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Thought Tweet #430

by Rick Baker
On Mar 9, 2012

Thought Tweet #430 Role Mastery happens when personal Strengths are combined with 10,000 hours of hard work. 

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

The folks from Gallup concluded that Personal STRENGTH = Natural Talent + specialized, relevant Knowledge + Skill. It is generally accepted that people take about 10,000 hours to master skills. Putting those two together: people can master a business role if they draw upon their natural Talents, gain specialized Knowledge related to their role, and develop Skills through practice, practice, practice.

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STRENGTHS: People-Focused for Success | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #415

by Rick Baker
On Feb 17, 2012

Thought Tweet #415 "Only the strongest survive." That's not what Darwin said!

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Here's what Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Here's a link to an article about Change.

Plan Your Work & Work Your Plan

by Rick Baker
On Feb 14, 2012

Some business people Plan Their Work & Work Their Plan. These people feel most comfortable when they have spent the time to plan before they act. These people feel confident because their plan-then-work approach to business has been successful. They expect there is a good chance success will repeat itself.

Other business people Take Each Day As It Comes. These people feel comfortable about their abilities and see no need to spend much time planning. These people feel confident because their day-by-day approach to business has been successful. They expect there is a good chance success will repeat itself.

There is one more group of business people: people who are not particularly comfortable or confident. They, for one reason or another, receive no particular forward-guidance or positive-direction from their past experiences. They feel, at best, acceptance of today's business-at-hand. Similarly, they feel, at best, acceptance of the fact they will experience tomorrow's business-at-hand. They feel no particular need to plan. They obtain no particular gratification from work actions.

Self-development experts and business gurus teach support Plan Your Work & Work Your Plan

I am not aware of any business guru who teaches Take Each Day As It Comes.

I have written a number of articles on this topic...for example, Strategic Planning - Why Bother!

I know, and am fascinated by, a very-successful business leader who favours Take Each Day As It Comes.

I learn everything I can about planning.

Here are a few things I have learned:

  • Napoleon Hill may have been the first to write the phrase "Plan the Work and Work the Plan"...in his classic self-development bestseller 'Think and Grow Rich' (1937).
  • Experts have identified 'Plan' as distinct activity linked to the pre-frontal cortex of the human brain....Executive BrainSmarts.
  • Planning provides an opportunity to think through the possible scenarios and possible actions before they are performed...optimizing the use of talents and skills...and developing a mindset that understands we are not limited to accepting circumstances and situations, to a degree we can create circumstances and situations.
  • There are many ways to approach planning: if you want to inject some creativity then I recommend Edward de Bono...for example, Six Thinking Hats.

 

Footnote:

I just re-read Brain Tracy's 2003 book GOALS! [and I recommend this book]

In GOALS!, Brian Tracy provides the following answers to the question - Why Plan?

  1. To Organize your thinking about the key issues.
  2. To think through the Actions before you begin.
  3. To allow thorough discussion in order to identify flaws and say What if?
  4. To identify weaknesses
  5. To identify Strengths and Opportunities
  6. To focus time and money on those 1 or 2 vital things that are essential
  7. To save Time, money, and Energy

 

Talk About PRESSURE

by Rick Baker
On Feb 8, 2012

In science classes they teach PV=nRT.

As the Pressure goes up so does the Temperature.

Put another way - under pressure, things heat up.

Sometimes we see that in business. When the pressure is on, say because of a major-deal deadline or a market crash, people can get hot under the collar...or get all steamed up...or crack under the pressure.

When business pressures rise, some people do better than others. Some people seem to perform their best when the pressure is on. Others seem to perform their worst. 

How might we predict whether or not a person will handle pressure well?

How might we help people improve their handling of pressure situations?

Here are a few of thoughts...

Personality assessments, for example D.I.S.C., give 2 results:

  • the person's 'natural' personality
  • the person's personality we are likely to see when that person is 'under pressure'
And, 'programs' are provided to help people understand the different types of personalities and how to adjust actions to communicate better with each different style. [I know this does not do justice to the assessments...I am just trying to provide a concise introduction.]
 
I have found these assessments are of some value, however, I have not seen many people who have received lasting benefits. I believe the assessment reports are too lengthy and too complicated for most people...people find the amount of follow-up work daunting. So, they don't do it.
 
Dr. Sian Beilock wrote a book called CHOKE. That book presents some counter-intuitive points, which are definitely worth considering. Specifically, I agree it is dangerous to assume a high IQ is a benefit when it comes to working under pressure.
 
Another important area must be considered: innate Talents and personal Strengths. There should be no question, people do better when they are operating in their Talent & Strength zone. During the last 2 years, we have found STRENGTHSFINDER assessments to be very well received and very helpful.
 
It is clear - Leaders can help others do a better job of preparing for and handling business pressure.
 
And, today, this is a responsibility Leaders must take on.
 
 
 

Thought Tweet #403

by Rick Baker
On Feb 1, 2012
Thought Tweet #403 "But you've got to use your talent if you want to profit from it." Robert Collier (1926)

 

The Thinking Behind the Tweet

Two thoughts here:

First, Collier put the word 'use' in italics to stress the fact Thought alone is not enough...there must be Action. 

Second, and this is reading between the lines, when it comes to work - Talent and Action together do not guarantee success. Talent and Action must be backed by relevant Knowledge and Focused practice to create Skill development.

 

 

Thought Tweet #391

by Rick Baker
On Jan 16, 2012
Thought Tweet #391 "A person can only perform from strength." Peter Drucker
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
Regarding peak performance, excellent performance, & all other types of superlative performance - Spirited Leaders agrees 100%! Build on your STRENGTHS. Here's a link.

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STRENGTHS: People-Focused for Success | Thought Tweets

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