Because I know what it’s like to have important goals, but no time or energy to pursue them. With Momentum, you’ll learn to focus, organise and energise your life like never before. Discover more here.
Because I know what it’s like to have important goals, but no time or energy to pursue them. With Momentum, you’ll learn to focus, organise and energise your life like never before. Discover more here.
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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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.
Signs you’re working in a business that promotes Goal Glut include these:
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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.
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.
If your most important goal has been on the backburner for ages, download it now. It will program your mind to focus and get things done, without burning out or stressing out.
Find out more here.
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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Have you ever found yourself stuck in a relationship that does more harm than good? It could be with a ‘high maintenance’ direct report who drains your energy. Or it might be with a negative colleague who constantly undermines your efforts. Like any reasonable person, you’ve probably tried to turn things around with these people. Eventually, though, you might need to recognise that your efforts are taking you into the zone of ‘toxic persistence’.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that you should walk away from every challenging relationship. However, when a relationship becomes toxic, it can damage your career and stop you achieving the goals that matter to you. Here are three signs that your momentum is being negatively influenced by ‘relationship interference’.
This can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being, leaving you feeling burnt out and unable to focus on anything else. Constantly trying to please others and fix a toxic relationship can be exhausting and detrimental to your overall productivity. It’s important to recognise when your efforts are no longer productive and have the courage to step back and reassess the situation.
Toxic relationships can be a major distraction, causing you to lose sight of your priorities and get sidetracked from working towards your goals. Even worse, some toxic relationships involve active sabotage, where the other person purposely tries to prevent you from achieving your goals. So, take action. If you have a really important goal that has been put on hold because of someone else, do something to change that situation.
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Constant criticism and negativity can erode your confidence, leading you to question your own worth and capabilities. If your confidence is being affected by a toxic relationship, start working on your boundaries. Always remember that just because someone says something harsh or disparaging, this doesn’t mean it’s true. Make your own assessment of your skills and capabilities and don’t let others bring you down.
So, what can you do to regain your momentum when relationship interference is holding you back? First and foremost, it’s essential to set boundaries. Set limits on how often you interact with toxic people. If necessary, take formal steps to address boundary-violating behaviours. For example, managers might seek assistance from HR to address issues with a problematic direct report. Or team members can speak up and address concerns about a toxic colleague’s behaviour.
Secondly, stay focused on your goals and priorities. Document them and share them with your manager. Report on your progress weekly and speak up when a colleague is causing you to get off track. It’s essential to communicate clearly and professionally, explaining how sabotaging behaviour is affecting you and your work.
Finally, build a strong support network. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people who can help lift you focus on what matters. Reach out to mentors, colleagues or trusted advisors for guidance and advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Remember, that toxic relationships can only hold you back if you let them. But by setting boundaries, staying focused on your goals and building a strong support network, you can break free from ‘toxic persistence’ and move forward towards success.
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.
“Done is better than perfect.” It’s a simple phrase, but it packs a punch. This quote doesn’t just sound good, it’s a rock-solid foundation for momentum. I learned this when I first thought of setting up my business. That was back in 2003 and I was scared of failure. My mind was full of imagined catastrophes; quitting my job only to fail in my own business. Never finding clients. Losing my home. And so on.
So I procrastinated. For three years. Finally, a wise mentor told me “Done is better than perfect.” And it changed everything. I realised my perfectionism was blocking my progress. Sure, I wanted to succeed. Meanwhile, though, I was failing by default. So, in 2006 I quit my day job and set up Think Learn Succeed. I have never looked back. Even during Covid 19 I found clients and found success. And that’s why I’m here to help you build momentum today.
So, what’s the moral of this story? It’s that procrastination can be a huge roadblock to success. Don’t let fear hold you back. It’s better to just get started and adjust as you go along. Here are three tips to get you started.
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Start every day by doing an important task first
That means dedicating time to Your Big Goal and not letting day-to-day chaos get in your way. Sure, it might be daunting to tackle a goal that seems lofty and far-reaching. But you’ll never get there if you don’t start somewhere.
When your brain conjures up visions of failure or disaster, challenge it to go one step further
Imagine yourself handling the problem or solving the issue. This will give you a sense of control and smash your fear into smithereens. The same creativity you put into worrying can be used to solve problems and create solutions. Use your brain for good not evil!
Finally, take joy in doing the tough stuff
Be curious, playful and committed to the process. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or falling short. Instead, embrace action and the growth it inspires. Don’t wait three years to bring your One Big Goal to life. Start today. And before you know it, you’ll be looking back at how far you’ve come down the road to success.
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.
Fortnightly tips and videos to inspire Difference Makers and Future Shapers as their efforts change the world.
