule breaking, fun, provocative, intuitive, new, wise, clever, imaginative, challenging, shocking, different – AND provides the solution. Phew!
There are many pitfalls on the road to creative solutions. The biggest is not having the commitment of top leadership to the creative process of problem or opportunity solution.
So it is essential that any group hoping to solve a problem creatively has the support of the problem’s owner who should also have the skill to recognise the solution and the authority to validate and then implement it.
Probably the next biggest obstacle is getting the wrong group of people together. Eight to 10 people should be enough. Diversity is the key. Yes, expertise is essential; but the experts have been looking at the problem and not come up with a solution. So include a majority of non-experts. Mix the ages and the sexes and the status levels. The 16-year-old junior may have just the fresh take that is required. So may the 60-year-old customer service manager. Within the creative group, rank consciousness should disappear when in session.
The facilitator will need to spend time breaking down age, gender and status barriers, establishing an atmosphere of trust and confidence and supporting an informal style symbolised by casual clothes wearing (whatever the usual dress code) and the use of personal names. For these reasons, creative groups tend to work better when working on neutral ground, perhaps a hotel.
Warm up, barrier breaking games such as standing in a circle and keeping a balloon in motion round the circle, or keeping a paper ball airborne, followed by tasks such as asking each group member to nominate 10 ways humans could fly (without aircraft), collectively agree the best three options and/or then nominate 10 ways a stuck lid could be removed from jam jar without the contents being spoiled and agree the best three solutions should help the group into the right frame of mind.
Suitably warmed up, the group needs to focus on preparing a “challenge statement”. This is a way of clarifying the real problem or challenge, not just symptoms, and how it relates to the future. The challenge statement always takes the form “We must…So that...” The statement should contain only one challenge; and the “So that” part no hint of the solution (often suggested with the word “by”).
A bad challenge statement might therefore be: “We must increase our market share of hard wood flooring by reducing supplier costs so that our prices will be more competitive and our profit margin maximised”. Better worded it might simply read: “We must become more competitive so that our profit margins are maximised”.
With a challenge statement in place it is helpful to submit the “We must” section to some “Wouldn’t it be Wonderful If (WIBWI)” thinking. These WIBWI suggestions can be collected into categories (manufacturing, sales, marketing, costs, customer care etc) and than translated into “Opportunity Statements”.
For example, in a “reduced costs” category we might find “overheads could be shared by more businesses or people” and in a “customer care” category we might put “customers could have a named contact for ongoing support”.
Group members can either write their suggestions on postnotes or call them out to be scribed onto a chart. The writing option helps counteract shyness and gives the introvert the same opportunity as the extrovert.
It is vital to kill negative comments: “That would never work….that’s stupid….we tried that five years ago…the CEO would never agree etc”. These are the invisible chains or rules that don’t exist in the creative group. The facilitator should spell out they are unacceptable at the outset.
The group has identified the core problem after subjecting the challenge statement to WIBWI interrogation. Next follows brainstorming possible solutions to the problem. Each group member is asked to write down 10 solutions. These are passed to the person on his/her right. The new group of two (or three, depending on numbers) must then produce five new ideas based on the original 20 or 30.
The ideas generated can be grouped by the facilitator into categories and shortlisted by discussion and agreement on stated criteria of practicability – things like company competence, cost, timescale, supply, distribution, negative/positive PR etc. It is important to avoid a single “eureka” solution. Have at least three, preferably five. List them in random order to help keep the mind free.
The group now needs a break for the ideas generated to incubate. Twenty four hours are best.
Gathered the next day the group could try “pattern breaking”, subjecting the previously agreed shortlisted ideas to attack in a final effort to break out of the box of company thinking as a way to unleash real “blue sky” creativity.
The facilitator can try “reversing” – taking the opposite – of the good idea: rather than extend customer contact hours what if we stopped them altogether? What if we had customer service provided from Manila or Mumbai or by online Qs and As?
“Free association” can work very well. The facilitator might use toys, random words or magazine pictures. A rubber snake, for example, might get someone to say that snakes shed their skin…they get a new start….so how about a complete repackaging and rebranding of the problem product under discussion? A picture of an old woman might get the response old people don’t buy our service…they might if we advertised it on daytime television.
“Comparison” or metaphoric thinking can be another good unblocker. Take something the group knows well: a paddy field, say. For each of the key components, farmer, earth, seed, water, sun, weeds, fertiliser, scarecrow, pests, harvest add a company equivalent. The harvest would be profits; pests might be competition or weeds inefficient processes etc. What about the scarecrow? Is there an equivalent, especially one that relates to our problem and solution ideas? If not, why not?
“Other perspectives” can also be fruitful. How would a named celebrity, scientist, artist/filmmaker or sportsman/woman, past or present, think about our problem/opportunity and our solutions? The celebrity always cultivates fans, for example. How could we cultivate our customers better? What use are we making of social media marketing opportunities?
Finally, the “outrageous idea”: what if we halved all our prices for a month? Or used a pink python as our advertising big idea? Or only traded online?
The pattern breaking may or may not have introduced a brilliant new idea among the previous day’s shortlist. At very least it will have shown them as robust.
The remaining task is for the group to agree the best solution generated and, for the problem’s owner who has been present and participated throughout, ideally, to undertake the process of validation and, hopefully, implementation.
Have fun being creative. It’s the magic ingredient.
Article extracted from LET'S COMMUNIC8 by Alex Cummins, Star Education.
But isn’t innovation or creativity the reserve of poets, artists, musicians, inventors and scientists, brilliant people working on their own and having fantastic ideas?
Sure, these people represent the popular stereotypical “creative genius” but innovation or creativity is fundamental to all business and organisational success.
Without creativity, stagnation, decline and demise are ever more quickly inevitable in a frighteningly competitive globalised marketplace.
I rather like the quote by John Sculley, a former boss of Pepsi and Apple, who quipped: “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious”. According to Steve Jobs, late iconic guru of innovation at Apple, IBM were spending huge sums more than Apple on R&D but it is Apple’s white earphones you see everywhere connecting bobbing heads to an IPod!
Let’s have one more quote to free up what we mean by innovation. This time it’s by Einstein, the legendary physicist: “Imagination is more important that knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create”.
Innovation in business – and that includes any private or public organisation - is not easy. Famous names from finance, manufacturing, retail and the public sector are now memories in the business graveyard. They got stuck in the rut of “it worked in the past so it’ll work in the future”.
Of course creativity in business isn’t just about product innovation, important as this is. It’s also about staff morale, customer and supplier relations, finance, HR and manufacturing processes, shareholder relations, marketing and PR, including social media profile, and government and professional body relations.
This means innovation/creativity has to be part of the leadership “vision” and given the enablers like support, encouragement, incentive, time and opportunity to make creativity part of the organisational culture, part of corporate life, year in and out.
Innovation is essentially an exercise in collective wisdom tackling - in creative ways - a realistically defined problem which has eluded solution by conventional means but which, intuition and experience suggest, should be capable of cost-effective solution in the marketplace.
The failure of the conventional solution process is essentially a failure of the traditional analytical or “convergent” thinking which successfully drives the day-to-day functioning of the processes of any organisation.
What is required is the play of creativity or “divergent thinking”. This doesn’t proceed from a fixed point in a logical, linear way, dissecting, comparing, evaluating, selecting; rather it jumps, expands, is naïve, silly, outlandish, futuristic, rule breaking, fun, provocative, intuitive, new, wise, clever, imaginative, challenging, shocking, different – AND provides the solution. Phew!
There are many pitfalls on the road to creative solutions. The biggest is not having the commitment of top leadership to the creative process of problem or opportunity solution.
So it is essential that any group hoping to solve a problem creatively has the support of the problem’s owner who should also have the skill to recognise the solution and the authority to validate and then implement it.
Probably the next biggest obstacle is getting the wrong group of people together. Eight to 10 people should be enough. Diversity is the key. Yes, expertise is essential; but the experts have been looking at the problem and not come up with a solution. So include a majority of non-experts. Mix the ages and the sexes and the status levels. The 16-year-old junior may have just the fresh take that is required. So may the 60-year-old customer service manager. Within the creative group, rank consciousness should disappear when in session.
The facilitator will need to spend time breaking down age, gender and status barriers, establishing an atmosphere of trust and confidence and supporting an informal style symbolised by casual clothes wearing (whatever the usual dress code) and the use of personal names. For these reasons, creative groups tend to work better when working on neutral ground, perhaps a hotel.
Warm up, barrier breaking games such as standing in a circle and keeping a balloon in motion round the circle, or keeping a paper ball airborne, followed by tasks such as asking each group member to nominate 10 ways humans could fly (without aircraft), collectively agree the best three options and/or then nominate 10 ways a stuck lid could be removed from jam jar without the contents being spoiled and agree the best three solutions should help the group into the right frame of mind.
Suitably warmed up, the group needs to focus on preparing a “challenge statement”. This is a way of clarifying the real problem or challenge, not just symptoms, and how it relates to the future. The challenge statement always takes the form “We must…So that...” The statement should contain only one challenge; and the “So that” part no hint of the solution (often suggested with the word “by”).
A bad challenge statement might therefore be: “We must increase our market share of hard wood flooring by reducing supplier costs so that our prices will be more competitive and our profit margin maximised”. Better worded it might simply read: “We must become more competitive so that our profit margins are maximised”.
With a challenge statement in place it is helpful to submit the “We must” section to some “Wouldn’t it be Wonderful If (WIBWI)” thinking. These WIBWI suggestions can be collected into categories (manufacturing, sales, marketing, costs, customer care etc) and than translated into “Opportunity Statements”.
For example, in a “reduced costs” category we might find “overheads could be shared by more businesses or people” and in a “customer care” category we might put “customers could have a named contact for ongoing support”.
Group members can either write their suggestions on postnotes or call them out to be scribed onto a chart. The writing option helps counteract shyness and gives the introvert the same opportunity as the extrovert.
It is vital to kill negative comments: “That would never work….that’s stupid….we tried that five years ago…the CEO would never agree etc”. These are the invisible chains or rules that don’t exist in the creative group. The facilitator should spell out they are unacceptable at the outset.
The group has identified the core problem after subjecting the challenge statement to WIBWI interrogation. Next follows brainstorming possible solutions to the problem. Each group member is asked to write down 10 solutions. These are passed to the person on his/her right. The new group of two (or three, depending on numbers) must then produce five new ideas based on the original 20 or 30.
The ideas generated can be grouped by the facilitator into categories and shortlisted by discussion and agreement on stated criteria of practicability – things like company competence, cost, timescale, supply, distribution, negative/positive PR etc. It is important to avoid a single “eureka” solution. Have at least three, preferably five. List them in random order to help keep the mind free.
The group now needs a break for the ideas generated to incubate. Twenty four hours are best.
Gathered the next day the group could try “pattern breaking”, subjecting the previously agreed shortlisted ideas to attack in a final effort to break out of the box of company thinking as a way to unleash real “blue sky” creativity.
The facilitator can try “reversing” – taking the opposite – of the good idea: rather than extend customer contact hours what if we stopped them altogether? What if we had customer service provided from Manila or Mumbai or by online Qs and As?
“Free association” can work very well. The facilitator might use toys, random words or magazine pictures. A rubber snake, for example, might get someone to say that snakes shed their skin…they get a new start….so how about a complete repackaging and rebranding of the problem product under discussion? A picture of an old woman might get the response old people don’t buy our service…they might if we advertised it on daytime television.
“Comparison” or metaphoric thinking can be another good unblocker. Take something the group knows well: a paddy field, say. For each of the key components, farmer, earth, seed, water, sun, weeds, fertiliser, scarecrow, pests, harvest add a company equivalent. The harvest would be profits; pests might be competition or weeds inefficient processes etc. What about the scarecrow? Is there an equivalent, especially one that relates to our problem and solution ideas? If not, why not?
“Other perspectives” can also be fruitful. How would a named celebrity, scientist, artist/filmmaker or sportsman/woman, past or present, think about our problem/opportunity and our solutions? The celebrity always cultivates fans, for example. How could we cultivate our customers better? What use are we making of social media marketing opportunities?
Finally, the “outrageous idea”: what if we halved all our prices for a month? Or used a pink python as our advertising big idea? Or only traded online?
The pattern breaking may or may not have introduced a brilliant new idea among the previous day’s shortlist. At very least it will have shown them as robust.
The remaining task is for the group to agree the best solution generated and, for the problem’s owner who has been present and participated throughout, ideally, to undertake the process of validation and, hopefully, implementation.
Have fun being creative. It’s the magic ingredient.
Article extracted from LET'S COMMUNIC8 by Alex Cummins, Star Education.
How to say 'NO!' to a heavier workload
Deadlines are looming - you have more caffeine than blood running in your veins, and you are seriously contemplating taking your laptop into the toilet with you to maximise the time left before D-Day … and your boss asks if you could put together a 10-minute presentation by tomorrow.
Was that a howl of despair we just heard echoing off the walls?
Take a deep breath. Did you know that you can actually say “No” to tasks? Of course, it’s how you say “No” that matters. Doesn’t the mere idea of being free to make a decision make you feel better already? We share some helpful tips that may allow you to actually go home at a decent hour:
Tip #1: Say ‘Yes!’
Okay, we can hear you saying “What?!” but this is really not just a big contradictory statement! Saying no doesn’t mean that you immediately say “NO!” and slam the door in your boss’ face (besides being rude, this is extremely incapacitating to your career progression). Someone adds an item to your towering “To-Do” pile? Say “Okay,” but add a “…But I’m really tied up at the moment with XYZ, so I will not be able to get to this immediately. Can I get this back to you on *insert a deadline that gives you time to breathe here*?” This indicates that you are not refusing the task like a surly non team-player, but that you are instead a person with good time management! And, if they can’t wait until your suggested date, they are welcome to get someone else to do the job. This applies to those working on their own as well.
Tip #2: Suggest an alternative
Career tips always have this piece of advice in common: Don’t give your boss a problem without a solution. So, you can’t do the job. All right, fine. But if you just stop at “Sorry; can’t do it,” people are going to leave feeling distinctively disgruntled. How about suggesting an alternative? You don’t have to shoot a colleague down by suggesting “What about Ted? He seems pretty free.” You could suggest other methods of getting work done without needing so much manpower. Be diplomatic; you could also suggest another avenue in which you could be of help. How about: “Sorry, I really can’t help you do this … but, maybe I could help with another aspect of the project, after I’ve submitted this proposal?”
Tip #3: Stand firm
Nobody is going to take “No” for an answer just like that! They will, understandably, try to change your mind. Beware, though! Being wishy-washy at this point will result in you spending your lunch, dinner and sleep time sobbing over your laptop; so stand firm! Of course, you need concrete reasons to say no; “Um … I need to … feed my cat” is not acceptable. Instead, try “Look, I’d really like to help you out, but my schedule is really full. My deadline is on Thursday and I’m swamped.”
Tip #4: Say it in person
Work relationships are important, and like many important things, they are also fragile. Misconstrued email messages can cause ruptured relationships between co-workers as well as between you and your boss or clients. While you may feel perfectly fine, sometimes email comes off as curt or even rude, so if possible, it’s best to do your naysaying in person! At least that way, others can read your face, tone and body language more accurately.
Tip #5: Put them in your shoes
If the one asking you to do the job is being extremely insistent, lay out the tasks you have to accomplish. Ask them for suggestions as to how you could fit an extra task into your workload. If they can, well then, maybe you’ve been underestimating your juggling abilities …. And, if they can’t, they really have no other recourse than to move on to another person.
Bonus hint: Practise saying “No” in front of the mirror! Learn to say it confidently and yet politely, and not shrink away apologetically, which is what most people do. Good luck!
by
Was that a howl of despair we just heard echoing off the walls?
Take a deep breath. Did you know that you can actually say “No” to tasks? Of course, it’s how you say “No” that matters. Doesn’t the mere idea of being free to make a decision make you feel better already? We share some helpful tips that may allow you to actually go home at a decent hour:
Tip #1: Say ‘Yes!’
Okay, we can hear you saying “What?!” but this is really not just a big contradictory statement! Saying no doesn’t mean that you immediately say “NO!” and slam the door in your boss’ face (besides being rude, this is extremely incapacitating to your career progression). Someone adds an item to your towering “To-Do” pile? Say “Okay,” but add a “…But I’m really tied up at the moment with XYZ, so I will not be able to get to this immediately. Can I get this back to you on *insert a deadline that gives you time to breathe here*?” This indicates that you are not refusing the task like a surly non team-player, but that you are instead a person with good time management! And, if they can’t wait until your suggested date, they are welcome to get someone else to do the job. This applies to those working on their own as well.
Tip #2: Suggest an alternative
Career tips always have this piece of advice in common: Don’t give your boss a problem without a solution. So, you can’t do the job. All right, fine. But if you just stop at “Sorry; can’t do it,” people are going to leave feeling distinctively disgruntled. How about suggesting an alternative? You don’t have to shoot a colleague down by suggesting “What about Ted? He seems pretty free.” You could suggest other methods of getting work done without needing so much manpower. Be diplomatic; you could also suggest another avenue in which you could be of help. How about: “Sorry, I really can’t help you do this … but, maybe I could help with another aspect of the project, after I’ve submitted this proposal?”
Tip #3: Stand firm
Nobody is going to take “No” for an answer just like that! They will, understandably, try to change your mind. Beware, though! Being wishy-washy at this point will result in you spending your lunch, dinner and sleep time sobbing over your laptop; so stand firm! Of course, you need concrete reasons to say no; “Um … I need to … feed my cat” is not acceptable. Instead, try “Look, I’d really like to help you out, but my schedule is really full. My deadline is on Thursday and I’m swamped.”
Tip #4: Say it in person
Work relationships are important, and like many important things, they are also fragile. Misconstrued email messages can cause ruptured relationships between co-workers as well as between you and your boss or clients. While you may feel perfectly fine, sometimes email comes off as curt or even rude, so if possible, it’s best to do your naysaying in person! At least that way, others can read your face, tone and body language more accurately.
Tip #5: Put them in your shoes
If the one asking you to do the job is being extremely insistent, lay out the tasks you have to accomplish. Ask them for suggestions as to how you could fit an extra task into your workload. If they can, well then, maybe you’ve been underestimating your juggling abilities …. And, if they can’t, they really have no other recourse than to move on to another person.
Bonus hint: Practise saying “No” in front of the mirror! Learn to say it confidently and yet politely, and not shrink away apologetically, which is what most people do. Good luck!
by
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Top 10 tips for getting noticed and getting ahead in the workplace
by Kirsty Dunphey
1. Be an idea champion: Show initiative, suggest new ideas and offer to take charge in implementing them.
2. On time is late (10 minutes early is on time)
3. Go the extra centimetre: Don't worry about the extra mile, the extra tiny little bit is all you need to do to stand out, grab your boss a coffee without being asked, remember everyone's birthdays and be the first to wish them well or
4. Smile.
5. Keep it at home: Personal life is personal, business is business. The most outstanding people I've ever worked with know how to keep the two separate. So if your boyfriend has just dumped you or you had a fight with your best friend - deal with it outside of work hours and see point 4.
6. Never utter these words to a customer: That's not my job. Just see point 4 and be flexible and make it happen.
7. Follow up: Delegate, share and collaborate, but where your name is associated with a piece of work always go back and double check that your expectations have been met.
8. Keep your inbox to a minimum: I'm a big time management nut and this is my number one time management tip. Only keep in your inbox what you're currently working on that day. Shift everything else to folders to address at the appropriate time. My inbox usually has less than 10 items in it and works more like a to do list. Also check and sort your junk email often (there's nothing worse than an important email going unnoticed due to over-active spam protectors).
9. Read more books that will enable you to become better at your job (my goal is 1 per week, but if you're not reading any at the moment start with one per month or every 6 weeks and work up from there)
10. When you deserve a promotion or pay rise go to your boss with a list of reasons and proof of your achievements. Don't be afraid to show the progress you've made, the projects you've put together and the work that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sell yourself!
1. Be an idea champion: Show initiative, suggest new ideas and offer to take charge in implementing them.
2. On time is late (10 minutes early is on time)
3. Go the extra centimetre: Don't worry about the extra mile, the extra tiny little bit is all you need to do to stand out, grab your boss a coffee without being asked, remember everyone's birthdays and be the first to wish them well or
4. Smile.
5. Keep it at home: Personal life is personal, business is business. The most outstanding people I've ever worked with know how to keep the two separate. So if your boyfriend has just dumped you or you had a fight with your best friend - deal with it outside of work hours and see point 4.
6. Never utter these words to a customer: That's not my job. Just see point 4 and be flexible and make it happen.
7. Follow up: Delegate, share and collaborate, but where your name is associated with a piece of work always go back and double check that your expectations have been met.
8. Keep your inbox to a minimum: I'm a big time management nut and this is my number one time management tip. Only keep in your inbox what you're currently working on that day. Shift everything else to folders to address at the appropriate time. My inbox usually has less than 10 items in it and works more like a to do list. Also check and sort your junk email often (there's nothing worse than an important email going unnoticed due to over-active spam protectors).
9. Read more books that will enable you to become better at your job (my goal is 1 per week, but if you're not reading any at the moment start with one per month or every 6 weeks and work up from there)
10. When you deserve a promotion or pay rise go to your boss with a list of reasons and proof of your achievements. Don't be afraid to show the progress you've made, the projects you've put together and the work that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sell yourself!
Assertiveness At Work: How To Be Assertive And Shift Your Career Into Overdrive
by Michael Lee
People who show assertiveness at work are usually the ones who get noticed, get promoted and enjoy salary raises. Of course, assertiveness is different from aggressiveness. Superiors tend to get threatened or turned off by the latter.
But not everyone is born assertive. And not everyone is a natural star employee. If you want to develop assertiveness at work and be rewarded for it, follow the 3 tips below.
1) Participate in General Meetings.
You know you have good ideas. So why not pitch them during meetings? It might not be characteristic of you to speak up; but if you really want to develop assertiveness at work, this is your first challenge.
Once you have gone through this initiation, you’ll find yourself having an easier time speaking out. Having the spotlight on you is not always a bad thing.
If you have sensible ideas, the boss will definitely take notice of you. Your superiors will start considering you for other projects and before you know it, you’ll be up and running for a promotion.
2) Be An Active Listener.
Listening is not just a one-sided process. One way to develop assertiveness at work is by occasionally nodding your head or murmuring expressions of agreement while the other person is talking.
Asking questions is also a form of assertiveness. It shows the speaker that you are genuinely interested in what he is saying. The whole process becomes an exchange of ideas and opinions.
However, don’t make the mistake of asking a question which was already covered in the person’s talk. That will just give that person the impression that you were not listening at all.
3) Show Confidence in Every Aspect.
Self-confidence is very important in the workplace. As much as possible, avoid second-guessing yourself. Or at least, avoid revealing how unsure you are about something.
The way you talk, walk and pretty much do anything, requires an air of confidence. I’m not saying you should walk around the office like you’re the boss of everybody; but at least act like you’re the boss of yourself.
If you’re going to talk, try not to stutter. Keep your voice modulated. Not too loud and not too soft. Use hand gestures, even if it’s just to keep others from seeing your trembling fingers. The more you try to exert self-confidence, the better you’ll be at it.
Assertiveness at work is one trait that bosses of all companies look for in a model employee. It shows them that you are someone capable of leadership.
People who show assertiveness at work are usually the ones who get noticed, get promoted and enjoy salary raises. Of course, assertiveness is different from aggressiveness. Superiors tend to get threatened or turned off by the latter.
But not everyone is born assertive. And not everyone is a natural star employee. If you want to develop assertiveness at work and be rewarded for it, follow the 3 tips below.
1) Participate in General Meetings.
You know you have good ideas. So why not pitch them during meetings? It might not be characteristic of you to speak up; but if you really want to develop assertiveness at work, this is your first challenge.
Once you have gone through this initiation, you’ll find yourself having an easier time speaking out. Having the spotlight on you is not always a bad thing.
If you have sensible ideas, the boss will definitely take notice of you. Your superiors will start considering you for other projects and before you know it, you’ll be up and running for a promotion.
2) Be An Active Listener.
Listening is not just a one-sided process. One way to develop assertiveness at work is by occasionally nodding your head or murmuring expressions of agreement while the other person is talking.
Asking questions is also a form of assertiveness. It shows the speaker that you are genuinely interested in what he is saying. The whole process becomes an exchange of ideas and opinions.
However, don’t make the mistake of asking a question which was already covered in the person’s talk. That will just give that person the impression that you were not listening at all.
3) Show Confidence in Every Aspect.
Self-confidence is very important in the workplace. As much as possible, avoid second-guessing yourself. Or at least, avoid revealing how unsure you are about something.
The way you talk, walk and pretty much do anything, requires an air of confidence. I’m not saying you should walk around the office like you’re the boss of everybody; but at least act like you’re the boss of yourself.
If you’re going to talk, try not to stutter. Keep your voice modulated. Not too loud and not too soft. Use hand gestures, even if it’s just to keep others from seeing your trembling fingers. The more you try to exert self-confidence, the better you’ll be at it.
Assertiveness at work is one trait that bosses of all companies look for in a model employee. It shows them that you are someone capable of leadership.
Happiness Is A Choice
Happiness is largely a choice, so choosing to be happy is incredibly simple. Putting it into action is not always so straightforward though.
But in challenging economic circumstances, your business will stand a much better chance of survival if you simply choose to be happy in your work.
Concentrate on the aspects of your business that bring you most pleasure. Doing so will give you the strength to deal with negative people or worrying situations. And if you start to turn towards pessimism, return to more satisfying work. Think of it as reward bank. In this way you can ‘bank’ satisfaction, build up ‘credit’ to draw on as you face less happy tasks
Nothing is achieved by being miserable, so enjoying yourself while working hard is vital to the success of your business.
Feeling happy in your work will get much easier if you adopt a more positive approach to the current economic climate and realise that this is the biggest opportunity you’ve ever had. Far too many SMEs are focusing far too hard on current results thereby locking themselves into a downward spiral as they condemn themselves to repeating those results.
What they haven’t realised is just how much they can help themselves by thinking their way to success. The Law of Polarity says that for every down there must be an up, so however bad the recession is for your business, there must be something good about it as well. Search for the opportunity and project your energy towards more optimistic, positive outcomes.
In short, if you expect things to turn out for the best, they invariably will. Equally, if you expect everything to go wrong, it most likely does. That being the case, if you can create your own future, why not create a bright one?
It won’t all be plain sailing though, you will inevitably come across problems, but rather than be discouraged by them resolve to become a better problem solver. Too many people are business fall into the trap of problem-raising instead of problem-solving; and then try to avoid the problem instead of attacking it head-on with passion and focus. Don’t be like them, face your future will a glad heart.
Having decided things are going to get better, draw up a plan of how you will make your business work and be prepared to the massive action to realise that plan. Massive action means you need to take significant steps towards your goals by devoting yourself to making them happen. The greater your goals, the greater your action must be.
Written by: Steven Foster
“You’ve got to love what you do to really make things happen.” Philip Green
The Cause Of Workplace Absenteeism
Employees seldom cares about their absenteeism because it cost them nothing. The worst it can cost them is their job but for the employer or the organization the employee is attached with: it means problems or loss of money.
Every year many organizations are paying a high price for absenteeism. The major cost often comes from the fact that the organization that is facing high level of absenteeism have to quickly hire a replacement employee and train them. Quick replacement and training equals expenditure of money and time.
If your organization is facing a high level of absenteeism, it means there is something wrong with your organization. In order to reduce high level of absenteeism, as an employer, you should identify what is the cost of high level of absenteeism in your organization or company. This means identifying the organizational as well as individual factors influencing absenteeism.
When we talk about organizational factors influencing absenteeism, we mean the workplace and work satisfaction. Workplace involves the environment as well as the culture or practices practiced at workplace. These are often related to the conditions the employees experiences daily during their working hours.
The key question to ask is how satisfied is the employee in relation to their working environment? Physically is the condition of the work location or internal environment affects the high level of absenteeism? Does the employee find the workplace to be stimulating or boring? This directly relates to employees job satisfaction. Is the employee satisfied with the work conditions?
On the personal level, is the employee a healthy individual or someone who has health problem? How about the distance from the home of the employee to the work place? All these factors may contribute for absenteeism on the part of employees. These are the factors the employer have to look into and find solutions to resolve the problem of absenteeism in the organization. With correct problem analysis the employer can identify the real cause of employee absenteeism and find relevant solutions.
Relevant solutions often have to come in the form of job satisfaction for the employees. Although there can be personal problems on the part of employees that may cause absenteeism, we find through experience that absenteeism can be reduced by providing proper job satisfaction for the employees. Ultimately the employer is responsible in hiring and keeping a positive and job satisfied employee who does not have absenteeism problem.
written by Wise Life Advice
Every year many organizations are paying a high price for absenteeism. The major cost often comes from the fact that the organization that is facing high level of absenteeism have to quickly hire a replacement employee and train them. Quick replacement and training equals expenditure of money and time.
If your organization is facing a high level of absenteeism, it means there is something wrong with your organization. In order to reduce high level of absenteeism, as an employer, you should identify what is the cost of high level of absenteeism in your organization or company. This means identifying the organizational as well as individual factors influencing absenteeism.
When we talk about organizational factors influencing absenteeism, we mean the workplace and work satisfaction. Workplace involves the environment as well as the culture or practices practiced at workplace. These are often related to the conditions the employees experiences daily during their working hours.
The key question to ask is how satisfied is the employee in relation to their working environment? Physically is the condition of the work location or internal environment affects the high level of absenteeism? Does the employee find the workplace to be stimulating or boring? This directly relates to employees job satisfaction. Is the employee satisfied with the work conditions?
On the personal level, is the employee a healthy individual or someone who has health problem? How about the distance from the home of the employee to the work place? All these factors may contribute for absenteeism on the part of employees. These are the factors the employer have to look into and find solutions to resolve the problem of absenteeism in the organization. With correct problem analysis the employer can identify the real cause of employee absenteeism and find relevant solutions.
Relevant solutions often have to come in the form of job satisfaction for the employees. Although there can be personal problems on the part of employees that may cause absenteeism, we find through experience that absenteeism can be reduced by providing proper job satisfaction for the employees. Ultimately the employer is responsible in hiring and keeping a positive and job satisfied employee who does not have absenteeism problem.
written by Wise Life Advice
The Gen Y wants a balance between work and play
They may be labeled spoilt brats. Misunderstood by the preceding generations but Generation Y, refered to in global management consulting firm Hay Group's survey as Gen Yers, is seen to have different priorities and outlook towards what is work and life.
For the group born between 1980 and 2000, Gen Yers' concept towards work and life is proving to be a challenge for employers.
As adults, Baby Boomers led a life of striving to make as much as money as they can for the comfort of their families while Gen X exercised more balance in their life, making family time as much the priority as work.
When Gen Yers poured into the workforce in the last few years, employers realised they are dealing with a group of people with different mindsets and priorities.
Gen Yers clearly do not fit the mould set by the Baby Boomers and Gen X as their idea of living diverge from what their seniors typically expect out of life.
Their goal is to have a work-life balance a career without sacrificing their social or personal lives.
To tackle this issue, Hay Group country head for productised services Alex Lim said that employers need to decide on whether they want to be in the employee or employer market.
He points out that bosses could choose to change their management styles to accommodate the expectations of three generations or they could be selective, employing only those who can fit in the company's management.
“There is no perfect solution to the situation but employers have to decide what strategy to use,” he told.
One of the key differences between Gen Yers and the elder generations is that they do not see work as a primary part of life. For them, work-life balance triumphs any other desires.
According to Hay Group's survey on Gen Yers' attitude towards employment, career and salary: “Gen Yers want to have enriching lives outside of work with time to pursue personal and family interests, like travelling, photography and volunteer work unlike their parents who regard careers as top priority.”
“Having seen their parents work so hard during the week and then spend weekends to recover, they have decided that they want more out of their own lives.”
The survey also noted that: “They don't live for work, but work to live.” Hence offering them “stretch” projects without engaging their passion will often backfire if the work clashes with their need for good work-life balance.
Lim says that for Gen Xers who also want a balanced life, the balance is between family and work.
“For Gen Yers, they want a balanced life but it is between work and clubbing,” he says with a laugh.
Lim said that anyhow, engaging with Gen Yers while maintaining a working environment amiable to Baby Boomers and Gen Xers is important to keep companies thriving. After all, there will only be more Gen Yers entering the workforce to work alongside their seniors.
Among the five main reasons Gen Yers join a company, as found in Hay Group's survey, are the company reputation, clarity of career progression, benefits and perquisites, training and development and passion for the job.
While most Gen Yers are already happy with their salary, save for those in legal and actuarial sectors, whether a company is deemed “sexy” matters to them.
“Between a renowned company and an obscure one, Gen Yers would pick the more reputable company even if the latter offers more attractive salary,” Lim says.
In the survey, it noted that companies like Google and Apple would attract Gen Yers more than less visible brands. The survey also points out that these youths are attracted to near-cash benefits like holiday or mobile phone allowances rather than the conventional housing or vehicle loans.
“Gen Yers are in a way spoiled by their parents. They would be provided with a car when they start working or would have had one even in college. Some parents will most likely have had a property investment in the city so the children need not worry about accommodation,” he elaborated.
Aside from that, Gen Yers also want constant feedback on their performance, rather than wait for an annual review. As they have grown with an education system that constantly gives them feedback, they expect the same when they enter the workforce.
“They want acknowledgement when they have achieved something. It's like back in school when teachers commend them for their accomplishments,” Lim says, adding that some companies have begun rewarding staff on a quarterly basis.
Unlike Gen Xers who can work independently with a set of Key Performance Index clearly drawn out at the start of the year, Gen Yers feel that bosses who neglect to give regular feedback on their work are not good employers.
“The one thing good about them is that they are more likely to accept criticism than Gen Xers,” he said.
One of the major challenges employers face when it comes to Gen Yers are their loyalty. Among the reasons for their leaving are better opportunities elsewhere, being slapped with job responsibilities that were not specified during an interview and not having an increment upon confirmation.
“They want clarity when they take up a job. Lay out the expectations of the job before they accept it. Many companies have started to reintroduce confirmation increment to keep their new recruits,” he says.
Lim adds that many organisations have restructured to create a sense of progress or promotion.
“They have no patience. It used to take engineers about three years to train to become an engineer but Gen Yers are impatient. Many Oil & Gas and manufacturing companies have broken engineering jobs into three levels at least,” he says of the inflated job titles in the market today.
It may be that a rolling stone gathers no moss but many Gen Yers have more to them than meets the eye. Lim's golden advice to managers was to have constant communication with the staff to understand their needs and wants.
Although bosses who encourage their staff to pursue personal goals run a risk of losing their workers, employees will nonetheless be motivation to perform and that would only enhance the efficiency and morale of the team.
“You should know what are the (staff's) goals, what are the milestones they set for themselves so that you can help them progress. Then there is a higher chance for them to stay with you rather than leave as soon as they have better offers,” he says.
For the group born between 1980 and 2000, Gen Yers' concept towards work and life is proving to be a challenge for employers.
As adults, Baby Boomers led a life of striving to make as much as money as they can for the comfort of their families while Gen X exercised more balance in their life, making family time as much the priority as work.
When Gen Yers poured into the workforce in the last few years, employers realised they are dealing with a group of people with different mindsets and priorities.
Gen Yers clearly do not fit the mould set by the Baby Boomers and Gen X as their idea of living diverge from what their seniors typically expect out of life.
Their goal is to have a work-life balance a career without sacrificing their social or personal lives.
To tackle this issue, Hay Group country head for productised services Alex Lim said that employers need to decide on whether they want to be in the employee or employer market.
He points out that bosses could choose to change their management styles to accommodate the expectations of three generations or they could be selective, employing only those who can fit in the company's management.
“There is no perfect solution to the situation but employers have to decide what strategy to use,” he told.
One of the key differences between Gen Yers and the elder generations is that they do not see work as a primary part of life. For them, work-life balance triumphs any other desires.
According to Hay Group's survey on Gen Yers' attitude towards employment, career and salary: “Gen Yers want to have enriching lives outside of work with time to pursue personal and family interests, like travelling, photography and volunteer work unlike their parents who regard careers as top priority.”
“Having seen their parents work so hard during the week and then spend weekends to recover, they have decided that they want more out of their own lives.”
The survey also noted that: “They don't live for work, but work to live.” Hence offering them “stretch” projects without engaging their passion will often backfire if the work clashes with their need for good work-life balance.
Lim says that for Gen Xers who also want a balanced life, the balance is between family and work.
“For Gen Yers, they want a balanced life but it is between work and clubbing,” he says with a laugh.
Lim said that anyhow, engaging with Gen Yers while maintaining a working environment amiable to Baby Boomers and Gen Xers is important to keep companies thriving. After all, there will only be more Gen Yers entering the workforce to work alongside their seniors.
Among the five main reasons Gen Yers join a company, as found in Hay Group's survey, are the company reputation, clarity of career progression, benefits and perquisites, training and development and passion for the job.
While most Gen Yers are already happy with their salary, save for those in legal and actuarial sectors, whether a company is deemed “sexy” matters to them.
“Between a renowned company and an obscure one, Gen Yers would pick the more reputable company even if the latter offers more attractive salary,” Lim says.
In the survey, it noted that companies like Google and Apple would attract Gen Yers more than less visible brands. The survey also points out that these youths are attracted to near-cash benefits like holiday or mobile phone allowances rather than the conventional housing or vehicle loans.
“Gen Yers are in a way spoiled by their parents. They would be provided with a car when they start working or would have had one even in college. Some parents will most likely have had a property investment in the city so the children need not worry about accommodation,” he elaborated.
Aside from that, Gen Yers also want constant feedback on their performance, rather than wait for an annual review. As they have grown with an education system that constantly gives them feedback, they expect the same when they enter the workforce.
“They want acknowledgement when they have achieved something. It's like back in school when teachers commend them for their accomplishments,” Lim says, adding that some companies have begun rewarding staff on a quarterly basis.
Unlike Gen Xers who can work independently with a set of Key Performance Index clearly drawn out at the start of the year, Gen Yers feel that bosses who neglect to give regular feedback on their work are not good employers.
“The one thing good about them is that they are more likely to accept criticism than Gen Xers,” he said.
One of the major challenges employers face when it comes to Gen Yers are their loyalty. Among the reasons for their leaving are better opportunities elsewhere, being slapped with job responsibilities that were not specified during an interview and not having an increment upon confirmation.
“They want clarity when they take up a job. Lay out the expectations of the job before they accept it. Many companies have started to reintroduce confirmation increment to keep their new recruits,” he says.
Lim adds that many organisations have restructured to create a sense of progress or promotion.
“They have no patience. It used to take engineers about three years to train to become an engineer but Gen Yers are impatient. Many Oil & Gas and manufacturing companies have broken engineering jobs into three levels at least,” he says of the inflated job titles in the market today.
It may be that a rolling stone gathers no moss but many Gen Yers have more to them than meets the eye. Lim's golden advice to managers was to have constant communication with the staff to understand their needs and wants.
Although bosses who encourage their staff to pursue personal goals run a risk of losing their workers, employees will nonetheless be motivation to perform and that would only enhance the efficiency and morale of the team.
“You should know what are the (staff's) goals, what are the milestones they set for themselves so that you can help them progress. Then there is a higher chance for them to stay with you rather than leave as soon as they have better offers,” he says.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
What Are You Afraid Of?
"The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.” -Aung San Suu Kyi
Everyone is afraid of something. Some of us are scared of hairy spiders. Others are afraid of flying. And others are afraid to walk out their front door.
In some instances, fear can be helpful. It keeps us from taunting angry rattlesnakes and dancing on the edge of unstable cliffs. But all too often, fear keeps us from being successful.
In order to get the most out of life, we must understand that fear holds us back. There are risks around every corner, many of which we are blissfully unaware. But if we never take a risk, we'll never get what we want out of life. This is why we must confront our fears and work to get past them.
Fear of Failure
“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Thomas Edison
One of the things that keeps would-be entrepreneurs from taking the plunge is a fear of failure. They don't believe they have what it takes to start and run a successful business, so they keep pressing on at their jobs, even if they hate them. They would rather be financially secure and miserable than take a chance on a business that may or may not take off.
Those who have chosen to buck the system and start a business are not immune to fear either. They may shy away from proposing joint ventures because they feel certain that rejection is imminent. They might avoid pursuing leads for fear of being turned down. Whatever the case may be, fear keeps them from moving forward.
People who are afraid of failure often do not even realize that's the problem. For those suffering from a severe lack of confidence, the idea that they will fail at everything may be so deeply ingrained in their subconscious that they aren't consciously aware of it. If you seem to be sabotaging your own efforts, it's crucial to look deep inside yourself and determine whether fear of failure is the problem.
Whether your fear of failure is obvious to you and everyone else or camouflaged by something else, you must confront it in order to move ahead. Try making a list of the mistakes you're afraid of making, then file it away for about a week. Take it out and look at it again, and you'll probably find that many of your concerns sound rather silly.
It's important to acknowledge that the things you fear could happen. They could also not happen. Just remember that if you don't try, you have a 100% chance of not succeeding.
Fear of Success
On the flip side, some would-be entrepreneurs are afraid of success. It sounds completely illogical, but it's actually quite common.
Why would anyone be afraid to succeed? There are several reasons. These include:
You don't want to leave your comfort zone. The status quo could be good or bad, but we often fear leaving it for unknown territory.
You think it will be too difficult. Starting and running a successful business is hard work, and we may not feel up to the task.
People will raise their expectations of you. If you succeed, you'll be under pressure from others (not to mention yourself) to maintain that level of success. What if you can't do it?
You worry that you will succeed in the wrong area. What if it turns out that you don't enjoy the field you choose as much as you thought you would?
You think success will change you, or change others' perceptions of you. You may fear losing your friends or becoming arrogant due to your achievements.
You feel that you're not worthy of success, even if you are capable of attaining it. This is another possible manifestation of low self-esteem.
Fear of success is often far less apparent than fear of failure. No one says to himself, “I would really hate to succeed in life.” And in most cases, it's not the success itself that we fear, but the side effects of it.
Let's address each of the aforementioned reasons one by one:
Your comfort zone may be comfortable, but it's rarely the best place to be. If it were so wonderful, you wouldn't be considering something else.
Entrepreneurship requires hard work and commitment. But if you want to start a business badly enough, you can do it. The rewards will be well worth your trouble.
Pressure to succeed is not such a bad thing. There's always the chance that you might not maintain your success for one reason or another, but is that any reason to not even try?
Starting a successful business doesn't sentence you to a life of doing that and only that. If you find that the field you chose isn't for you, you can always sell the business and move on to something else. At least you'll have some startup capital to work with.
True friends will cheer you on when you succeed. And success isn't an instant personality changer. You are in control of your own reaction to your accomplishments.
ou are worthy of success. If you can achieve it, then you deserve it.
Recognizing a fear of success is difficult, but doing so is the only way to get past it. The upshot is that once it's out in the open, it's not too hard to see why there's nothing to be afraid of.
Don't Let Fear Stand in Your Way
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Fear is something we all experience from time to time. And sometimes our fears come true. But if no one ever took a chance, the world would be a very unimaginative and static place.
If you let fear hold you back, you'll never know what might have been. And that's something to truly be afraid of.
by Mindmap to Riches
Everyone is afraid of something. Some of us are scared of hairy spiders. Others are afraid of flying. And others are afraid to walk out their front door.
In some instances, fear can be helpful. It keeps us from taunting angry rattlesnakes and dancing on the edge of unstable cliffs. But all too often, fear keeps us from being successful.
In order to get the most out of life, we must understand that fear holds us back. There are risks around every corner, many of which we are blissfully unaware. But if we never take a risk, we'll never get what we want out of life. This is why we must confront our fears and work to get past them.
Fear of Failure
“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Thomas Edison
One of the things that keeps would-be entrepreneurs from taking the plunge is a fear of failure. They don't believe they have what it takes to start and run a successful business, so they keep pressing on at their jobs, even if they hate them. They would rather be financially secure and miserable than take a chance on a business that may or may not take off.
Those who have chosen to buck the system and start a business are not immune to fear either. They may shy away from proposing joint ventures because they feel certain that rejection is imminent. They might avoid pursuing leads for fear of being turned down. Whatever the case may be, fear keeps them from moving forward.
People who are afraid of failure often do not even realize that's the problem. For those suffering from a severe lack of confidence, the idea that they will fail at everything may be so deeply ingrained in their subconscious that they aren't consciously aware of it. If you seem to be sabotaging your own efforts, it's crucial to look deep inside yourself and determine whether fear of failure is the problem.
Whether your fear of failure is obvious to you and everyone else or camouflaged by something else, you must confront it in order to move ahead. Try making a list of the mistakes you're afraid of making, then file it away for about a week. Take it out and look at it again, and you'll probably find that many of your concerns sound rather silly.
It's important to acknowledge that the things you fear could happen. They could also not happen. Just remember that if you don't try, you have a 100% chance of not succeeding.
Fear of Success
On the flip side, some would-be entrepreneurs are afraid of success. It sounds completely illogical, but it's actually quite common.
Why would anyone be afraid to succeed? There are several reasons. These include:
You don't want to leave your comfort zone. The status quo could be good or bad, but we often fear leaving it for unknown territory.
You think it will be too difficult. Starting and running a successful business is hard work, and we may not feel up to the task.
People will raise their expectations of you. If you succeed, you'll be under pressure from others (not to mention yourself) to maintain that level of success. What if you can't do it?
You worry that you will succeed in the wrong area. What if it turns out that you don't enjoy the field you choose as much as you thought you would?
You think success will change you, or change others' perceptions of you. You may fear losing your friends or becoming arrogant due to your achievements.
You feel that you're not worthy of success, even if you are capable of attaining it. This is another possible manifestation of low self-esteem.
Fear of success is often far less apparent than fear of failure. No one says to himself, “I would really hate to succeed in life.” And in most cases, it's not the success itself that we fear, but the side effects of it.
Let's address each of the aforementioned reasons one by one:
Your comfort zone may be comfortable, but it's rarely the best place to be. If it were so wonderful, you wouldn't be considering something else.
Entrepreneurship requires hard work and commitment. But if you want to start a business badly enough, you can do it. The rewards will be well worth your trouble.
Pressure to succeed is not such a bad thing. There's always the chance that you might not maintain your success for one reason or another, but is that any reason to not even try?
Starting a successful business doesn't sentence you to a life of doing that and only that. If you find that the field you chose isn't for you, you can always sell the business and move on to something else. At least you'll have some startup capital to work with.
True friends will cheer you on when you succeed. And success isn't an instant personality changer. You are in control of your own reaction to your accomplishments.
ou are worthy of success. If you can achieve it, then you deserve it.
Recognizing a fear of success is difficult, but doing so is the only way to get past it. The upshot is that once it's out in the open, it's not too hard to see why there's nothing to be afraid of.
Don't Let Fear Stand in Your Way
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Fear is something we all experience from time to time. And sometimes our fears come true. But if no one ever took a chance, the world would be a very unimaginative and static place.
If you let fear hold you back, you'll never know what might have been. And that's something to truly be afraid of.
by Mindmap to Riches
Law of Attraction Basics - Deciding What You Want
Manifesting your desires is easy once you master a few law of attraction basics. These basic principles, although simple, are the foundation of your success at manifesting your dreams and desires. Master the core skills revealed in this article and you will see a dramatic improvement in the quality of the results that you are getting in life.
What do you want?
What do you want to be? What experiences do you want to have? Where do you want to live? With who? This is where your dream life begins. Deciding which of your dreams to manifest is the first step toward making your dreams a reality. But choose carefully! If you mess up here, you will create problems for yourself further down the road.
There are three specific things that you need to look at when you are picking and choosing which of your desires to manifest first. All three need to be present in order for you to tap into your full inner strength, and to avoid potential problems. Look at each one and see where you can fine tune your desires. This will let you bring your dreams into your life with a lot less struggle.
Choosing Your Dream
1. Do you really want it? This is important. You have to really want your dream. Not just wish for it. Wishes are for fairy tales. It takes a burning desire to reach a goal or dream, for you to unlock your hidden potential.
Here is a secret: Your desire for change has to be greater than your attachment to your current habits and ways of thinking. You have to be willing to change. You have to be willing to be honest with yourself about your choices.
Does your dream get you out of bed early? Does it keep you up late? Is it a priority in your life? Does thinking about your dream get you fired up? Answer yes to those questions and you will be on your way to making that dream a reality!
2. Do you have a strong reason WHY you want this dream? What will reaching this goal or dream mean to you? Why do you want to achieve it? Look at the reasons behind your choices. Be sure that you have a strong reason why you want to make a particular change in your life.
Having a strong motive behind your dreams will allow you to go farther and do more than you could otherwise. You will find yourself more willing to give it your all, you will be more willing to do what it takes, and you will discover that you get better at making empowered decisions that move you forward!
3. Do you know EXACTLY what you want? Even with a burning desire and a powerful reason 'why', you will still struggle to reach your dreams unless you are very specific about the details of exactly what you want to attract into your life.
Understand that any details of your dream that you do not choose are being left up to the universe. In other words, you may manifest your dream, but there may be things about your dream that you don't like or don't want with it. You manifested a new sports car, but it came with a huge increase in your insurance premiums. Or you attracted that perfect guy, he is caring and compassionate, but he gambles away the rent money every month.
A Clear Vision
You can avoid these problems by getting crystal clear about your desires. The clearer your vision of your future, the more details of your dream that you spell out in advance, the better your results will be. Be specific! Take the time to consider all the possibilities that exist within your dream, all the varied ways that it can show up in your life, and decide exactly how your life will look for you.
Use this list to check each of your dreams before you get too far into the process. This will ensure you that you are tapping into the full power of the law of attraction basics and will help you eliminate many of the problems that can show up.
by Bob Crawford
What do you want?
What do you want to be? What experiences do you want to have? Where do you want to live? With who? This is where your dream life begins. Deciding which of your dreams to manifest is the first step toward making your dreams a reality. But choose carefully! If you mess up here, you will create problems for yourself further down the road.
There are three specific things that you need to look at when you are picking and choosing which of your desires to manifest first. All three need to be present in order for you to tap into your full inner strength, and to avoid potential problems. Look at each one and see where you can fine tune your desires. This will let you bring your dreams into your life with a lot less struggle.
Choosing Your Dream
1. Do you really want it? This is important. You have to really want your dream. Not just wish for it. Wishes are for fairy tales. It takes a burning desire to reach a goal or dream, for you to unlock your hidden potential.
Here is a secret: Your desire for change has to be greater than your attachment to your current habits and ways of thinking. You have to be willing to change. You have to be willing to be honest with yourself about your choices.
Does your dream get you out of bed early? Does it keep you up late? Is it a priority in your life? Does thinking about your dream get you fired up? Answer yes to those questions and you will be on your way to making that dream a reality!
2. Do you have a strong reason WHY you want this dream? What will reaching this goal or dream mean to you? Why do you want to achieve it? Look at the reasons behind your choices. Be sure that you have a strong reason why you want to make a particular change in your life.
Having a strong motive behind your dreams will allow you to go farther and do more than you could otherwise. You will find yourself more willing to give it your all, you will be more willing to do what it takes, and you will discover that you get better at making empowered decisions that move you forward!
3. Do you know EXACTLY what you want? Even with a burning desire and a powerful reason 'why', you will still struggle to reach your dreams unless you are very specific about the details of exactly what you want to attract into your life.
Understand that any details of your dream that you do not choose are being left up to the universe. In other words, you may manifest your dream, but there may be things about your dream that you don't like or don't want with it. You manifested a new sports car, but it came with a huge increase in your insurance premiums. Or you attracted that perfect guy, he is caring and compassionate, but he gambles away the rent money every month.
A Clear Vision
You can avoid these problems by getting crystal clear about your desires. The clearer your vision of your future, the more details of your dream that you spell out in advance, the better your results will be. Be specific! Take the time to consider all the possibilities that exist within your dream, all the varied ways that it can show up in your life, and decide exactly how your life will look for you.
Use this list to check each of your dreams before you get too far into the process. This will ensure you that you are tapping into the full power of the law of attraction basics and will help you eliminate many of the problems that can show up.
by Bob Crawford
How to Trust Yourself More and Empower Your Business
Trust - or a lack of trust - impacts every area of your life and your life’s work. You must trust yourself in order to feel confident; to stand out and bring your business forward. To become more visible, to make your work and your business more visible so you can help more people and prosper, you have to trust yourself.
How do we develop trust - or greater trust - in ourselves? Self-trust is built one decision at a time.
Make a Decision. Making decisions is empowering. Ambivalence or wavering, hesitating or waiting to make important decisions erodes your self-trust and your power
Each time that you hold back from making a decision because of uncertainty or fear, you give yourself a disempowering message about you. Indecisiveness becomes a habit based in lack of self-trust. A lot of your precious time, energy and attention is lost on indecision.
Every time you make a decision you are freed up. Your energy is set free!
You are faced with thousands of business decisions every year. From what investments to make in you as a business owner, to what investments to make in your business, to what you offer through your business...
Make a Decision Based on What’s True for You. Trusting yourself grows by making decisions based on what is true for you. How do you tell? It feels right.
Even if it takes your breath, a decision that is in alignment with what’s true for you will feel right. Every one of these decisions that you make builds a pattern and a consciousness of self-trust.
To make a decision that builds self-trust - whether that is to do something, buy something, to take on a particular client, offer a program, price an offering, take a course or hire a coach - that decision needs to feel right for you.
Not partially right, or maybe right, but right. Not right for someone else, not right for the way you were taught, not right for you last year, but right for you, right now.
Three Actions You Can Take to Increase Your Self-Trust Now!
1. Write down all the pending decisions you haven’t made.
2. Take each one separately. Tune in to what’s true for you (what feels right?) and make each decision based on that. Then cross it off your list. It will feel great.
3. Make a decision to make 3 new and conscious business decisions each day. When you make this decision, the others will light up for you. Tune in with each one, and make the decision that is true for you.
Make decisions based on what is true for you! Each one will increase your self-trust and your self-confidence. It will change your life and change your business.
Step Into Your Greatness!
One decision at a time!
by ReggieO
How do we develop trust - or greater trust - in ourselves? Self-trust is built one decision at a time.
Make a Decision. Making decisions is empowering. Ambivalence or wavering, hesitating or waiting to make important decisions erodes your self-trust and your power
Each time that you hold back from making a decision because of uncertainty or fear, you give yourself a disempowering message about you. Indecisiveness becomes a habit based in lack of self-trust. A lot of your precious time, energy and attention is lost on indecision.
Every time you make a decision you are freed up. Your energy is set free!
You are faced with thousands of business decisions every year. From what investments to make in you as a business owner, to what investments to make in your business, to what you offer through your business...
Make a Decision Based on What’s True for You. Trusting yourself grows by making decisions based on what is true for you. How do you tell? It feels right.
Even if it takes your breath, a decision that is in alignment with what’s true for you will feel right. Every one of these decisions that you make builds a pattern and a consciousness of self-trust.
To make a decision that builds self-trust - whether that is to do something, buy something, to take on a particular client, offer a program, price an offering, take a course or hire a coach - that decision needs to feel right for you.
Not partially right, or maybe right, but right. Not right for someone else, not right for the way you were taught, not right for you last year, but right for you, right now.
Three Actions You Can Take to Increase Your Self-Trust Now!
1. Write down all the pending decisions you haven’t made.
2. Take each one separately. Tune in to what’s true for you (what feels right?) and make each decision based on that. Then cross it off your list. It will feel great.
3. Make a decision to make 3 new and conscious business decisions each day. When you make this decision, the others will light up for you. Tune in with each one, and make the decision that is true for you.
Make decisions based on what is true for you! Each one will increase your self-trust and your self-confidence. It will change your life and change your business.
Step Into Your Greatness!
One decision at a time!
by ReggieO
Living a Life of Gratitude Will Attract Abundance
by Randi G. Fine
We cannot possibly realize the immense power that comes from our thoughts. What we focus on grows…that is the law of the universe. When we live our lives with gratitude or appreciation for what we have, we occupy our minds with positivity. When we focus on what we are lacking, our minds become filled with negativity that breeds thoughts of bitterness, jealousy, and resentment. Living a life of gratitude is what brings abundance into our lives. The more grateful we are for all gifts large and small, the more abundance we attract to us. Having gratitude means being thankful for the many gifts and blessing we have.
Many people say that they are grateful; still they find themselves experiencing negative thoughts when life doesn’t go the way they expect it to. And many people say that they have little to be grateful for, when in actuality they have much more than they think. It’s all based on point of view, and our point of view is something we consciously control. We all have the ability to shift our thinking. We can take any situation in life and find something good in it, if that is our inclination. Good and bad things happen in life every day. What outlook we choose to focus on is entirely up to us.
Quantum Physic studies are verifying that matter and reality can be changed by our thoughts. The Law of Attraction, one of the five fundamental principles of existence, tells us that “like attracts like.” It is a scientific fact that thoughts are energy. Neurons in our brain produce thought. So if energy follows energy, than energy follows thought. To put it in simpler terms, we attract what we put out. The universe isn’t biased – it doesn’t decide if a thought is good or bad. It just responds to the vibrations we put out there. When we live life with sincere gratitude and appreciation, we change the vibration of our energy and we attract more of what we want. How we think is what we get…and gratitude is the key.
When we focus on what we lack, we create blockages and limitations. We become imprisoned by the vibration of our negative energy. As a result, we attract what we think, which in this case is negativity, while repelling the very things we desire. No one would deliberately disrupt the flow of abundance that comes into their life. Those that do it don’t realize that they are doing it.
Some of us have already, or will gladly accept this truth at face value and apply it. For skeptics and naysayers, the only proof is the proof itself; living a life of gratitude is the only way to prove its effectiveness and to understand the immense power of it. The universe is infinitely abundant…we just have to allow it and learn how to work in harmony with it. We accomplish this through the practice of positive thinking; through a conscious effort to “go with the flow.”
Having gratitude does not mean denying that problems exist. The experiences and challenges we face in the course of our lifetimes are many. What is does mean is incorporating a simple practice that makes it easier to accept these experiences. The gift of empowerment comes once gratitude is firmly placed in our lives. Then we have that accomplishment to add to the list of things we are grateful for. It is an endless cycle that goes round and round. Developing this practice and changing our perspective, therefore allowing abundance to flow, opens us up to all the possibilities that exist in the universe. The ultimate goal is to keep the abundance in a constant flow. We never want to hoard our abundance; that will only block the flow. By sharing our gifts, we stay in harmony with the universe.
One of the most important messages to take away from all of this is that the universe has perfect timing. Everything happens when it is supposed to, not because we want it to. Honoring that universal truth will soften the blow of every disappointment we may face in life. To quote Brian Tracy, “Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”
We cannot possibly realize the immense power that comes from our thoughts. What we focus on grows…that is the law of the universe. When we live our lives with gratitude or appreciation for what we have, we occupy our minds with positivity. When we focus on what we are lacking, our minds become filled with negativity that breeds thoughts of bitterness, jealousy, and resentment. Living a life of gratitude is what brings abundance into our lives. The more grateful we are for all gifts large and small, the more abundance we attract to us. Having gratitude means being thankful for the many gifts and blessing we have.
Many people say that they are grateful; still they find themselves experiencing negative thoughts when life doesn’t go the way they expect it to. And many people say that they have little to be grateful for, when in actuality they have much more than they think. It’s all based on point of view, and our point of view is something we consciously control. We all have the ability to shift our thinking. We can take any situation in life and find something good in it, if that is our inclination. Good and bad things happen in life every day. What outlook we choose to focus on is entirely up to us.
Quantum Physic studies are verifying that matter and reality can be changed by our thoughts. The Law of Attraction, one of the five fundamental principles of existence, tells us that “like attracts like.” It is a scientific fact that thoughts are energy. Neurons in our brain produce thought. So if energy follows energy, than energy follows thought. To put it in simpler terms, we attract what we put out. The universe isn’t biased – it doesn’t decide if a thought is good or bad. It just responds to the vibrations we put out there. When we live life with sincere gratitude and appreciation, we change the vibration of our energy and we attract more of what we want. How we think is what we get…and gratitude is the key.
When we focus on what we lack, we create blockages and limitations. We become imprisoned by the vibration of our negative energy. As a result, we attract what we think, which in this case is negativity, while repelling the very things we desire. No one would deliberately disrupt the flow of abundance that comes into their life. Those that do it don’t realize that they are doing it.
Some of us have already, or will gladly accept this truth at face value and apply it. For skeptics and naysayers, the only proof is the proof itself; living a life of gratitude is the only way to prove its effectiveness and to understand the immense power of it. The universe is infinitely abundant…we just have to allow it and learn how to work in harmony with it. We accomplish this through the practice of positive thinking; through a conscious effort to “go with the flow.”
Having gratitude does not mean denying that problems exist. The experiences and challenges we face in the course of our lifetimes are many. What is does mean is incorporating a simple practice that makes it easier to accept these experiences. The gift of empowerment comes once gratitude is firmly placed in our lives. Then we have that accomplishment to add to the list of things we are grateful for. It is an endless cycle that goes round and round. Developing this practice and changing our perspective, therefore allowing abundance to flow, opens us up to all the possibilities that exist in the universe. The ultimate goal is to keep the abundance in a constant flow. We never want to hoard our abundance; that will only block the flow. By sharing our gifts, we stay in harmony with the universe.
One of the most important messages to take away from all of this is that the universe has perfect timing. Everything happens when it is supposed to, not because we want it to. Honoring that universal truth will soften the blow of every disappointment we may face in life. To quote Brian Tracy, “Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”
How to Change Your Life By Loving Your Life Right Now
How to Change Your Life By Loving Your Life Right Now
by Bob Crawford
Do you want to learn how to change your life? You can, if you are willing to love your life right now. Creating change, learning how to change your life in empowering ways, is the common thread that ties all of our goals and desires together. Yours, mine, everyone's. We all want things to get better... we all want our lives to be full and happy.
But we also all share another universal thread, one that holds us back, one that keeps us from realizing our dreams and goals. That thread is called discontent. Now, at first you might think that discontent would be a great motivator, that if you are unhappy with the way things are, you would be driven to make the changes you want in your life.
But that is not true at all! The reality is, that in order to change your life, you must love your life the way it is right now - problems and all. Being discontent, unhappy, dissatisfied, or mad at the world for handing you such a lousy life only keeps you stuck in that negative state of mind. When you live life as a victim, you give away your power to control your own life. The same thing happens when you blame life or your boss or anything else outside of yourself for your problems. You give away your power.
But that all changes when you love your life the way it is right now. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. How do you do this? By deciding to. You can make a conscious decision to love your life right now - in spite of your problems, in spite of all your challenges, and in spite of whatever negativity you see in your life right now!
You see, when you come from a place of love, you are free to focus on the important things, you are free to focus on solutions rather than being stuck on the problems in your life. Unlike being unhappy with your life, being loving toward yourself is empowering and lets you move forward. It lets you change your life.
This is because we all have the tendency to continue being whatever we are being right now. If you are being unhappy with your life right now, you will probably continue being unhappy with your life for the foreseeable future... unless you change your outlook and start showing up in your life with an attitude of love and gratitude.
Loving your life the way it is now, doesn't mean ignoring your problems, it means seeing them from a new perspective. Anything that you look at with love will look dramatically different than something you look at with discontent or unhappiness.
Try this out in your own life, and see if it doesn't make a big difference in the way you see things. Not only will you find it much easier to reach your goals when you are loving life, you will have a much clearer vision of exactly what you want your life to be like!
by Bob Crawford
Do you want to learn how to change your life? You can, if you are willing to love your life right now. Creating change, learning how to change your life in empowering ways, is the common thread that ties all of our goals and desires together. Yours, mine, everyone's. We all want things to get better... we all want our lives to be full and happy.
But we also all share another universal thread, one that holds us back, one that keeps us from realizing our dreams and goals. That thread is called discontent. Now, at first you might think that discontent would be a great motivator, that if you are unhappy with the way things are, you would be driven to make the changes you want in your life.
But that is not true at all! The reality is, that in order to change your life, you must love your life the way it is right now - problems and all. Being discontent, unhappy, dissatisfied, or mad at the world for handing you such a lousy life only keeps you stuck in that negative state of mind. When you live life as a victim, you give away your power to control your own life. The same thing happens when you blame life or your boss or anything else outside of yourself for your problems. You give away your power.
But that all changes when you love your life the way it is right now. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. How do you do this? By deciding to. You can make a conscious decision to love your life right now - in spite of your problems, in spite of all your challenges, and in spite of whatever negativity you see in your life right now!
You see, when you come from a place of love, you are free to focus on the important things, you are free to focus on solutions rather than being stuck on the problems in your life. Unlike being unhappy with your life, being loving toward yourself is empowering and lets you move forward. It lets you change your life.
This is because we all have the tendency to continue being whatever we are being right now. If you are being unhappy with your life right now, you will probably continue being unhappy with your life for the foreseeable future... unless you change your outlook and start showing up in your life with an attitude of love and gratitude.
Loving your life the way it is now, doesn't mean ignoring your problems, it means seeing them from a new perspective. Anything that you look at with love will look dramatically different than something you look at with discontent or unhappiness.
Try this out in your own life, and see if it doesn't make a big difference in the way you see things. Not only will you find it much easier to reach your goals when you are loving life, you will have a much clearer vision of exactly what you want your life to be like!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
How To Make New Year's Resolutions That Work!
New Year's is the only holiday that celebrates the passage of time. Perhaps that's why, as the final seconds of this year tick away, we become introspective. Inevitably, that introspection turns to thoughts of self-improvement and the annual ritual of making New Year's Resolutions. New Year's Resolutions offer the first of many important tools for remaking ourselves.
People the world over make New Year's Resolutions. Often, what we vow to improve is some habit related to health, weight, exercise, occupation and income. You may think your successes or failures in this department are of no interest to the world at large. Not true. In fact, a whole branch of science—psychology—is devoted to behavior modification. And psychology tells us that there are five stages involved in turning resolutions into realities.
Pre-contemplation: The desire to change is vague. This is a good time to seek information and ask some important questions such as, "What risks am I running by going along just as I have been?"
Contemplation: Weigh the benefits of change. This is a time to get specific, to monitor behavior. For example, keep a record of how much you eat, drink, spend, etc.
Preparation: Begin making small changes. For example, you might give up some TV time and redirect your energy. Now's the time to tell family and friends that the leopard is about to change his spots. This is the time to make a firm commitment.
The Action: Banish and sacrifice vices while embracing and committing to new virtues. At this point, give yourself all the help and support you can by creating a sense of accountability to others. Encourage family and friends to prod, provoke and push you.
Maintenance: This is the challenging part. You're finished with your old habit and into your new life. It is a lot easier to maintain your resolution than it is to regain it. Do your self a monumental favor and stay focused on WHY you set this resolution in the first place!
Those who stay the course and fulfill their resolutions share these characteristics:
The most important investments require time. Setting and achieving a resolution requires focus, effort, and commitment. Changing old habits and developing new ones won't happen overnight. The following four guidelines are meant to help you achieve all of your New Year's Resolutions:
1. Focus on one resolution at a time. Divide and conquer the activities to achieve your desired results. Break larger tasks into smaller ones — each of these make up your Personal Resolution Roadmap, a path to achieve your goal.
2. Create a sense of accountability. Designate a friend, mentor, or companion for sharing successes, monitoring progress, and offering support. The benefit of involving others in your goals and plans is instant access to experience, knowledge, and wisdom— it also raises the bar of responsibility.
Research indicates that one of the qualities of those who are successful at making changes is that they have excellent support systems. Many of those who make resolutions never tell others about them. Consciously or subconsciously, that way if they fail no one will view them as a failure.
Communicating your resolution and intentions actually increases your accountability to the behavior. From the very beginning it is important to share your objectives and goals with those around you so that you can enlist their support. Knowing that you are accountable to someone other than yourself will help to keep you on track.
3. Persist until completed. A resolution achieved is a stunning example of consistency and hard work. If you fall behind schedule or are sidetracked for any reason, refocus! Just don't give up! Don't surrender to temptation, difficulty or temporary failure. Persist until you achieve the goal.
4. Cultivate personal integrity. Integrity gives you the oxygen needed to cross the finish line of accomplishment. Your commitment determines your level of success. This commitment boils down to two essential tactics: daily action and review.
The nuts and bolts of achieving any resolution are invariably the same. Neither the size of the resolutions nor the person achieving it matters. Successful New Year's Resolutions consist of the following:
Clear Purpose — For a dream to become a goal, it must be specific. Being thin is an image, losing 10 pounds by March 1 is a true resolution. Be clear on what you want to achieve.
Make a New Year's Resolution that you have a real, bona fide intention of keeping. The truth is most people have not made a genuine, serious, no-kidding-around-I-really-mean-to-do-this New Year's Resolution!
In Writing — Describe precisely what you want, how you will earn it, when you will have it, and the benefits you'll receive from achieving your resolution. Write the details, but don't make it complex. When you put it in writing, you increase your chances of moving to the next step and increasing your level of commitment.
Your mind, while blessed with permanent memory, is cursed with lousy recall. Writing your resolution goes a long way towards achieving it.
Commitment — Without commitment, you can say, "Farewell dream. Adios potential. Toodleloo success. Hello Mediocrity!" Your resolution will find a more deserving soul: someone with courage, character, conviction... commitment.
Commitment is not only habitual but also essential — it moves you ever closer to your resolution and ultimate success. Commitment is the heartbeat of your goal.
Accountability Counts — commitment means you own it. You are responsible for taking the resolution that's on paper and turning it into a desired outcome. Owning it means tasking responsibility for changes, risks, failures, and successes.
Write down your list of New Year's Resolutions. Get them all out of your head and down on paper.
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________________________
4.______________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________
6.______________________________________________________________________
7.______________________________________________________________________
8.______________________________________________________________________
9.______________________________________________________________________
10._____________________________________________________________________
Focus, Focus, Focus!
Does one resolution stand out? One that you are ready to go after. Focus on this one; you can replicate the process later.
My #1 Resolution is:________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations on your decision. This focus is critical to moving forward.
If a caution or stop signal pops into your head, stop to ask why. It might mean that this resolution isn't the right one to be focusing on. The validation test will keep you motivated as you continue on your resolution road trip.
If the validation questions show you that this is the wrong resolution for now, start over. Return to your original list, and work through the process once again. It is wiser to focus on the right resolution than to start one you're not committed to.
Write down what comes to mind as you read through each question. These notes will serve as a motivational tool for you when you are in the middle of your resolution plan.
Is This Resolution Part of My Personal Mission?
Does this resolution align with my mission? How?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How does this resolution align with my values?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How will this resolution bring me closer to living my mission?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is This Resolution Really Me?
Is this resolution authentic?___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Can I envision myself accomplishing this goal?____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is it a habit that I can incorporate into my life?______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Am I The Owner of This Resolution?
Is this MY goal? ____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How can I take complete ownership of this resolution?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is This Resolution In My Control?
Is this a resolution I can actually achieve? ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is it within my control or someone else's?_________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
What do I control about this resolution? __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
What do I not control?________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How Will This Resolution Stretch Me?
Is this a resolution that will make me grow?_______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How will it help me learn new things? ___________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
By investing your efforts in each of the five stages that lead to successful resolutions, you give yourself a launch pad for starting your new year and your new life.
I wish for you a New Year of health, wealth, and happiness. A year in which you give yourself many gifts to include the gifts of love, patience, and faith. I encourage you to pursue your resolutions with open arms and to believe deeply in your ability to enjoy the rewards of resolutions and dreams achieved.
Everything Counts!
By Gary Ryan Blair
People the world over make New Year's Resolutions. Often, what we vow to improve is some habit related to health, weight, exercise, occupation and income. You may think your successes or failures in this department are of no interest to the world at large. Not true. In fact, a whole branch of science—psychology—is devoted to behavior modification. And psychology tells us that there are five stages involved in turning resolutions into realities.
The Five Stages That Lead to Successful Resolutions
Contemplation: Weigh the benefits of change. This is a time to get specific, to monitor behavior. For example, keep a record of how much you eat, drink, spend, etc.
Preparation: Begin making small changes. For example, you might give up some TV time and redirect your energy. Now's the time to tell family and friends that the leopard is about to change his spots. This is the time to make a firm commitment.
The Action: Banish and sacrifice vices while embracing and committing to new virtues. At this point, give yourself all the help and support you can by creating a sense of accountability to others. Encourage family and friends to prod, provoke and push you.
Maintenance: This is the challenging part. You're finished with your old habit and into your new life. It is a lot easier to maintain your resolution than it is to regain it. Do your self a monumental favor and stay focused on WHY you set this resolution in the first place!
Those who stay the course and fulfill their resolutions share these characteristics:
1. They believe in their ability to change.
2. They did not indulge in self-blame or excuse making.
3. They avoid wishful thinking and concentrate on results.
4. They understand their motivators and reasons why the resolution is important.
Resolution Guidelines
1. Focus on one resolution at a time. Divide and conquer the activities to achieve your desired results. Break larger tasks into smaller ones — each of these make up your Personal Resolution Roadmap, a path to achieve your goal.
2. Create a sense of accountability. Designate a friend, mentor, or companion for sharing successes, monitoring progress, and offering support. The benefit of involving others in your goals and plans is instant access to experience, knowledge, and wisdom— it also raises the bar of responsibility.
Research indicates that one of the qualities of those who are successful at making changes is that they have excellent support systems. Many of those who make resolutions never tell others about them. Consciously or subconsciously, that way if they fail no one will view them as a failure.
Communicating your resolution and intentions actually increases your accountability to the behavior. From the very beginning it is important to share your objectives and goals with those around you so that you can enlist their support. Knowing that you are accountable to someone other than yourself will help to keep you on track.
3. Persist until completed. A resolution achieved is a stunning example of consistency and hard work. If you fall behind schedule or are sidetracked for any reason, refocus! Just don't give up! Don't surrender to temptation, difficulty or temporary failure. Persist until you achieve the goal.
4. Cultivate personal integrity. Integrity gives you the oxygen needed to cross the finish line of accomplishment. Your commitment determines your level of success. This commitment boils down to two essential tactics: daily action and review.
Resolution Beginnings
Clear Purpose — For a dream to become a goal, it must be specific. Being thin is an image, losing 10 pounds by March 1 is a true resolution. Be clear on what you want to achieve.
Make a New Year's Resolution that you have a real, bona fide intention of keeping. The truth is most people have not made a genuine, serious, no-kidding-around-I-really-mean-to-do-this New Year's Resolution!
In Writing — Describe precisely what you want, how you will earn it, when you will have it, and the benefits you'll receive from achieving your resolution. Write the details, but don't make it complex. When you put it in writing, you increase your chances of moving to the next step and increasing your level of commitment.
Your mind, while blessed with permanent memory, is cursed with lousy recall. Writing your resolution goes a long way towards achieving it.
Commitment — Without commitment, you can say, "Farewell dream. Adios potential. Toodleloo success. Hello Mediocrity!" Your resolution will find a more deserving soul: someone with courage, character, conviction... commitment.
Commitment is not only habitual but also essential — it moves you ever closer to your resolution and ultimate success. Commitment is the heartbeat of your goal.
Accountability Counts — commitment means you own it. You are responsible for taking the resolution that's on paper and turning it into a desired outcome. Owning it means tasking responsibility for changes, risks, failures, and successes.
Creating Your Resolution List
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________________________
4.______________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________
6.______________________________________________________________________
7.______________________________________________________________________
8.______________________________________________________________________
9.______________________________________________________________________
10._____________________________________________________________________
Focus, Focus, Focus!
Does one resolution stand out? One that you are ready to go after. Focus on this one; you can replicate the process later.
My #1 Resolution is:________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations on your decision. This focus is critical to moving forward.
Resolution Validation
Next, validate your chosen resolution's importance. For each question below, ask yourself if you're getting a green - go, yellow — caution, or red - stop signal.If a caution or stop signal pops into your head, stop to ask why. It might mean that this resolution isn't the right one to be focusing on. The validation test will keep you motivated as you continue on your resolution road trip.
If the validation questions show you that this is the wrong resolution for now, start over. Return to your original list, and work through the process once again. It is wiser to focus on the right resolution than to start one you're not committed to.
Write down what comes to mind as you read through each question. These notes will serve as a motivational tool for you when you are in the middle of your resolution plan.
Is This Resolution Part of My Personal Mission?
Does this resolution align with my mission? How?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How does this resolution align with my values?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How will this resolution bring me closer to living my mission?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is This Resolution Really Me?
Is this resolution authentic?___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Can I envision myself accomplishing this goal?____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is it a habit that I can incorporate into my life?______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Am I The Owner of This Resolution?
Is this MY goal? ____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How can I take complete ownership of this resolution?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is This Resolution In My Control?
Is this a resolution I can actually achieve? ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Is it within my control or someone else's?_________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
What do I control about this resolution? __________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
What do I not control?________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How Will This Resolution Stretch Me?
Is this a resolution that will make me grow?_______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
How will it help me learn new things? ___________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
By investing your efforts in each of the five stages that lead to successful resolutions, you give yourself a launch pad for starting your new year and your new life.
I wish for you a New Year of health, wealth, and happiness. A year in which you give yourself many gifts to include the gifts of love, patience, and faith. I encourage you to pursue your resolutions with open arms and to believe deeply in your ability to enjoy the rewards of resolutions and dreams achieved.
Everything Counts!
By Gary Ryan Blair
Why Doesn’t The Law Of Attraction Work?
If you have tried to manifest using the Law of Attraction and failed, you are not alone. Thousands will give up quickly after making an effort that seems to produce no results. However, there is an excellent reason why the law is not working for you – you’re not doing it right.
“What do you mean; I’m not doing it right?” The Secret makes great strides in bringing the Law of Attraction to the public awareness, but many people don’t hear the most important part of the message, which really isn’t focused on until the second half of the movie. Thoughts alone do not manifest. It’s the energy and emotion generated by thoughts that manifest. The speed of manifestation is also directly related to the power of emotional energy put into the intention.
Equally important in ensuring you do not undo your intention while waiting for it to manifest, any energy put into adverse thoughts will cause problems. For instance, if you successfully send a powerful emotional intention to the universe to bring you money, and then spend the next three days worrying about the bills, you have probably sent out far more negative vibrations about money than positive. When your intent doesn’t manifest, you really can’t act surprised.
If, however, you are able to focus on your desire and feel excitement – feel what it will be like when it happens, as though it had already happened – then you send a powerful intention to the universe. Reinforce that over the next few days, and if you catch yourself unconsciously sending out negative intentions, stop immediately and reinforce your intent. Trust in the process, let go, and don’t worry about when it will manifest. The sooner you can let go the sooner it will be here and now.
Take about twenty minutes each night and find a private place. That may be your bedroom, the bath tub, or a favorite spot outside, whatever. Relax for a moment, and then imagine your intent has come true. Imagine that it has happened right now, and feel what you would feel had it happened. The more excited and worked up you can get, the better. Imagine yourself driving that car, moving into that house, or holding that money. Make sure you include yourself in your imaginings, as this is absolutely key.
Pick one intention and work on it for about a week, maybe two. Be sure that during the day you take a relaxed, patient attitude about it, and don’t worry about whether or not it will work. Don’t worry about when it will manifest. If you do, then you are working against yourself. It may help to choose an initial intent that does not involve money or something you need desperately, but rather something you would really like. Too many people in bad financial situations attempt to manifest money instantly, and they are so consumed with worries over the bills that they never manage to keep a positive manifestation intent out there.
After you’ve succeeded a time or two with things you aren’t in dire need of, your faith in the process will allow you to go ahead and work on something more important. This doesn’t have to be a lengthy process by any means. Manifestation can occur near instantaneously, depending on the quality of your energy and intention. We are our own worst enemies, and if something isn’t manifesting, you will always know who the culprit is.
Start a daily regimen today, and see if you don’t get better results than you have in the past. Keep in mind, strong emotion plus detachment plus patience equals manifestation. Before long, you will remember the days when you weren’t in control of your life as though they were a strange dream. Best of luck!
“What do you mean; I’m not doing it right?” The Secret makes great strides in bringing the Law of Attraction to the public awareness, but many people don’t hear the most important part of the message, which really isn’t focused on until the second half of the movie. Thoughts alone do not manifest. It’s the energy and emotion generated by thoughts that manifest. The speed of manifestation is also directly related to the power of emotional energy put into the intention.
Equally important in ensuring you do not undo your intention while waiting for it to manifest, any energy put into adverse thoughts will cause problems. For instance, if you successfully send a powerful emotional intention to the universe to bring you money, and then spend the next three days worrying about the bills, you have probably sent out far more negative vibrations about money than positive. When your intent doesn’t manifest, you really can’t act surprised.
If, however, you are able to focus on your desire and feel excitement – feel what it will be like when it happens, as though it had already happened – then you send a powerful intention to the universe. Reinforce that over the next few days, and if you catch yourself unconsciously sending out negative intentions, stop immediately and reinforce your intent. Trust in the process, let go, and don’t worry about when it will manifest. The sooner you can let go the sooner it will be here and now.
Take about twenty minutes each night and find a private place. That may be your bedroom, the bath tub, or a favorite spot outside, whatever. Relax for a moment, and then imagine your intent has come true. Imagine that it has happened right now, and feel what you would feel had it happened. The more excited and worked up you can get, the better. Imagine yourself driving that car, moving into that house, or holding that money. Make sure you include yourself in your imaginings, as this is absolutely key.
Pick one intention and work on it for about a week, maybe two. Be sure that during the day you take a relaxed, patient attitude about it, and don’t worry about whether or not it will work. Don’t worry about when it will manifest. If you do, then you are working against yourself. It may help to choose an initial intent that does not involve money or something you need desperately, but rather something you would really like. Too many people in bad financial situations attempt to manifest money instantly, and they are so consumed with worries over the bills that they never manage to keep a positive manifestation intent out there.
After you’ve succeeded a time or two with things you aren’t in dire need of, your faith in the process will allow you to go ahead and work on something more important. This doesn’t have to be a lengthy process by any means. Manifestation can occur near instantaneously, depending on the quality of your energy and intention. We are our own worst enemies, and if something isn’t manifesting, you will always know who the culprit is.
Start a daily regimen today, and see if you don’t get better results than you have in the past. Keep in mind, strong emotion plus detachment plus patience equals manifestation. Before long, you will remember the days when you weren’t in control of your life as though they were a strange dream. Best of luck!
The Science of Getting Rich
50 Notable Quotes from Wallace D. Wattles
- Whatever may be said in praise of poverty, the fact remains that it is not possible to live a really complete or successful life unless one is rich.
- The purpose of Nature is the advancement and unfoldment of life.
- Success in life is becoming what you want to be.
- Wherever there is unexpressed possibility, or function not performed, there is unsatisfied desire.
- Desire is possibility seeking expression, or function seeking performance.
- No man is kept poor because opportunity has been taken away from him.
- Nature is an inexhaustible storehouse of riches; the supply will never run short.
- Nature is formed for the advancement of life; its impelling motive is the increase of life.
- Thought is the only power which can produce tangible riches . . .
- A man’s way of doing things is the direct result of the way he thinks about things.
- To think what you want to think is to think TRUTH, regardless of appearances.
- To think according to appearance is easy; to think truth regardless of appearances is laborious, and requires the expenditure of more power than any other work man is called upon to perform.
- There is no labor from which most people shrink as they do from that of sustained and consecutive thought; it is the hardest work in the world.
- By thought, the thing you want is brought to you. By action, you receive it.
- The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best. Therefore it tends to become the best. It takes the form or character of the best, and will receive the best.
- Many people who order their lives rightly, in all other ways are kept in poverty by their lack of gratitude.
- There is no labor from which most people shrink as they do from that of sustained and consecutive thought; it is the hardest work in the world.
- Desire is the effort of the unexpressed possibility within, seeking expression without through your actions.
- The desire for riches is simply the capacity for larger life seeking fulfillment; every desire is the effort of an unexpressed possibility to come into action.
- It is the desire of God that you should get rich.
- The universe desires you to have everything you want to have.
- God wants that you should make the most of yourself, for yourself, and for others; and you can help others more by making the most of yourself than in any other way.
- You must get rid of the thought of competition. You are to create, not to compete for what is already created.
- You must never think for a moment that the supply is limited.
- The desire you feel for riches is the Infinite seeking to express Himself in you.
- The whole process of mental adjustment and atonement can be summed up in one word, gratitude.
- Many people who order their lives rightly in all other ways are kept in poverty by their lack of gratitude.
- It is easy to understand that the nearer we live to the source of wealth, the more wealth we shall receive.
- The more gratefully we fix our minds on the Supreme when good things come to us, the more good things we will receive.
- Gratitude will lead your mind out along the ways by which things come.
- There is a Law of Gratitude, and it is absolutely necessary that you should observe the law, if you are to get the results you seek.
- Without gratitude you cannot long keep from dissatisfied thought regarding things as they are.
- To permit your mind to dwell upon the inferior is to become inferior and to surround yourself with inferior things.
- To fix your attention on the best is to surround yourself with the best, and to become the best.
- The Creative Power within us makes us into the image of that to which we give our attention.
- The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best; therefore it tends to become the best.
- The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith.
- You must form a clear and definite mental picture of what you want; you cannot transmit an idea unless you have it yourself.
- You can never get rich, or start the creative power into action, by sending out unformed longings and vague desires.
- All you need is to know what you want, and to want it badly enough so that it will stay in your thoughts.
- The more clear and definite you make your picture then, and the more you dwell upon it, bringing out all its delightful details, the stronger your desire will be.
- The man who can sincerely thank God for the things which as yet he owns only in imagination, has real faith.
- It is faith and purpose in the use of the imagination which make the difference between the scientist and the dreamer.
- Hold to the FAITH that the imaginary is being realized, and to the PURPOSE to realize it.
- Think and speak of all the things you have asked for in terms of actual present ownership.
- The science of getting rich does not require you to apply power or force to any other person, in any way whatsoever.
- To get rich, you need only to use your will power upon yourself.
- It is by your will that you determine upon what things your attention shall be fixed.
- Get rich; that is the best way you can help the poor.
- People must be taught to become rich by creation, not by competition.
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