Showing posts with label balanced views. Show all posts
Showing posts with label balanced views. Show all posts

Monday, May 16, 2011

Steady – One Thing At A Time

A lot can happen at the last moment. Crises and exigencies can surprise us like digital ambushes from cookies and pop-up screens. It is not these startling events that tend to throw us off kilter, but rather how we respond to these challenges and distractions. Think about coping mechanisms: to adapt, to adopt, and be adept.

Focus is best activated, for one thing at a time. Those who claim to be multi-tasked alone, fail to appreciate the notion of being multi-skilled. As a manager, you can delegate if you have too many tasks that restrict your movement. Delegate the task to those who need the challenge, so that you can focus on the bigger issues. However, delegate those with some degree of competency and are motivated by such offerings. Never delegate because you are lazy and de-motivated!

To remind me of my state of equilibrium and balance, I stand one foot (stork-like) and then close my eyes. This immediately activates my sense of physical and mental balance. When you deprive yourself of vision, it allows you to consider your strengths and weaknesses.

With swimming, you focus on one thing at a time: buoyancy, glide, hip rotation, sighting, breathing, kicking, and more. However, each element extends your potential in the water: faster, smoother and safer.

Leadership Lessons: How do you manage last-minute requests? How do you shift your priorities? How do you regain your equilibrium when you are thrown off course?

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Nine Perspectives Towards Balancing Your Views & Opinions

There is much talk about creating work-life balanced or life-work balance. How successful (or stressful) have you been in achieving that? Is this wishful thinking on our part, or something of luxury reserved for retirees, wealthy Internet marketers, and the monarchy?

Thinking: now, that is a thoughtful exercise. Mind what we say, and do. How do you build an opinion about something? How do you argue your points convincingly in a casual debate? How do you make yourself heard, felt and responded to? How do you form an incisive and informed decision?

1)    Build a wide knowledge base, comprising facts and factual accuracy.
2)    Never stop at the first right answer. Seek alternates.
3)    Listen to a variety of points of views.
4)    Ask questions. Ask: why? Also ask: why not?
5)    Challenge the thinking, not the person. Prejudice clouds judgement.
6)    Consider what you think and feel. Never divorce the two if you wish to build balanced viewpoints.
7)    Check your facts. Make sure that you are updated.
8)    Avoid being smug when you win an argument – you, probably, did not.
9)    Consider what you can learn from the other person.
10) Sharpen your saw, not your claws.

Head, heart and hands: IQ, EQ and AQ. How do you integrate all three when you intend to help, and effect changes in your family, community and organization? Think before we thought. [I know there are 10 points, but who is counting; and, you might just reject one. Just a thought.]