How successful people stay calm

A little stress can be good, it can motivate and drive us to get things done.  Too much stress is not good.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your emotions took over you said or did something you later regretted? 

If so, check out this article, it's contins practical ideas and tips.

Click here to read the article

Absorbed Focus

I was just reading about this concept, absorbed focus, and thought it demanded to be shared.

In my management training classes, participants discover the benefits of being strategic during their day.

Thinking vs Just Doing

The tough part is finding the time.  Rather than hoping it will happen, I encourage scheduling time to close out email, turn off the phone, post a sign for the drop-ins and instead, focus. 

Focusing on a specific task or making strategic plans can re-energize and put you back in control.

Want to learn more? click here. 

Put your game face on

That's what the group yesterday called it and I like it!

Before you walk into the office or the meeting, take a moment and check your face.  Are you frowning, squinting or smiling?

As you leave the executive, big-wig meeting, check you face.  Are you frowning, squinting or smiling?

You set the tone for the day, so put on a happy face!

Success vs. Mastery

Success is hitting your target once, mastery is being able to do it over and over again.

Mastery is about reaching not arriving...

I heard this during a TedTalk and thought about how relevant it is to coaching.  

If it's about reaching, then recognition for effort is even more important.

What do you want your team to master? 

How can you catch them reaching?

If you want to hear more about this talk, click here.

Visualize a better evening...

Idea of the month:  Leave your bad day at work
Some days it seems like everything we do goes wrong.  If you’ve had one of those days and don’t want to take it home and allow it to turn into one of those nights….try this.  

Write it down. Before you dash for the door – jot down some notes on what you need to look into tomorrow.

Clear your mind. Take a few deep breaths. Visualize the things that matter to you outside of work or how nice it has been to have or prepare for some time off.

Get up and leave. Once you've completed step 1 and 2 – leave. Avoid the temptation to check your email once more or stop by someone's desk.

Just leave.

From one colleague to another...

Want someone to improve?  Give them feedback.

Want to improve ownership and accountability? Have a team member give them feedback.

Start with simple, positive feedback.  Give each person on your team 5 cards (post-it notes will do) that sayGood Job! and ask them to look for opportunities to hand them to a deserving coworker.  

Encourage them to look inside AND outside their own department. 

Can you hear me now?

A gallup poll recently published these statistics.

Ignore an employees’ idea and they become disengaged.

This disengagement costs U.S. companies $450 to 550 billion a year.

Ignore an employees’ idea and they quit offering their ideas.

70% will not bother speaking up again.  (That’s a big deal because they are closer to your products, services and customers and more likely to have money saving, customer loyalty building ideas)

Bottom line: It’s cheaper to listen.

Give it a try.  When an employee pops by your office or cube today, stop what you are doing and give them your full attention.