Fences in Your Mind

For more than one hundred years, runners tried to break the four-minute mile. It was considered the "Holy Grail" of track and field. Many said it couldn't be done. In fact, doctors wrote articles in medical journals explaining why it was physically impossible for the human body to run a mile in less than four minutes.

However, in May 1954, a British medical student named Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3:59.4. His amazing accomplishment made headlines around the world. Yet what happened afterward is even more amazing. The four-minute mile was broken again the next month...and then again...and again. It has since been broken more than 700 times, sometimes by several people in the same race.

What happened? They weren't training any differently, but for the first time they believed they could do it. The barriers to the mind had come down.

I've watched the movie Chicken Run at least a half-dozen times. Just beneath the surface of its simplistic look and story line lie a number of wonderful messages told by a bunch of “claymation” chickens trying to break out of their chicken-wire world to escape their fate at the chopping block. Their freedom leader, a feisty little hen named Ginger, comments profoundly in one scene: "The fences are all in your mind." She reminds her fellow chickens (and us), that bigger than the physical fences they're surrounded by are the mental fences that hold them captive.

It's been a good reminder for me on those occasions when I've been dealing with my own mental fences...those created by self-doubt, uncertainty, and fear. Can you relate? Where have you fenced yourself in mentally in recent days or weeks? Perhaps your mental fence is procrastination, a deadening habit that keeps you stuck. Maybe yours, like mine, is related to self-doubt, and the on-going internal noise it produces that keeps you immobilized. Perhaps yours is the belief that you don't deserve success, so you sabotage yourself to avoid having to find out how successful you could be. There are a million variations of the theme, but the result is still the same: we stay stuck like the chickens in the movie.

One of the key questions in the Best Year Yet® program is: "How do I limit myself and how can I stop?" Those limitations are never external. They always live inside us. The antidote to being trapped by our mental fences however is to create a compelling enough vision that, like Ginger and her flock of chicken friends, we're willing to resort to amazing measures to break out. The formula:

vision + consistent action = freedom!

I challenge you to take some bold, even outrageous steps to break free of your mental fences. If its procrastination, declare a "freedom day" and take action on everything you've been putting off: from cleaning your office to making phone calls or responding to emails you've avoided.

If its self-doubt, sit down and write out everything you value and why it's important. Then challenge yourself to eliminate anything that doesn't absolutely reflect your values, or add something that is a profound statement of who you are.

Freedom is just the other side of action.

Recognize that your mental fences can only keep you stuck as long as you're looking at them. They can only contain you as long as you're not taking actions consistent with your vision. Go ahead, take the action you've avoided and leap forward into a future filled with possibilities.

And remember, the fences are all in your mind!

Leadership Lessons from March Madness

by Doug Dickerson
http://dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com/2010/03/leadership-lessons-from-march-madness.html

I may not always be right, but no one can ever accuse me of not having a genuine love and passion for whatever I do. ~ Dick Vitale

"Strange things happen during March Madness. And just when you think you are safe with picks the unthinkable happens.

It reminds of the story from Reader’s Digest years back involving Les Henson, a six foot, six-inch senior forward on the Virginia Tech basketball team. With two seconds to go and the score tied at 77, Henson grabbed a rebound off the Florida State backboard a foot from the baseline and threw the ball overhand to his own basket.

“It was eerie- you couldn’t hear a thing in the arena,” Henson recalled later. “Then it just swished through the hoop” – from 89 feet, 3 inches away, making it the longest field goal in college basketball history. And Henson, who shoots with his left hand, had done it with a right-handed throw.

How the rest of the Final Four goes, I dare not predict, but if it plays out anything like what’s been seen so far, it should be interesting. As a fan of basketball and a student of leadership, I have made a few observations that leaders can learn from.

Conventional wisdom is not always correct. As mentioned already, many brackets were busted last year when Northern Iowa, the number nine seed, toppled number one seed Kansas. The selection of Kansas to win in all was a safe choice. By choosing Kansas I was in good company.

In this time in which we live, conventional wisdom is not always correct. Anthony Robbins said, “Create a vision and never let the environment, other people’s beliefs, or the limits of what has been done in the past shape your decisions. Ignore conventional wisdom.”

Embracing the vision that is within you is a choice to listen to your heart and sometimes not follow the path of least resistance, but to get on the path that others tell you to avoid. A wise leader is carving out a new path that leads to the fulfillment of the purposes that destiny has prescribed for him. It may not be conventional wisdom to do so, but to do anything less would be to miss your calling.

Never underestimate the underdog. When Northern Iowa knocked off Kansas and when Butler disposed of Syracuse, not too many would have thought it possible. Two number one seeded teams going down to lesser ranked opponents didn’t seem feasible by many prognosticators.

In the game of basketball as in leadership, those who rise to the top may not have the history of championships past. And on paper they may not match up to their opponents. When teams come together on the basketball court or in the conference room, with the right game plan and determination, a win is possible no mater what the odds are.

You see, leadership is not reading the headlines that predict your loss; it’s about writing the headlines announcing your win. It’s about stepping up to the amazing opportunity that lies before you and defying the skeptics. As the old saying goes, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

The big stage brings out the best in everyone. When given the opportunity, teams like Northern Iowa and Butler did not become a shrinking violet. They rose to the occasion and made a statement.

Sir Francis Bacon said, “A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.” That is what the two teams did – make an opportunity. Through hard work, skill, and determination, they created an opportunity. Whether they make it to the final game or not, they have already proven the point – the big stage brings out the best.

What about you? What are the opportunities before you? What is the big stage that your organization is vying for? I know this, your moment of destiny is fulfilled when you pursue with a love and passion that which springs from your heart.

David McCullough said, “Real success is finding your life work in the work that you love.” When you find that, it’s really not work – it’s passion. That is what propels teams to victory and it’s what makes you the leader you were meant to be."

© 2010 Doug Dickerson


Editor's Note: Doug Dickerson's "presentations are timely, relevant, and delivered with a strong dose of inspiration to move your team forward."

Contact Doug at managementmoment@gmail.com or call 843.509.5104 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 843.509.5104 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Time Management: Tips to reduce stress and improve productivity

Effective time management is a primary means to a less stressful life. These practices can help you reduce your stress and reclaim your personal life.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the number and complexity of projects you have that need to be completed at work each day? Do you often feel the day flies by without your devoting the necessary attention to each assignment because other tasks keep landing on your desk, co-workers interrupt you with questions or you can't get it all organized?

You probably know that effective time management will help you get more done each day. It has important health benefits, too. By managing your time more wisely, you can minimize stress and improve your quality of life.

But how do you get back on track when organizational skills don't come naturally? To get started, choose one of these strategies, try it for two to four weeks and see if it helps. If it does, consider adding another one. If not, try a different one.

• Plan each day. Planning your day can help you accomplish more and feel more in control of your life. Write a to-do list, putting the most important tasks at the top. Keep a schedule of your daily activities to minimize conflicts and last-minute rushes.

• Prioritize your tasks. Time-consuming but relatively unimportant tasks can consume a lot of your day. Prioritizing tasks will ensure that you spend your time and energy on those that are truly important to you.

• Say no to nonessential tasks. Consider your goals and schedule before agreeing to take on additional work.

• Delegate. Take a look at your to-do list and consider what you can pass on to someone else.

• Take the time you need to do a quality job. Doing work right the first time may take more time upfront, but errors usually result in time spent making corrections, which takes more time overall.

• Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Work on them a few minutes at a time until you get them all done.

• Practice the 10-minute rule. Work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day. Once you get started, you may find you can finish it.

• Evaluate how you're spending your time. Keep a diary of everything you do for three days to determine how you're spending your time. Look for time that can be used more wisely. For example, could you take a bus or train to work and use the commute to catch up on reading? If so, you could free up some time to exercise or spend with family or friends.

• Limit distractions. Block out time on your calendar for big projects. During that time, close your door and turn off your phone, pager and e-mail.

• Get plenty of sleep, have a healthy diet and exercise regularly. A healthy lifestyle can improve your focus and concentration, which will help improve your efficiency so that you can complete your work in less time.

• Take a time management course. If your employer offers continuing education, take a time management class. If your workplace doesn't have one, find out if a local community college, university or community education program does.

• Take a break when needed. Too much stress can derail your attempts at getting organized. When you need a break, take one. Take a walk. Do some quick stretches at your workstation. Take a day of vacation to rest and re-energize.

Editor's Note: this is information was taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/time-management/WL00048 and written by the Mayo Clinic Staff

Genuine Communication

The true power of connecting with others does not come from superficial interactions with others — smiling at a stranger, being friendly with a food server or wowing a one-time audience. It comes from connecting with people long-term. In ongoing relationships, we are able to make an impact of real value. When we live with consistent integrity with our spouse, children and grandchildren. When we treat our customers, clients and colleagues the way they wish to be treated. When our neighbors see our values and actions lining up. When we lead others with honesty and respect. These are the things that give us credibility, allow us to connect and afford us an opportunity to help others and add value to them. As training consultant Greg Schaffer remarked, “If you do not connect with others, influence is out of the question.”

American writer Henry Adams said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” The same can be said of a connector who has integrity. We can make a difference in our world, but to do so we must begin with ourselves — by making sure our
words and our actions are consistent every day. We must live what we communicate. If we do that, there’s no telling what we will be able to accomplish.

Editor's Note: Take from an excerpt in John C. Maxwell's "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect"

10 Lessons to Improving Communication

“ They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Carl W. Buechner

There are certain key lessons about effective communication which have become crystal clear in my mind. I see them manifest in every interaction between two human beings. Here are the top 10 of these lessons:

• Lesson #1: Communication is Like a Muscle.

• Lesson #2: You’re Overrating Your Communication Skills.

• Lesson #3: Good Communication Can Compensate Bad Communication.

• Lesson #4: Talk to the Point.

• Lesson #5. Be Clear.

• Lesson #6: Ask!

• Lesson #7: Be Yourself.

• Lesson #8: Listen Instead of Assuming.

• Lesson #9: Don’t Argue for the Sake of Arguing.

• Lesson #10. Smile!

Lesson #1. Communication is Like a Muscle. The more you use it, the more it develops. This doesn’t mean that just by communicating you automatically improve your communication skills every time; applying certain principles and seeking to improve is also important. But the basics are in actually practicing, in interacting with people as much as you can.

Lesson #2: You’re Overrating Your Communication Skills. There are two things which happen a lot in relation with communication: one is that almost everybody agrees that most people need to improve their communication skills, the other is that almost nobody believes they have this problem. It’s very possible that your communication skills need work, and it’s best to take this into account.

Lesson #3: Good Communication Can Compensate Bad Communication. If you deal with people with bad communication skills, the situation is not hopeless. To a great extent, you can still get the kind of results you want, if you have good enough communication skills to balance things out. Just focus on your side of things.

Lesson #4: Talk to the Point. Probably the most common mistake in communication is losing the attention of the people you’re talking to, because you’ve stopped saying something relevant for them. Always keep your target in mind and adapt the content of your communication so it’s relevant for whoever you are talking with.

Lesson #5. Be Clear. General, fuzzy words don’t have much practical use in communication. They’re mostly a way of talking without saying much. Focus on using very specific and precise words when you talk, in order to present your thoughts in as a precise manner as you can. This improves your chance to be understood and to be convincing when you interact with others.

Lesson #6. Ask! I can’t even begin to describe how much most people sabotage themselves in communication by not asking clearly for the things they want. We tend to avoid expressing our own needs or wants, or we fail to express them clearly. Instead, we hope that someone will simply address our needs and wants the way we want. This is a terrible strategy. If you want something, ask for it clearly. That’s what confident and effective people do.

Lesson #7: Be Yourself. Communication can be used as a way to create a false impression about yourself. And this has some benefits but overall, it is just another bad strategy in relating with others. Instead, use communication as a way to express your true self, without regrets and without excuses. Authentic communication is the way to build great partnerships and overall, and to get the best results.

Lesson #8: Listen Instead of Assuming. We will often stop listening to what a person has to say when her words seem familiar and we think we know what else she has to say. But we often jump to the wrong conclusions, and we end up misunderstanding others. Each person has unique experiences, and they will express them in unique ways. Listen to them instead of assuming before you respond.

Lesson #9: Don’t Argue for the Sake of Arguing. This is something I see all the time: a person expresses an opinion and another person who has a different opinion instantly contradicts them. There is no practical benefit in converting this person to their side, and it’s improbable that they will, but they stubbornly try nonetheless. There are times to argue, when there is practical value in doing this. But these are the exceptions rather than the rules.

Lesson #10. Smile! It’s such a simple act, which can communicate so many positive things, and can brighten up somebody’s day. Smiling is generally the act of the confident and the happy. It creates subtle but powerful effects and it’s something I recommend that you practice consciously each day.

And of course, whatever lessons you put into practice in your communication, remember to enjoy the process. It can be as meaningful as the destination of having cutting edge communication skills.

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Eduard Ezeanu. Eduard blogs at People Skills Decodedand is a communication’s coach with an attitude-based approach.

Invest in Improving Your Skill

Sharpen the Saw
taken from http://webbroadcast.blogspot.com/
Also found in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter ask for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The paid was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees "Congratulations," the boss said. "Go on that way!" Very motivated for the boss’ words, the woodcutter try harder the next day, but he only could bring 15 trees. The third day he try even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees.

Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. "I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time you sharpened your saw?" the boss asked. "Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my saw. I have been very busy trying to cut trees..."

Lesson- Invest in improving your skill

"You can't hold a man down without staying down with him."

~ Booker T. Washington