Make It A Happy New Year

New Year is around the corner. As the final seconds of this year tick away, we become introspective. Inevitably, that introspection turns to thoughts of self-improvement and the annual ritual of making New Year's Resolutions.It's that time of year when we reflect on what is important to us and also what we want to happen next year.

Regarding New Year's resolutions, according to Psychology Today "Most people fail in adhering to their stated New Year's resolutions. Specifically, 22% fail after one week, 40% after one month, 50% after three months, 60% after six months, and 81% after twenty-four months."

People the world over make New Year's Resolutions. Often, what we vow to improve is some habit related to health, weight, exercise, occupation and income. You may think your successes or failures in this department are of no interest to the world at large. Not true. In fact, a whole branch of psychology is devoted to behaviour modification. And psychology tells us that there are five stages involved in turning resolutions into realities.

The Five Stages That Lead to Successful Resolutions

Pre-contemplation: The desire to change is vague. This is a good time to seek information and ask some important questions such as, "What risks am I running by going along just as I have been?"

Contemplation: Weigh the benefits of change. This is a time to get specific, to monitor behaviour  For example, keep a record of how much you eat, drink, spend, etc.

Preparation: Begin making small changes. For example, you might give up some TV time and redirect your energy. Now's the time to tell family and friends that the leopard is about to change his spots. This is the time to make a firm commitment.

The Action: Banish and sacrifice vices while embracing and committing to new virtues. At this point, give yourself all the help and support you can by creating a sense of accountability to others. Encourage family and friends to prod, provoke and push you.

Maintenance: This is the challenging part. You're finished with your old habit and into your new life. It is a lot easier to maintain your resolution than it is to regain it. Do your self a monumental favour and stay focused on WHY you set this resolution in the first place!!

Those who stay the course and fulfil their resolutions share these characteristics:

1. They believe in their ability to change. ?

2. They did not indulge in self-blame or excuse making. ?

3. They avoid wishful thinking and concentrate on results. ?

4. They understand their motivators and reasons why the resolution is important.

Check in next week for guidelines to setting effective resolutions.

Santa Claus Is Jolly

That is, he would be if he existed in the overweight body we all know and love. A new study of more than 28,000 people published in Molecular Psychiatry found the gene FTO, which has been linked to obesity, also lowers symptoms of depression by 8 percent. While the FTO gene increases production of a protein that promotes fat mass, it also “turns off” other genes associated with depression, the study authors write. Worth repeating: It’s the gene, not being overweight, that lowers depressive symptoms.

Happy Holidays x 

You Do Learn from Your Mistakes

Before you register a conscious thought, the lower temporal region of your brain sends out a “warning signal” if you’re about to repeat a past mistake, finds University of Exeter research. It takes just 0.1 seconds for the red flag to go up, the researchers write. Past studies have also shown your brain holds on to more information when you make incorrect predictions than correct predictions. That doesn't mean you won’t make the same dumb mistake twice—but at least part of your brain is doing its job, the study suggests.

Myths About Goal Setting

For a long time I have heard of the 1953 Harvard study or the 1979 Yale study on the effects of written goals of graduates on the long term performance of people. Many coaching, training and personal development providers quote one or the other as the reason why we should each have written life and performance goals.

Many often quote it as being:

There was a study done at Harvard between 1979 and 1989. Graduates of the MBA program were asked “Have you set clear written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” The results of that question were:         

•  3% had written goals and plans

• 13% had goals but not in writing

• 84% had no specific goals at all

• The 13% who had goals but not in writing were earning on average twice as much as the 84% of those who had no goals.

• The 3% who had clear, written goals were earning on average 10 times as much as the other 97% of graduates all together.

2.     There was support for the role of public commitment: those who sent their commitments to a friend accomplished significantly more.
3.     The positive effect of written goals was supported: Those who wrote their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not write their goals.  

 10 years later Harvard interviewed the members of that class again and found:    

Or

In 1953 a team of researchers interviewed Yale’s graduating seniors, asking them whether they had written down the specific goals that they wanted to achieve in life.Twenty years later the researchers tracked down the same cohort and found that the 3% of people who had specific goals had accumulated more personal wealth than the other 97% of their classmates combined.

Really?

I was naturally intrigued by this and several years ago started researching to find the original research data.

There was no such study at Harvard or Yale!

Indeed even Yale themselves say:

 “It has been determined that no “goals study” of the Class of 1953 actually occurred. In recent years, we have received a number of requests for information on a reported study based on a survey administered to the Class of 1953 in their senior year and a follow-up study conducted ten years later. This study has been described as how one’s goals at graduation related to success and annual incomes achieved during the period.”

http://faq.library.yale.edu/recordDetail?id=7508&action=&library=yale_business&institution=Yale

It seems that there were two early “reporters” of these studies – Mark McCormack (What They Don’t Teach You in the Harvard Business School) & Brian Tracy (Goals!). Other self development gurus that have helped to perpetuate the myth include Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins and Tom Bay (Look Within or Do Without).

Run an internet search for “Yale written goals study” or “Harvard written goals study” and look at the results. You will find thousands of references – none of them true!

Interestingly enough in the December 1996 issue of Fast Company Magazine, Lawrence Tabak looked into this research and discovered that it was a myth.

http://www.fastcompany.com/27953/if-your-goal-success-dont-consult-these-gurus

So why is it still being perpetuated 15 years later?

This can only be described as a myth or urban legend among the life coaches and personal development gurus.

Jump to 2011 and the FACTS!

This research was not done by teams at Yale or Harvard, but by Gail Matthews at Dominican University. You can read her research summary here:

http://www.dominican.edu/dominicannews/study-backs-up-strategies-for-achieving-goals

This study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of three coaching tools:

1. The positive effect of accountability was supported: those who sent weekly progress reports to their friend accomplished significantly more.
2. There was support for the role of public commitment: those who sent their commitments to a friend accomplished significantly more.
3. The positive effect of written goals was supported: Those who wrote their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not write their goals.  

This now means that there now is a study demonstrating that writing one’s goal enhances goal achievement. 

Customers Expect Faux Personalisation

Customers expect faux personalisation. With many consumer interactions now happening online or through automated kiosks instead of live people, customers have come to expect the type of “personal service” they get at websites like Amazon. Easily being able to track your current, past and recommended future purchases has become an expectation that is not easily matched in a bricks and mortar store. Amazon always remembers who you are, but does your local retail store? As a result, where would you rather shop?

The Future Belongs To Those Willing To Get Their Hands Dirty

The future of business is heavily dependent upon the mindset, motivation and desire of its leaders.  Whether you are a front line manager, director or executive – 2013 will be a defining year for the economy.  Your commitment to get your “hands dirty” is inextricably linked to the increased performance of workplace leadership.

The world is watching the continuous disruption of our economic order as our leaders resist confronting the real problems that are impacting employee morale & engagement, reductions in customer service ratings & trust. Diminishing performance is no accident. It’s a function of how people respond to their leaders. At a time when we need to find new ways to reboot momentum that requires more than just hard work; leaders must get their hands dirty.

Leaders must step-back and finally accept the bigger picture of their role and responsibilities. Leadership is not only just about the bottom line, but how their decisions, attitudes and reputation – impact the people around them (the real bottom line that most leaders ignore). It’s about leaders getting their hands dirty and touching the business that has changed radically since the last time they met with a customer, participated in a logistics meeting, contributed to a marketing discussion and/or the last time they sold something.

The volatility of the last year can’t be ignored and must be faced head-on.  Times have changed and leaders must now rapidly comply with the new ground rules that the global market has placed upon them. In the past, it was easy for a leader to delegate major problems to his staff – so as not to place himself in a vulnerable position. But in today’s marketplace, leaders can no longer run and hide. The marketplace requires leaders to confront issues that can potentially ruin a client relationship and the livelihood of their employees. The more problems leaders delegate, the weaker and more volatile their organisations become.

Here are some ways that leaders can get smarter about how to touch the business and people they serve:

Re-Build Trust & Earn Relationships

Don’t assume people trust you just because you are in-charge. In most cases it’s the opposite. Be human and allow people inside of your domain.  Encourage transparent interaction and make yourself approachable.  Getting lonely at the top is your fault, not the responsibility of others.

Share your Points of View
People want to know what their leaders are really thinking.  Stop hiding and get involved in the conversation of others and share your points of view.  You never know when your voice can make an enlightening impact to advance those around you.

Reconnect Yourself with the Business
Invest in reconnecting with your employees, your clients and your business. Leaders get lost in office politics and forget about who they should be ultimately serving. Don’t forget: the day you stop touching the business is the day the business begins to manage you and your relevancy vanishes.

Ask for Help and find Growth from Within your Organization

Just because you are the leader, it doesn't mean you know all of the answers.  I've met many leaders who would rather read a book to help them solve their problems, rather than asking for help from the people with whom they work with.   Using other people’s wisdom is important in developing your perspectives – but growing as a leader in your own organisation requires you to ask for help from your colleagues. Your ego only removes you farther away, not closer to your organisation.

Showcase your creativity and get involved on the front lines
People expect their leaders to be innovative.  Get back in the game by allowing others to see your creativity in action on the front lines. Leaders need to do more and observe less.   Action is observation in full motion.

The best leaders get their hands dirty and in the coming year it is a requirement. Don’t be selfish and wash your hands clean. Don’t wait to solve the problems in front of you. Get involved and stay active. Be transparent, make a difference and watch the immediate impact you can create.

Customer Service Has Become The New Marketing

Customer service has become the new marketing. Small business owners used to be afraid that a dissatisfied customer would tell 7 people. Now, through social media sites, they can tell 7 million people. On the flip side, “raving fans” can be your biggest source of new business as they tell everyone how great your company is. Consumers believe what their peers say about your company more than they believe any of your own paid advertising.

The World Is Changing Fast.

The world is changing fast. If we don't stay focused on the road ahead, resisting the distractions that, while tempting, are, well, distracting, then we increase the chances of a crash.

What are you doing to get famous?

What are you doing to get famous? If you were “famous” for what you do in your industry, do you think that would help your business? In order to become famous

you have to use your name and your face in your marketing and be the kind of person your potential customers want to do business with. Have visual and auditory

messages that make people think and are hard to forget, and deliver those messages often. It’s worth the effort because unless you screw up and become 

“infamous,” once you’re famous for what you do, that’s it – you’re famous, and your marketing and sales efforts will be easier and more effective forever. 

Get Famous! 

Make It Count

Make it count. The average billionaire and the average bum have the same amount of time in a day, week, month. It’s what they do with it that makes the difference. What are you doing? A disorganised genius is no match for the average person with a daily routine of winning habits and high value activities. What’s your routine?

Position Your Business To Win

Position your business to win. What would your business have to offer, to whom, and at what price to be a big winner? Make that happen. 

Don’t Hire People Like You

Don't hire people like you. Look around your business. Are there a lot of people that are about your age, and have about the same interests and skills as you? If you always hire people with the same attitude and skill set that you have, then everyone will be just like you; and that’s a problem. A business needs a variety of talents, attitudes and skills to carry out its various functions. Don’t you want people with different strengths than you have to do jobs you don’t want to do, don’t do well, or can’t do?

Knowledge is Power

Knowledge is power. In a changing world, superior knowledge is an advantage. Who knows more – you or “them”? 

Never Stay Satisfied

Never stay satisfied. If that’s you, don’t worry; there’s nothing wrong with you. Only the restless and unsatisfied will keep trying to change their worlds. And only the ones who try, do.