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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #685

by Rick Baker
On Mar 1, 2013

Thought Tweet #685 Presumably, complaining about other people is gratifying...it fills a need.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Why do people complain about the actions of another person?

Presumably, the answer is - complaining about other people is gratifying, it fills a need. But, what exactly is that need?

And, does complaining about other people satisfy a single need? Or, does the need-satisfaction vary with the person who is the topic of complaint?

Self-monitoring: the next time you're about to complain about another person, stop and think. Ask yourself, "Why do this person's actions make me want to complain?" "What will happen if I delay complaining about this person for 15 minutes? Or, 1 hour? Or, 1 day?" "What gratification will I sacrifice if I delay or refuse to allow myself to complain about this person?"

Thought Tweet #684

by Rick Baker
On Feb 28, 2013

Thought Tweet #684 Abundance - seems to me Abundance is the ability to control your thoughts...What do you think?

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Abundance is the ability to control your thoughts...and this is easier if you have good health, a level of intelligence, and a level of financial comfort. 

Tags:

Abundance | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #683

by Rick Baker
On Feb 27, 2013

Thought Tweet #683 It seems to me a person needs 3 things to excel in the world of business: Intelligence, Self-Control, & Drive. Do you agree?

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Business Contains Only 3 Things: People, Process, & Situations. [That's a key piece of Spirited Leaders' philosophy]

People who excel possess: Intelligence, Self-Control, & Drive.

Thought Tweet #682

by Rick Baker
On Feb 26, 2013

Thought Tweet #682 Negative feedback works when it is well-packed and the recipient of it has high self-confidence.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

That's the good news.

Here's a picture of the not-so-good news...

Tags:

Criticism: Constructive Criticism is an Oxymoron | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #681

by Rick Baker
On Feb 25, 2013

Thought Tweet #681 Does leadership mean delicate hands at the controls? Sometimes, Yes; Sometimes, Definitely NO. 

 


The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Most of the time - 99% of the time - Leaders should be supportive. Why? Because constructive criticism is an oxymoron

Most of the time - let's think in terms of a bell curve, so about 2/3 of the time - Leaders need to be in the clear-to-assertive range. That does not mean aggressive...it means assertive. In the clear-to-assertive range - Leaders need to be unemotional, concise, emphatic, and firm...but not intimidating or aggressive.

Sometimes, Leaders need to be very firm...so firm, others may find them aggressive. Here's an example: say you are a leader and one of the people you lead is an office bully; say you have exhausted all clear-to-assertive methods and the office bully does not correct his or her behaviour. In this scenario, you may find a very firm, even aggressive reaction is the only way to remedy the unacceptable bully-behaviour.

Perhaps, natural-born leaders can perform like this without pre-thought or planning...'ad-libbing'. I wouldn't rely on ad-libbing. I recommend thinking about tough situations in advance - thinking about the scenarios that could happen when the office bully is around:

  • planning your Leadership response; 
  • planning whether or not you will respond in a firm-aggressive; 
  • thinking through exactly how you will do that; 
  • thinking about how you will control your emotions so you will be in control of the situation;
  • choosing your words and body language in advance;
  • practicing, as required, to ensure you perform at your best

When you are delivering firm-aggressive messages you are not being constructive...at least, the recipient of your message will not feel or think you are being constructive. However, sometimes, a ruling with an iron fist is the only way to control a bully. 

Bullies are asking for iron-fist assertive leadership.

They are crying out for it.

Take care though - you must deliver it to bullies properly.

Thought Tweet #680

by Rick Baker
On Feb 22, 2013

Thought Tweet #680 The Earth must be the centre of the Universe.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

After all, until proven otherwise, it is only we on Earth who perceive the Universe. Without us, it does not exist. With us, it exists as perceptions in our minds. Perhaps, our mathematics and laws of physics have not unlocked the secrets of the Universe; perhaps, we have constructed mathematics and laws of physics to match the Universe that exists only in our perceptions. If that's the case, and we have no proof to the contrary, the Earth, our home, must be the centre of the Universe. 

[The 'fact' Earth orbits the Sun is another consequence of our perceptions.]

Tags:

Beyond Business | Thought Tweets

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