| There is
a big difference between people who experience random luck
and those people who put themselves in the optimum position
for luck (and good fortune) to happen to them.
Awareness of our behavior is crucial to the process of
putting ourselves in the best position for good fortune
and luck to shine upon us. Imagine hitting your
thumb with a hammer every time you hammer a nail. Ouch!
Wouldn't you change your behavior? Get a lighter
hammer? Have someone else hold the nail? Hire a carpenter? Sound
funny? Yet, most of us are unaware of our own mental
and behavioral patterns that cause our repeated 'sore thumbs'.
Our brains are on autopilot. Our behaviors react
to situations without thinking. To break autopilot behaviors,
we must stop our brains from automatically reacting, look
at our behaviors, and listen to feedback. Only when you
become aware of your own reactions and how you would like
to respond differently, can you accomplish conscious change.
In this Issue
Second in a two part series, the ABCs of Making Change
- Good News Sometimes Comes in Surprising Packages
- Positive Perspectives
- Choose Harmony or Discord - Set the Tone with Your Behavior
- Behave the Way You Want
- Do Today
Next Issue
April 2006 - Change - Third in the ABCs of
Making Change
Last Issue
February 2006 - Awareness | 
I'm Dr. Sigmund
Psychie C.E. (Communications Expert). It means that
while I practice the art of psychology, I am not
a psychologist. I have a wealth of experience in
helping people develop powerful communications skillsto
work through complex challenges at
work and home.
Ask me anything related to communications
at work, negotiations, management, and more.
Pass this information
to your colleagues and associates. I can help them too!
Email me your question today!
sigmund@ovson.com 
- Get what you want
- Ask for a raise
- Position yourself in a negotiation
- Work with a difficult person
- Manage multiple groups
- Hire the right employees
|
Dear Sigmund Psychie,
I just started a new job and got,
what I consider to be a poor evaluation. I was very angry
and a bit depressed about it; I don't want to be fired. What
do I do?
- Freaked in Fresno
Dear Freaked:
Don't freak out! This is positive. This is an opportunity
for you to understand your boss's perspective on how they
see you at work. It is an opportunity to clarify their
expectations so you can adjust your behavior to match those
expectations.
Take a breath - humans have a hard time separating feedback
and criticism. Feedback is essential; it enables us to look
at our behavior from another perspective. The most difficult
thing is to be open and to understand what is said without
being defensive. They are paying you after all.
Ask yourself - is there some truth in the evaluation? If
so, look at the evaluation as a positive. If you're able
to look at this in a truthful light without being defensive
and you are able to grow from the information, then you've
used the feedback for a very positive end. |
Be more open to people giving you feedback. Another
perspective may not be right, but it is a perspective.
|
Dear Sigmund Psychie,
I am a hard driving, high expecting
CEO of a successful technology company. Things have
not been running smoothly. Our meetings are ineffective,
participation and energy is low, and high-level managers
don't regularly meet with their direct report. Our company
communications is poor.
Recently, someone I yelled at, yelled back. I value her
as a top manager and she made me acutely aware that I'm one
of the main contributors to our problems. She also made me
aware of something that I already knew but forgot: my actions
set the tone for the rest of the company.
Things need to change and I don't know where to start. Got
any ideas?
- Sincerely, Old Yeller, CEO
Dear Old Yeller,
Maybe you should have her yell at you a while longer. It
sounds like she shocked you into a behavioral awareness.
You seem open to feedback about your own (and your company's)
communication problems. You've already accomplished the first
and hardest step, awareness - congratulations.
How far are you willing to go? If you want to shoot for
the best communication you can get, then look for a coach
to help you and your company develop a set of realistic communication
goals. Develop a vision of how you see yourself and your
employees working together?
The coach should also help with a communications assessment.
How do people feel about the current communication style
and how would they change the behaviors to benefit themselves
and the company?
What's in it for you and your company to change behaviors?
Tons. Reduced blood pressure, higher efficiency, fewer
errors, more effective managers, and higher profitability
- wow.
Hey, changing some lifelong behaviors might be hard - but
it sure can be profitable. http://www.ovson.com |
- Be aware of your behaviors
- Set communication goals
- Envision your company at its best
- Assess communication styles
- Decide on which behaviors to change
- Develop a strategy to communicate your vision
- Design and schedule training programs
Do the impossible. When someone gives you a compliment,
say thank you and recognize it for what it is. |
