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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #400

by Rick Baker
On Jan 27, 2012
Thought Tweet #400 "Focusing on what to do rather than how to do it can help prevent cracking under stress." Sian Beilock
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
Beilock explains: Focusing on what to do is a strategy focus while focusing on how to do it is a technique focus. When under pressure, some people get messed up when they focus on how things are done.

Tags:

Brain: about the Human Brain | Emotions & Feelings @ Work | Thought Tweets

Do you have a "SELLING PURPOSE"?

by Rick Baker
On Jan 26, 2012

Business Leaders: do you have a Selling Purpose?

Here is the way Spencer Johnson1 presented this concept in 1985:

"MY SELLING PURPOSE

is to help people get

the good feelings they want

about what they bought

and about themselves."

He went on to add:

"I quickly reduce my stress

because I no longer try

to get people to do

what they don't want to do.

When I sell On Purpose,

it's like swimming downstream."

(I did not add the underlining...that was in the book.)

Now, that advice can apply to:

  1. Sales people,
  2. Leaders,
  3. Everyone who wants to sell an idea, &
  4. Everyone who wants to inspire other People.
I propose it be applied to all 4.
 
Leaders need Purpose...and they should do things On Purpose.
 
Leaders need to explain their Purpose to the People who are following. And, Leaders need to repeat, repeat, repeat...ideally, using sticky stories.
 
Leaders should aim to have less stress...that applies to them and to their followers...that only makes good sense...Right? Purposeful, focused action generates less stress than haphazard, unfocused fire-fighting...Right?
 
And, the bottom line...
 
People want to feel good.
 
 
Footnote:
  1. 'The One Minute Sales Person', Spencer Johnson (1985)
 
 
 

 

What to do when Confidence slips

by Rick Baker
On Jan 24, 2012

I was about 30 years old when I learned that specific actions can be taken to build Confidence. I learned this from books, not directly from people.

Perhaps, that's unusual? Perhaps, most people learn about plans and actions for Confidence at a much earlier age? Perhaps, most people learn about plans and actions for Confidence through direct conversations with other people?

I did not...plans and actions for Confidence building just wasn't something people I knew discussed. And, it wasn't something I thought through and figured out on my own.

Likely, my experience is not singular; I expect some, perhaps many, people do not know planned actions can bolster Confidence.

This Thought Post is for those people...and for others who may need a reminder.

There are many ways to build Confidence.

Here is a summary-introduction to one example, from the work of Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Les Hewitt in their book 'The Power of Focus', (2000)1.

Six Confidence-Building Strategies

  1. Every day remind yourself that you did some things well: give yourself a mental pep talk at the beginning of the day
  2. Read inspiring biographies and autobiographies: build a file of the stories that inspire you most
  3. Be thankful: focus on the benefits you already enjoy
  4. Build excellent support around you: excellent relationships will boost you
  5. Push yourself to accomplish short-term goals: get things done
  6. Do something for yourself every week: celebrate your accomplishments
***
 
Confidence is one of Spirited Leaders Values. When Confidence is healthy good things happen.
 
Here is a link to Spirited Leaders' definition of Confidence.
 
Here is a link to one of our favourite inspiring stories about Confidence.
 
 
Footnote:

Wages in the world of work

by Rick Baker
On Jan 17, 2012

As part of our BIG PICTURE, Spirited Leaders has 5 Values

One of those 5 Values is: Labours of Enjoyment & Enthusiasm

In simple words, we want our People to at least enjoy their work.

Why?

We have several reasons, here are 3:

  1. work Enjoyment means People are putting their Strengths to productive use,
  2. work Enjoyment paves the path for work Enthusiasm, which in turn paves the path for work Passion, and
  3. work Enjoyment results in full wages.
Full Wages...what does that mean?
 
It means People, in return for their work, receive much more than money.
 
In the 100-year-old words of James Allen1, People receive "the completion of wages in its sevenfold fullness as follows:
  1. Money
  2. Usefullness
  3. Excellence
  4. Power
  5. Independence
  6. Honor
  7. Happiness"
Now, James Allen had strong thoughts about People and work. He wrote, "Work is of two kinds - it is either loving labor or enforced slavery". At one end of the spectrum, Allen described working People as slaves. At the other end of the spectrum he described working People as true workers. And, he didn't see much middle ground.
 
That's not the way we see working People.
 
We see working People experiencing a range of feelings about work. People's feelings at and about work change frequently. People's feelings at and about work tend to fluctuate within a range. We use a Minus10-to-Plus10 Scale to describe and measure People's feelings at and about work.
 
Our goal is to help People feel good about work...that is, at least Enjoy their work. Using our Minus10-to-Plus10 Scale, that means People score on average at least Plus4.
 
When People score at least Plus4 their enjoyment is contagious...
 
That's why we Value it!
 
 
Footnotes:
  1. James Allen - an excerpt from his book 'Men And Systems' (1914)
  2. link to a friend's thoughts about Workplace Passion

Thought Tweet #389

by Rick Baker
On Jan 12, 2012
Thought Tweet #389 "The terms balance and restraint rarely come up as descriptors of powerful people…"
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
"The terms balance and restraint rarely come up as descriptors of powerful people or are cited as reasons for their success." That's what Dirk Schlimm said in his book 'Influencing Powerful People' (2010)

Tags:

Emotions & Feelings @ Work | Leaders' Thoughts | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #385

by Rick Baker
On Jan 6, 2012
Thought Tweet #385 Workplace High-Pressure: does it cut the feet out from under your smartest people?
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
A high IQ doesn’t mean a high ability to work under stress. In fact, it is possible the opposite is true. Do you assume smart folks operate smart when the pressure is on? If so, perhaps, when the pressure is on people disappoint you.

Tags:

Emotions & Feelings @ Work | Thought Tweets

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.