Dear Friends,
Many people don’t understand that using our minds in a powerful way is a choice. And, those that do understand the power of positive thinking sometimes forget to make the choice to be powerful when life is going less than perfectly. No, thinking positively isn’t going to stop a massive oil leak or directly help those whose livelihoods are being affected. But if we choose to address this problem – or any other – from a positive standpoint, we do create the room for our minds to create options we might not have seen otherwise. So here we are again at the pivotal point of CHOICE!Each and every one of us makes a daily choice to create a life that we love or to complain about the life that we have. And creating does not require super-hero strength or magical skills. Creating is about your commitment to use your mind in such a powerful way that nothing can stop you from getting what you say you want, by-when you say you want it. Providing the room for your mind to create an outrageous life is nothing more than making the choice to:
When you are committed to yourself, your goals, and your integrity (being your word), there isn’t much that can get in your way. It is your choice. So how are you going to use your power today? Warm Regards,
Communication in the Workplace – Part 2 Full and complete communication takes a conscious effort on the part of every person involved, and the more people involved the more challenging it can be. This is what makes communication in the workplace a challenge all its own. So in addition to 1) being present to how we communicate, 2) giving up assumptions, 3) taking the time to teach, and 4) making sure what we communicate is actually understood, we also have to... Step 5: Take on AccountabilityNow, there is the issue of people saying they heard, they gave it back to you like they heard and understood it, but they don’t do what they said they were going to do. What do you do then? It is all about holding people accountable! You hold team members accountable in the following way: First, ask permission to speak straight with regard to the situation and acknowledge the circumstance from your perspective and any accountability you might have in the situation. Second, ask what happened and allow them the opportunity to share with you their perspective, and look for their understanding and acknowledgment of their responsibility. Third, explain the impact it had on you, them, others, and/or the company. Be careful not to make them wrong, but you do want them to clearly understand the consequences of their actions, or lack thereof. Fourth, provide them with the opportunity to say whatever they need to at this point. What you are looking for is an indication that they are taking responsibility and are willing to take part in any actions necessary to rectify the situation. Fifth, inform them of your expectations for the future and of any possible consequences if this reoccurs. Sixth, get from them their promise regarding future actions and behavior. Finally, say something to complete this issue and move on! Remember: there is no past eraser, and mistakes are going to happen. We actually learn the most when we do something wrong. It is when you or your team fails to learn from a mistake that you need to worry, and by following the steps for holding people accountable, everyone involved gains the clarity they need to move forward without any questions or assumptions about what is expected in the future. Step 6: Give up Make WrongsOften times tense and less than complete communications are the result of upsets and misunderstandings between co-workers that put people in a defensive position. Listening or speaking from a defensive state of mind is no way to communicate fully and completely! After all, how well do we hear or communicate with others when we are continually planning out our own defense in our heads? It is in this case that all sides have to give up making others wrong, and rather than allow upsets to fester, you’ve got to communicate in a straightforward, but calm manner. By communicating directly with the person there is an upset with, there is little room for make wrongs and upsets to fester – meaning mole hills will not be made into mountains in the workplace. Step 7: Make “I don’t know” OkayA lot of communications don’t happen simply because we don’t want those around us to know that we don’t know!! Crazy? Yes, but it happens every day. So, we’ve got to foster an environment where we welcome questions, where we don’t just give lip service to the notion, but actually take the time to answer the questions those on our team have before we move on to anything else! We’ve got to make it okay for any member of our team to say: “I don’t know how to do this.” Or “I don’t understand.” And when we make the room for questions to be asked, never ever make someone wrong for doing so! This is not just about full and complete communication on the human level, it is about building trust as well! The more your team members trust what is said the more you will grow as a team, and it is inside of a well built team that full and complete communication can really grow! Ultimately, full and complete communication in the workplace is really about our being present to not only our agenda and the information that we want to communicate, but also to our being present to how the information we are communicating is getting across to others! When we communicate with our co-workers, or anyone for that matter:
So communication is not only about the words we say but
who we are being when we say them! Remember: ultimately the
person responsible for the quality of any communication is
the speaker. So step up to the plate and communicate fully
and completely everywhere. First, get straight about what being outrageous is all about. Living an outrageous life is about you living your life as fully as possible, without limitations, and in a way that you are so excited about it—you can’t wait to get up in the morning! What does that look like? Do you bolt out of bed in a mood anyone would be glad to be around or do you dread it, and drag yourself out in a bear mood? When was the last time you remember throwing yourself out of bed because of what the day might hold in store for you? Your being outrageous is not about how others perceive you. It is about how you perceive you in the face of fears, judgments, or other stops. It’s a way of living that is full-out, no matter what. Second, be clear that being outrageous is a choice you make—a choice to enjoy your life to the fullest. It’s about choosing to wake up excited and ready for anything. Who would you have to be in the face of all the circumstances that come your way to actually enjoy this trip called “your life”, instead of merely being along for the ride? Third, spend time doing what you love. What are you passionate about? What would you be doing if someone told you that you only had so many days left on this planet? Doing what you love will energize and delight you. Fourth, create instead of complain. Complaints block your access to an outrageous life. So stop complaining, and remember that you
are the only person who has a say in how your life turns out!
Take a look: what lights YOU up? Have a plan for doing what
you love and do what the plan says! Ride a motorcycle. Sing
karaoke. Go skydiving. Blow soap bubbles. Take your son to
a batting cage. Feel a little parakeet's feet on your finger.
Your outrageous life is waiting for you! So what are you waiting
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We
all know and have probably felt the results of mental stress.
We get cranky, tired, and some even get physically ill, and
with so much going on in the world around us, I’ve come
across more than a few cranky people lately. Many people are
still under financial stress due to the changes in the economy.
Others are glued to the live video of the oil that continues
to gush into the Gulf of Mexico, and still others are dealing
with everyday “stuff” that, when allowed, gets
the best of us. Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way!
Our minds are incredibly powerful. They have the ability to
shut us down or light us up. Our minds clearly have the power
to make or break our worlds. So, why don’t we choose
to use the power of our minds to “make” our worlds?
Summertime
has finally arrived, and many of us are looking forward to
the fun that comes along with, but why do we tie our opportunities
for outrageous fun to a season? Did you know that you actually
can have an outrageous life—all the time? Sure, those
who live in often snow-bound states are looking forward to
sunshine and warmth that only the summer months brings, but
no matter what is going on around us there are always opportunities
for living a full, complete and fun life. We just have to
choose it! How?
The
Balanced Life
