Anybody can achieve anything. Do you believe that? I do.
But there is a caveat that must be made. Those who succeed are those who walk through the door of opportunity when it swings open. That we know. But what is the secret to getting through the door of opportunity?
Being outside the door when it swings open.
As the story goes, Frank Sinatra got his big break while working as a waiter. One day, as he was waiting tables, who does he see sitting in the restaurant, but one of the biggest names in the music industry. Old Blue Eyes did the unbelievable: He cleared off a table next to the gentleman and got up on it and sang! He knew he was done at the restaurant for doing so, but how many times would this door of opportunity open up? Needless to say, the rest is history.
You may remember my article about the stagehand for Kenny G who one day was in the auditorium with Kenny, just the two of them, when he started to play every song for him on the piano that was set up. Kenny didn’t even know the guy could play the piano. Guess who is now the lead keyboardist for Kenny G? You got it!
You see, you never know when the door of opportunity is going to open wide. For some, the big break comes early in life and for others later on. But for all of those who become successful, there is one key similarity: They were ready. And for every one of those who were ready, there were thousands more who weren’t.
So, the principle for us is: Be ready!
Are you ready? Here are some thoughts for you to consider.
Are your skills as sharp as they could be? Are they enough so when your shot comes you can perform?
Is your character deep enough to handle success? Let’s face it; you don’t want big success if your character won’t be able to handle it.
Are you working hard to position yourself now? The job to do while waiting for the door to open is to develop your skills and your character, so as to position yourself to get through that door before it closes.
Your door will open someday. It opens for everyone. It may only open once or it may open many times. It is different for everyone and life just isn’t fair that way. But everybody gets a shot. Will you be ready?
When that huge door of opportunity opens up, will you be able to walk boldly through it?
Do everything you can to be ready. Don’t just sit and wish and dream. Be proactive and make sure that you are the most qualified when the door opens. Make sure that you are the hardest worker. Make sure you are the closest to the door.
When it opens – Be Ready!
Shhh. Do you hear that? Hinges creaking! It is the sound of the door opening. Your door of opportunity! Are you ready?
- Chris Widener
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Mind Power and Success
By Remez Sasson
The mind plays an important role in achieving every kind of success and goal, minor, everyday goals or major goals.
With minor or day-to-day goals, one usually knows what he or she wants to do or get, but when it comes to major goals, most people don't know what they really desire. They desire to do something big, but they don't know what. They might have a vague idea, but this is not enough.
To accomplish anything, and to use your mind power, you have to know exactly what it is you want to do. To focus your mind power on a goal, you need to have a clear and well defined goal. How do you go about that?
You have first to think or meditate, to find out what is it that you want to accomplish or gain. This might not be a simple step, and requires deep thinking, investigation and time.
After discovering what you really want to accomplish, you need to come up with a plan for action. You need to know what you have to do first and how to proceed. All of this requires planning, which means using the power of the mind.
After deciding on a goal and coming up with a plan, you need to hold in your mind a clear mental image of your goal. You need to see it accomplished. This step requires that you use your imagination, which is another power of the mind. Not everyone can visualize clear mental images, but regular training of the imagination can do wonders. You may, for example, look at photos of what you want to achieve, and then close your eyes, and try to see it in your imagination. This will enhance your ability to visualize.
At this point you have to display patience, self-discipline and the power to persist in your efforts. This requires a one pointed mind.
Affirmations are another useful mental tool for achieving success. What you affirm sinks into the subconscious mind, becomes part of the subconscious mind, and consequently affects your behavior and actions. If your affirmations are positive, they lead you to success.
Another important power of the mind is thought transference. You need to be able to transmit your thoughts to other people, who would aid you with your plans. Often, you have to persuade others to invest in your plans or to help you in other ways. It is not enough just to talk with them, you need to believe in what you are saying; you need to be enthusiastic and persuasive, otherwise they won't listen and won't care. You need to be able to reject your and their doubts. To be able to do so, you need concentration, control over your thoughts, willpower, self-discipline and patience. All these are mental tools and skills.
Motivation is another mental and emotional power that you require for achieving success. How can you achieve anything if you are not motivated enough? To increase your motivation and enthusiasm, think often of your goal, about its advantages and benefits, and how it will change your life. Doing so, will strengthen and your motivation.
Your thoughts, which are part of your mind, possess power. The thoughts that you most often think tend to come true. If you pour your mental energy into the same thoughts or mental images day after day, they will become stronger and stronger, and would consequently affect your attitude, expectations, behavior and actions. These thoughts and mental images can even be subconsciously perceived by other people, who would then offer you help or opportunities. Your thoughts can also create what is usually termed as coincidence. They can attract into your life corresponding events, situations and opportunities.
Not every thought turns into reality. A thought has to be repeated often, and be tinged with desire, in order to come true. Doubts fears and worries tend to destroy what you build with the power of your mind. This means that you need to clear your mind of negative thoughts and doubts. You might say that this is not possible, but it is, through proper training, which you can find at this website, in the articles, and books.
The mind plays an important role in achieving every kind of success and goal, minor, everyday goals or major goals.
With minor or day-to-day goals, one usually knows what he or she wants to do or get, but when it comes to major goals, most people don't know what they really desire. They desire to do something big, but they don't know what. They might have a vague idea, but this is not enough.
To accomplish anything, and to use your mind power, you have to know exactly what it is you want to do. To focus your mind power on a goal, you need to have a clear and well defined goal. How do you go about that?
You have first to think or meditate, to find out what is it that you want to accomplish or gain. This might not be a simple step, and requires deep thinking, investigation and time.
After discovering what you really want to accomplish, you need to come up with a plan for action. You need to know what you have to do first and how to proceed. All of this requires planning, which means using the power of the mind.
After deciding on a goal and coming up with a plan, you need to hold in your mind a clear mental image of your goal. You need to see it accomplished. This step requires that you use your imagination, which is another power of the mind. Not everyone can visualize clear mental images, but regular training of the imagination can do wonders. You may, for example, look at photos of what you want to achieve, and then close your eyes, and try to see it in your imagination. This will enhance your ability to visualize.
At this point you have to display patience, self-discipline and the power to persist in your efforts. This requires a one pointed mind.
Affirmations are another useful mental tool for achieving success. What you affirm sinks into the subconscious mind, becomes part of the subconscious mind, and consequently affects your behavior and actions. If your affirmations are positive, they lead you to success.
Another important power of the mind is thought transference. You need to be able to transmit your thoughts to other people, who would aid you with your plans. Often, you have to persuade others to invest in your plans or to help you in other ways. It is not enough just to talk with them, you need to believe in what you are saying; you need to be enthusiastic and persuasive, otherwise they won't listen and won't care. You need to be able to reject your and their doubts. To be able to do so, you need concentration, control over your thoughts, willpower, self-discipline and patience. All these are mental tools and skills.
Motivation is another mental and emotional power that you require for achieving success. How can you achieve anything if you are not motivated enough? To increase your motivation and enthusiasm, think often of your goal, about its advantages and benefits, and how it will change your life. Doing so, will strengthen and your motivation.
Your thoughts, which are part of your mind, possess power. The thoughts that you most often think tend to come true. If you pour your mental energy into the same thoughts or mental images day after day, they will become stronger and stronger, and would consequently affect your attitude, expectations, behavior and actions. These thoughts and mental images can even be subconsciously perceived by other people, who would then offer you help or opportunities. Your thoughts can also create what is usually termed as coincidence. They can attract into your life corresponding events, situations and opportunities.
Not every thought turns into reality. A thought has to be repeated often, and be tinged with desire, in order to come true. Doubts fears and worries tend to destroy what you build with the power of your mind. This means that you need to clear your mind of negative thoughts and doubts. You might say that this is not possible, but it is, through proper training, which you can find at this website, in the articles, and books.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Mind Power - Windom of Positive Thinking
Perhaps the most powerful influence on your attitude and personality is what you say to yourself, and believe. It is not what happens to you, but how you respond internally to what happens to you, that determine your thoughts and feelings, mind power, and, ultimately, your actions. By controlling your inner dialogue, or "self-talk," you can begin to assert control over every other dimension of your life.
Thought for the Day
Your self-talk¾the words that you use to describe what is happening to you, and to discuss how you feel about external events¾determines the quality and tone of your emotional life. When you see things positively and constructively and look for the good in each situation and each person, you have a tendency to remain naturally positive and optimistic. Since the quality of your life is determined by how you feel, moment to moment, one of your most important goals should be to use every psychological technique available to keep yourself thinking about what you want and to keep your mind off of what you don't want, or what you fear.
Arnold Toynbee, the historian, developed what he called the "challenge-response theory" of history. In studying the rise and fall of 20 major world civilizations, Toynbee concluded that each civilization started out as a small group of people — as a village, as a tribe or in the case of the Mongol empire, as just three people who had survived the destruction of their small community.
Toynbee concluded that each of these small groups faced external challenges, such as hostile tribes. In order to survive, much less thrive, these small groups had to reorganize themselves to deal positively and constructively with these challenges.
By meeting each of these challenges successfully, the village or tribe would grow. Even greater challenges would be triggered as a result. And if this group of people continued to meet each challenge by drawing upon its resources and winning out, it would continue to grow until ultimately it became a nation-state and then a civilization covering a large geographical area.
Toynbee looked at the 21 great civilizations of human history, ending with the American civilization, and concluded that these civilizations began to decline and fall apart when their citizens and leaders lost the will or ability to rise to the inevitable external challenges occasioned by their very size and power.
Toynbee's theory of civilizations can be applicable to our life as well.
You are continually faced with challenges and difficulties, with problems and disappointments, with temporary setbacks and defeats. They are an unavoidable and inevitable part of being human. But, as you draw upon your resources to respond effectively to each challenge, you grow and become a stronger and better person. In fact, without those setbacks, you could not have learned what you needed to know and developed the qualities of your character to where they are today.
Much of your ability to succeed comes from the way you deal with life. One of the characteristics of superior men and women is that they recognize the inevitability of temporary disappointments and defeats, and they accept them as a normal and natural part of life. They do everything possible to avoid problems, but when problems come, superior people learn from them, rise above the, and continue onward in the direction of their dreams
by Brian Tracy
Thought for the Day
Your self-talk¾the words that you use to describe what is happening to you, and to discuss how you feel about external events¾determines the quality and tone of your emotional life. When you see things positively and constructively and look for the good in each situation and each person, you have a tendency to remain naturally positive and optimistic. Since the quality of your life is determined by how you feel, moment to moment, one of your most important goals should be to use every psychological technique available to keep yourself thinking about what you want and to keep your mind off of what you don't want, or what you fear.
Arnold Toynbee, the historian, developed what he called the "challenge-response theory" of history. In studying the rise and fall of 20 major world civilizations, Toynbee concluded that each civilization started out as a small group of people — as a village, as a tribe or in the case of the Mongol empire, as just three people who had survived the destruction of their small community.
Toynbee concluded that each of these small groups faced external challenges, such as hostile tribes. In order to survive, much less thrive, these small groups had to reorganize themselves to deal positively and constructively with these challenges.
By meeting each of these challenges successfully, the village or tribe would grow. Even greater challenges would be triggered as a result. And if this group of people continued to meet each challenge by drawing upon its resources and winning out, it would continue to grow until ultimately it became a nation-state and then a civilization covering a large geographical area.
Toynbee looked at the 21 great civilizations of human history, ending with the American civilization, and concluded that these civilizations began to decline and fall apart when their citizens and leaders lost the will or ability to rise to the inevitable external challenges occasioned by their very size and power.
Toynbee's theory of civilizations can be applicable to our life as well.
You are continually faced with challenges and difficulties, with problems and disappointments, with temporary setbacks and defeats. They are an unavoidable and inevitable part of being human. But, as you draw upon your resources to respond effectively to each challenge, you grow and become a stronger and better person. In fact, without those setbacks, you could not have learned what you needed to know and developed the qualities of your character to where they are today.
Much of your ability to succeed comes from the way you deal with life. One of the characteristics of superior men and women is that they recognize the inevitability of temporary disappointments and defeats, and they accept them as a normal and natural part of life. They do everything possible to avoid problems, but when problems come, superior people learn from them, rise above the, and continue onward in the direction of their dreams
by Brian Tracy
Sunday, July 18, 2010
How to look for opportunities
Searching for a job in a time of change needs a clear strategy
How should you approach companies during a time of change? Why would companies even talk to you? Where would you look? These are questions that job seekers ask themselves during such times.
The first step in such times of change is to accept the changes. Next, give yourself a time frame to talk to people in your industry whom you respect to get a sense of where your industry is heading and the relative prospects of working in different companies.
Networking
Networking now involves a more cautious management of conversations that focuses on the person you are conversing with more than your situation.
Ask: How are you doing? How is your company handling the current environment? Which companies do you think are best positioned to deal with the current situation? Who seems positioned to do well going forward? What work needs to get done in the short term?
Talk with two or three people more senior than you about their take on your industry and where and how your skills could be best utilised. Conversations with recognised mentors can help clarify your skills and strengths as well as help you ascertain where you fit best in the evolving market.
Small organisations
Some smaller companies are often looking to meet people who have left larger companies. You will need to sound out these organisations to get a sense of their business model, leadership team and financials and to see if one of them could be the right company for you.
IT, finance and operations are areas which need attention and people, no matter what is happening in the economy.
Career alternatives
Many individuals consider exploring career alternatives. Career transitions work best when there is some transferability of skills. It is easier to change either function or industry, but not as easy to change both.
Transferable skills
Skills such as IT, human resources and accounting can be more readily transitioned between industries than skills that are based on a subject matter expertise within a particular industry.
Individuals with those industry-specific knowledge bases are best suited to transition to a different type of organisation within the broader industry category. People sometimes also use such times to enhance their skills by furthering their training or education and business school applications generally increase.
The basic job search
The following questions you should ask and answer are based on the principles of a good job search and career management that apply at any stage in the economic cycle. They will help you to analyse your strengths and identify gaps in your skills set and knowledge that you need to fill.
n What are your key skills, assets and deliverables? Do you best express them on paper or when you meet people?
n Who do you know and who can you get to know, to give you insights and contacts in companies?
n What skills and knowledge will make you more marketable going forward? How do you best acquire those skills and knowledge in a specific amount of time?
n What are the needs of your industry going forward?
n What companies are best positioned to do well in the next year to two?
·Article by David Wee, managing director of Lee Hecht Harrison.
How should you approach companies during a time of change? Why would companies even talk to you? Where would you look? These are questions that job seekers ask themselves during such times.
The first step in such times of change is to accept the changes. Next, give yourself a time frame to talk to people in your industry whom you respect to get a sense of where your industry is heading and the relative prospects of working in different companies.
Networking
Networking now involves a more cautious management of conversations that focuses on the person you are conversing with more than your situation.
Ask: How are you doing? How is your company handling the current environment? Which companies do you think are best positioned to deal with the current situation? Who seems positioned to do well going forward? What work needs to get done in the short term?
Talk with two or three people more senior than you about their take on your industry and where and how your skills could be best utilised. Conversations with recognised mentors can help clarify your skills and strengths as well as help you ascertain where you fit best in the evolving market.
Small organisations
Some smaller companies are often looking to meet people who have left larger companies. You will need to sound out these organisations to get a sense of their business model, leadership team and financials and to see if one of them could be the right company for you.
IT, finance and operations are areas which need attention and people, no matter what is happening in the economy.
Career alternatives
Many individuals consider exploring career alternatives. Career transitions work best when there is some transferability of skills. It is easier to change either function or industry, but not as easy to change both.
Transferable skills
Skills such as IT, human resources and accounting can be more readily transitioned between industries than skills that are based on a subject matter expertise within a particular industry.
Individuals with those industry-specific knowledge bases are best suited to transition to a different type of organisation within the broader industry category. People sometimes also use such times to enhance their skills by furthering their training or education and business school applications generally increase.
The basic job search
The following questions you should ask and answer are based on the principles of a good job search and career management that apply at any stage in the economic cycle. They will help you to analyse your strengths and identify gaps in your skills set and knowledge that you need to fill.
n What are your key skills, assets and deliverables? Do you best express them on paper or when you meet people?
n Who do you know and who can you get to know, to give you insights and contacts in companies?
n What skills and knowledge will make you more marketable going forward? How do you best acquire those skills and knowledge in a specific amount of time?
n What are the needs of your industry going forward?
n What companies are best positioned to do well in the next year to two?
·Article by David Wee, managing director of Lee Hecht Harrison.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Say it with special effects
Trained as a lawyer at the prestigious Harvard Law School, and having worked as a civil rights attorney, US president Barack Obama is adept at thinking on his feet. But what makes him such a charismatic speaker is his grasp of rhetoric.
Rhetoric is the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively. Masters of rhetoric include Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato, British prime minister Winston Churchill, civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King and former United States president John F. Kennedy.
Here are some rhetorical devices used by gifted speakers like Dr Martin Luther King and Obama.
Masters of rhetoric include civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King. - Filepic
1 Anaphora
This is the repetition of the same word or phrases at the beginning of successive sentences. The best example of this is in Dr King’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, which is the world’s most quoted shout for freedom and equality.
Said Dr King: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Eight more paragraphs starting with the words “I have a dream” follow, sketching out Dr King’s vision of a future where blacks and whites can live side by side as equals.
The effect of this is to reinforce an idea over and over again.
In his victory speech at the iowa caucus, Obama employed this effect when he said: “You have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do. You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days. You have done what America can do in this New Year.”
2 Epistrophe
The opposite of anaphora, this is the repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive sentences. In 1863, President Lincoln exploited this rhetorical tool when he envisioned a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” In Obama’s Jan 8, 2008 speech in New Hampshire, he used the expression “Yes, we can” as an epistrophe: “It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out for distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can.”
The phrase became a victory chant on the night he was elected America’s 44th president.
3 Alliteration
This is the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables, and the purpose is to make phrases sound catchy, and hence, memorable to listeners. In 2005, at Knox College, Obama described America as “a place where destiny was not a destination, but a journey to be shared and shaped…”
4 Antithesis
This is juxtaposing two phrases in order to show the great contrast of actions. John F Kennedy famously used antithesis to great effect in his inaugural speech: “My fellow, Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; but ask what you can do for your country.”
Obama used antithesis to underline the theme of change in his speech announcing his presidential bid on Feb 10, 2007 when he said: “In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of despair, you believe there can be hope.”
When using antithesis, balance the number of words on either side and finish on a positive note. This will make your use of antithesis both powerful and memorable.
5 The magic of three
The grouping of things in threes seems to resonate with people — lock, stock and barrel; blood, sweat and tears; earth, wind and fire. Julius Caesar famously proclaimed: “Veni, Vidi, Vici” — Latin for “I came, I saw, I conquered”.
Obama also used this magical grouping as he promised to find Americans jobs “at a decent wage”, health care “you can afford” and a “retirement that is dignified”.
He added: “Today, I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many.”
In his 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention that brought him the attention of the world, he declared that, “there is not a black America and a white America. There’s the United States of America.”
In inspiring his listeners and gathering their support, Obama was walking in the footsteps of a long line of orators, starting from the ancient Greeks who used triple repetitions in their arguments to increase their persuasion force.
Article by Michael Lum, an associate trainer with NUS Extension.
Rhetoric is the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively. Masters of rhetoric include Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato, British prime minister Winston Churchill, civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King and former United States president John F. Kennedy.
Here are some rhetorical devices used by gifted speakers like Dr Martin Luther King and Obama.
Masters of rhetoric include civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King. - Filepic
1 Anaphora
This is the repetition of the same word or phrases at the beginning of successive sentences. The best example of this is in Dr King’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, which is the world’s most quoted shout for freedom and equality.
Said Dr King: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Eight more paragraphs starting with the words “I have a dream” follow, sketching out Dr King’s vision of a future where blacks and whites can live side by side as equals.
The effect of this is to reinforce an idea over and over again.
In his victory speech at the iowa caucus, Obama employed this effect when he said: “You have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do. You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days. You have done what America can do in this New Year.”
2 Epistrophe
The opposite of anaphora, this is the repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive sentences. In 1863, President Lincoln exploited this rhetorical tool when he envisioned a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” In Obama’s Jan 8, 2008 speech in New Hampshire, he used the expression “Yes, we can” as an epistrophe: “It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out for distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can.”
The phrase became a victory chant on the night he was elected America’s 44th president.
3 Alliteration
This is the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables, and the purpose is to make phrases sound catchy, and hence, memorable to listeners. In 2005, at Knox College, Obama described America as “a place where destiny was not a destination, but a journey to be shared and shaped…”
4 Antithesis
This is juxtaposing two phrases in order to show the great contrast of actions. John F Kennedy famously used antithesis to great effect in his inaugural speech: “My fellow, Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; but ask what you can do for your country.”
Obama used antithesis to underline the theme of change in his speech announcing his presidential bid on Feb 10, 2007 when he said: “In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of despair, you believe there can be hope.”
When using antithesis, balance the number of words on either side and finish on a positive note. This will make your use of antithesis both powerful and memorable.
5 The magic of three
The grouping of things in threes seems to resonate with people — lock, stock and barrel; blood, sweat and tears; earth, wind and fire. Julius Caesar famously proclaimed: “Veni, Vidi, Vici” — Latin for “I came, I saw, I conquered”.
Obama also used this magical grouping as he promised to find Americans jobs “at a decent wage”, health care “you can afford” and a “retirement that is dignified”.
He added: “Today, I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many.”
In his 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention that brought him the attention of the world, he declared that, “there is not a black America and a white America. There’s the United States of America.”
In inspiring his listeners and gathering their support, Obama was walking in the footsteps of a long line of orators, starting from the ancient Greeks who used triple repetitions in their arguments to increase their persuasion force.
Article by Michael Lum, an associate trainer with NUS Extension.
Winning ways with words
Before first-time US Senator Barack Obama delivered his mesmerising keynote address at the Democratic Convention in July 2004, the 42-year-old Harvard law graduate was virtually unknown.
Four years later, despite his lack of executive experience and his African-American heritage, he was elected the United States of America’s 44th president.
Apart from his formidable intellect, the cornerstone of his success was undoubtedly his oratorial skills, a gift he shares with other charismatic speakers like Winston Churchill and John F Kennedy.
President Obama’s oratorial skills is a gift he shares with other charismatic speakers like Winston Churchill and John F Kennedy. - APpic
Why makes Obama so charismatic? Why did Americans vote for him? Here is a summary of the key elements of his public speaking techniques, which you can emulate to enrich your presentations:
1 Give people hope
When your audience is facing adversity — financial turmoil, retrenchment, home foreclosures — lift their hopes. Acknowledge the situation and remind them of reasons to be optimistic.
In his inaugural address, President Obama inspired Americans to choose “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord”. Acknowledging the huge challenges facing them, such as the war in Iraq and the worst recession since the Great Depression, he told Americans: “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America.”
2 Project yourself as a winner
Even though you are facing difficulties, act with confidence that you will overcome the bad times. Project yourself as positive and healthy.
After his defeat in the New Hampshire primaries, Obama delivered a speech full of optimism that would rally his supporters. He said: “We know the battle ahead will be long. But always remember, no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change … there has never been anything false about hope.”
3 Use rich imagery
Help your audience to create mental pictures through your words. Employ all the five senses — visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste). Civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King was a master of this technique.
In 2004, Obama painted a picture of what he meant by the audacity of hope: “It’s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs, the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores, the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta, the hope of a millworker’s son who dares to defy the odds, the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too.”
4 Use figurative language
A metaphor is an imaginative way of assigning new meaning to things. During the Cold War, to highlight the spread of Communism, Winston Churchill described Russia as the Iron Curtain. When China fell to Mao Tse-tung’s Communists, it became the Bamboo Curtain.
President Obama suggested that the US would be prepared to extend a hand of peace to one of its opponents if it “unclenched its fist”.
5 Employ contrast
When Neil Armstrong first landed on the moon on July 1, 1969, he declared: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The juxtaposition of these contrasting images emphasised the lunar mission’s great technological achievement.
At his last rally at Manassas in Virginia on November 3, 2008, the night before the election, Obama stressed to voters that a better future was in their hands. He said: “Tomorrow you can choose policies that invest in our middle class, create new jobs and grow this economy so that everybody has a chance to succeed. Not just the CEO but the secretary and the janitor; not just the factory owner but the men and women who work the factory floor.”
His message of change resonated with Americans and won him the White House.
Article by Michael Lum, PMP, master trainer and licensed American Board of NLP and hypnotherapy coach.
Four years later, despite his lack of executive experience and his African-American heritage, he was elected the United States of America’s 44th president.
Apart from his formidable intellect, the cornerstone of his success was undoubtedly his oratorial skills, a gift he shares with other charismatic speakers like Winston Churchill and John F Kennedy.
President Obama’s oratorial skills is a gift he shares with other charismatic speakers like Winston Churchill and John F Kennedy. - APpic
Why makes Obama so charismatic? Why did Americans vote for him? Here is a summary of the key elements of his public speaking techniques, which you can emulate to enrich your presentations:
1 Give people hope
When your audience is facing adversity — financial turmoil, retrenchment, home foreclosures — lift their hopes. Acknowledge the situation and remind them of reasons to be optimistic.
In his inaugural address, President Obama inspired Americans to choose “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord”. Acknowledging the huge challenges facing them, such as the war in Iraq and the worst recession since the Great Depression, he told Americans: “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America.”
2 Project yourself as a winner
Even though you are facing difficulties, act with confidence that you will overcome the bad times. Project yourself as positive and healthy.
After his defeat in the New Hampshire primaries, Obama delivered a speech full of optimism that would rally his supporters. He said: “We know the battle ahead will be long. But always remember, no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change … there has never been anything false about hope.”
3 Use rich imagery
Help your audience to create mental pictures through your words. Employ all the five senses — visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste). Civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King was a master of this technique.
In 2004, Obama painted a picture of what he meant by the audacity of hope: “It’s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs, the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores, the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta, the hope of a millworker’s son who dares to defy the odds, the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too.”
4 Use figurative language
A metaphor is an imaginative way of assigning new meaning to things. During the Cold War, to highlight the spread of Communism, Winston Churchill described Russia as the Iron Curtain. When China fell to Mao Tse-tung’s Communists, it became the Bamboo Curtain.
President Obama suggested that the US would be prepared to extend a hand of peace to one of its opponents if it “unclenched its fist”.
5 Employ contrast
When Neil Armstrong first landed on the moon on July 1, 1969, he declared: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The juxtaposition of these contrasting images emphasised the lunar mission’s great technological achievement.
At his last rally at Manassas in Virginia on November 3, 2008, the night before the election, Obama stressed to voters that a better future was in their hands. He said: “Tomorrow you can choose policies that invest in our middle class, create new jobs and grow this economy so that everybody has a chance to succeed. Not just the CEO but the secretary and the janitor; not just the factory owner but the men and women who work the factory floor.”
His message of change resonated with Americans and won him the White House.
Article by Michael Lum, PMP, master trainer and licensed American Board of NLP and hypnotherapy coach.
Be a leader who cares
Many people mistakenly think that leaders and managers are the same. They are actually different because leaders focus on inspiringanddevelopingpeoplewhereas managers focus on controlling people.
Leaders and managers need to influence people. Managers rely on formal power while leaders rely on personal power to influence people. People can respond in different ways when someone tries to influence them — they can resist, obey or agree happily.
The problem faced by managers is that, too often, people simply obey and refrain from disagreeing with them because of fear.
Effective leaders are able to get people to accept their suggestions willingly because they tap into shared values and help people to grow. Effective leaders recognise the importance of building a collective identity because people who feel they belong to a group that gives their lives more meaning are likely to make sacrifices for the group and enjoy their work.
Creating a collective identity requires knowing what values and goals inspire people, and developing a climate where all members of the group feel a sense of purpose, are respectedandappreciated. Here are the core qualities of a leader:
1 Leaders inspire trust
Trust isacomplexphenomenonandits importance in workplace relationships is easy to overlook. Different types of behaviours lead to different types of trust.
Being competent and reliable is a good start if you want to be seen as trustworthy, but you need to do more if you want to get enduring trust from people and not have your intentions questioned.
2 Leaders care
The best leaders care deeply about people, their organisation and the wider community. They transform people by personifying integrity, compassion and authenticity. The best leaders preach only what they practise, inspire others to seek greatness and share their explicit and tacit knowledge enthusiastically.
3 Great leaders energise people
They are able to motivate people by being role models, acting with fairness and convincing others of theworthiness of the future they envisage.
4 Leaders recognise needs
An effective leader recognises the various needs of others and behaves such that he satisfies their need for dignity, respect and achievement.
To be motivated, people need to be excited about their goals and be convinced that they can achieve goals that may seem unattainable at first. Effective leaders are exciting and inspire their people to make lots of little sacrifices so they can achieve lofty goals and maximise their potential.
5 Leaders influence organisational culture
Every organisation has its own particular culture. you can think of organisational culture as the way in which an organisation operates and subsumes issues such as what matters to the organisation and how members of the organisation should behave and treat others.
Effective leaders know how to build an organisational culture that can get the best out of people in a win-win way. Organisational cultures that are meritocraticandharmoniousencourage people to do their very best.
Great organisational cultures make people look forward to going to work and perform at levels that surpass their personal standards, and make members of the organisation feel that they are part of a big family that supports and nurtures them. Great organisational cultures also lead to greatorganisational performance.
6 Great leaders empower others
Work is a major part of people’s lives. It provides people not only with a means to pay their bills but also a sense of identity. Effective leaders know this and therefore ensure that their people believe that the work they do is meaningful and that they have ownership of their jobs.
To empower others requires confidence that allows others to be great. Effective leaders empower people by giving them autonomy, allowing them to demonstrate their competencies, providing them with opportunities to grow, and making them feel that what they do matters to the organisation and the wider community.
The secret to effective leadership is not to manage your people. There is no need to control people because most people take pride in their work and want to make a positive difference in their world.
Micro-management stifles creativity, reduces trust in the leader and makes people feel unworthy. True leadership creates love for the leader, a desire to emulate the leader, and a passion to do things above and beyond the call of duty.
Article by Dr Gian Casimir, honorary academic adviser of Training Edge International.
Leaders and managers need to influence people. Managers rely on formal power while leaders rely on personal power to influence people. People can respond in different ways when someone tries to influence them — they can resist, obey or agree happily.
The problem faced by managers is that, too often, people simply obey and refrain from disagreeing with them because of fear.
Effective leaders are able to get people to accept their suggestions willingly because they tap into shared values and help people to grow. Effective leaders recognise the importance of building a collective identity because people who feel they belong to a group that gives their lives more meaning are likely to make sacrifices for the group and enjoy their work.
Creating a collective identity requires knowing what values and goals inspire people, and developing a climate where all members of the group feel a sense of purpose, are respectedandappreciated. Here are the core qualities of a leader:
1 Leaders inspire trust
Trust isacomplexphenomenonandits importance in workplace relationships is easy to overlook. Different types of behaviours lead to different types of trust.
Being competent and reliable is a good start if you want to be seen as trustworthy, but you need to do more if you want to get enduring trust from people and not have your intentions questioned.
2 Leaders care
The best leaders care deeply about people, their organisation and the wider community. They transform people by personifying integrity, compassion and authenticity. The best leaders preach only what they practise, inspire others to seek greatness and share their explicit and tacit knowledge enthusiastically.
3 Great leaders energise people
They are able to motivate people by being role models, acting with fairness and convincing others of theworthiness of the future they envisage.
4 Leaders recognise needs
An effective leader recognises the various needs of others and behaves such that he satisfies their need for dignity, respect and achievement.
To be motivated, people need to be excited about their goals and be convinced that they can achieve goals that may seem unattainable at first. Effective leaders are exciting and inspire their people to make lots of little sacrifices so they can achieve lofty goals and maximise their potential.
5 Leaders influence organisational culture
Every organisation has its own particular culture. you can think of organisational culture as the way in which an organisation operates and subsumes issues such as what matters to the organisation and how members of the organisation should behave and treat others.
Effective leaders know how to build an organisational culture that can get the best out of people in a win-win way. Organisational cultures that are meritocraticandharmoniousencourage people to do their very best.
Great organisational cultures make people look forward to going to work and perform at levels that surpass their personal standards, and make members of the organisation feel that they are part of a big family that supports and nurtures them. Great organisational cultures also lead to greatorganisational performance.
6 Great leaders empower others
Work is a major part of people’s lives. It provides people not only with a means to pay their bills but also a sense of identity. Effective leaders know this and therefore ensure that their people believe that the work they do is meaningful and that they have ownership of their jobs.
To empower others requires confidence that allows others to be great. Effective leaders empower people by giving them autonomy, allowing them to demonstrate their competencies, providing them with opportunities to grow, and making them feel that what they do matters to the organisation and the wider community.
The secret to effective leadership is not to manage your people. There is no need to control people because most people take pride in their work and want to make a positive difference in their world.
Micro-management stifles creativity, reduces trust in the leader and makes people feel unworthy. True leadership creates love for the leader, a desire to emulate the leader, and a passion to do things above and beyond the call of duty.
Article by Dr Gian Casimir, honorary academic adviser of Training Edge International.
Make it a rewarding search
The completion of an executive search assignment can often take several months, with many steps between initial contact and the ultimate hiring of the successful candidate.
To make the right decision, you need to know as much as possible about the search firm you are talking to, the position and the client organisation. This ultimately requires full and open disclosure regarding:
The nature and requirements of the position
The compensation package
Whether relocation is required
Pertinent information regarding the client organisation.
Be aware, however, that during your first conversation, when you are still being evaluated as a potential candidate for the position, the search consultant is under no obligation to divulge confidential information about the position or the client.
Only after you have been identified as a legitimate candidate should you expect the consultant to disclose more than the most basic information.
Even then, there are times when certain information about the client must remain confidential until the final stages of the search process.
Timely feedback
Once you become an active candidate, the search firm should communicate with you in a timely and proactive manner.
Based on his understanding of the position and the client’s needs, the search consultant should give you an honest appraisal and inform you immediately should the client decide not to proceed with your candidacy.
Integrity
Successful placements happen when the candidate has the time to make a measured, well thought-out decision. For this reason, the search consultant should never try to hurry your decision or put undue pressure on you to accept an offer.
However, the consultant should keep you informed of any deadline imposed by the client and the implications of not making a decision by those deadlines.
The best search consultants strive for more than just filling the position for their client; they want to help you make the best decision for yourself and your career. If you have doubts at any point, be open with the consultant and discuss your concerns.
Doing your part
The executive search process is not a one-way street. Although you have the right to expect courteous, professional treatment from the search consultant and the client, there are a number of things you can do to facilitate the process and advance your standing.
Be honest. Under no circumstances should you inflate your resumé, misrepresent your work history or “hold some cards back”. Also, be genuine about your interest (or lack of it) in the position. Complete and accurate disclosure by the candidate is an essential element in the search process.
Here are some tips to ensure a positive experience if you are headhunted:
Have realistic expectations. Understand that the process takes time and that you will be one of several qualified candidates.
Negotiate in good faith. Do not lead search consultants to believe you are negotiating only with them if you are considering offers from more than one organisation.
Be open to career interests and growth opportunities outside your current role and duties.
Use this opportunity to understand the market and listen to the consultant’s perspective on your potential.
Above all, do not think you have a “done deal” just because you develop a close relationship with the search consultant. Remember that the consultant’s job is to present the most suitable candidates to the client, and it is the client who makes the ultimate decision.
You get headhunted because of your reputation, track record, and probably because someone in your industry/circle thinks highly of you. It is a privileged position to be in.
Enjoy the process. It might set you off on a new adventure.
Article by Laletha Nithiyanandan, who has more than 28 years’ experience in recruitment, search and consulting.
To make the right decision, you need to know as much as possible about the search firm you are talking to, the position and the client organisation. This ultimately requires full and open disclosure regarding:
The nature and requirements of the position
The compensation package
Whether relocation is required
Pertinent information regarding the client organisation.
Be aware, however, that during your first conversation, when you are still being evaluated as a potential candidate for the position, the search consultant is under no obligation to divulge confidential information about the position or the client.
Only after you have been identified as a legitimate candidate should you expect the consultant to disclose more than the most basic information.
Even then, there are times when certain information about the client must remain confidential until the final stages of the search process.
Timely feedback
Once you become an active candidate, the search firm should communicate with you in a timely and proactive manner.
Based on his understanding of the position and the client’s needs, the search consultant should give you an honest appraisal and inform you immediately should the client decide not to proceed with your candidacy.
Integrity
Successful placements happen when the candidate has the time to make a measured, well thought-out decision. For this reason, the search consultant should never try to hurry your decision or put undue pressure on you to accept an offer.
However, the consultant should keep you informed of any deadline imposed by the client and the implications of not making a decision by those deadlines.
The best search consultants strive for more than just filling the position for their client; they want to help you make the best decision for yourself and your career. If you have doubts at any point, be open with the consultant and discuss your concerns.
Doing your part
The executive search process is not a one-way street. Although you have the right to expect courteous, professional treatment from the search consultant and the client, there are a number of things you can do to facilitate the process and advance your standing.
Be honest. Under no circumstances should you inflate your resumé, misrepresent your work history or “hold some cards back”. Also, be genuine about your interest (or lack of it) in the position. Complete and accurate disclosure by the candidate is an essential element in the search process.
Here are some tips to ensure a positive experience if you are headhunted:
Have realistic expectations. Understand that the process takes time and that you will be one of several qualified candidates.
Negotiate in good faith. Do not lead search consultants to believe you are negotiating only with them if you are considering offers from more than one organisation.
Be open to career interests and growth opportunities outside your current role and duties.
Use this opportunity to understand the market and listen to the consultant’s perspective on your potential.
Above all, do not think you have a “done deal” just because you develop a close relationship with the search consultant. Remember that the consultant’s job is to present the most suitable candidates to the client, and it is the client who makes the ultimate decision.
You get headhunted because of your reputation, track record, and probably because someone in your industry/circle thinks highly of you. It is a privileged position to be in.
Enjoy the process. It might set you off on a new adventure.
Article by Laletha Nithiyanandan, who has more than 28 years’ experience in recruitment, search and consulting.
When a headhunter calls
It often happens when you least expect it. Out of the blue, you receive a call from an executive search firm, wanting to know if you are interested in a position they are trying to fill for a client.
The opportunity seems promising, but you do not know what to expect. What does the process entail? How long will it take? Why have they called? Most importantly, how do you respond? As a potential candidate, what can you ask?
Search consultants endeavour to provide qualified candidates for clients who wish to fill senior-level positions.
It is wise to build lasting relationships with reputable search consultants who are familiar not only with the local environment but also regional and global opportunities. - AfPpic
Although contractual obligations exist only between the search firm and client, search consultants also build professional and ethical relationships with candidates, whom they may remain in contact with over a period of years.
It is therefore wise to build lasting relationships with reputable search consultants who are familiar not only with the local environment but also regional and global opportunities.
The most important elements are the integrity and reputation of the consultancy and its consultants.
If you choose to pursue the opportunity, ensure the ethics they practise in their client and customer relationships are characterised by honesty, objectivity, accuracy and respect for confidentiality.
Strict adherence to this code is a must and they should also abide by all data privacy laws applicable within their respective country.
The most successful searches involve a threeway partnership, whereby the candidate, the search firm and the client fully understand their rights, duties and obligations to each other during the search process.
Confidentiality
When you become a candidate, you put yourself at a certain amount of risk with your current employer.
For that reason, you are entitled to confidentiality from the search firm and the client organisation. To safeguard your confidentiality, the search consultant should:
obtain your authorisation before submitting your details to the client, after a meeting to discuss your candidacy;
contact you directly rather than through your assistant or anyone else in your current company;
not contact references provided by you without your permission;
not discuss your potential candidacy with anyone outside the search firm, and ensure that all employees of the firm abide by the same rules; and
caution the client to also safeguard your confidentiality.
It is important to remember that you do not become a candidate until the consultant has conducted an initial evaluation of your suitability for the position and you have expressed an interest in it.
Even if the position you are being contacted for is not right for you at the present time, you may still benefit from conversations with search consultants by being kept up-to-date on future opportunities that match your skills and experience.
Candidates who are not selected for one search may be selected for another.
Article by Laletha Nithiyanandan, vicepresident,Asia Pacific, Kelly Outsourcing and Consulting Group.
The opportunity seems promising, but you do not know what to expect. What does the process entail? How long will it take? Why have they called? Most importantly, how do you respond? As a potential candidate, what can you ask?
Search consultants endeavour to provide qualified candidates for clients who wish to fill senior-level positions.
It is wise to build lasting relationships with reputable search consultants who are familiar not only with the local environment but also regional and global opportunities. - AfPpic
Although contractual obligations exist only between the search firm and client, search consultants also build professional and ethical relationships with candidates, whom they may remain in contact with over a period of years.
It is therefore wise to build lasting relationships with reputable search consultants who are familiar not only with the local environment but also regional and global opportunities.
The most important elements are the integrity and reputation of the consultancy and its consultants.
If you choose to pursue the opportunity, ensure the ethics they practise in their client and customer relationships are characterised by honesty, objectivity, accuracy and respect for confidentiality.
Strict adherence to this code is a must and they should also abide by all data privacy laws applicable within their respective country.
The most successful searches involve a threeway partnership, whereby the candidate, the search firm and the client fully understand their rights, duties and obligations to each other during the search process.
Confidentiality
When you become a candidate, you put yourself at a certain amount of risk with your current employer.
For that reason, you are entitled to confidentiality from the search firm and the client organisation. To safeguard your confidentiality, the search consultant should:
obtain your authorisation before submitting your details to the client, after a meeting to discuss your candidacy;
contact you directly rather than through your assistant or anyone else in your current company;
not contact references provided by you without your permission;
not discuss your potential candidacy with anyone outside the search firm, and ensure that all employees of the firm abide by the same rules; and
caution the client to also safeguard your confidentiality.
It is important to remember that you do not become a candidate until the consultant has conducted an initial evaluation of your suitability for the position and you have expressed an interest in it.
Even if the position you are being contacted for is not right for you at the present time, you may still benefit from conversations with search consultants by being kept up-to-date on future opportunities that match your skills and experience.
Candidates who are not selected for one search may be selected for another.
Article by Laletha Nithiyanandan, vicepresident,Asia Pacific, Kelly Outsourcing and Consulting Group.
Manage stress effectively
IN my 30 years of corporate life, I have been able to observe and experience different kinds of stress.
Basically, in the workplace, the causes of stress can be divided into two categories: organisational and emotional.
Organisational stress
This type of stress can be the result of the following:
Workload: Trying to cope with excessive workload can result in fatigue and the fear of not completing a task. The consequences may be low morale, self-doubt and even panic, which can lead to an emotional response of fight or flight. This translates into bouts of anger or throwing in the towel.
Over-commitment: People who cannot say “no” often find themselves having to deliver more than what they are capable of.
Excessive demands: On top of a punishing workload, these demands or additional work responsibilities are usually made on an ad hoc basis and have a tight time frame for delivery.
Emotional stress
This type of stress comes from three sources:
The boss who keeps undermining you: If nothing you do seems to be right, it may be that your supervisor has a problem with low selfesteem and feels the need to show you “who’s the boss”. Alternatively, ask yourself if the problem is a breakdown in communication.
Uncooperative co-workers: One main cause of emotional stress is working in “silos”, where people focus solely on their own task with a disregard for other people’s needs.
Personal stress: This usually occurs when you bring personal unresolved issues to the workplace.
Coping with stress
Many experts on handling stress advocate turning to traditional practices such as yoga or tai chi, or learning breathing techniques to restore calm. All these are excellent ways to de-stress. Choose one that suits you.
However, in the workplace, there are some practical steps you can take to handle stress.
Target organisational stress
Prioritise your work and do what is urgent and important first: Look at what can be delegated and remember always to delegate according to people’s strengths, so that you are confident they can get the assigned task done.
Manage your time: There are many training programmes on time management that you can sign up for to help you handle your time more effectively. Or, partner with a colleague who is good at time management and is willing to mentor you.
Being able to say “no”: This is difficult, but sometimes you have to reject tasks diplomatically by making others aware that if “something else” has to be done, “something else” will fall off the cliff.
Target emotional stress
Clarify intent: If someone seems to be undermining you, it is essential to seek clarification. Sit down with the other party and ask why there seems to be a problem. You may be surprised how wrong you were all along. On the other hand, if there are some issues that need to be resolved, you have made the first step in finding a solution.
Seek support: If co-workers are not responding to a request for support, it may not be their fault, as they (just like yourself) are trying to cope with their own workload and excessive demands.
Seek management’s help. Some managers think that more will get done by squeezing the lemon. They fail to understand that better team interaction will deliver better results.
Manage personal stress: If personal problems are brought to the workplace, they will hinder you from working productively, which adds to your stress. Try to resolve these personal issues with appropriate techniques such as conflict management or seeing a trained counsellor. You will be able to come to work with a clear and serene mind.
If you follow these tips, your work environment will change for the better, you will be more productive and your stress levels will decrease — making you a happier and healthier member of the organisation.
Article by Bernard Bulens, chief executive officer of Ashmore International, which specialises in executive and team coaching.
Basically, in the workplace, the causes of stress can be divided into two categories: organisational and emotional.
Organisational stress
This type of stress can be the result of the following:
Workload: Trying to cope with excessive workload can result in fatigue and the fear of not completing a task. The consequences may be low morale, self-doubt and even panic, which can lead to an emotional response of fight or flight. This translates into bouts of anger or throwing in the towel.
Over-commitment: People who cannot say “no” often find themselves having to deliver more than what they are capable of.
Excessive demands: On top of a punishing workload, these demands or additional work responsibilities are usually made on an ad hoc basis and have a tight time frame for delivery.
Emotional stress
This type of stress comes from three sources:
The boss who keeps undermining you: If nothing you do seems to be right, it may be that your supervisor has a problem with low selfesteem and feels the need to show you “who’s the boss”. Alternatively, ask yourself if the problem is a breakdown in communication.
Uncooperative co-workers: One main cause of emotional stress is working in “silos”, where people focus solely on their own task with a disregard for other people’s needs.
Personal stress: This usually occurs when you bring personal unresolved issues to the workplace.
Coping with stress
Many experts on handling stress advocate turning to traditional practices such as yoga or tai chi, or learning breathing techniques to restore calm. All these are excellent ways to de-stress. Choose one that suits you.
However, in the workplace, there are some practical steps you can take to handle stress.
Target organisational stress
Prioritise your work and do what is urgent and important first: Look at what can be delegated and remember always to delegate according to people’s strengths, so that you are confident they can get the assigned task done.
Manage your time: There are many training programmes on time management that you can sign up for to help you handle your time more effectively. Or, partner with a colleague who is good at time management and is willing to mentor you.
Being able to say “no”: This is difficult, but sometimes you have to reject tasks diplomatically by making others aware that if “something else” has to be done, “something else” will fall off the cliff.
Target emotional stress
Clarify intent: If someone seems to be undermining you, it is essential to seek clarification. Sit down with the other party and ask why there seems to be a problem. You may be surprised how wrong you were all along. On the other hand, if there are some issues that need to be resolved, you have made the first step in finding a solution.
Seek support: If co-workers are not responding to a request for support, it may not be their fault, as they (just like yourself) are trying to cope with their own workload and excessive demands.
Seek management’s help. Some managers think that more will get done by squeezing the lemon. They fail to understand that better team interaction will deliver better results.
Manage personal stress: If personal problems are brought to the workplace, they will hinder you from working productively, which adds to your stress. Try to resolve these personal issues with appropriate techniques such as conflict management or seeing a trained counsellor. You will be able to come to work with a clear and serene mind.
If you follow these tips, your work environment will change for the better, you will be more productive and your stress levels will decrease — making you a happier and healthier member of the organisation.
Article by Bernard Bulens, chief executive officer of Ashmore International, which specialises in executive and team coaching.
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