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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Prevailing Moods & Gauging Character

by Rick Baker
On Mar 30, 2016

To a large degree we are defined by our prevailing moods.  They illustrate our personality. They signal our character.  And deeper down, our prevailing moods set boundaries around our states of mind and to a large degree govern our thoughts and actions. 

Our prevailing moods are illustrations of our predominant emotions. They are also illustrations of our abilities to self-monitor and self-regulate. They illustrate our emotional intelligence. 

It seems there is a very curious linkage between our prevailing moods and our ability to perform. While psychological studies may or may not confirm it, observations suggest that the extremes of prevailing moods can generate the highest levels of performance. For example, many deeply depressed people excel in their chosen fields of endeavour (Churchill and Van Gogh come to mind).  And we all know people with pleasing personalities who achieve upper-level success in their chosen lines of work [Gandhi & JFK come to mind].

On the other hand, often, we are fooled by apparently-positive personalities.  For example, Robin Williams regularly presented himself as a zany, happy person. Yet, his real personality must have been quite different from the character/persona he presented in many of his highly-successful entertainment roles. 

So, we can be fooled by external performances. Theatre entertainers, movie entertainers, and TV entertainers fool us all the time – that’s their job. Perhaps, many of our day-to-day associates do the same thing to us? Perhaps, it is wrong to think we can accurately judge personality and character by external appearances.  We know it is better to watch what they do than listen to what they say. [That old-admonition/wisdom has been credited to John Locke, Andrew Carnegie, and others...I expect it dates back much further than these fellows.] 

But, clearly, on its own watching what they do isn't a sufficient strategy. 

Regardless, even if watching what they do is not a completely reliable way of gauging personality and character, we must still do it. While we observe them we must maintain a level of trust in other people...giving them the benefit of the doubt...not all of the time, but at least most of the time.  With a trusting mindset, we must observe them – to confirm we have gauged them accurately. And, we must do more than just watch what they do. We must read 'between the lines' of what they do. And we must ask them the right questions, so we understand why they are doing what they're doing. This combination of approaches will allow us to get a far better handle on other people’s personalities and character. 

Tags:

Attitude: Creating Positive Attitude | Emotions & Feelings @ Work | Personalities @ Work

On Introversion

by Rick Baker
On Mar 11, 2016

While I recognize introversion is a key psychological consideration, until recently, I have not been bitten by any urge to write about it.  Now that I have been bitten by an urge, my first key thought is genetics must predispose some people to be introverts while some others are predisposed to be extroverts and everyone else is predisposed to live in the middle ground between introverts and extroverts. Perhaps, an easy way to think about it is to consider long-gene and short-gene options where matching pairs make you an introvert or an extrovert and mixed pairs cause you to be in the middle ground. If that is a reasonable proxy then about 25% of people would be introverts, about 25% would be extroverts, and the remaining 50% would be in the middle ground. There’s no doubt genetics is far more complicated, however, I can live with a simple model like that to describe the role played by genetics.

Accepting that simple model, I must have received a mixed pair of genes.

How do I know this?

Well, from an early age, we know what we like and what we don’t like. For as long as I can remember, I have found it easy to become consumed in my thoughts. Yet, at the same time, I have enjoyed being with friends, especially in team-competitive situations. For as long as I can remember, I have strived to being the centre of attention. Yet, at the same time, I have been shied away from the limelight of programmed limelight, the best example being school ‘speeches’.

Over the last 15 years, I have become increasingly interested in understanding other people. Particularly, I am interested in helping business people achieve leadership-team successes. So, I have read much about philosophical viewpoints, psychological findings, and the operation of that most-amazing creation - the human brain.

Before writing too much more on this topic of introversion, I am interested in understanding what others think about the topic, how they think it applies to themselves, and how they think their knowledge can assist 'self and others'.

When I gather this thinking, I will share more thoughts about introversion.

Tags:

Personalities @ Work

Bully Fantasy

by Rick Baker
On Mar 1, 2016

Troubled underdeveloped minds grind away, trying to rule their frightened little worlds. Oh yes, those troubled minds argue and assault...especially, when they feel trapped in their own sticky webs.

And, when cornered by a stronger, more-impressive bully we find them whining weakly or cowering in victimized silence.

But, most of the time they live the bully fantasy...parading bully-deviations...oozing bully-bluster.

Wrapped up tightly in their own fears, they eagerly gobble up the gifts of tolerance they receive from most of the people they encounter.

The bully fantasy is a personal-strength-fantasy…a half-believe in personal strengths and self-worth…a strength-seeking mind under never-ending siege…completely surrounded by relentless personal weaknesses…always losing ground…always fighting…losing…denial…internal turmoil.

How do disorganized people accomplish productive things in business?

by Rick Baker
On Feb 17, 2016

To explore this topic, I did some on-line research and found an interesting article that has fed into my thinking process. Below are some excerpts from that article called ‘Why People With Disorganized Mind Are More Intelligent’. The article can be found at http://www.lifehack.org/324803/12-reasons-why-people-with-disorganized-mind-are-actually-more-intelligent [COMMUNICATION MOTIVATION BY DIANNA LABRIEN]

 

Why People With Disorganized Minds Are More Intelligent

The clutter continues to accumulate—it has all of your life. You can’t find your car keys or your cell phone; you get in the car to go somewhere and you find yourself going in the wrong direction; if you have a workspace, it’s a mess; nothing is ever “where it’s supposed to be.”

You “suffer” from what psychologists now call “chronic disorganization.” But, what these psychologists also now tell us it that chronically disorganized people have higher intelligence and greater creativity. So, take heart, and the next time someone criticizes you for your disorganization, give them some facts to chew on. And here are 12 of those facts that demonstrate the high level of intellectual functioning of the chronically disorganized.

1. They score high on verbal IQ tests, often in the gifted range.

2. They have high creativity levels.

3. They have a broad range of interests.

4. They process information through their right brain hemispheres—the “creative” side.

5. They develop strong attachments to often un-related things and people.

6. They want to be around high-energy people.

7. They tend to lose track of time.

8. They have difficulty focusing when they are not interested or fascinated.

9. They are intuitive, extroverted, and feeling according to personality testing.

10. They must be learning all the time.

11. They think globally.

12. They may seem “nerdy” or “know-it-all” to others.

Disorganized people need to discover the truth and, in most instances, their own brand of truth. They may spend a lot of time with books and on the Internet. In school, they may be seen as nerds; to psychologists, they may be identified as having Asperger’s. They do not have a lot of patience for those who want to “follow the book” on everything. They research and think about how not to “follow the book” and are usually pretty committed to voicing their ideas and opinions—thus they can get a reputation for being a “know-it-all”.”

 

Now, there’s some food for thought. If you buy into those 12 points then perhaps you can buy into the concept that even disorganized people can succeed in business….and become well-respected business leaders.

Then, the questions move from whether or not disorganized people can succeed to the hows & whats around the thinking and actions that must happen to bring out the success embedded in disorganized people.

Be There, Be Positive.

by Rick Baker
On Feb 8, 2016

Sure, we can be distracted or negative but let's remember we have these other two choices: being there and being positive.

If you are not naturally inclined to ‘be there’ and ‘be positive’ it will take some time and effort to adjust your mindset into those zones. 

Being There: It is easier to 'be there' when you are curious, tolerant, and truly interested in other people.

Being Positive: It is easier to 'be positive' when you are genetically predisposed toward optimism, hopeful about the future, and creative enough to envision alternatives and possibilities.

Perhaps, you are not at this time blessed with any of these traits.

Regardless, you can become an expert at 'being there' and 'being positive'.

Yes, any normal human being can become an expert at 'being there' and 'being positive'. It will, of course, require some effort. It will require some thought. It will require some education - ideally, self-education over a patient period of time. In addition, it will require a desire to grow and excel as a person. And, a good sense of humour will help you along the way.

There is no perfect approach to developing the abilities to 'be there' and 'be present'. These abilities are built over time, by trial and error, and you will make missteps along the way.

It seems to me one of the most important considerations is 'control'. To fully succeed you must understand and (wholeheartedly) believe you can control yourself. To fully succeed you must understand and (unconditionally) accept you cannot control other people or situations. The more you believe in and practice self-control the greater your ability to 'be there' and 'be positive'. The more you accept the limitations around your ability to control other people and situations the greater your ability to 'be there' and 'be positive'.

To be clear - I'm not talking about 'fundamentalist' perfectionism...or about taking huge leaps or about making major sacrifices.  I'm talking about taking some initial small steps aimed at 'experiencing the moment' as an observer. I'm talking about setting personal desires/goals aside for brief moments...long enough to listen to one other human being. I'm talking about imagining another possibility that isn't laced with annoyances (or doom-and-gloom thinking). I'm talking about trusting others. I'm talking about thinking between the lines of other people's comments/actions rather than jumping all over them and proving you are right and they are wrong.

 

PS: Now this all makes sense doesn't it? I mean, it makes sense at least until all that adrenalin and cortisol kicks in.

Revisiting Perfectionism

by Rick Baker
On Jan 28, 2016

Black font - March 3, 2014

Blue font – January 28, 2015

Wouldn’t it be interesting if perfectionists would allow us to walk step-by-step with them as they perform their perfectionist role. When they are being the perfectionist - do they think much, or are they simply compelled to do...and do...and do?

It seems clear, perfectionism is either similar [or the same as] the compulsions experienced by people who experience obsessive-compulsive tendency or disorder. Their compulsions/rituals are performed to reduce anxiety…anxiety triggered by discomforting thoughts. Perhaps, likely, the discomforting thoughts involve fear of criticism.

When perfectionists think, is their thinking confined to ruts where thoughts keep repeating while actions are stalled?

Yes, [obsessive] thoughts are concerned with fear of making errors and [compulsive] behaviours are aimed at ensuring errors do not happen. Actions appear stalled, however, a better description than ‘ruts’ is ‘circles’ and a better description than ‘stalled’ is ‘repetitive’.

When perfectionists think, what are they thinking? Are their thoughts like those of non-perfectionists except more textured or broader in scope? Or are perfectionists' thoughts nonsensical or scattered or bizarre?

Perfections thoughts are troubled…worried about making errors, worried about the implications of future errors, and fear-filled.

To what extent are perfectionists’ thoughts being dragged along by feelings of need or worry or criticism? Are perfectionists' thoughts always dragged along by negative feelings? Or, are perfectionists' thoughts sometimes laced with positive feelings...or mania?

Perfectionists’ thoughts are consumed with fear.

To what degree are perfectionists driven to create? Is perfectionist-behaviour aligned with building value or is it simply driven by an extra-strong interest in doing things right?

Perfectionists’ thoughts are so consumed in fear there is little chance for creativity. And, building value takes a back seat to fear-filled actions aimed at doing things right…actually, doing things perfectly right.

Perhaps an in-depth understanding of perfectionists’ mindsets and thought processes would put us in a much better position to help them…assuming they need, want, and are ready to accept our help.

Yes – we need to understand perfectionism is an anxiety disorder. We need to help perfectionists learn skills that bring anxiety under control.

***

Or...for another post

Is perfectionism in business a dysfunction by its very name?

Is perfectionism a dysfunction that a leader simply cannot ignore...a signal that corrective action is a must?

In business, doing things right is a good thing. Like everything in business, there are costs associated with doing things right...at the least, there are the costs of time spent. And, perfectionists overspend their time. Others know this. That's likely how the label 'perfectionist' came about in the first place. So, perfectionists are inclined to spend too much time on things as they work to do those things the right way. That sounds conflicted.

Where does perfectionism end and indecision start?

Or - do these 2 things overlap?

Or - is perfectionism an exaggerated form of indecision...one destined to to thwart both good decisions and delegation?

Questioned another way...

Is perfectionism the antidote for decisiveness?

If so, as we work at doing things right in business, can indecision help us achieve better results?

 

 

Tags:

Emotions & Feelings @ Work | Personalities @ Work

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