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!

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. 

“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.

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. 

Have you ever felt that your attention is completely drained after a long day at work? Or maybe you find yourself struggling to concentrate after a few hours of studying? You’re not alone. Research has shown that excessive focus does lead to fatigue and a decrease in cognitive performance. That’s because your brain has a limited capacity for sustained attention. When you use it continuously without taking breaks or switching tasks, it gets overloaded and works less efficiently.

So how can you combat this brain drain? Here’s an interesting fact for you: by shifting between intense concentration and unfocused thinking, you can activate what is known as the “default mode network” (DMN) in your brain. This network activates when you are relaxed and not focused on a particular task, allowing your brain to rest and recharge.

It plays such a paradoxical role in mental focus that researchers jokingly refer to it as the “Do Mostly Nothing” circuit. After all, it only becomes active when you’re not concentrating intensely. When you’re at rest, though, the DMN in your brain uses up a significant 20% of your body’s energy.

As a success-focused professional, it’s important to understand why this matters to you. Put simply, regular breaks from intense concentration are crucial for developing new ideas, being creative, and sustaining high levels of productivity. By allowing your brain to rest and activate the DMN, you’re giving it the chance to make valuable connections between seemingly unrelated information.

So, when you find yourself stuck on a problem or searching for new ideas, consider giving your brain some downtime. Go for a walk, enjoy a hobby, or simply let your thoughts drift. You’ll be surprised by the creative insights that come to the surface.

When making decisions, intense focus on a single task can limit your perspective. By relaxing and exploring alternative viewpoints, you can make more informed choices. So, when faced with a difficult decision, step back, relax and let your mind wander.

Always remember that your brain functions best when it alternates between focused thinking and relaxation. By embracing moments of relaxation, you can cultivate resilience, spark creativity and boost your decision-making prowess. Make sure you take those breaks, let your mind wander and use your downtime to power your uptime!

If you’re eager to delve deeper into this captivating study, the original article is available 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 you believe working on twenty goals at once makes you productive, think again. Recent research shows that your brain can’t focus on more than two goals at a time.  Indeed, it works most efficiently when you only have one goal in mind. This is because your brain  allocates resources to every goal you’re working on. The more you take on, the less resources can be assigned  to each goal. Here’s how neuroscientists found this out.

They tracked the brain activity of 32 people who were working on complex tasks. In the first stage of the experiment,  participants were given a letter-matching task. All the letters were in lowercase at this stage.  MRI scans showed that both sides of the volunteers’ brains were working in harmony to get the job done during this phase of the experiment.

Next, the researchers added more complexity to the sorting task. The participants now had to deal with both uppercase and lowercase letters. Now the volunteers’ brains split the work, with each task being processed by a separate side of the brain. Put simply, each hemisphere was chasing its own goal and reward.

Finally, a third task was thrown into the mix. Now the participants consistently forgot one of their tasks and made three times as many errors. So, it seems that human brains can’t effectively juggle more than two tasks. As one of the researchers put it when you work on more than two goals, “Your prefrontal cortex will always discard one.”

So, what does this mean for you? One obvious  lesson is to limit the number of goals you work on at any one time. Having a long list of tasks might feel productive, but it’s not sustainable in the long run. Instead, try focusing on just one or two goals at a time, and give them your undivided attention until they are complete. If you’re a professional, this means prioritising your projects and deadlines and not taking on more than you can handle. If you’re a manager, it means changing your expectations and considering the brain’s limits  when assigning tasks to your team.

The bottom line is this. Multitasking may seem like a great idea, but in reality, it can decrease efficiency and lead to more errors. It is wiser to single-task.  By focusing on one goal at a time, your brain can allocate all of its resources to that task, leading to better results and less stress. So next time you feel tempted to take on multiple goals at once, remember the research and focus on one thing at a time for optimal productivity. Your brain will thank you.

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. 

As a professional, you’re constantly juggling dozens of tasks and responsibilities. But it turns out it might be better to spend time doing nothing.  I recently read a fascinating article about why this is. It  all comes down to the ‘default network’ in your brain, which becomes active each time you’re at rest.

Picture this: you’re lost in thought, not focused on any specific task. That’s when the default network comes to life. It helps you make sense of your experiences, consolidate memories and even come up with brilliant ideas. Throughout the day, when you engage in activities that don’t require your full attention your default network comes to life. It facilitates communication between different brain regions, helping them to work harmoniously together.

Recent research  has shown the default network plays a crucial role in creative thinking, problem-solving and synthesising complex information. But it only works when you’re not working! So, here are some tips for making the most of this little-known network in your brain.

1. Embrace downtime: schedule regular breaks throughout your workday to give your brain a chance to rest and activate the default network.
2. Engage in mindful activities: try mindfulness practises like meditation or journaling during your downtime to promote self-reflection and boost creativity.
3. Go somewhere quiet: find somewhere that allows you to have moments of solitude and uninterrupted thinking. This will give your brain the freedom to explore new ideas.
4. Balance focus and rest: recognise that periods of rest are not wasted time. They’re essential for brain rejuvenation. Alternate between focused work sessions and intentional breaks.

In a world that celebrates constant busyness, it’s essential to recognise the value of rest and tap into the power of your default network. By understanding how our brain operates during periods of rest, we can unlock untapped potential and improve our professional performance. So, take a moment to embrace the power of doing nothing and let your default network work its magic.

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. 

How does mood influence the way you process language?  Researchers have been studying that lately. It turns out that when you communicate, your emotions greatly affect how you understand and interpret words. In fact, your mood has a notable impact on the brain processes involved in language processing?

For example, when you are in a bad mood, you can more easily pick out mistakes in what you read. Your brain can process both your mood and language. Your brain helps you to interact with these two things. When you are in a bad mood, you look more closely at what people say, instead of just relying on what you already know.

This could be because your brain is looking for negative information and mistakes. Or it could be because your attention span is shorter. In either case, being in a bad mood can help you detect errors more quickly. This is especially useful for job interviews and other high-stakes situations where it’s important to notice mistakes before they become costly. Bad moods also have their benefits when editing documents or proofreading because you are more likely to catch typos or other errors.

This means that it is important for you recognise you team’s emotional states and use this information to your advantage. Bad moods can help people stay alert and detect mistakes more quickly,  but it is important to remember that people are more productive when they are in positive states.

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. 

There’s a moment between being asleep and being awake when your mind is in a state of transition. This is known as hypnagogia and it has been linked to heightened creativity and problem-solving abilities. The work of research psychologist Valdas Noreika, is interesting to explore if you want to capitalise on this state.

According to Noreika, many creative folks – including Thomas Edison, Edgar Allan Poe and Salvador Dali – have claimed that the moments between sleep and wakefulness have been a major source of their ideas and inspiration. Many reported that it sparked bursts of creativity or mental clarity. Thus, hypnagogia is an important concept to explore if you want to tap into your creative mind.

So, what exactly is hypnagogia? In simple terms, it is a transitional state between being awake and asleep. During this time, the brain produces theta waves which are also present during meditation and daydreaming. This state typically occurs when you are drifting off to sleep or when you are just waking up. However, it can also occur during periods of deep relaxation.

This means you can deliberately unlock this state of consciousness and reap its creative benefits. Indeed, a new device has been built to help you do just that. “This means we have a kind of workable system for dream control,” one of the inventors says. Here’s a quick summary of how this ‘dream machine’ came about.

First, let’s dive into the past. Thomas Edison, ever the innovator, discovered a unique way of inducing hypnagogia. He’d clutch a steel ball in his hand while dozing off. As sleep took hold, his grip would loosen, causing the ball to clatter onto the floor. The noise would jolt him back to wakefulness, just as he started to experience the hallucinatory insights characteristic of hypnagogia. Clever, right?

Fast forward to today, and MIT Media Lab has given Edison’s technique a new lease of life with the Dormio device. In its first iteration, Dormio was a glove fitted with a microcontroller and a pressure sensor in the palm. The user would wear the glove and make a fist, putting pressure on the sensor, while EEG sensors monitored their brain activity. As they started drifting off to sleep, Dormio’s sensors detected the user’s muscle relaxation. At this point, a recorded phrase, designed to influence the user’s dreams, was played by Dormio.

In the second version of Dormio, the researchers swapped the palm sensor for flexion sensors that measure muscle tension at a much more detailed level. This allowed them to monitor subjects more accurately. They also replaced EEG monitoring with simpler biosignals, such as heart rate, and played the recording through a smartphone app.

Now, they’re working on a third generation of Dormio, which will monitor eyelid movement in sleeping subjects. The goal is to make Dormio as comfortable, affordable, and non-invasive as possible. Soon, perhaps, you’ll be able to use it! Isn’t it fascinating how we can take a concept from over a century ago and adapt it to modern technology?

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. 

Focus is the ability to direct your attention towards a specific task or goal, while filtering out distractions and irrelevant information. It allows you to fully engage with your work and make progress towards your objectives. Distractions are the enemy  of focus, despite being everywhere. Luckily,  there’s a neuroscience-backed hack that can help you focus like a  laser beam whenever you need to.

It’s called the Pomodoro Technique and it’s a time management method backed by neuroscience. It was developed in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo. He ran a series of experiments using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato (hence the name ‘Pomodoro’). These involved breaking his work into 25-minute intervals separated by short breaks. He found this approach improved productivity and focus significantly.

That’s because your brain  is not designed to focus for long periods. Your attention span naturally wanes after  20-25 minutes, which helps your brain conserve energy. By taking short breaks, you allow your brain to rest and recharge before diving back into work. Daydreaming or relaxing is one of the best ways to fully recharge your neural circuitry, so resist the temptation to check social media, surf the web or read your emails during rest times.

• Instead, try one of these downtime activities, which shift your brainwaves into a restorative state:
• Take a short walk outside
• Listen to calming music
• Meditate or do some mindfulness exercises
• Listen to the Energise Now audio session and spend 20 minutes in a relaxing trance state
• Have a quick tea break

These activities will help you relax and reset your brain, making it easier for you to focus again when your break is over. The key is to keep the breaks short – between ten and fifteen minutes duration each time. Most importantly,  avoid any mentally stimulating tasks during this time.

Steps for success

Here’s how to get the most from this evidence-based focus hack.

• Choose a task. This could be anything – an assignment, a project, or even cleaning your desk.
• Set a timer for 25 minutes. Use your phone, a physical timer, or a Pomodoro app.
• Work on the task until the timer goes off. Don’t let distractions derail you. If something pops into your mind, jot it down and return to it later.
• Take a short break. Choose one of the options listed above and switch off for 10 minutes
• Repeat the process. After four ‘Pomodoros,’ take a longer break of 20-30 minutes.

Remember, it’s all about working with your brain’s natural rhythm, not against it. By incorporating this technique into your daily routine, you’re not just improving your focus. You’re also reducing your risk of burnout, increasing your mental agility and making your workday more enjoyable. So, are you ready to hack your brain for better focus? Set your timer now and get started on your first Pomodoro of the day!

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. 

When it comes to being a successful leader, being assertive is key. Assertiveness can help those in leadership positions to be more effective and efficient. The article cites examples of how being assertive can help leaders to stand up for themselves and their team, make better decisions, and manage difficult conversations with confidence.

The first step is to be aware of the different types of communication. There are three basic types: passive, aggressive and assertive. Passive communication is when you do not express your feelings or needs. Aggressive communication is when you express your feelings or needs in a way that is harmful to yourself or others. Assertive communication is when you express your feelings or needs in a way that is respectful to yourself and others.

The second step is to practice using assertive communication. This can be done by using the “I” statements below:

“I feel…”

“I need…”

“I want…”

For example, “I feel like I’m not being heard.” “I need more time to think about it.” “I want you to stop interrupting me.”

The third step is to use assertive language. This means using clear and direct language. For example, “Can we discuss this later?” instead of “Can we talk about this later?” or “I’d like a raise” instead of “Maybe we could discuss a raise?”

The fourth step is to be aware of your body language. Your body language should be open and relaxed. For example, uncross your arms and legs, keep your head up, and make eye contact with the person you are speaking to.

The fifth step is to practice self-compassion. When you make a mistake, be kind and forgiving towards yourself. Forgive yourself for not being perfect and accept that you are doing the best you can.

The sixth step is to be mindful of your triggers. Triggers are things that upset you or cause you to react in a certain way. For example, if someone cuts in line, this may trigger feelings of anger or frustration. Be aware of your triggers and try to manage them as best as possible.

The seventh step is to set boundaries. Boundaries are limits that you put on how much you are willing to do for others. For example, you may set a boundary stating that you will only work eight hours per day or that you will not take work home with you. boundaries help protect your time and energy so that you can focus on your own goals and needs.

The eighth step is to practice assertiveness regularly. The more often you practice assertiveness, the easier it will become for you to use it in difficult situations. Remember that practice makes perfect!

So why is assertiveness so important in leadership? Well, because it allows you to get results without resorting to bullying or manipulation. It also sends a message to your team that you’re willing to work through disagreements respectfully and that you respect them enough to give them a voice. Being more assertive can lead to better communication, improved decision making, and increased productivity. Assertiveness can also help build relationships with co-workers and customers.

Find out more in the original article here: https://positivepsychology.com/assertiveness-in-leadership/

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. 

Do you and your workforce have a sense of purpose? If so, recent research on mortality reveals this could be a key factor in protecting employee health, both now and in the future.

Recent research from the University of Michigan has revealed that having a sense of purpose may help to protect against cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline associated with aging. The article “Mortality Linked to Having a Sense of Purpose” published on Neuroscience News outlines the evidence behind this finding, with data from over 6,000 people aged 50 years or older who took part in the Health and Retirement Study between 1992 and 2010.

The key findings reveal that those individuals with a greater sense of purpose had lower risk of mortality overall, as well as death related to cardiovascular disease when compared to those without such purpose in life. Further, those with high levels of perceived purpose showed slower decline in mental ability over time than those without in comparison. This could have implications for managers, business owners, supervisors and employees alike.

Having an understanding that an individual’s potential health outcomes are linked to their sense of purpose can provide powerful motivation to take action within leading roles, particularly when managing employees who may be ageing or facing challenges due to poor health. It is important to create an environment where it is safe for employees to express their sense of purpose through meaningful work activities – something which has been shown to improve wellbeing outcomes for workers at all stages of life. Managers should focus on providing opportunities for employees to direct their energy towards meaningful tasks that take into account their own personal goals and values – as this has been found to increase engagement in tasks as well as foster higher performance overall.

Furthermore, supervisors should seek out ways to ensure that everyone within the organisation feels they are making an important contribution; this could include setting clear expectations at the start of a role, offering feedback regularly during tasks or even just sharing success stories internally so team members feel valued and appreciated for their efforts. Each person needs to understand how their contributions make up part of the whole picture – something which will ultimately help them find meaning in work even as they age or face difficult situations outside the workplace.

Ultimately it is essential for managers and business owners across industries to consider how they can build staff capacity around having a sense of purpose by offering tailored support designed specifically for each individual’s needs — if we want our teams to stay healthy both now and later down the line.

Find out more in the original article here: (https://neurosciencenews.com/mortality-sense-purpose-21864/ )

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.