Successful managers have high expectations, both of themselves and their team. These expectations are powerful, because they’re the frames in which people fit reality. We often see what we expect, rather than what is actually occurring.
Social psychologists have referred to this as the self-fulfilling prophecy or the Pygmalion effect. In Greek mythology, the sculptor Pygmalion carved a statue of a beautiful woman, fell in love with the statue and brought it to life by the strength of his perceptions. Many managers play Pygmalion-like roles in developing people. Research on the phenomenon of self fulfilling prophecies provides ample evidence that people act in ways that are consistent with our expectations of them. If a manager expects a subordinate to fail, they probably will.
Organization builders have their strongest and most powerful influence in times of economic uncertainty and turbulence. When accepted ways of doing things aren’t working well enough, a manager’s strong expectation about the destination, the processes to follow and the capabilities of the team serve as a driving force that gets the team moving in a positive direction.
In addition, great managers tend to not give up on people, because doing so means giving up on themselves, their judgment, and their ability to get the best out of others. When I ask people to describe exemplary managers, they consistently talk about those that were able to bring out the best in them. To have your team’s best interest in mind and doing what is necessary to help them develop the drive and motivation to be successful; that is one of the defining characteristics of a great manager.
If you’ve observed predators in the wild, you may have noticed that they operate in cycles. Most of the time, they display barely any movement. They project a sense of calm focus, as if they’re waiting for a particular moment. Then it happens! They’re charged with intensity as they sneak up on their prey and attack. When the mission is completed, they return to their original calm and the cycle starts over again.
To be effective, organization builders and managers need to find a way to tap this rhythm of passing between reflection and action, between activity and repose. Any project or initiative whether individual or on a team, require four stages that demand deliberate attention before moving on to the next. This helps create time to think and for collective discussions that lead to a successful endeavor. The following are four stages to consider in using this approach:
Reflection: Evaluate the current situation. What underlying beliefs or theories seem to affect your thinking? What is your purpose and goal for the final results? Connection: Create ideas and possibilities for action. What should you be looking for? What conversation and training is required?
Decision: Settle on a method for action. Choose and refine your approach. Decisions incorporate an element of choice. “Here is the alternative we choose to take, and here are the reasons why”
Action: Perform the action. Your tasks will be supported by the other three stages which came before.
When the project is completed, you move immediately back to the reflection stage and perhaps a formal evaluation of how it all worked out. Practiced regularly, this method becomes a part of your organizational culture. Using an intentional, self-conscious process like this for decision-making and planning can enable leaders and team members to be more confident in the outcome. Everyone on the team contributes to the process and supports the final decision.
The usual and predictable response in an economic downturn in many organizations is to demand greater productivity from the workforce by making employees work harder.
This can actually have a negative rather than a positive impact by fueling resentment and burnout. A smarter approach is to be open with employees about the business problems you face and invite them to be part of the solution while encouraging them to meet critical needs. Do this correctly and you’ll reduce stress, decrease wasted time, boost trust, build resilience, and improve productivity.
Here are a few examples to consider:
• Challenge the organization to respond by setting intriguing goals and articulate a compelling mission that will get people to rally.
• Intensify internal competition. Increase your team’s collaborative capacity by building relationships and encouraging the exchange of ideas and solutions.
• Ensure that your team is regularly exposed to diverse points of view and experiences.
• Encourage brainstorming and scenario analysis. Don’t abandon training, Invest in your people.
Instead of subscribing to the outdated principle that “tough times call for tough measures”, consider instead that tough times call for smart measures. Smart leaders utilize challenging times as an opportunity to inspire their people to become more spontaneous, productive and innovative.
48% say they lack relevance to the target stakeholder groups
37% voice concern about losing control of their message
28% worry about return on the investment
23% blame a lack of knowledge and capability within the company
While 62% see social media as having an impact on a company’s reputation, only 48% say it can change sales.
I would argue that companies that are not recognizing and fully exploiting the potential of Social Media will eventually be left in the dust of their competition. Any medium that can impact your company’s reputation can also impact your company’s bottom line. Ideas spread as fast as scandal. While you’re thinking that it lacks relevance, your competitors are exploring ways to harvest and act on innovative ideas and emerging trends.
Words and thoughts create images in our minds and these images have a powerful effect on our attitude and perspective. Choose your words carefully in order to develop a clear, realistic and positive outlook.
Do you love what you do? That question has a lot more relevance today than ever before. People who love what they do are the ones that are doing the best work, being the most productive and making the greatest impact.
Start asking yourself a few questions that get you thinking and moving in the right direction, for example:
Are you adding value (both personally and professionally) that others embrace and talk about?
What adjectives and verbs do people use when they describe who you are, and what you do?
And so on.
Be introspective and proactive in managing your career and your life. It’s an effective personal and professional development strategy and it’s how powerful reputations are built.
In this article from the New York Times, the author forces us to consider various reasons why businesses fail. Of course there are many but there’s one that many entrepreneurs often fail to consider. check out: How to avoid becoming a failure statistic.
“But sometimes, the painful reality is that a business falls apart for one reason: You.” [...]“In the end, when any company is suffering, there is a question every entrepreneur must ask when he or she looks in the mirror: Am I killing my own business?”
Sure, you have a great plan, everything is in order and you’re ready to launch. But no matter how great your plan is, it’s the planning that matters.
Think of your plan as an evaluation tool. The process begins as you gather information, set goals and create a vision for your professional or personal endeavor.
The process continues as you enter the planning stages where projections and goals are implemented, measured and updated.
The planning process never ends.
Consider planning as your steering wheel on the path to success. Sometimes the road will be bumpy, curvy and uncertain. This is good, it will make you pay closer attention, focus more carefully and watch for the unexpected and early warning signals.
With continued and proper planning you’re more likely to do what you intended with conviction, instead of veering off course by a spur of the moment decision.
It’s obvious that we’re going through tough economic times. It’s ok to acknowledge these tough conditions in order to understand what’s going on and make the necessary adjustments in our lives and portfolios. But we certainly do not want to stay consistently focused on the bad news because that only leads to more anxiety and stress.
As you adjust, consider these three important tips:
Limit your amount of news watching – Do not get caught up in the 24 hour news cycles of reporters expounding on the intricate details of the economic downfall. Select a few trusted and select sources for your news to stay informed and go easy on your amount of news consumption.
Know what you can and can’t control – Obviously, some things you can control, some you can’t. Know the difference and act accordingly.
Set a goal and have a plan – a bit of brain storming and strategic thinking is one of the best ways to decide what to do next. Consider the pros and cons of your decisions and consider what you will do to mitigate certain scenarios.
I believe that one of the safest investments you can make right now is an investment in your own knowledge, skills, and abilities.
For example, knowing how to build and improve any type of business is one of the best general-purpose skill sets you can have and there are always opportunities for people who understand how to create value for others. The great thing about investing in yourself is that your investment will not fluctuate in bad market conditions. In the future, when new opportunities present themselves, you’ll be well prepared to leverage your knowledge and skills for greater success.
The article informs us quite clearly that the most important characteristic that separates those that have succeeded despite huge obstacles is persistence, determination and intense focus on a positive outcome.
As a friend once told me, most people go “through” things while others go “to” things. The difference of course is in your focus. Get clear about what you want to accomplish and where you want to go. Surround yourself with those that are moving in the direction of success. Model those that have already achieved success and arm yourself with the right set of tools that will help you get the job done.
