Christmas in August: How to Leverage Anticipation at Work

Christmas in August

As a child I remember clearly the painstaking agony of waiting for Christmas Day to arrive. A true child of the 1980’s, materialism was my middle name and Christmas gifts were my game(s). Of course in comparison to many of my peers’ parental units, my mother and father were quite strategic in their approach to gift allocation. My brother and I might receive a small item here or there over the course of the year, but the windfall clearly came at Christmas, and only then because it was Santa doing the buying. Much like the iconic Ralphie, the anticipation would begin to build just after Thanksgiving until it reached a fever pitch during a sleepless Christmas Eve. Then, in what seemed like an instant, it was over. And the long wait would begin again.

The Family Truckster from the 1983 movie Natio...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fast-forward approximately 30 years. In February, calls begin between my father, my brother, and myself making the necessary prearrangements for the annual summer vacation. Dates must be set, accommodations secured, transportation and logistics put in place. Every detail must be planned, right down to the appropriate tee times and the color scheme for the family photo. And, as August rolls around, I once again I feel the tinge of anticipation as it builds right up until we set sail in our very own Family Truckster. But of course, just as in the days of my youth, the moment I have been pining for slips through fingers all too quickly and I am left dreaming of the next family vacation.

A team of researchers in the Netherlands published a study where they examined the effects of vacations on Dutch participants’ happiness. But wait, aren’t European workers always on vacation? That is another topic for another blog. The researchers found that very few participants reported any increased happiness following their vacations, and for those lucky few, the boost of happiness only lasted about two weeks post vacation. However, the anticipation of the vacation that was yet to come boosted happiness for up to eight weeks prior to the actual event.

This study illustrates an important point, that, while not all that surprising, is often lost when companies try to increase worker morale, satisfaction, and even performance. Improvements in these areas are not the result of workers gaining the carrots that are dangled so carefully in front of them, but rather because of the anticipation or, in motivational jargon, the expectancy, that great effort and planning will lead to the attainment of these valuable outcomes. You see, much like vacations and Christmas mornings, the energy and excitement that occurs prior to reaching your destination disappears quickly once the ride is over.

So what then, are companies and managers to do if they wish to keep their workers satisfied and energized? First, as the Dutch so eloquently put it, “take more trips per year”. Employees need to be constantly striving in anticipation for some event or reward, but those events cannot be too far in the distance or the anticipation is lost. After all, it is a long time from December 26th 2011 to December 25th 2012 and the prospect of being good for such a long period is enough to take any child from giddy anticipation to helplessness and despair. Second, just as one event is passing we must have another goal in our sights. The “post-holiday blues” are in part due to the long dark winter months seen looming on the horizon. Some managers, in an effort to “give their employees some down time”, rob them of meaningful work. You don’t have to be a hard taskmaster, but you should always have meaningful milestones and rewards that employees are trying to reach. Third, equip employees with the belief that they CAN reach the destination. Anticipation exists because an individual truly believes that the outcome they are seeking will, in fact, come to pass. Sometimes this requires improving the self-efficacy of the individual along the way. Lastly, make sure the “vacation” doesn’t punish the employee. If you ever returned from vacation to find that you now have twice as much work as when you left, you know this can certainly temper excitement over the next vacation. Rewards must truly be desirable and not contaminated with adverse consequences.

So there you have it, the “keys” to leveraging anticipation at work. In case you were wondering I have just returned from a little vacation myself. My intent was to write this piece prior to leaving, but fortunately for me the anticipation was just too great.

 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

You’ve Been Here Too Long…

It’s that time of year again. A time for long speeches, celebratory dinners, and the obligatory silver pen and pencil gift set. No, I’m not speaking of retirement, but rather a different right of passage, commencement. As a lifetime member of the academy, first as a student and now as a professor, I have attended and participated in more graduation events than I can recall. And despite some high profile keynote speakers (e.g., Lance Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin) it would be fair to say that few have been particularly memorable.

However, most recently at the High Point University Baccalaureate I heard a message delivered by Dr. Dwight Andrew, Senior Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Atlanta and Associate Professor of Music at Emory University and an accomplished musician, which roused my interest and led me to a brief moment of reflection. Dr. Andrew based his message on Old Testament scripture in which the God of the Israelites instructs his people that they have “dwelt long enough in this mount” and that they must not stay in one place but move along their journey.

As I often say to my MBA students, we human beings do not like change. The irony is that if you ask most people they will tell you emphatically that they “like to try new things”, “get bored when things get too routine”, and wish the dinosaur companies they work for “were simply more open to change”. However, the reality is…we say we do, we may even believe we do, but when push comes to shove we typically do not like change.

Our tendency to avoid change is supported on many fronts. As humans we consistently strive to predict and control our environment by decreasing ambiguity and increasing consistency. Creating predictable routines can relieve stress and emotional loads. However, even conscious, rational thought is resistant to change. How much new information does it take to change someone’s existing opinion? Researchers have demonstrated that even when we do try to integrate new, inconsistent information with our existing base of knowledge and beliefs, our overall impressions rarely change.

And the tendency to stick with the status quo is not limited to the rank and file. When discussing the philosophical and tactical changes leaders must enact for their organizations to rise above the competition, Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer of Stanford University states, “In order to be exceptional and earn extraordinary returns you have to dare to be different. And so everybody says,  ‘Yes, I want to be different, but I don’t want to be that different.” And if you are one of the chosen few who approach change with open arms, the next challenge is inspiring your spouse, coworker, or subordinate to join you with equal zest and determination. Leadership is all about influence, and if you can influence others to embrace change you have a rare and coveted skill.

Undoubtedly, change can be difficult, anxiety provoking, and at times can entail great risk. But on this spring evening in Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church as I thought about these soon-to-be college graduates, leaving the safe and well-worn halls of their beloved alma mater, I was reminded that to grow and become “exceptional” we all must opt for change, whether it be in our personal or professional lives. So as you reflect on your current situation, ask yourself…”Have I been here to long?” And if the answer is yes, perhaps the time has come to “move along your journey”.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Negative People Bringing You Down?

There will always be those whom we perceive as negative. They show up in line at the grocery store, beside us on the subway, in our cubicle at the office, conducting a client discussion, passing the turkey at Thanksgiving. . . . You get the idea.

There are plenty of negative people you encounter over whom you have no influence, nor do you spend a lot of energy trying to have any influence over them. However, there are likely a handful of individuals in your life (work, home, social) over whom you do have some influence, and if you could influence them toward a more positive attitude, it would go a long way to improving your life, as well. Let’s focus on that second group of negatives, over whom you do have some influence.

Others’ behavior can be influenced by you, if you understand a basic principle: When something is personal, it becomes important.

Dr. Nido Qubein refers to this principle as the “Law of Identification” because once someone identifies personally with something (anything), it truly does become important to them.

That seems simple enough in theory, right? Think about it – if something is personal to you, it’s important to you. You move it up on your list of priorities. You schedule around it. You make time to accomplish it. The same is true for those whom you perceive to be negative. There are plenty of issues that are personal to them, as well, and plenty that aren’t.

Here’s the trick: Until you understand someone else’s beliefs, you cannot influence their behavior. To figure out why something is personal to someone else, start by asking yourself the following questions:

  1. How will this benefit them?
  2. How will this impact them?
  3. How will they be touched by this?

If you can answer these questions, your ability to connect with them will increase. The next step is to engage others to begin thinking differently about the choices they make and the way they interact with others. Influence what they believe and you’ll influence how they behave. The key to spreading positivity is helping others to believe that being positive will impact or benefit them personally.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Top 5 Piedmont Triad Resources for Small Business Owners

When it comes to owning your own business, finding resources that actually help you succeed without requiring a huge investment of time or money are rare.

This list is meant to inspire business owners to think outside of the box when it comes to what may not be traditional resources to most.

Help to a small business owner comes in many forms.

1) Ed Mckay’s Book Store – Learning about your industry and where you can grow your business is crucial to making the changes you need to survive. Ed McKay’s is one of my favorite places to invest in books for my business library. I can stay in my budget and come out with an amazing selection of books that keep me up to date, inspired and focused on success.

2) Habitat Restore – Whether you are building your home office or furnishing one off site, Piedmont Triad area Habitat Restore Store outlets are a great place to shop for chairs, desks and any thing else you may need to make your space work ready. Not only do you save money – you also support a great cause!

3) Public Library – The public library is an amazing community resource. You can take computer classes, access their premium business databases, receive planning consultations as well as receive direction in career development. It is as simple as contacting your local business librarian.

4) Board of Advisers – Having a trusted Board of Advisers that you can turn to as you make decisions for your small business will help you grow and learn faster that going it alone. It’s recommended to include people that are outside your area of expertise so that you can learn from their unique perspective and see the bigger picture of where your business can grow. Inc.com has an amazing article on How to Assemble a Board of Advisers.

5) Attend Local Social Events – Professional Networking and Educational Groups that offer FREE memberships such as Linking Greensboro and Linking Winston Salem are great examples. They offer social events that share the best and brightest from in and around the Triad on a regular basis. Not only to you get to network with other area professionals and small business owners – for the price of lunch, you get to learn from Triad’s brightest leaders who speak on a wide range of topics. They also offer networking online via Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin Groups – so even if you can’t make their events, you can still connect and benefit both personally and professionally!

—-

As a small business owner, what have been your top 5 resources to grow your company?

What resources have you discovered that are free or have little to no cost to you and your company?

Climbing Out of Chaos : 15 Ways to Claim Success

Let’s face it – life can get pretty chaotic.

Every day there is a new call, text, task, meeting, play date, family emergency or event to add to the chaos of modern living. We schedule, plan and make long ‘todo’ lists – but we can only fit so much into 24 hours.

Here are 15 ways to calm the chaos and claim your success!

  1. Access Your Responsibilities. Make 3 separate columns on a sheet of paper   (family, work, community) and be honest with where you are spending your time. Look at what you can start saying no to, delegate or eliminate completely from this list.
  2. Schedule Private Time. If you want to claim your success, you need quiet time to rest your mind and reflect on what you have, need to and hope to accomplish. Treat this alone time with as much respect as you give a client meeting.
  3. List Your Goals. Write your top 5 immediate goals on a piece of paper and keep it with you. Goals are beacons in the chaos. Personal Goal Setting serves to remind us of what is truly important and helps guide our decisions in our day to day life.  At lunch, in between meetings, while waiting in line at the grocery store – as often as you can – LOOK AT THIS LIST. When you complete a goal, replace it with another one from your master goal list.
  4. Chuck Your Stuff. Schedule time each month to get rid of clutter. . . at your office, home and your car. Have 4 boxes handy (donate, give, put away, throw away) to make this process more organized. A favorite book is Lose 200 Lbs This Weekend: It’s Time to Declutter Your Life by Don Aslett and Carol Cartaino.
  5.  Learn to Say NO. For many of us – saying no is difficult. This article by Zen Habits is a great place to start learning how. 7 Simple Ways to Say “NO”
  6. Create a Board of Advisers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a young adult, having a trusted and varied group of people who you can turn to for advice and guidance is priceless. This post from Inc. Magazine is perfect to get you started : How to Assemble a Board of Advisers
  7. Study the Masters. Regardless of your profession or trade there is, inevitably, someone (or many) whom you admire.  Learning from Leaders by reading their blogs, following them on twitter, reading their books and when the opportunity arises – engage with them. Focus on a more respectful studying of what has made this person a success . . . that includes their failures.
  8. Create a Vision Board. What The Heck’s A Vision Board—and How Can It Change Your Life? Cut out images from magazines or use your own images, sketches and pictures to create a living life plan of what you want. You can easily create or purchase a cork board to hang in a private room to create your masterpiece. When you achieve a goal on your board – take a photo, then replace that accomplishment with the next goal.
  9. Read More. There is a wealth on knowledge on the internet that comes at you at break neck speed. Taking time to read and learn things that will help you reach your goals will give you much needed rest while you still fill your head with valuable knowledge. Success Books is a great blog that has reviews of Success Books, Blogs, Podcasts, Websites and other tools that will help you claim your success.
  10. Sleep. All too often we make poor judgement calls when we have not had enough rest. From bad driving, short temper, dozing off in a meeting – none of these will help you reach your goals. Learn more about how much sleep you need from the National Sleep Foundation. 
  11. Learn How to Manage Your Time. At the end of your day write the top 6 priorities for the next day. Number them from 1 to 6 in order of importance – tackle each task until close of business. What ever you did not finish gets bumped to the top of your list for the next day. This advice comes from Ivy Lee, known as the “founder of public relations” and the man who gave this same advice to Charles Schwab back in the 1920’s.
  12. Turn Your Phone Off. When you are faced with a task or meeting that needs your undivided attention – turn your phone off. . . or for those of you who are parents – at least put it on vibrate. Giving the task and the people in front of you your undivided attention will go a long way in helping you reach your goals. Remember to Turn Off That Cell Phone! Business Etiquette Still Counts.
  13. Follow Up. Whether by phone, email or handwritten note – make time each week to touch those that have made your week great. Keep a list of those that you want to stay in contact with and schedule alerts that remind you to reach out. Here is an oldie but goodie post on The 10 Best Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools.
  14. Organize. When you are organized both in the physical and virtual worlds your everyday tasks take less time. Think of how much time you waste searching for files, tools, clothes or that thingy that you need to finish that home project. Woman’s Day has a fantastic list of 100 Ways to Get Organized.
  15. Ask for Feedback. It’s a good rule of thumb to always ask for feed back.  Whether it’s for your new recipe, your recent blog post or that project you just completed. Not everyone will respond and you may not always like what you hear – but those willing to offer constructive ways that you can improve what you are doing . . . they will be the hands that guide you and helps you climb out of chaos. Learn How to Offer Constructive Feedback.

What tips would you offer to conquer the chaos and claim success?

 

 

Learning To Be Your Own Customer : 5 Tips For Putting You First

Take a look in the mirror. . .  Guess what? You’re looking at your #1 customer. When was the last time you thought of yourself or treated yourself as one of your own clients?

I don’t know about you, but I had this question pop into my head recently. . . funny how some of the greatest conversations and lessons happen at events. My most recent lesson came from a conversation I had after the presentation by Julia Rosien of Social North“The Digitally Savvy Retailer – Using Emerging Technologies to Engage Shoppers (and sell more stuff!)”.

I was speaking to Denise Osborne of Accessory Design Services and we were chatting about how, as a designer, it was difficult to be your own client. I believe that it’s the same regardless of what industry you’re in.

When the day is done, the last thing you want to think about is more work . . . you need rest so you can stay focused for your own clients. This mindset leaves little room for keeping your environment, online or off, where you need it to support you and offer what you need to succeed.

Here are 5 Tips For Putting You First

  • Set quarterly goals both personally and professionally. You can’t accomplish much if you don’t know where you are going. 
  • Schedule weekly “meetings” with yourself to focus on tasks that will help you reach your quarterly goals.
  • Reward yourself. You heard me. Whether it’s a nice dinner out, a new suit or a weekend off. When you accomplish milestones – DO IT! Small rewards will keep you motivated and on task.
  • Spend time alone. For many that is a challenge due to the fast paced demands we all face on a daily basis. Regardless of your circumstances, find time to do something that you love, even if it’s only 15 minutes at a time.
  • Read more. In today’s tech heavy life it’s important to develop a habit of making time to read. Books, Blogs, news and articles – be sure to keep up to date on the latest information related to your industry both locally and nationally.

What are some ways you have successfully made you your best client?

 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...