People aren’t listening. They are mentally doing email, preparing for their next meeting, and thinking about other things, especially personal things. The first step in communicating is to get their urgent attention. Think about these facts the next time you're writing content for your … [Read more...] about Is Your Message Emotional & Personal?
Search Results for: thinking
The Brain Science of Bad Decisions
Decision making is a critical function in our personal and professional lives. None of us would be in positions of authority without demonstrated abilities to discern issues and make good choices. Our reputations and livelihoods depend on it. Each day, however, intelligent people make mistakes, … [Read more...] about The Brain Science of Bad Decisions
How Do We Develop a Respectful or Ethical Mind?
In Howard Gardner's book Five Minds for the Future, (HBSP, 2007), he writes that some of the mindsets we have always valued may not be as highly valued in the future, as our world evolves. I've just written an article based on his ideas. It's left me thinking about these five minds, a lot. Here's … [Read more...] about How Do We Develop a Respectful or Ethical Mind?
5 Highly Valued Minds for the Future
“The empires of the future will be empires of the mind.” — Winston Churchill In a ruthless, globally competitive market, companies cannot afford the luxury of holding onto more employees than they need. With economic constraints and technological advances, some jobs are being eliminated completely … [Read more...] about 5 Highly Valued Minds for the Future
The 8 Traps of Decision Making
Before making an important decision, prudent managers evaluate the situations confronting them — and often fall into one of the eight traps of faulty thinking. Some managers are too optimistic and overconfident: They overestimate success and underestimate the range of potential outcomes. On the … [Read more...] about The 8 Traps of Decision Making
Becoming Fully Engaged Part 2: Defining Purpose
What’s it really all about, anyway? One of the most powerful sources of energy is passion. When we connect to our most important values and purpose in life, our passion and energy seem boundless. The most compelling source of purpose is spiritual, when energy is derived from deeply held values … [Read more...] about Becoming Fully Engaged Part 2: Defining Purpose
Tough Conversations: Talking Over What Really Matters
Some conversations are so difficult that we do anything to avoid them. Then, when things have really built up, we finally have no choice but to confront the issue, and the person. “We need to talk,” usually precedes an argument rather than a conversation. Why are such conversations difficult? … [Read more...] about Tough Conversations: Talking Over What Really Matters
Two Ears and Only One Mouth: How Well Do You Listen?
It has been said that there is a reason that God gave us two ears and only one mouth. Listening is such a crucial activity yet we devote so little effort to doing it well. It is essential for building healthy relationships and successful partnerships. Here are some important facts and techniques … [Read more...] about Two Ears and Only One Mouth: How Well Do You Listen?
Managing Dynamic Change
Today's fast-paced economy demands that businesses change or die. Few companies manage transformations as well as they would like. It is said that anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of all change initiatives fail. Between 1980 and 1995, researchers at the Harvard Business School tracked the impact of … [Read more...] about Managing Dynamic Change
Changing Minds: How Hard Is It?
“All leadership comes down to this: changing people’s behavior.” – Alan Deutschman in Fast Company, “Change or Die”, May 2005 Changing the behavior of people is the most important challenge for leaders of businesses trying to compete in unpredictable environments. According to John Kotter, … [Read more...] about Changing Minds: How Hard Is It?