Research on the neuroscience of positive leadership, to me, seems like the best idea ever! If you have positive leadership, creating a positive organizational culture, things start to take care of themselves, ROI, productivity fall into place. http://www.unc.edu/peplab/research.html
Brainstorming…Maybe Not The Right Path
In Susan Cain’s brilliant book, Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, `there is a passage which discusses brainstorming and the psychological dynamics. Turns out psychologists often identify three reasons for failure in brainstorming, social loafing, production blocking, and evaluation apprehension. Social loafing, we’ve pretty much all experienced it at some point in school, some participants kicking back and relaxing while the others do the work. Production blocking is similar except one individual is active/aggressive and the rest of the group is passive. Evaluation apprehension is what we’ve all felt at some point. We are afraid of looking stupid. While the three brainstorming outcomes are interesting, what they may not be is effective in moving a project in the right direction. Even more concerning is the research showing our minds are capable of re-framing what is the correct information into incorrect information if the group seems to be leaning towards a path or answer we are not. Clearly that ends in going down an unproductive path as well. Most of us have bought into the brainstorming concept and always assumed it was a proactive tool for positive project outcomes. Science tells us that just isn’t so. So whether it is a grant application, new product development, sales planning, etc. make sure you are implementing group work, not brainstorming as the difference will impact your success or failure.
Why Personality Assessments
What is the value of personality assessments? A minimal and comparatively low-end investment can unleash employees latent qualities or abilities which can be developed into ongoing greater success for the organization as a whole. Employees feel engaged in personality assessments. Why? Because it is an element that triggers the feeling of one’s own importance in the company. Testing allows employees to temporarily shift from the worker bee dynamic that is so prevalent within the workplace to the queen/king bee mentality . What type of assessment is best? It is all subjective. Professionally I recommend DiSC as it is not as open-ended and can better hold focus allowing for a better bird’s-eye view when trying to determine the overall quantitative and qualitative outcomes.
The Collective Impact Approach
The Collective Impact Approach, while originally targeted within the social sector translates well into business and manufacturing. Especially if the entity is experiencing challenges with individual productivity and/or peer-to-peer accountability. This happens everywhere but can at times be more prevalent within a union culture. The basic tenets of the Collective Impact Approach (CIA) are as follows: common agenda, shared measurement, mutual reinforcement, continuous communication, support from a central entity governing the process. These are all easily translated into processes and procedures already existing in the business and manufacturing world. CIA is an excellent template once the realization that individual parts can not be ‘fixed’ without addressing the whole.
Leadership Is Not Generic
The words ‘leader’ and ‘leadership’ get tossed around like there is no tomorrow. They have become generic, which is a disservice to the further development of leaders. That is one reason I am over the moon about The Harvard Business Review‘s post on the archetypes of leaders. It is worth a read if you are serious about moving your organization in the right direction… http://tinyurl.com/kn4v2co
Turning Your Back On Opportunity
Yesterday I was out recruiting at retail sites. Prior to my start I popped into a major department store for something I needed and happened to fall into a conversation with someone who recruits for the store. He started with “the pickings are slim out there.” I thought he was exaggerating. Now I am not naive. I’ve spent a lot of years working with people, businesses and nonprofits on the issues of employees not being engaged and re-engaging them. Still, I was overwhelmed with the state of the retail employees I came across. The majority of stores I walked into felt like I was surrounded by the night of the living dead. I was amazed at how many employees actually turned their back when I or other customers walked in…literally turning their back on opportunity. I’d put money on the corporate financial performance will mirror the individuals performance sooner rather than later. So my question is this. Why wouldn’t you operate in a manner that has you performing and leaving it all on the floor every single day. I’m not talking crazy, overstretched, running yourself into the ground, but rather bringing your best self, your best effort and best for whomever is signing your paychecks? Gut check…if you find you are among the night of the living dead folks, ask yourself why. No matter where you work it is important to remember this: You don’t HAVE to work there, you GET to work there. And if you aren’t bringing it and leaving it all on the floor at day’s end, do yourself and frankly everyone who works with you a favor and start looking for employment where you feel motivated and/or inspired to bring your “A” game. Additional gut check…are you blaming your employer, co-workers…for your lack of performance? If so, check yourself…you and you alone are accountable for your performance. Ask for what you need to be your best and if it isn’t available, no excuses, find an environment where it is. Bonus…For some great stuff (the above graphic came from there), check out https://www.facebook.com/ALeanJourney
The Benefits Of Multitasking Are Fictional But It Feels Good
Multitasking is something so many of us are proud of being able to do. We live in a culture that creates environments that are not sustainable. So rather than demanding more realistic environments we are predisposed to believe it must be our failing that all is not possible. The following is a great article on a media multitasking study done at The Ohio State University. It aptly conveys that there is a difference in the emotional boost we get from multitasking and the actual productivity that comes from it. Spoiler alert…no productivity comes from it. http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/multitask.htm
Morning Pick Me Up
In search of a daily pick me up? I receive these daily and have never been disappointed: Free Daily Quote for October 15, 2012 Monday Morning Motivation! “Stop looking at life through a keyhole…open the door to opportunity…get involved, and CREATE the YOU that you CHOOSE to become.” -Thomas D. Willhite Looking at life through a keyhole is a very limiting proposition. Opportunities for empowerment and happiness are hard to visualize through such a narrow window to the world. Open the door and see that your world is only limited by the size of your dreams. If for some reason you feel like you are having trouble finding the key…just kick it in. In Health, Dr. Bryan Schuetz It is the mission of http://www.Daily-Motivational-Quote.com to have a positive influence on as many lives as possible. Please share this site with those you care about and we welcome linking to your website. You are subscribed to Daily Motivational Moment. The back issues are at the following URL… http://www.daily-motivational-quote.com/Daily_Motivational_Moment-backissues.html
Being Rational Doesn’t Serve Well
I find the follwing quote validating and liberating. Einstein once said, “I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.” I came across the above quote while reading a blog post worth a read if you are so inclined, http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/08/30/11-sure-fire-ways-to-have-a-calm-and-peaceful-mind