Poem on Respect and Responsiveness

Poem on Respect and Responsiveness by M.W. Hardwick

    Idea for poem: Respect and Responsiveness are the keys to employee and customer satisfaction and they seem to be lacking in many organization–for example We can’t do that because of policy.

      R&R is key to brand perception.

      R&R are keys to your ability to look in the mirror. 

      R&R are keys to to leadership effectiveness.

      R&R are keys to long-term relationships and trust.

      R&R are free.

      Embrace and pursue the value of R&R

      R&R require empowerment and empathy…

     Where are they…Where are they… 

Daily quote and reflection: Power of Self-Efficacy and Suspension of Disbelief

 

Daily Quote: “It is very important to understand that change is not the triumph of heart over head — it is the unique intersection of both.”  David Caruso

Reflection: One constant in life is change. How we learn to live with change depends on our experience and mental-set. An unpleasant or painful experience may program your mental-set  to either avoid or see new experiences as an opportunity and a challenge. It all depends on how we perceive the original event and process it into our long-term memory. Some of my clients are bored or “stuck” in their marriage or career, or their lives in general. By remaining in their habits and status quo ways, they are denying themselves opportunities to see the possibilities in their life and fall short of their full potential. Self-mastery is knowing when to learn new skills or take on new responsibilities, when to hold on to beliefs that serve you, and when to let go of beliefs, thinking and behaviors that do not fulfill your potential and serve you.

Self-efficacy is the context-specific assessment of belief in our personal capabilities to organize and execute what is required so as to achieve the intended goal. It is concerned not with the skills we have, but rather with our control over our own level of functioning. People with high self-efficacy choose more demanding tasks. They set higher goals, put in more effort, and persist longer than those who are low in self-efficacy.

Self-efficacy grows through personal and vicarious experience, discipline, and valid feedback. Although usually considered in a single context, there may also be a generalized effect reflecting a person’s abilities across a broad array of difficult or novel situations. For instance, if someone is loved by a supportive family on the home front, then that person will display a greater confidence on the job. This will be reflected by peer and management feedback, which will, in turn, show up on the home front, perpetuating the cycle.

How can you better address change in your life? Here are some tips:

• Envision. Look at the big picture—what the end result will be. That way you won’t become so overwhelmed with the small details.
• See change as an opportunity to try something new or to do things in a different way.
• Do your homework. Find out all you can about what is changing so that it will make you feel more confident as it happens.
• Believe that no matter what happens, you can deal with it, and that in some way you will learn from it.

What are you turning away from personally or professionally that needs to be addressed? In the end, if you don’t make the changes in your life, life will make them for you.

Time management isn’t our problem–but our need to manage our energy is critical for success.

Quote: To recharge themselves, individuals need to recognize the costs of energy-depleting behaviors and then take responsibility for changing them, regardless of the circumstances they’re facing.

The lack of focused time and thus stress and burnout be an epidemic, but the problem isn’t in what we say. It’s what we do and how we set priorities and use a limited amount of our precious energy. For all the people writing about the importance of the “sustainable development” of our economy, how many are there worrying about the sustainability of our own body energy ? Research reports that a disciplined and focused lifestyle effectively helps in achieving more in less time. Don’t miss this excellent article by Tony Schwartz it provides a whole new perspective on how to manage and expand that valuable resource called energy. Take the self-assessment tool provide by Mr Schwartz to see if you are heading for a personal energy crisis. Good Luck and fun with this it will provide a reading on your ability to recovery and stay healthy in our fast-paced world. http://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time/ar/1

The Presenter’s Voice–Overcoming 7 Errors of ineffective Communication

” Communication between leader and constituent is at the heart of everything.” John Gardner

Process with Structure key elements: Process and principles trump techniques every time

• Deliberative Practice
• Curse of Knowledge
• Delivery and design Principles–Unique Connection

Seven fatal errors of communication– The biggest flaw with communicators is assuming that they have connected, their message has taken place. and people will know how to execute it.

1. People are listening and with listening the message has been internalized

2. People understand what was communicated–check to see if they get it.

3. People care what was communicated–Show people what is needed to be more selfless

4. People agree with was communicated–Communicator must over come cynicism and doubts

5. People are inspired and motivated take action on new ideas–Create support systems and models for change

6. People are willing to change their ways without evidence that it is the right thing to do–Provide facts and emotional reasons for change that overcome the fears of changing 

7. People are able to push pass uncertainty and doubt with only limited exposure to a message.–Need for continuous and frequent reinforcement of message by communicator

Daily Quote and Reflection: How is your Mental Toughness and Intrinsic motivation for achievement?

Quotes: “Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory’. Bill Russell

Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles”. Alex Karras

Reflection: So what is mental toughness? It can be defined as the ability to access and maintain focus and determination to complete a course of action despite complexity, difficulties or unknown consequences. Some say it is the will to never give-up or quit. My blog on MT was one of the highest viewed and most popular pieces in 2011. If you missed it take a look at thewick and find out how you can learn to be more mentally tough no matter the situation you face.

Action Challenge: Identify in what situations or with whom you need to display more  mental toughness. After you readings and more understanding of MT –What are you committed to do to become more mentally tough?  

New Poem–On Making A Difference by M.W.Hardwick

Poem:  On Making A difference

I can only do what I can do

The world needs more awareness and caring

What can I do?  give more time—

Some food to the food bank, volunteering and

Advocating for more shelter for the homeless

Be more kind and pleasant in my daily interactions

I will do what matters and what I can do.

I can give of my abundance,

And show others that I “walk the talk” of selflessness

I can can sit there and do nothing when others plea for help

But it will reduce who I am and reduce my connections

And reduce my happiness…

We all have choices–we can belittle and criticize

But selfishness is never justified

Caring has no limits

For it is upon giving we come together

Share your special gifts…

We cannot do all the good for others

And we can give and do more…

For our brothers and sisters need all the good that we can do…

Do it now…Do it now

For what the world needs is more kindness and healing

Through love..love…and more love…

Others are waiting…waiting…waiting…

Daily Quote and Reflection–Filling time or leaving a footprint in Life?

Quote: We exist only to discover meaning and purpose in life; all else is a form of filling time.

Reflect: Often wonder what it means to be free to choose your destiny because so many of us are just going through the notions. Life is so hectic we seldom take some moments of solitude and reflection to contemplate what this thing called life really means. How do you get your  centered and focused on leaving a “footprint” ? What drives your work and play in life?

Do you know the 5 Power Sources for Exceptional Presentations?

” Speeches are like steer horns.  a point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between”. Alfred E. Neuman

Exceptional communicators meet or anticipate audience needs. They meet or exceed expectations period. Exceptional presenters gather information on the audience before or during the presentation by asking questions. Their goal is to share relevant information and move the audience to think differently and to something with the new information. So exceptional presenters are aware that before an audience member can agree and use the information and insights being presented…they have to understand you and connect with your message. This is no time to use jargon or overwhelm them with your expertise. To influence you must speak to the them directly and clearly in commonly understood vocabulary.

So what are the five power sources that provide you with the ability to influence your listening audience:

1. Use classic structure for designing your speech so it is easy to follow and understand. Such as, parallel structuring–problem/solution, features /benefits, and compare and contrast formats.

2. In the first 8 Seconds–grab their attention and curiosity by surprising them with an engaging story, a powerful and relevant quote or a little known statistic or fact

3. Set a positive, safe and comfortable learning environment by listening to their ideas or experience about the topic to be covered by the presentation. For example if you are presenting on what it takes to be an excellent speaker. Ask the audience when was the last time a speaker captured their attention and motivated them to do something different in their life? Ask them to turn to their neighbor and share their experience and be ready to report what characteristics made it a memorable experience rather than a yawner?

4.   Early in the opening of the speech make the audience feel important (MMFI) principle of engagement  by paying attention to their comments or sharing some insight you gather during the “meet and greet” time before the speech or in an observation you made during the last speech. This shows respect and the ability to want to connect with them and their interest.

5. Get to the Point and Message of your speech within 90 seconds of starting. Repeat the message often and close by seeing if they got it.

Barriers to Communication Skills Development?– Learners Willingness or Abilities?

” The greatest problems with…older learners occur with meaningless learning, complex learning, and the learning of new things that require reassessment of old learning. “ Merriam, S. & Caffarella, R. Learning in Adulthood.(1991)

Communication skills are often addressed in relation to abilities – the ability to listen, to accurately convey information, select the appropriate channel and to speak to others with clarity, respect and dignity.  As a presentation and communication coach I know at times their is a need for improvement in skills, but more often than not, the issue is not ability; it is willingness (attitude) to be open to feedback and to try new things .  At other times, it is true that adult learners must sometimes “unlearn” practices and habits they have been using for years. This factor is called the “curse of knowledge” by by adult learning experts such as Chris Argyris  Yet in the final analysis, people often have the skills or ability to listen, ask effective questions and share information; they simply choose not to be open to change (attitude). 

What are your ideas about facilitating learning and change with Adult Learners?

Key to Getting Unstuck in 2012–Understanding”Locus of Control” and Choice Theory.

Trapped or Stuck?? Find your niche in the world by discovering your strengths and making your own choices. Are you an external or an inner directed type? Internals think they have more choices and can control their futures and externals think things are more determined by outside situations , fate and luck.

An acquaintance of mine talks about his first love for music and the Arts and yet continues to work in the automotive industry to support his family.  The more we talk the more I realize that he feels and thinks being “stuck” is just his fate. Suggestions for problem solving and opportunity finding are seen as an opportunity for him to play–” Yes, but… He is unhappy and feels stuck and trapped in a thankless and meaningless job because of his responsibilities as a bread-winner.  He is a super smart and very talented but seems sad and frustrated most of the time. He has always done what is right and mostly listened to others to find direction in his career. The kids are moving on to college and he feels life slipping by. He hasn’t had time to follow his dreams. He keeps asking me –what should I do?

I avoid answering this question because advice is cheap and he needs to make that decision; so as a good coach, I ask questions and listen so he has a sounding board for his frustrations.  The problem seems to be his powerlessness to make his own choices and his perception that external sources and situation control his life. He has been doing the right thing and following everyone’s advice except his own dream. He constantly worries about what others think about him and his religiosity of faith and God’s will be done keeps him stuck in the “status quo”.  So in my quest for answers I ask–What can Social Psychological theory tell us about these kinds of situations? My search leads me to Dr. Rotter, a social psychologist, who developed a framework called the “Locus of Control” and how inner direction for life decisions provides a strong basis for making life decisions.

Want to be creative like Steve Jobs?–Learn how to be Inner-directed and simplify execution.

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice”. Steve Jobs

Harvard did a six-year study on creative people. One of the big things they learned was that creative people do what’s called the Association Principle which means they associate and connect ideas from different fields and they apply those ideas to their field in simple and uncomplicated ways.

Steve Jobs was doing this his entire life. He once said  that a person who has a broad set of experiences can often see things that others miss. What he meant is he pursued a lot of interests that had nothing to do with computers or technology. For example, being happy leads to a more enrich life ground in purpose and creates impact music, films and design of Apple’s retail stores.

“There’s an old Wayne Gretzky quote that I love. ‘I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.’ And we’ve always tried to do that at Apple. Since the very beginning. And we always will.” —Steve Jobs

Kick-start your creativity being an observer of life and learn to see ideas ( Law of Association) that can help you in your profession.

The reason why that came to him was that when he was 19, he dropped out of college and took courses he really wanted to take—like calligraphy. His parents were like, ‘Steve, we really want you to go to college.’ From what I understand, his parents were pretty upset about the decision [to drop out], but Steve said, ‘You know, I’m bored with these mandatory classes. I want to take classes that I’m interested in.’

This curiosity applies to everything—the way you live your life, the way you run your business. A lot of people forget that in 1997, when Steve Jobs returned to Apple, it was only a few months away from bankruptcy. The first thing he did was streamlined and simplified their product line. He said, ‘You have to put your A team on every product.’ You can’t put your A team on every product when you have 300 products. At the time, they had something like 300 products or 300 iterations of products.

Within two years he streamlined that to 10 products. To this day you can actually take all of Apple’s products and put them on a small coffee table, which is pretty extraordinary for a huge and profitable company. ‘Innovation,’ he said, ‘is saying no to 1,000 things,’ so you can really focus on what matters. He already told us the secret to innovation. We don’t have to guess.

Our future depends on our ability to cultivate imagination, creativity and innovation, to foster social and economic growth, and improve our quality of life. So my question to you is–How can you become more creative in your business so as to simplify and make a difference with distinction like Steve Jobs did?

Daily quote and Reflective Exercise–Goal Achievement through Smart-Steps

Quote:  ” You go into flow when your highest strengths are deployed to meet the highest challenges that come your way” Martin Seligman, author of new book on well being and happiness called –Flourish 

Smart-Step Exercise : Goal Achievement = Clarity + Concrete + Compelling             

Step 1:  Get clarity by focusing on reality and strengths to accomplish goal  

Too often, we don’t really set goals – we just have dreams and hopes for the future. Some call these pipe dreams.   We don’t get clarity on what we want to see accomplished so we don’t commit ourselves to making them happen.  To get clarity, review reality the relity of your situation and resources such as time, money and support.. Then specific  a goal you would like to achieve in a specific time period next week, month, or year.  (example: I’d like to quite smoking and be healthier by the end of December.2011)

Goal to be accomplished –-I want:  ______________________________________________________________________________.

Step 2:  Make your goal concrete and tangible– Be specific.

When our goals are at 30,00 feet off the ground orvague generalizations we don’t end up ever commit to or take action on them . Increase the tangibility and concreteness of the goal, by asking yourself what the situation will look like when you have accomplished the goal or how you will KNOW when you have reached your goal.  What will positive results look like by such and such a date??  What matrix or measurement will show you have reached your desired results.

Success is to be measured by______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Step 3:  Get Motivated – Make your goal  a challenge but not too difficult that you give up before you start. Make goal realistic given your experience and skills.

It turns out, people are more successful, and achieve more, when they set goals that are stretch you but are not out of the range of possibilities.  Ask yourself, how willing are you to stretch to reach this goal or am I not challenging myself enough? In other words given your strengths and resources is this goal realistic?

Revise your goal TO REALLY CHALLENGE yourself. My new and challenging and realistic goal is_________________________________________________________________________________.:

Good Luck and keep us posted on your success.

“Worry less about cholestero

Daily Question and Reflection:: In Public Speaking–What’s more important: content or delivery skills?

What is more important content or delivery style?

Reflection. Of course they are both important elements of influencing others.  Yet I would say that content is more important because it is providing the audience with value in exchange for their precious time. If you don’t have anything meaning to say don’t waste their time. On the other hand brilliant content only gets traction because of an engaging and inspiring speaker. Poor delivery = bored and disinterested audience.. Some of the greatest ideas are obscured and not brought to light because the presenter did not connect to the audience or lacked credibility during delivery. It’s much rarer to hear about a great content-free delivery. Style and charisma alone can get you far, but will eventually lead to little motivation to change points of view and action taken in support of the cause or idea.

 

Daily Quote and Reflection: Things that matter in Life

Quote:

“In the end, just three things matter:
How well we take care of ourselves and others
How well we have accepted both the pleasure and pain of living.
How well we learned to just be… MW Hardwick

Reflection:  What are your three things that matter?

Fact: 80% of employees not involved or engaged at work. Want to change this situation?

In the past I have blogged about the chain for success in motivating and creating engaged employees. I have used SAS, rated last year as number one or best place to work and Whole Foods as models because they pay a living wage above their peer group, individual opportunities for growth through education and training and create pleasant, safe and involved workplaces. The results show if employees are treated fairly and with respect then customers will be satisfied and beat a path to their door. I have ask you to reflect on what a great workplace would be like and you respond with replies that essentially follow some of the elements Tony Schwartz in a recent HBR article. I think Mr.Schwartz has it right and wanted to share some of his observations and insights. He and other researchers have found  – That only 20 per cent of employees around the world report their excited and fully engaged at work. This group sees work as a “want to” not as a “have to”.  This 80/20 gap has important significance for workers, company and especially customers.  Mr. Schwartz says “It’s a disconnect that serves no one well. So what’s the solution? Where is the win-win for employers and employees? The answer is that great employers must shift the focus from trying to get more out of people, to investing more in them by addressing their four core needs — physical, emotional, mental and spiritual — so they’re freed, fueled and inspired to bring the best of themselves to work every day.” He identifies 12 elements for successful workplace that engages and respects employees. For example he talks about sharing the wealth and rewards of profitability with all stakeholders. This element would say to employees we ar all in this venture together “Give all employees a stake in the company’s success, in the form of profit-sharing, or stock options, or bonuses tied to performance. If the company does well, all employees should share in the success, in meaningful ways.” He cites  11 other elements that lend credence to his theory of how to go about creating a win-win environment for all. In this article you are provided with a standard to measure your company against. So get busy seeing if your company passes the test of employee engagement and if you are in a position of influence start thinking about what needs to be changed in your workplace to create an environment that gets everyone engaged and supportive of the organizations mission and vision. .