From Armchair to Action

Fear is the greatest inhibitor....hear more on Sue Stockdale interview

I talk about this and lots more in my latest interview on KMUN radio. Listen to a taster here or the full interview listen to the podcast here (30 minutes)

Making a commitment and cognitive dissonance

One of the things I learned owhen I first started doing motivational presentations was it was hard to know if anyone ever took action as a result of what they heard.  I reflected on this and wondered what I could do to encourage listeners to take action, and also to get feedback on how they had got on. So I created the concept of the commitment card - where people write down one action they will commit to taking and I follow up with them after a month or so. 

What my intention is behind doing this was reinforced when listening to an episode of a Radio 4 Programme - Persuading Us to be Good where they described the concept of cognitive dissonance and how when people make a public commitment they are less likely to change their minds later.  Aha - I thought that is why I encourage the completion of commitment cards.

Over the years, they have produced some really interesting results.  Many people say that knowing I would follow up with them encouraged them to take the action, others say they felt supported in taking an action related to something they had been thinking about for a while.  No matter what the reason is, it excites me to get feedback that people have taken action - as that is the only way we learn, and get encouragement to take the next step....

Which Hierarchy of Success?

I was reading Seth Godin's blog posting about the hierarchy of success where he talks about the levels that he believes matter:

1. Attitude
2. Approach
3. Goals
4. Strategy
5. Tactics
6. Execution

He poses some interesting questions in relation to these levels.  On reading this it struck me that the hierarchy is much like the NLP Logical Levels of Change where the higher up the levels you look, the greater the focus is on what's really inside a human being and what's driving them.

• Purpose
• Identity
• Values and Beliefs
• Skills and Capabiities
• Behaviours
• Environment

Mission Possible is holding an event next week on the issue of Success - so I wonder what the speakers at this event will have to say on the subject? 

Having reflected on the adventures I have undertaken over the years - it does not matter whether the challenge is to get to the North Pole, escape from a helicopter submerged underwater or running for Scotland, I have learnt that you have to look inside first before you can improve on the outside. The more you understand what drives you, how your beliefs help or hinder and how you bounce back from disappointment, the more you can get better at what you do and achieve the success you desire.

Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) Economic Survey Results 2009

The latest economic survey results from women running businesses with annual turnovers in excess of $1million have just been published  in the USA and whilst the economic situation is still not great, women seem to be more upbeat.

Relative to 2008, regarding financial performance in 2009

31% of companies have grown and

21% are stable and have neutral performance

 

Optimism for 2010

§   82% are optimistic about business performance in 2010

 

Environmental Sustainability

§   54% have made their business environmentally friendly

§   35% are interested in making their business environmentally friendly

 

Greatest threat to the bottom line and factors affecting business

- Economic Conditions

- Customer retention

- Competition

- Human Resources

 

Employees

§   55% plan to increase number of employees or keep the same amount

§   53% have kept employee salaries the same; 15% have increased employee salaries

 

Future Role

§   44% will continue full-time management

§   20% plan hands-off oversight, with presence in the office 1-3 days per week

 

WPO Members

§   61% Believe their business has grown since joining

§   65% Believe the WPO has contributed to economic success

§   81% Believe the WPO helps manage business concerns in the current economic climate

Getting to grips with social media

Whilst I have been blogging and on LinkedIn for ages, I have never really got into Facebook and Twitter, because I was not sure how it would add value to what we do.  This week I listened to a presentation about social media that changed my thinking and as part of it they showed this video.  If nothing else, it will make you think.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

Who should promote the female brand?

I saw that a new book has just been published on the subject of The Female Brand by Catherine Kaputa. The book aims to provide some insight into why talented women have trouble succeeding in business (mainly corporates I think) and provide some methods that we can use to create our own authentic brand.

I can't help thinking that we sometimes only look at one part of the equation.  Many of the entrepreneurial women I have met, left corporate land precisely because they felt they could not "be authentic" in that environment.  So if they are able to create a female brand that they are comfortable with in their own company, what' stops them doing so in the corporate world?   It's the culture, I hear you say, that's just how it is.  So if the people at the top of organisations (mostly men) don't get the value of a different culture, how are they going to be convinced.  Maybe its time to promote male role models, who can be flag fliers for the female brand too?  Will that help them listen and take action?  Or should we just encourage more women to take their talents elsewhere, build large corporations themselves and create different cultures?  What do you think? 

Starting a new Chapter

August has been a month of transition.  After selling Mission Possible I went off for two weeks to lecture on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.  It was a great way to switch off from work and have a nice change of scene....whilst getting some sun!

I also went to the Women President's Organisation annual training workshop for Chapter Chairs.  One of the speakers we had was Travis Bradberry talking about Emotional Intelligence and we all got a copy of his new book Emotional Intelligence 2.0. What's so great about this is that it's like the StrengthsFInder book in that you buy a copy and get a code at the back which enables you to go online and do the assessment then follow the actions in the book to improve your emotional intelligence.  Brilliant - a cost effective tool and I am already using this with some of my coaching clients.

So now I look ahead and seek some exciting new challenge.  All ideas are welcome!