2Weeks2aBreakthrough

I love this post from Zen Habits called, Why You Should Think About Encouraging Others to Be Brilliant. The notion of how we can help people manifest their best work and life is central to my work as a catalyst. At work, I do this to help individuals and team improve results. As a friend, I do this to help the people I care about be happier. And in volunteering, I do this to try and help the organization change a slice of the world.

People, and groups (expressed in culture), will rise to meet an inspiring vision of themselves. Some people are highly self-motivated and don't need encouragement, support or a catalyst. But most of us do better at work and at life when we have a powerful force in our lives.

I like the point the post makes about how ego, envy, competition, and our own self-image issues get in the way. Here is a quote from the post:

Unfortunately, many people seem to have a problem with this concept. They tear people down, block them, hoard the goods for themselves, and are jealous of the success of others. We need to break free of this jealousy and meanness. We need to learn to be happy for others, and what’s more, to count their success as our success and feel proud of the contribution we’ve made in helping others make a difference.

Agreed. We all have a dark side that comes out every now and then. And we can all act with humility and generosity of spirit. This might sound a bit fuzzy, but it is a very business oriented skill. It means cheering on your peer and congratulating the accomplishments of others. Be happy for people when they receive recognition (even if you feel you have done as good of work and have not been recognized).

Check the full post out. Generate breakthroughs for others. Pay it forward. It all comes back to you - and even more so.

10 Tips for how NOT to brand yourself during tough times

I love this post from Dan Schwabel called, 10 Ways You Shouldn’t Brand Yourself in a Bad Economy. This one is my favorite:

Don't "Continue to do the same work everyday."

Remember the Einstein quote that goes something like this: the definition of insanity is doing the same things again and again and expecting a different result.

So, so, true and I am ready to reinvent my game and the way I score. You?

Practice, Practice, Practice

Check out this podcast of Charlie Rose interviewing Geoff Colvin, author of Talent is Overrated. I like the part where they get into the nitty-grotty about practice - and the practical ways we can build our craft(s) ever day. Almost anything we endeavor to do well is a craft, such as:

• Leadership
• Management
• Partnership
• Motorcycling
• Cooking
• Writing
• Selling
• Facilitation
• Etc...

And we need to practice - stay engaged. If you are a manager and leader, consider this. We should never expect our employees to be any more engaged than we are. We should never expect our employees to feel any more connected to the goals than we are.

Focus in a Mad, Mad World

The impact of major change hits like a tsunami and causes enormous stress on professionals. Many companies are going through extreme change – change that will transform their businesses in profound ways. And changes that will transform lives - for the good and the bad.

How do you - should you even try to - focus on personal development when times are so tough?

You know the answer to this question. Yes. Staying challenged and engaged is even more important now because you will need to be performing at your peak to remain competitive. If you are walking around like a zombie - depressed, or sad, or worried, or OR OR OR... you may miss out on the very opportunities that have the potential to turn things around.

It is tough, I know, to stay focused when times are tough and we (or our friends) are struggling. Here are a few tips:

• Do just a few small things each day that are fun and engaging - intellectually engaging.
• If you find yourself in a position that you are looking for work, make the job search a job, Get up every morning, get dressed and go to work getting work.
• Take the initiative to suggest improvements at work. Being a part of the solution will feel better than if you dwell on the problems.
• Stay engaged with your professional associations and volunteer. Giving back always leaves us richer.
• Don't listen to too much news!

Check out one of the following books:

Making the Impossible Possible
The Art of Possibility

And my book, Two Weeks to a Breakthrough (sorry, I don't mean to self-promote here, but it is a very good book for helping you get jump started and zooming forward again).

And if you need help adjusting to change, check out Transitions.

What’s Your Definition of Success?

We talk to ourselves all the time. Our internal dialogue defines and gives meaning to everything including how we measure accomplishment, failure, and goals. Very powerful messages make up this dialogue and determine our overall definition of success. Our definition of success determines the choices we make and our actions. Imagine if we believed that winning arguments at any cost would make us successful. We would act like obnoxious control freaks and alienate those around us. This would not be a good result. By examining and redefining our definition of success, we can experience an immediate breakthrough and improved results.

What makes up our definition of success?

• Beliefs about what we need to do to be successful.
• Beliefs about what success looks like.
• Beliefs that help us be successful and beliefs that are harmful and counterproductive.
• Comparative assumptions about what has made others successful, and therefore might help us be successful.
• Beliefs that influenced by our role models, positive and negative.
• Beliefs we are not cognizant of.
• Beliefs we may not readily admit to or recognize until we have looked in detail at the cause of our behaviors and results.
• Beliefs that can be changed in an instant.
• Beliefs about what is expected of us.
• Beliefs that transcend behavioral tendencies and preferences.

Common needs:

• Need to be right                       
• Need for title and status
• Need to look good                  
• Need to be a part of the group
• Need to be in control               
• Need to be acknowledged
• Need to get results                   
• Need for accuracy, perfection
• Need for peace and harmony    
• Need to be smart
• Need for excitement           
• Need to be liked
• Need to be proactive           
• Need to do as your are told
• Need to be accountable       
• Need to be “in the know”
• Need to be responsive           
• Need for money
• Need to be important           
• Need to feel accomplishment
• Need to be respected            
• Need to solve problems
• Need for life balance 
• Need to change things
• Need for self-management       
• Need to be helpful
• Need to “save face”           
• Need for safety, low risk

How do you know if your definition of success is serving you?

• If you are getting the results you and your manager (and company) desire, your definition of success is serving you.
• If you are not getting the results you desire, you need to change your definition of success.

Designing a Definition of Success that will support your goals

Create for yourself, a list of goals for 2009. These goals should articulate what you want to accomplish and how you want to be known.

Create Your Definition of Success

Define the beliefs or paradigms that will best support your goals for 2009. Then write down example behaviors that support these beliefs.

• Beliefs that support my 2009 goals    
• Behaviors that will result from this Belief

Give it a shot and let me know how you do. Your definition of success is like a compass because it helps you steer toward your preferred future. It is like a filter because it helps you make choices that will be consistent with your goals.

Colorful Boots - What's Your Personal Style (Guys Too!)??

I am heading home from a conference in San Francisco and I am wearing Turquoise Lucchese boots. Lots of people have commented on the boots, including a lady sitting next to me in the Alaska Airlines Boardroom. This attention has me thinking - how does our choice of footwear - or choice of clothing - impact our walk?

I walk differently in my exotic boots. With a bit more spring in my step. Not just because I like the boots, but because they are saturated with color.

We all have aspects of our personal style that are unique and important. For me it is color. I love rich colors. Even when I have to wear a gray business suit, I try to sneak in a splash of color. I feel good in color.

What's your personal style and do you know the circumstances under which you feel your best? The butterfly effect tells us that tiny changes can matter - tiny changes can reverberate and make others things change.

I was writing an email to a friend a few minutes ago and the topic was Feng Shui - she realized that she had an old TV in her love corner and this is bad. Feng Shui involves making several small but significant changes to optimize your context - to give the place a good vibe.

Shoes, ties, eyeglasses, scarves, watches..... we each gravitate to certain trademarks of our style. Have you discovered yours? And do you take the time and care to dress your best and with your personal style in mind? If not, it might be like having an old TV in your love corner - not good.

The psychology of breakthroughs is fickle and magical. We are such wonderfully flawed individuals and we respond to the strangest little things. Listen to your inner voice. It might be telling you,

"Lisa, those boots are you."

Optimism During Tough Times

I was talking with a friend of mine today. He did not sound like himself on the phone. He seemed run down, beat down, and sad. He is a leader in an organization that has been faced with layoffs and consolidations. And although his job is safe, he is the one having to let go talented professionals - people who he recruited and people who he cares for. And this is heart breaking for him.

This friend has always been a ray of sunshine - even in tough times. Today, he seemed unlike himself.

These are days that will test many of us - even the glass is half full types. Here are a few thoughts that might help (while not asking you to dishonor the tough times):

• It is always from darkness that opportunity comes. We are able to create from nothing and often, we need setbacks to force ourselves away from safe and usual practices.
• We have much to be thankful for. We continue to live in an overall prosperous society. This is not your grandfather's depression. We have people who love us and an ability to pursue our dreams.
• Like other tough periods - this one shall pass. And the new habits we learn today (conservation, saving more of our earnings, focusing on relationships versus stuff) will serve us in better times, too.

Optimism is so important because when we see a bright future, we create solutions and pathways. When we see doom and gloom, we lengthen  and reinforce troubled experiences.

Let's find a way to honor what's happening while staying focused on our dreams and intentions.

The Way We Listen to Others Matters

I have teaching  a lot of classes this month, 25 in all! At the end of each class, and as a parting tidbit of inspiration, I share a story about the power of listening. It goes something like this.

Imagine you went to your favorite coffee shop. And imagine that you noticed someone you admire a great deal standing in line. You muster up the courage to walk up to that person and you say:

Hello _____. I am a big fan of your work. Do you have a few minutes to chat?

Imagine that he or she says "yes" and you sit down at a small cafe table. As he or she speaks, you listen with great intent because you think this person is amazing. You notice how their eyes sparkle and how their lips move and you do not get distracted. The rest of the world fades into the background.

Imagine what it must feel like to be listened to in this way - to feel the admiration and undivided attention of another person.

What if every now and then you listened to your employees in a manner that made them feel as though you thought they were amazing. Your employees are amazing, by the way - we are all amazing in some way.

People rise to the level of our expectations and if we listen to people as though they are amazing, they will do amazing things.

We have the power to make a significant difference in how people see and approach their work through how we listen to them. Give it a try. It does not take a lot of time.

And this works at home, too. When was the last time you showed your significant other - by the way to listened to him or her - that you thought he or she was amazing?