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Can a Leader be too Positive?

10/31/2023

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How can being too positive as a leader reduce retention? 

An upbeat and enthusiastic leader can be a great motivator… but only up to a point. Some corporate cultures unintentionally prohibit worry or concern, even when appropriate (lay-offs, cost cuts, or hiring freezes are examples). Writing in Forbes, Jack Kelly, CEO and founder of one of the world’s largest global search firms, contends that when the expectation of joy is foisted upon employees, it can lead to burn-out and self-doubt.

Says Kelly, “When dealing with problems at work or home, it may be mentally and physically draining to put on a happy face in front of your boss and pretend everything is fine. No one wants to be pressured to be someone they’re not. It’s disingenuous, and many people can’t keep up with the charade.”

Kelly advises that no one should be hesitant to advocate for themselves in such a situation:
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  • Speak up if you feel you are being bullied into being peppy and cheerful.
  • Be honest about how you feel and the circumstances that brought you there. 
  • Share your appreciation for the organizational strengths being celebrated while simultaneously sharing your concerns that might not fully resonate with the firm’s narrative.

​Managers must create a balance of igniting a positive culture while also acknowledging the concerns of employees, by reaching out to those who report to them and having open and honest conversations. Without this balance, retention will become rare, with quitting more common. 

Do you ever feel pressure to be positive at work no matter what? And what do you do about it?  To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

​Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022. 

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Instead of Quitting, Try These Strategies

10/24/2023

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Are you dissatisfied with your job, but not in a position to leave? 

A recent Pew research study found that only half of American workers are “extremely” or “very” satisfied with their jobs. But let's face it: No matter how you feel about your job, quitting is not always an option.

Writing in The New York Times, Christina Caron spoke with experts who offered strategies for hanging in there. Here are 5 actions you can take to improve your situation:

  1. Get Curious:  Ask yourself what is really hampering you at work and identify what you can control. Can you speak with your manager about ways to make your job better for you? If not consider getting a fresh perspective from family or friends.
  2. Recalibrate your Expectations: What is it you really hope to get out of your job, and are your expectations realistic? Maybe this is a stopover in a five-year plan, with something to learn along the way.
  3. Redefine Ambition: If your ambition is being stymied at work, try to redirect it — at least temporarily — into working for your community or on personal projects.
  4. Look to your Co-Workers:  See if you can get together for after-work activities, from socializing to professional workshops.
  5. Ask for Accommodations: Sometimes it takes just a few minor adjustments to make work more enjoyable. Would you like more schedule flexibility or new work projects? It never hurts to ask.

Are you temporarily stuck in a job you don’t enjoy? What are you doing to make it more sustainable? To join the conversation, click on "comments" above.

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

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Ensure Your ideas Persuade

10/17/2023

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Are your ideas resonating, or being ignored?  Perhaps it’s not the ideas themselves but their delivery. 

Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Anne Sugar, executive coach for the Harvard Business School Executive Program, offers four strategies you can use to help ensure your ideas resonate.
  • Think small. Presenting too many ideas at once can be overwhelming. To prevent your listeners’ eyes from glazing over, focus on a single concept or solution. Selling your best idea is a win that can lead to more. 
  • Share in 10 minutes or less. Assume that everyone has a limited bandwidth. Break your idea into simple elements.  (Consider our PRES model:  Point, Reason, Example, Summary)
  • Do more than point out the problem.  People don’t appreciate hearing the pitfalls of their plans unless the warnings are accompanied by constructive solutions. Ask yourself, “How can I help?” 
  • It's Not About You. Separate your ideas from your ego. Ask yourself how you can get your ideas to land with your audience.  What is their preferred communication style? 

Have you ever been frustrated with your ideas going unheeded, and what did you do? To join the conversation, click on "comments" above.

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

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Have You Been “Phubbed” (snubbed for a phone) Lately?

10/10/2023

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Have you been phubbed lately? “Phubbing" — a mix of “phone” and “snubbing”— is when someone pays more attention to their smartphone than they do to the people with whom they are face to face. 

Not surprisingly, research has shown that phubbing has a negative impact on relationship satisfaction and can lead to increased conflict.  This is especially true with married couples.

The good news is that researchers have also determined that effective communication skills can mitigate the impact of phubbing. Those skills include:
  • Ego-supportive language: Find words that positively influence the other’s self-perception.
  • Attentive listening: Be fully engaged in the moment when someone is speaking.
  • Self-disclosure: Share your thoughts, emotions, and experiences with vulnerability.
  • Empathy: Seek to understand and communicate the other person’s point of view.
  • Emotional Literacy: Understand and express your feelings without judgment or accusation. 

​We cannot turn back the clock on technology, but phubbing should be seen as a problem. Addressing it by prioritizing face-to-face time and spending that time engaged in positive communication can help contain the potential damage. 

Have you been phubbed lately? How did it make you feel, and what did you do? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

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Should I Text, Email, or Call?

10/3/2023

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Research suggests we undervalue the bonding and enjoyment we get from hearing someone's voice.

We've all had the urge to reach out to someone -- perhaps someone we haven't communicated with in awhile and wondered whether texting, emailing, or calling would be best. A study reported on in the Greater Good journal suggests that there are reasons to pick up the phone and say hello.

In the study, participants predicted how awkward or enjovable it would be to have a conversation with a friend they hadn't been in touch with for at least two years, and how close they'd feel if they connected by phone versus email or text. They also reported which medium they'd prefer to use. The results showed that, although most people anticipated talking by phone would be more uncomfortable for them, those who spoke on the phone were happier with the exchange and felt closer to the other person.

"We think it's going to be awkward to talk to somebody, but that turns out not to be the case," says lead author Amit Kumar. "Instead people form significantly stronger bonds when they re talking on the phone than when communicating over email or text."

Kumar continued, "There are linguistic cues that come through someone's voice that suggest a feeling and thinking mind. And since connecting with somebody means getting a little closer to their mind, voice-based communication makes that easier or more likely.'

When is the last time you reached out to a person you hadn't connected with in a while, and what medium did you use? To join the conversation, click on "comments" above.

Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

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