Leadership Sounding Board

Personal Effectiveness Starts with GRACE

2008-05-26T15:51:42-04:00

I started to think about the elements of Personal Effectiveness and wanted to put them in an easy to remember acronym. The acronym started as R.A.C.E. but I didn’t think that was appropriate because as you experience greater degrees of personal effectiveness, you tend to experience a greater sense of peace and graciousness in your life and that spills over onto others as well. And then I realized I had almost forgotten that very important element which really sets the tone for everything you do – GRATITUDE. And so the acronym is G.R.A.C.E.:
Gratitude, Relationships, Action, Commitments and Environment.

Inspired by the notion of GRACE, I checked out Wikipedia and found this description: “Grace is enabling power sufficient for progression. Grace divine is an indispensable gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion.” [God is the name some give this power, and it could also be divine spirit, the cosmos, the giver of life, mother earth, or whatever you call that which is bigger than you.]

Today being Memorial Day, I would like to express my gratitude to the men and women who have gone before us that have championed ideas and beliefs which were not popular with other countries and other nations. Ideas like democracy, freedom of speech, women’s rights, human rights and self-determination. The men and women who put their lives on the line for all of these ideas, who built relationships with those they fought beside, who were in action, and committed and contributed to creating a new environment in which these ideas could live – they have expanded their character. Those that are still with us and engaged in fighting for our rights and the rights of others in war-torn countries, I salute you! You have inspired me and moved me to tears with your stories of helping each other, your courage in helping others restore some sense of order to their lives and your empathy and support for the victims of conflict.

Personal effectiveness is about this sense of GRACE, not about being more organized or efficient, isn’t it? Isn’t it really about character expansion?

How are you expanding your character today? How do people see your GRACE in the workplace and in your personal life?

Enjoy the lovely voice of Hayley Westenra singing this moving song about GRACE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pK4PtJiOPE.

Leadership and Sustainability

2008-05-23T15:37:11-04:00

"In the long run I know that it isn’t possible to keeping doing all the jobs I have to do in this organization but until we get past this financial crisis, I have no choice but to juggle the legislative activities and the trade show and the bill paying and the chapter meetings, and the newsletter…(exhausted yet?) And we can’t really afford to hire additional staff or contract out any of our services and we can’t cut back any programs or the members will not feel compelled to renew their membership dues. Our tradeshow funds haven’t begin to flow in yet and we don’t have enough to cover the payroll. We just finished paying off a lot of debt and it really drained the reserves!"

This experience of a talented and driven association executive with a staff of two raises several questions:

1. If you are totally committed to the organization and can’t take time for yourself, how do you regenerate your energy supply so that you don’t burn yourself out?

2. If the executive burns him or herself out in wearing all these hats in the association, does that really serve the organization? What impact does it have on volunteer leadership and what impact does it have on member program delivery?

3. What is the role of the executive in dealing with the concept of sustainability of the organization? Does the sustainability of financial resources have more importance than the sustainability of the human resources in the eyes of the board?

4. And lastly, if you are so busy dealing with things of great immediacy, how can you balance the longer term concerns, such as sustainability, with the shorter term concerns?

Tell me what you think and share your ideas about how to manage this situation!

Who’s Driving – Me or My Habits?

2008-04-16T07:55:00-04:00

A habit is something you can do without thinking - which is why most of us have so many of them. Frank A. Clark

The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. Samuel Johnson

We have 12,000 – 50,000 thoughts per day according to the National Science Foundation, and 90% of those are thoughts we thought yesterday! Most of those thoughts, especially that 90% are housed in the “habit center” of our brain and they allow us to carry out routine activities and to react and respond in automatic ways.

Our brain is like a computer – you’ve heard that analogy before – how powerful it is, how many connections it makes, etc. And like your computer which now has a zillion gigabytes of memory, the real working part of the brain which processes new information (learning, decisions, creative endeavors, etc.) is like the RAM in your computer – much smaller and very limited relative to the other storage memory. Even now, with all of the advances that have been made in computer science, we can still experience our computers FREEZING when we have too many programs open. And like our brains, sometimes we just run out of space to process information and have to shut down, get rid of some of the details, and the reboot, or regenerate ourselves.

So, to prevent too many brain freezes, our brain make connections between messages and creates a neural pathway which can be called upon to run automatically from the habit center instead of in our working brain. This frees up our working brain to be able to take in new information and make new connections, new thoughts, new ideas, new solutions and ultimately, new habits of thinking and behaving.

Habits are good things because they allow you to operate on auto-pilot while the less spacious part of your brain makes new connections. And sometimes auto-pilot works well. A good example of this is DRIVING:

When you are driving you can do several things at the same time – listen to the radio or a CD, think about where you are going and what you are going to do when you get there, look at the passing scenery, watch for signs or look at directions or listen to those annoying but helpful GPS directions, talk to your passenger….and you don’t ever really think about the mechanics of driving because it is a habit, something you do automatically!

Operating automatically when driving is very productive except when the objective or the context change. Have you ever found yourself heading for a meeting first thing in the morning and ,whoops, you went on auto-pilot and took your usual route to work, only to end up being late or doing unnatural acts to get back on track? Or can you remember the first time you ever drove on the left side of the road when you had driven on the right side all of your driving life? Did you white-knuckle it around the roundabouts, and have to give 100% of your attention to turning left or right? Could you do any of the things we were talking about earlier or were you limited to just focusing on driving and nothing else? The key is to be aware of when you can react automatically and when you have to make a conscious choice! To recognize who is driving – you or your habits!

From this example of driving we can take several lessons about how habits impact our ability to get different results in our lives.

When we think things are as they have always been, we go on auto-pilot and may miss opportunities to take a new route which will get us to where we want to go.
Changing habits takes practice until we can create the new patterns and install them in the habit center. Sometimes that means you are going to have accidents and maybe even fail until you have practiced enough.
Giving up before you have practiced enough will sabotage your getting different results.
You may not be aware of all of your habits until you realize that you are not getting where you want to go.

COACHING REQUEST:

1. Play with changing some of your obvious habits, just for two or three days and observe what happens to your thinking – put your watch on the opposite wrist, shower your body parts in a different order, sleep on the opposite side of the bed or sit in a different chair when you eat your meals.

2. Make a list of the habits that support your accomplishing what matters to you. And make a list of those habits which get in the way. What actions can you take to focus on the habits that support you?

3. If you want to find out with great accuracy how your current habits of thinking impact some of your choices, and maybe even discover a blind spot or two, take the FREE 6 Advisor Assessment by clicking here

Four Pillars of Personal Effectiveness

2008-04-15T07:29:00-04:00

If I were to task 10 people about how to be more effective in getting what it is they want in their work and their life, I would most certainly get 10 difference answers! And while we might have a hundred different routes for getting there – to being more effective, we could probably all agree that there is a need to be more effective, and this need is driven by many different factors that are way outside of our immediate control! Things like the speed of change, the rapid expansion of the global marketplace, the impact of technology on everything we do, mergers and acquisitions, corporate failures and mind-blowing opportunities. All of these things are colliding in my world right now and demanding that I expand my capacity on many fronts even if just to comprehend what they might mean for me and my organization!

So, expanding capacity is the name of the game! And all of this is happening while exciting new discoveries are being made in how the brain works and how we can actually make changes in how we approach using the brain. If we assume that they way we think is just the way it is, and that we just have to learn new behaviors to get us where we want to go, we will be missing a significant player in this game of effectiveness!

What do I mean by personal effectiveness? I say that personal effectiveness is leveraging your time, skills and personal resources to get more of what you want for yourself – for fulfilling on what is important for you.

What of you could leverage 100% of those resources to what is most important for you in the moment? (Did I hear a big sigh of relief at that concept or did I feel a big wall of skepticism that 100% focus on one thing in the moment is a thing of the distant past?!) This focus is what athletes refer to as “being in the zone”, being in a frictionless state where you are just gliding and riding with the natural flow! It is like being a scuba diver on a reef and going with the flow of the current over the coral heads. Like being a rower on the water and getting with the swing! There is no thrashing or struggling, just clearing the mind and staying relaxed and flexible!

And when you are in the flow, there is no inappropriate responses – no overreacting or under reacting! Anything which causes you to overreact or under react are going to make you less effective.

Coaching Request:
You might want to notice today how many times the frustration or upset about something steals valuable time from you.

Take a few minutes to remember when you were last “in the flow”. How would you describe the impact that had on you and on others around you? How would people describe you when you are “in the flow”?

As we look at the Four Pillars of Personal Effectiveness in subsequent blog posts, we will look at:

An understanding of the work habits that you can develop or refine to support you in getting more of what you want;
Discover ways of thinking that may be sabotaging your effectiveness and maybe even uncover some blind spots! and
Become aware of some resources and tools you can use on those areas that are not working for you

A client I have been working with on these four pillars told me in a recent coaching call:

“…what has been going on is like finding out that I have a whole new wing on my house that I didn’t even know was there! There are more rooms [capacity] and closets [resources] that I can use and I don’t to stay constrained and locked into how I used to do things.”

And this is why I do what I do – it is my commitment to working with people who have spent years building an organization or a career and they don’t want to see it all go down the tubes or up in smoke when the circumstances around them change. It is your birthright to have it all – success, recognition, fulfillment, balance, good relationships and just generally to enjoy the fruits of your labor! And I have dedicated my work to helping people have breakthroughs so they can do just that!

Recommended Related Reading

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi

Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi

Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi

Procrastination: Are you a “Now? or a “Not Now” Person?

2008-04-14T21:12:00-04:00

“It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.” Henry Ford

“Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the 'someday I'll' philosophy.” Denis Waitley

“Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.” Lord Chesterfield

“Wasted days can never be recalled.” Anon

What do we procrastinate about? Here is what several people I asked told me: cleaning house, doing home repairs, doing my exercises, doing my taxes, filing expense reports, following up from meetings and telephone calls, following up on leads and inquiries, handling the mail, making phone calls, paying bills, replacing light bulbs, sending thank you cards, work projects, and writing my dissertation. We procrastinate about all kinds of stuff, big and small!

One person told me about someone who inspired her. She is a "Now" person.

As soon as she has something to do, she turns right to it and does it now. That has an impact on others, sometimes positive and sometimes negative. It provides a jump start to any project that she was involved with and provides others with a clearer picture of what else might be needed to complete the project. It brings up faster questions and issues which had not been considered and the team working on a project can deal with these things earlier so it speeds up the progress toward completion. Of course it also irritates those people that are the "Not Now" people! You know, the kind of people who may be like you and me and say "I'll get to it later after I do these other four tasks that I also don't want to do but doing them is better than doing what I should be doing!"

We laugh but those of us in the "Not now" category know that we pay a price. We think about the thing we are procrastinating about much more than we would if we just did it now; we use valuable energy in tolerating what we haven't taken care of; we get anxious when it comes down to the wire; we can't trust ourselves to do what we say we will do; we don't do the job the way we know we could do it because we run out of time, and we beat ourselves up for being lazy or, worse, for being a loser!

So how can you get beyond whatever it is that is stopping you from being the "Now" person, at least in some areas of your life? We have just past one of the all time excuses for procrastination: tax time! I decided to follow some of the tips below and complete my taxes and this posting several hours in advance of my self-imposed deadline! I am looking forward to being able to relax in the hot tub tonight as my reward - a normal evening! To get moving on this I spoke with several people and got some good ideas about this topic. I love talking with people and this was an easy first step in getting the project done. I am busy on this project as my husband is busy cleaning up the aftermath of the taxes, of course, and it is always more fun to work on projects with other people. And, I am having fun with this topic since it is one of those gremlins that is ever present in my life!! Look at the list below and see if there is something there that will make a difference in how you handle a project this week!

Find the thing that inspires you. Is it the results you will get when you do what you should do? Is it fulfilling on a dream that is built one step at a time? Is it making a contribution to others' health and well-being? Is it the adrenaline that rushes through your brain when you consummate a deal or accomplish the project? So then take the first step toward that inspiration! The first step is always the hardest!
Re-evaluate what it is you do. Find someone to partner with so that you can use your best talents and skills and they can use theirs. Or integrate something you really love into the flow of the activity, maybe a passion for singing, or bird watching, or the interaction with others.
Team up with someone. Find someone that will remind you about what it is you really want and what it is you are committed to. Work in an office where other people are busy. Seeing others at work may help you focus. If you work on your own, go to the library, or rent an executive suite or a studio in a building full of artists. Find a support group or professional group to stimulate your ideas and help you overcome whatever it is that stops you.
Make it Fun! Make it a game. The attitude you choose will make all the difference! Incorporate play into every phone call or activity. Lighten up. Ask others what they do to make things fun and playful. Wear a funny hat or clown's nose when you are doing something boring or way too serious. Be silly and laugh just to laugh.
Know when to get help! When the tough challenges arise, decide how long you are going to struggle and then call someone and ask them for ideas. Or walk away from the task at hand and leave it for a while. Come back to it later with a fresh mind and new perspective.

Be a "Now" person and don't let your past dictate who you are in this moment! Working with a coach can help you to tap the things that get you moving, and tip the scales in favor of being more "Now" than "Not Now"! With your coach, you will look for the inspiration and craft a lot of first steps towards the things that make a difference in your life!

Coaching with Pegotty - a leader responds

2008-04-11T12:16:00-04:00

I recently asked a client what they had taken away from their coaching experience. Their response was so wonderful, I simply have to share it here.

What have I taken away from the coaching?

I can talk to anyone about anything – something I felt very uncomfortable with before the 6 Advisor program. I thought I had to be able to create conversations – and now I can by stepping into their world and using the tools available through the program.

I am putting myself first and learning that when my needs are taken care of, I am in a much better position to be there for the staff, the board members and the people that are most important in my life. Something that was impossible when I listened to my unbalanced advisors.

And I have learned how to be an effective leader, to spend some of the time out of the weeds and in the hovercraft, pointing in the right direction, shouting words of encouragement and identifying when more resources or information are needed. Pegotty’s coaching and experience in this area has been invaluable.

I have found the coaching process to be so effective that I have encouraged and funded the coaching for the three directors who make up the management team.

DF, Executive Director, National Credentialing Organization