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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #407

by Rick Baker
On Feb 7, 2012
Thought Tweet #407 COURAGE: self-inflicted mental and moral strength to act in the face of fear, difficulty, and criticism

The Thinking Behind the Tweet

That's a Spirited Leaders' definition. For us, Courage is the 'Great Enabler'. It enables self-analysis, self-confidence, self-development, lifelong learning, curiosity, creativity, innovation, and a host of other very good character traits and action orientations. 

How to Build Self-Confidence - #1

by Rick Baker
On Feb 1, 2012

This is the first in a series of Thought Posts about building self-confidence.

To get started, here is our definition of self-confidence:

Confidence is what you feel when you believe you have what it takes to excel, do well, or at least handle the task and situation at hand

Now, here are some facts about Confidence:

  • each of us has Confidence, at least some of the time
  • our Confidence levels ebbs and flows
  • many factors influence our Confidence: situations, other people's actions, amount of sleep
And, of course, a healthy level of Confidence is a very good thing.
 
So, how might we build Confidence
 
First, let's check out some advice from experts.
 
Today, we will start that process with Jack Canfield's Six Confidence-Building Strategies 
  1. Every day remind yourself that you did some things well. Give yourself a mental pep talk at the beginning and the end 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 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.
What about Jack Canfield's 2nd recommendation: read inspiring biographies and read stories that inspire you?
 
Do you do that?
 
There is no question, Spirited Leaders do that. I imagine Spirited Leaders have always done that...from sitting around campfires listening to the elders and chiefs tell their stories to reading about Mahatma Gandhi or Alexander the Great to watching inspiring movies.
 
Great Leaders study the lives, the successes, and the defeats, of other great Leaders. They do this for several reasons. They do this to inspire themselves. They also do this to learn. Knowledge is a key to Strength and Strength is a key to Self-Knowledge and Self-Confidence.
 
 
 
 

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

Do Family Business People Have Better Work Ethic?

by Rick Baker
On Jan 4, 2012

Here is the thought behind that Question...

Recently, I read Jim Estill's CEO blog1 about work ethic. It reminded me of the stinging little Thought Post I wrote last year to address claims about attitudes of entitlement around the workplace. [Snakes & Ladders...and Entitlement]

Since reading Jim's blog, I followed his advice and I read the book 'Reviving Work Ethic'.

And, I re-listened to the short version of Napoleon Hill's 'Think and Grow Rich'. [I do that quite regularly]

I like many of the points Eric Chester made in 'Reviving Work Ethic'. Particularly, I like his views about of Work Ethic Markers:

Positive Attitude

Reliability

Professionalism

Initiative

Respect

Integrity

Gratitude

Those definitely are facets of a good work ethic.

And, Leaders ought to lead by example as they promote and encourage those facets of good work ethic.

Here is another way to look at it - the Napoleon Hill way...

QQS

Napoleon Hill taught:

  • we must over-deliver on Quantity of service,
  • we must over-deliver on Quality of service, and 
  • we must render that service with an enthusiastic Spirit2.

That, in summary, is Napoleon Hill's QQS Formula ["QQS"].

We can use QQS as the guide for good work ethic.

And, we can quickly see how the institution and practice of QQS provides tremendous benefits, ranging from workplace harmony to differential advantage.

That said, the question remains:

Do family business people have better work ethic?

 

Footnotes:

  1. Jim Estill's blog
  2. Spirit, as in Spirited Leaders

Thought Tweet #382

by Rick Baker
On Jan 3, 2012
Thought Tweet #382 Courage, Core, Encourage, and the Latin word Cor ["Heart"]…it isn't coincidence!
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
Spirited Leaders values 'Courage'. Courage is our #1 corporate Value. Courage is the finest ingredient of character. It enables other fine aspects of character. Courage is something everyone can work at….like all fine aspects of character it takes time, effort, and commitment.

Tags:

Spirited Leaders | Thought Tweets | Values: Personal Values

Time for Learning!

by Rick Baker
On Dec 23, 2011

Do you spend enough time Learning?

Do you view learning as knowledge sharing?

Do you view learning as knowledge creation?

According to experts1, learning is essential to Leadership.

Leaders with Good Judgment Are Committed Learners

  • They constantly evaluate their own performance.
  • They seek knowledge and build on experience.
Knowledge Creation for All Constituencies Is an Explicitly Stated Goal
  • Operating mechanisms support teaching and learning.
  • Judgment capacity is a key leadership development target.
Customers, Stakeholders, the Larger Community Are Tapped for Input
  • Everyone teaches. Everyone learns.
  • Front-line employees are the new knowledge workers.
That's how Tichy and Bennis introduce the importance of learning in the business sector.
 
Learning is one of Spirited Leaders' Values....part of our corporate culture.
 
We approach Learning this way:
  1. Learning must be embraced naturally...curiosity is the best starting point.
  2. Learning must be life-long...the fun of it must not diminish with age.
  3. The majority of learning must be aimed at understanding and communicating with People.
  4. For your work, focus much of your learning time on specialized knowledge.
  5. For your work, concentrate specialized knowledge around your talent themes.
  6. For your work, use specialized knowledge to hone your skills.
  7. For your work, learn cutting-edge theory...and learn even more about practical things.
  8. For your work, learn how to tap into your creativity.
 
 
Footnote:
  1. 'Judgment - How Winning Leaders Make Great Calls', Noel M. Tichy and Warren G. Bennis (2007)
 
 
 

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