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Unveiling momentum lab: your 7-day path to unstoppability

For high achievers, there’s nothing worse than realising your momentum has stalled for no apparent reason.  Your filing cabinet is full of unfinished projects. Your to-do list is growing longer by the minute. And your once-steep career trajectory has dived, taking your motivation with it. This is not the end, though. You can rebuild momentum get back on track. In fact, that’s what my Momentum Lab (which is starting soon) is all about. \

Momentum Lab is for stalled go-getters. It moves you from stuck to unstoppable in just 7 days.  How? By shifting your attention away from WHY your progress has stalled. Then showing you HOW to get going again – without feeling overwhelmed or pressurised. Momentum helps you take three important steps.

STEP 1: Get truly motivated instead of hyped up

What’s the difference? When you’re motivated, you get energy from within. When you’re hyped-up, you rely on external forces to push you forward. That’s why true motivation lasts over the long-term, but hype dies off quickly. In Momentum Lab, we use a unique Success Maker Plan to spark deep, enduring motivation. This doesn’t just plan your day; it drives your success in achieving your goals.

STEP 2: Get organised, without getting overloaded

No. This does not involve writing countless to-do lists, hiring a professional organiser or downloading yet another productivity app. Instead, in means using the Succeed in 60 Formula to tame chaos and take back control. Once you do this, of course, it will be easier to focus and thrive. And if organising isn’t your thing, don’t worry. You’ll be given lots of tools and cheat sheets to make streamlining your life easy.

 

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STEP 3: Get results focused, instead of being busy

Yep. No doubt you’ve heard there’s a big difference between efficiency and effectiveness. Momentum takes this idea a step further. You learn to program your mind and your behaviour, so you can get results without working 24/7. What would you do if were 10 times more effective? You’ll find out in Momentum Lab!

I love running Momentum Lab, because the transformations in just one week are astonishing. People who hadn’t made progress for years, suddenly leap forward. Those who have been struggling with motivation find their drive again. And everyone discovers how to manage their energy better – so we can all can relax and enjoy life as well as achieving true success.

If this sounds something you can benefit from (and honestly, who wouldn’t want to be unstoppable and enjoy life at the same time?) join me in Momentum Lab. You’ll get access to all the tools, techniques and support you need to regain your momentum and achieve true success. Enrol here.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

By Eleanor Shakiba Impact Interesting Articles 0 Comments

Working from home? Watch out for these 3 stressors

If you’re finding work-from-home arrangements surprisingly tiring or unproductive, you’re not alone. It turns out that 70% of us are discovering the dream of working from home turning into a nightmare. According to a study published in 2021, working from home isn’t always the stress-free paradise we imagine. In fact, it can often increase your stress levels. Now, you might be thinking, “How is that possible?” Well, let’s dive into the research and see what it says.

The study found that in addition to social isolation and increased workloads, blurred boundaries pose  a significant challenge for remote workers. You see, when you work from home, it can be difficult to separate your work life from your personal life. And that can lead to a constant feeling of being “on the clock”, even during off-hours.

 

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So, how can you use this information to your advantage? Well, the key is to set boundaries, according to the researchers who did the study. They explain there are three types of boundaries:  physical, temporal and psychological. You need to maintain all three to keep stress at bay. Here’s how.

Physical boundaries define the space between your work and living zones. To maintain them set up a dedicated workspace, use different devices for work and leisure activities, or establish clear start and end times for your workday.

Temporal boundaries mark distinctions in time. You can preserve them by setting specific times for work and sticking to them. This means not checking emails outside of designated working hours or staying bound to your computer all night.

Psychological boundaries enable you to separate work and personal life.  To maintain them, you need to  say ‘no’ to personal interruptions during work time. And to work intruding on your personal time. Plus, it helps to establish rituals to signal the end of work and the beginning of personal time, such as changing clothes or taking a walk.

Overall, working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. By understanding the potential stressors, you can make sure they don’t impact your mental well-being. Use boundary-setting techniques to create a clear division between work and personal life, stay connected with colleagues and take breaks when needed.

You can read the original article here.

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference. 

 

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Words and power: what research tells us

What you say and how you say it. Both factors influence your success as a leader, so it’s useful to stay up-to-date with communication research. For example, a recent paper revealed some fascinating facts about how small changes in your word choice can make a big impact on your leadership brand.

Researchers found that when people were randomly assigned ‘leadership’ roles, their word choice changed. They tended to use more plural pronouns (we, our, they) than those in lower-status positions (who used “I” more often). These findings highlight the intricate interplay between language, power, and hierarchy.

The study also suggested that pronoun patterns can offer insights into power dynamics in larger social groups, not just teams.  For example,  those who used more first-person singular pronouns (I) were perceived as having less social status, while those using ‘we’ were perceived as having higher status in the group. It is worth noting that the differences in word choice and perception of power were subtle but impactful.

 

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These findings can be applied in various contexts, including when making recommendations, providing advice and leading teams. Understanding how language and communication affect power and hierarchy can help boost your credibility and influence. It can also impact your relationships both at work and in your personal life.

As the author points out, “Understanding the nuances of pronoun usage can help us better navigate social hierarchies and foster effective communication within professional settings.”

Think about this the next time you draft a business email or give a presentation. Are you using inclusive language that acknowledges the contributions of others and promotes a collaborative atmosphere? Or are you unintentionally diminishing your own status by using singular pronouns?

To find out more, read the source article here from Psychology Today.

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference. 

 

 

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Have you reached a career crunch point?

Are you struggling to progress despite your best efforts? Join my free masterclass, Momentum Formula.  Learn how to go from Stalled to Unstoppable in just 7 days. Don’t miss out, enrol today!

Join Eleanor Shakiba in Momentum Lab and go from stuck to unstoppable in 7 days. Find out more here.

By Eleanor Shakiba Momentum 0 Comments

Say goodbye to goal glut: why 3 goals are better than 10

If you think having multiple goals guarantees you’ll succeed, you’re wrong. In fact, the exact opposite is true. The maximum number of goals your mind can focus on at once is three. Any more than this leads to Goal Glut, which is a state of overwhelm that stops you from taking action.

So, why does Goal Glut happen? Well, it’s definitely not your fault. The most common cause is poor leadership. Think about how many times you’ve walked out of a team planning day with a massive list of goals, objectives or KPIs. It’s overwhelming and demotivating, to say the least.

4 signs to watch out for

Signs you’re working in a business that promotes Goal Glut include these:

  • Constantly changing priorities
  • Complicated planning and performance management processes
  • Inconsistent messaging and communication
  • Lack of follow-through on plans

 

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How to beat goal glut

Great leaders don’t encourage this behaviour. Instead, they apply the Rule of 3. As the name suggests, this means setting three goals. But not just any goals, meaningful goals. That’s right. You can throw out the SMART formula. Meaningful goals are way more powerful.

Positive psychology researchers have shown that meaningful goals have emotional resonance. They’re easy to remember, because they ‘re anchored in your heart and soul. You’re far better off having three meaningful goals rather than ten that you don’t even care about. That’s how successful people avoid the paralysing grip of Goal Glut and build true momentum in both life and business.

It’s time to bust the myths that lead to Goal Glut. Multitasking doesn’t work. Being busy doesn’t drive results. And measuring output simply for the sake of it is pointless. Start focusing on what truly matters. Set three goals. Make each of them meaningful.  And say goodbye to Goal Glut once and for all.

This article was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer and success coach. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.  Since discovering her passion for training and development, Eleanor has trained more than 60,000 people. She delivers face-to-face workshops for corporates, online masterclasses for leaders and Positive Psychology retreats for trainers, HR practitioners and leaders. 

By Eleanor Shakiba Impact Interesting Articles 0 Comments

Why do smart people stick to bad decisions?

Did you know managers can make critical errors of judgement because of a well-known thinking error called the Sunk Cost Fallacy? This is the tendency to keep investing in something because you’ve already spent time or money on it. Of course, this can lead to bad decisions and poor results. Yet, you probably still make mistakes because of the Sunk Cost Fallacy.

For example, a managers might refuse to abandon a failing product line or service because of the time spent on it previously. Or they might not address the behaviour of an underperforming employee, because of the effort spent on training them originally. These situations arise on a daily basis. That is why leaders should be aware of the dangers that distorted thinking creates. You are a savvy leader, so you might be interested in research by marketing academics at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business.

For example, their study revealed that most managers respect other people’s sunk costs as much as their own. That means you might make poor decisions because your business has already invested a lot of money in new software. Or because your team has been working together for a long time. The research showed this happened even when managers knew they needed to make change!

 

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In another scenario, people were asked to imagine that they were accidentally scheduled for two trips on the same weekend. They told me that one flight cost $200 and the other cost $800 and they were much more likely to choose the more expensive trip. Even though it was less convenient for them. This is another example of irrational thinking caused by the sunken cost fallacy.

What does this mean for you as a busy manager or professional? Simply that you should avoid making decisions solely based on past investments made by either you or your team. Instead, focus on the current situation and make decisions based on what will provide the most benefit in the long run.

You can read the original article here.

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference. 

 

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Why does stress make you eat too much?

Comfort eating. Stress snacking. Emotional overeating. No matter what you call it, chances are you know exactly what  it feels like to eat because you feel stressed. But why does it happen? No, it’s not just a lack of willpower. Phew.  It turns out stress really does make you want to eat more.

That’s because being stressed out messes with your brain’s natural fullness response. This makes it harder for you to know when you’ve had enough to eat.  On top of that, stress also stimulates the areas of your brain responsible for cravings and rewards, creating a strong drive to seek out those foods.

But here’s the good news: researchers have found that mindfulness techniques can help counteract the negative effects of stress on our eating habits. For example, a recent study found that doing mindfulness meditation for just 15 minutes a day can reduce stress levels and decrease emotional eating.

Plus, a study done by the Garvan Institute has pinpointed the area of the brain responsible for weight gain during periods of high stress: the lateral habenula. Under normal conditions, the lateral habenula dampens your brain’s reward-seeking signals. In other words, it stops you from wanting to eat comfort food. However, when you’re stressed the lateral habenula remains inactive. So, you keep craving treats.

 

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The researchers discovered that the molecule NPY, which the brain produces naturally in response to stress, impacts the function of the lateral habenula. When the researchers blocked NPY from activating the lateral habenula in stressed mice, the mice consumed less comfort food and put on less weight.

So, we’re getting closer to understanding  the relationship between stress and overeating, and how to combat it. Mindfulness techniques and understanding the role of NPY in the brain are just a few steps towards finding healthier ways to cope with stress. Other strategies include regular exercise, getting enough sleep and seeking support from friends or professionals.

To find out more, read the original article here.

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference. 

 

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Exciting news!

I’m offering an early bird deal on my new online coaching program, Momentum Lab. This is where you can go from stuck to unstoppable in just 7 days. It’s interactive and personalised.  Enrol now and receive 10% off!