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First
my own list.
1.
Be orderly in person and in work.
2.
Listen more than talk.
3.
Maintain a sense of humor.
4.
No limitations except those that I impose on myself.
5.
Develop one proficiency each year.
6.
Achieve financial independence - spend less than earned.
7.
Efficient with work, effective with people.
8.
Have patience and be tolerant of others.
9.
Maintain a sense of humor.
10.
Never procrastinate, get on with it, just do it.
11.
Work smarter instead of work harder.
12.
Maintain positive winning attitude.
13.
Prepare a Stop Doing list.
14.
Take the road less traveled.
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What
Inventors Can Teach Us, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, University
of New South Wales
1.
Everything starts off as an idea.
2.
Listen to radical ideas.
3.
Understand ideas and their radical, long-term implications.
4.
Understand that people who love what they do and are passionate
about what they do are the people who come up with radical ideas.
5.
Implementation is part of the journey.
6.
Success and failure are part of the process so don't give up easily.
7.
Perseverance is critical.
8.
Many people need to be involved in the implementation process.
Involve stakeholders in the journey.
9.
Listen to others but do not necessarily follow what they say.
You need to have your own belief no matter how radical it may
sound.
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Kahney
on Steven Jobs
1.
Focus.
2.
Despotism.
3.
Perfectionism.
4.
Elitism.
5.
Passion.
6.
Inventive spirit.
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Are
Men Really Like This? I found this on asiaxpat's forum
and think that it is interesting.
1.
The nice men are ugly.
2.
The handsome men are not nice.
3.
The handsome and nice men are gay.
4.
The handsome, nice and heterosexual men are married.
5.
The men who are not so handsome, but are nice men, have no money.
6.
The men who are not so handsome, but are nice men with money think
we are only after their money.
7.
The handsome men without money are after our money.
8.
The handsome men, who are not so nice and somewhat heterosexual,
don't think we are beautiful enough.
9.
The men who think we are beautiful, that are heterosexual, somewhat
nice and have money, are
cowards.
10.The
men who are somewhat handsome, somewhat nice and have some money
and thank God are heterosexual, are shy and NEVER MAKE THE FIRST
MOVE!!!!
11.The
men who never make the first move, automatically lose interest
in us when we take the initiative.
NOW
....WHO THE HELL UNDERSTANDS MEN?
Men
are like a fine wine.
They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them
and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd
like to have dinner with.
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Stress
Reduction, How to ... avoid burn-out: Slow down, not meltdown,
Carol Lewis, TimesOnline, September 16, 2004 (selected excerpts)
1.
Recognize the problem. Use a diary to find situations that cause
the stress for prediction and avoidance.
2.
Talking therapy. Talk to a friend for feedback or different perspective.
3.
Breath deeply. Use deep breathing, meditation or walks for relaxation.
Try five-minute holiday - mentally.
4.
Take a real holiday.
5.
Be positive. Avoid being negative and try to avoid negative people.
6.
Exercise. Healthy for body and can reduce stress.
7.
You are what you eat. Try to keep a health diet.
8.
Work smarter.
9.
Get a life.
10.
If all else fails, quit.
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Advice
for MBA Hatchlings, Bing! While You Were Out, Fortune, June 14,
2004, p. 92.
A
funny read for new MBA graduates, but some are good for everyone.
1.
Dont's say everything that's on your tiny mind. In the beginning,
reserve your thoughts for those who seek them.
2.
If you have a terrific idea for some dynamic action that will
show people how bold you are - don't do it. Wait awhile. Nothing
dramatic comes without danger.
3.
Be nice to people. But don't be sucking on their ears every chance
you get. Nobody likes an obviously insincere person, so keep it
subtle.
4.
If you do manage to find a friend who has stood the test of time
- three months or so should do it at this stage - hold him close.
True friends are hard to come by and even harder to keep. At the
same time, it's not necessary to be one of those glad-handing
yahoos who wants to get jiggy with every rummy in the reporting
structure.
5.
In spite of all the hours you have trained yourself playing Grand
Theft Auto, belligerence is overrated as a strategy, and making
enemies is bad business. Even the most insiginificant foe can
grow up to be Barry Diller.
6.
Do not, however, be a gutless worm. If someone wants to tussle
after you've exhausted all your mock friendliness, make sure he
ends up spittling out a few teeth.
7.
With the wine and beer are flowing and everybody is trashing someone,
hold your tongue. What happens in Vegas often does not stay there.
8.
Dress just well enough to look the part or, if you choose, one
level up. Organizations have uniforms. Wear yours proudly, bending
it only in ways that enhance your image as a stylish, indenpent
conformist.
9.
This above all: To thine own self be true. And it shall follow,
as the night the day, that you cannot then be false to anyone.
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How
to Manage Your Boss, Double Your Salary, Bonk Your Boss, Go Home
Early, Guy Browning (selected excerpts)
1.
Finish tasks that you are responsible for independently.
2.
Inform your boss of your progress, ask questions to understand
upfront, and communicate potential problems early.
3.
Inquiry your boss of his achievements.
4.
Remember the name of your bosses' kids to establish a friendly
working relationship.
5.
Invite your boss to lunch to provide an avenue for informal communications.
6.
See from the perspective of your boss to better understand his
/ her requirements and what is expected of you.
7.
Instead of putting forth problems, try to provide solutions to
yours and others' problems.
8.
Ask for extra work if you can handle to load.
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Motivate
and Inspire Learning in Children, The Excellent 11: Qualities
Teachers and Parents Use of Motivate, Inspire, and Educate Children,
Ron Clark (selected excerpts, with my own interpretation and elaboration).
I
think some of the motivational tools can be used at work as well.
1.
Enthusiasm. Make learning fun and interesting for the child, it
should be fun and interesting for you as well.
2.
Adventure. Engage in adventureous activities to build self-confidence
and cooperation.
3.
Creativity. I found that my creativity improved as well as I engage
in these activities.
4.
Reflection. Can use diary for reflection. Children, as well as
adults, should have some time to themselves to reflect and ponder
on things.
5.
Balance. Each child has a preferred mode of learning, adjust the
mode to fit the child instead of the reverse.
6.
Compassion. Things that appear to be very simple to you might
not be to a child, so be patient and compassionate. Children have
a nature inclination to learn new things, and it is an incorrect
assumption to think that children do things just to make you miserable.
7.
Confidence. Proper preparation enhances the probability of success
and leads to high self-confidence.
8.
Humor. Humor can be used to reduce the embarrassment of being
incorrect.
9.
Common sense. Let the children know upfront what your expectations
are and they can plan better.
10.
Appreciation. Children should appreciate what they have.
11.
Resilience. Motivating children is a difficult but important task,
and resilience is required on our part as parents.
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Things
We Can Learn From a Dog, Author Unknown
1.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
2.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to
be pure ecstasy.
3.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
4.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
5.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.Take naps
and stretch before rising.
6.
Run, romp and play daily.
7.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
8.
Be loyal.
9.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
10.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
11.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and
nuzzle them gently.
12.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
13.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
14.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
15.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
16.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing
and pout .. run right back and make friends.
17.
Delight in the simple joys of a long walk.
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What
Can We Learn From Our Kids, M. Baumann
1.
It's more fun to color outside the lines.
2.
If you're gonna draw on the wall, do it behind the couch.
3.
Even Popeye didn't eat his spinach until he absolutely had to.
4.
If your dog doesn't like someone you probably shouldn't either.
5.
Even if you've been fishing for 3 hours and haven't gotten anything
except poison ivy and sunburn, you're still better off than the
worm.
6.
Sometimes you have to take the test before you've finished studying.
7.
If you want a kitten, start out asking for a horse.
8.
There is no good reason why clothes have to match.
9.
If the horse you're drawing looks more like a dog, make it a dog.
10.
Save a place in lines for your friends.
11.
Just keep banging until someone opens the door.
12.
Making your bed is a waste of time.
13.
Make up the rules as you go along.
14.
It doesn't matter who started it.
15.
Ask for sprinkles.
16.
Hang on tight
17.
Ask "why" until you understand.
Back to top
Don't,
Author Unknown
1.
Don't determine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
2.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only
you know what is best for you.
3. Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart; cling
to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
4.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the
past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time
you live all the days of your life.
5.
Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is
really over until the moment you stop trying.
6.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect; it is
this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
7.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that
we learn how to be brave.
8.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to
find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love,
the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly, and the
best way to keep love is to give it wings.
9.
Don't dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without
hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose.
10.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where
you've been, but also where you're going. Life is not a race,
but a journey to be savored each step of the way.
Back
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Be
Thankful, Author Unknown
Be
thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If
you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be
thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity
to learn.
Be
thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be
thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities
for improvement.
Be
thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength
and character.
Be
thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be
thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've
made a effort.
It's
easy to be thankful for the good things.
A
life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful
for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find
a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your
blessings.
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Meeting
Mania, Intheblack, Vol 75, February 2005, p.40-43
How
to plan a good meeting:
1.
Establish expectations. Give a brief outline explaining the purpose
and outcome required two to three days before the meeting.
2.
Set an agenda with clear points to be covered, also distributed
in advance, along with any relevant documents. Ensure all attendees
know what you hope to achieve from that meeting and ask them to
come prepared.
3.
Keep timeframes as short as possible. All-day meetings tend to
be a waste of time, but a meeting can also be too short. Did everyone
have a say?
4.
Punctuality is important for all attendees. Passive condoning
of the late arrivals can be culturally destructive. Ending on
time is equally vital.
5.
Number of people? There's no set rule, although small tends to
be more effective. Consider who really needs to be there and who's
just listening in.
6.
Appoint a chairperson. If it's not obvious in advance, then appoint
someone to take responsibility for the information delivery, to
guide the process and determine the action plan.
7.
Take minutes. It may seem formal in a more relaxed catch-up, but
someone needs to keep a record of what's happening.
When
to have a meeting:
1.
To relay confidential information.
2.
If credibility demands face-to-face delivery.
3.
To outline a brief or to update work-in-progress for a multi-functional
group.
4.
To unite or generate solidarity in a project team.
5.
For brainstorming - constructive idea generation.
6.
To identify common values or establish clear goals within a group.
7.
For big picture, strategic or general planning.
8.
To encourage group problem-solving.
9.
For resolving conflicts.
When
not to have a meeting:
1.
When there's no clear theme.
2.
To clarify or confirm information - an email will usually do.
3.
To give a decision. Unless time is of the essence or staff morale
may be on the line, tell them personally.
4.
To deliver feedback - depending on the level of importance or
sensitivity this should be done personally or by email.
5.
When it's not the best use of your time or will detract from core
business.
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Active
Listening, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia
Industry Toolkit.
1.
Listen patiently to the speaker.
2.
Refrain from interrupting.
3.
Provide prompts like "I see" and "Yes" to
indicate that you're engaged in the conversion.
4.
Keep good, point-form notes of key points and phrases.
5.
Avoid making judgments (such as: "You're mistaken" or
"I disagree").
6.
Restate to the speaker what you heard them say (making sure you
got it right).
7.
Ask probing questions for clarification, perhaps even to help
the speaker better define his/her needs.
8.
Repeat the steps above when the speaker responds to your question(s).
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For
Interviews (and Meetings), Real Business, Winter 2004. Results
of a survey by The Hays Accountancy on perceptions of employers.
While these points are useful for job candidates, some are applicable
to the employed in their projects and meetings.
Top
Ten Turn-ons
1.
Confident, happy and positive attitude.
2.
Strong presentation, in terms of communication skills, dress and
handshake.
3.
Includes real-life examples to demonstrate answers.
4.
Ability to illustrate how they stand out as a candidate.
5.
Clear career plan for aspiration.
6.
Enthusiastic and passionate about the role.
7.
Communicates benefits they can bring the business.
8.
Prepares questions in advance to ask the interviewer.
9.
Displays a good understanding of the role.
10.
Is an active listener.
Top
Ten Turn-offs
1.
Poor verbal communication skills.
2.
Not answering the question asked.
3.
Not researching the company or role before the interview.
4.
Leaving a mobile phone on.
5.
Inability to provide solid examples of previous experience.
6.
Exaggerating experience or skills.
7.
Focusing on the negative rather than the positive in situations
or experiences.
8.
Inability to answer technical questions.
9.
Arriving late.
10.
Not displaying an interest in the role.
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Confidence,
Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Crown Business.
1.
Expect excellence; reward the same.
2.
Often wrong, never uncertain.
3.
Contribute before decisions are made; support decisions once made.
4.
Don't make dumb mistakes; don't punish smart mistakes; don't make
smart mistakes twice.
5.
Never overpromise, always overdeliver.
6.
A promise made is a promise kept.
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Work
Life Balance, Journal of Accountancy
1.
Spend time planning and setting priorities.
2.
Use to-do lists.
3.
Identify your prime time.
4.
Conquer your "yes-buts."
5.
Delegate when possible.
6.
Clarify and verify all communications.
7.
Don't expect perfection.
8.
Use off-season time effectively.
9.
Make the best use of your time right now.
10.
Don't be afraid to take advantage of workplace trend that support
work / life balance.
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General
Principles To Live By, Author Unknown
1.
Tell the truth. Honesty really is the best policy.
2.
Perfect your ability to love. It's the most powerful force in
the world.
3.
Pay attention to two-year-olds and puppies. They know what's important.
4.
Look at sunsets; smell the flowers; listen to the birds; touch
the people you care about; taste life. Everything you need is
there for you.
5.
Take responsibility for meeting your own needs, but don't do it
in ways that keep others from meeting theirs.
6.
Forgive yourself and others. We're all doing the best we can to
find our way.
7.
Live by your own values. Others may think they know best for you,
but you're the one who has to live with the consequences of your
actions.
8.
Listen to your body and take care of it. It's the best teacher
you have now.
9.
Laugh often and long. It really does help.
10.
Hang out with people you like and admire. We tend to imitate those
around us whether we want to or not.
11.
Follow your dream. Life is exciting when you're pursuing your
own goals-and you can do and have most anything you really want.
12.
Learn from your failures and don't be afraid to fail often.
13.
Life isn't fair, but it isn't unfair either. When things don't
seem to be working for you, do something. Movement is the key
to change and life itself.
14.
Be nice to prunes. You may be one someday.
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How
to tackle a deadline (and reduce procrastination), itbdigital.com,
March 2014
1.
Break the task down into small steps.
2.
Be objective and specific. If you achieve 80 per cent of the tasks
you plan, that is still a good result.
3.
Turn off the negative self-talk.
4.
Try to find something positive in the task, whether it's personally
meaningful or simple enjoyment.
5.
Make your goals public. We're more likely to follow things when
other people know we're going to do them.
6.
Use technology. There are many free web-based productivity apps
that can make the process of meeting deadlines easier.
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A
Blueprint For Achievement, Author Unknown
Believe
while others are doubting.
Plan
while others are playing.
Study
while others are sleeping.
Decide
while others are delaying.
Prepare
while others are daydreaming.
Begin
while others are procrastinating.
Work
while others are wishing.
Save
while others are wasting.
Listen
while others are talking.
Smile
while others are pouting.
Commend
while others are criticizing.
Persist
while others are quitting.
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How
to Run a Company Well - Ten Commandments for Successful Leaders,
The Economist, A Survey of Corporate Leadership
- Tough at the Top, October 25, 2003, p. 17-18
1.
A sound ethical compass. If a boss's values are undemanding, the
company's will also be wobbly.
2.
The ability to take unpleasant decisions. Many judgments must
be made on the basis of ambiguous information.
3.
Clarity and focus are essential requirements for making those
awkward judgments. To extract the crucial point from complexity
is essential for devising an effective strategy. In order to survive
the clamour for time and attention, a leader must also be able
to screen out unnecessary noise and to focus on what really matters.
That goes with realism - there is no point in aspiring to be unachievable.
4.
Ambition. The best leaders are empire-builders who want to create
something that outlasts them. That is different from ego-boosting
personal ambition.
5.
Effective communications skills are a relatively new requirement,
the result of the increasing intrusion of the outside world.
6.
The ability to judge people is an essential prerequisite, given
the importance of human capital. Judging who will work best in
which slot is one of the key tasks of leadership. Like so many
aspects of the top job, it requires intuition as well as experience.
7.
A knack for developing talent is needed to build a stock of future
leaders.
8.
Emotional self-confidence. Accumulating a pool of talent requires
an ability to work with people who may be better at their job
than you are at yours, and to guide and motivate them. Leaders
who are jealous of their followers do not inspire loyalty. Self-confidence
also allows people to admit to weakness and ask for help without
feeling defensive or inadequate.
9.
Adaptability will prove invaluable when things go wrong. Surviving
a reverse calls for resilience and flexibility. The key seems
to be an ability to "reframe": to reshape a problem
so that from some angles it can look like a success.
10.
Charm is not a quality taught on MBA courses, but few get to the
top without it. A bit of luck helps too, though that may prove
hard to arrange.
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Time
Tactics of Very Successful People, B. Eugene Griessman, 1994,
McGraw Hill (selected excerpts)
1.
80/20 rule. 20% of customers account for 80% of the sales. Plan
your work appropriately.
2.
Be a contrarian. Travel, eat or perform activities when others
are not to avoid waiting.
3.
Learn to listen. It is an active process and do not talk too much
yourself.
4.
Beware of Parkinson's Law. Work expands so as to fill the time
available for its completion.
5.
Avoid procrastination. Do it now. Finish it now.
6.
If it's not worth doing, be sure not to do it.
7.
Know when to leave well enough alone and stop. But also know when
to strike for perfection or extra efforts.
8.
Sharpen the axe.
9.
Anticipate trouble and build in redundancy.
10.
Take care of your body.
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The
100 Simple Secrets of Successful People, David Niven, 2002, Harper
(selected excerpts)
1.
Work to make progress, not to expend yourself.
2.
Realize who you are and your true personality, then choose a future
that fits it.
3,
Resist the urge to be average.
4.
Write down your plans, goals, and ideas.
5.
Successful people have a strategic plan and learn what it takes
to get ahead.
6.
Do things in order and take your goals one at a time.
7.
The more you try, the greater your opportunity to benefit from
a lucky outcome.
8.
Define your goals and define your plans to attain them.
9.
To be successful, be conscientious. Approach things with order,
common sense, consistency, and persistence.
10.
Learn from losses.
11.
Exercise and eat right.
12.
Listening is more than not talking, it is active listening.
13.
Failure is not trying.
14.
Face conflicts head on.
15.
Money isn't everything.
16.
Be realistic about yourself.
17.
Find your own path.
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Investor's
Business Daily Ten Secrets to Success
1.
How you think is everything: Always be positive. Think success,
not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2.
Know your true dreams and goals: Write down your specific goals
and develop a plan to reach them.
3.
Act. Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get
started now. Just do it.
4.
Never stop leaning: Go back to school or read books. Get training
and acquire skills.
5.
Be persistent and work hard: Success is a marathon not a sprint.
Never give up.
6.
Learn to analyze details: Get all the facts, all the input. Learn
from your mistakes.
7.
Focus your time and money: Don't let other people or things distract
you.
8.
Don't be afraid to innovate, be different: Following the herd
is a sure way to mediocrity.
9.
Deal and communicate with people effectively. No one is an island.
Learn to understand and motivate others.
10.
Be honest and dependable - take responsibility: Otherwise, knowing
secrets 1 to 9 won't matter.
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Career
Intelligence: Mastering New Work (from CAmagazine, Jan/Feb 2002)
1.
Ensure your marketability.
2.
Think globally - cultural and linguistic versatility count.
3.
Be able to communicate in powerful, persuasive and unconventional
ways.
4.
Keep on learning.
5.
Understand business trends.
6.
Look to the future.
7.
Prepare yourself in areas of competence, not for jobs.
8.
Build financial independence.
9.
Think lattice, not ladders.
10.
Decide: Are you more of a specialist or a generalist?
11.
Be a ruthless time manager.
12.
Be kind to yourself.
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The
7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey, 1990 - the
classic and The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey
1.
Be pro-active. You are responsible for your life. Decide what
you should do and get on with it.
2.
Begin with the end in mind. Think of how you want to be remembered.
Use this as a basis for your everyday behavior.
3.
Put first things first. Devote more time to what's important but
not necessary urgent.
4.
Think win/win. Have an abundance mentality. Seek solutions that
benefit all parties.
5.
Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Don't dive into
a conversion. Listen until you truly understand the other person.
6.
Synergize. Find ways to cooperate with everyone. Value the differences
between people.
7.
Sharpen the saw. Continually exercise and renew four elements
of yourself: physical, mental, emotional-social, and spiritual.
8.
Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs. (New)
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From
Fortune LGE Performance Systems (I cannot recall the exact reference)
- similar to 7 Habits, but more on the personal life side
1.
If you were on your deathbed and you wanted to tell your children
- or the young people to whom you are close - the three most important
things that you've learned in your life, what would they be?
2.
What gives you the greatest joy, satisfaction, and renewal in
your life, and how could you do more of it?
3.
Who are you without your job, your money? Describe in detail.
4.
What artivities could you add to your life that would be a source
of richness and joy?
5.
Think of someone you admire deeply - explain why.
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Get
to the Point! by Elizabeth Danziger, Three Rivers / Random House,
adapted and extracted by Journal of Accountancy, August 2002
1.
Get started. Set a specific time for writing and treat it as an
appointment with a client. Allow no interruptions.
2.
Clarify your purpose before you start. Are you informing, requesting
or persuading? If you want your reader to act on your message,
then you are probably writing to persuade. Understanding your
own intentions will help you be more effective.
3.
Write straight through the first draft. Don't dither over minor
word choices or jump up from your desk to look for a small piece
of data to plug in. Get the whole document on paper; you can revise
later.
4.
Don't give too much history. Provide background information that
pertains directly to the situation at hand. Too much history bores
the reader and tires the writer.
5.
Put your main point first (unless you have good reason to put
it at the end). Your reader is most influenced by what he or she
sees first; make your first point count.
6.
Don't inundate the reader with data. Focus on the bottom-line
information. Give access to minutiae through appendices or online
references.
7.
After you draft the document, put it aside. This may seem counterintuitive,
but taking a break between writing and revising will save you
time and effort. Take a stroll around the block before you edit
your work.
8.
Keep sentences short. Don't agonize over how to structure and
punctuate an over-long sentence. Delete needless words. Creat
two or more shorter sentences out of a 30-word behemoth. Eliminate
redundancies.
9.
Split long sentences at conjunctions. If your sentence is too
long, split the sentence either at a relative pronoun (which,
that, since or because) or at a conjuncation (or, and, or but).
10.
Leave time for proofreading. Be sure there are no spelling errors
or typos. This includes the mistakes spell check can leave behind,
such as where/wear, four/for and countless others. Read the document
yourself after you've run spell check.
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Off
the Cuff: What to Say at a Moment's Notice, Anne Cooper Ready,
Career Press. For better communication.
1.
KISS - Keep it simple, sweetheart
2.
Concise
3.
Candid
4.
Cogent
5.
Confident
6.
Clear
7.
Compassionate
8.
Cool, calm and collected
9.
Correct
10.
Consistent
11.
Credible
12.
Controversial
13.
Charismatic
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Major
Attributes of Leadership, Napoleon Hill, 1960, Random House.
1.
Unwavering courage based upon knowledge of self, and of one's
occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who
lacks self-confidence and courage.
2.
Self-control. The man who cannot control himself can never control
others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one's follower,
which the more intelligent will emulate.
3.
A keen sense of justice. Without a sense of fairness and justice,
no leader can command and retain the respect of his followers.
4.
Definiteness of decision. The man who wavers in his decisions,
shows that he is not sure of himself, cannot lead others successfully.
5.
Definiteness of plans. The successful leader must plan his work,
and work his plan.
6.
The habit of doing more than paid for. One of the penalties of
leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the
leader, to do more than he requires of his followers.
7.
A pleasing personality. No slovenly, careless person can become
a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will
not respect a leader who does not grade high on all of the factors
of a pleasing personality.
8.
Sympathy and understanding. The successful leader must be in sympathy
with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them and their
problems.
9.
Mastery of detail. Successful leadership calls for mastery of
the details of the leader's position.
10.
Willingness to assume full responsibility. The successful leader
must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and
the shortcomings of his followers.
11.
Cooperation. The successful leader must understand and apply the
principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce his followers
to do the same. Leadership calls for power, and power calls for
cooperation.
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Ten
Major Causes of Failures in Leadership, Napoleon Hill, 1960,
Random House.
1.
Inability to organize details. Efficient leadership calls for
ability to organize and to master details. No genuine leader is
ever "too busy" to do anything which may be required
of him in his capacity as leader. The successful leader must be
the master of all details connected with his position. That means
that he must acquire the habit of relegating details to capable
lieutenants.
2.
Unwillingness to render humble service. Truly great leaders are
willing, when occasion demands, to perform any sort of labor which
they would ask another to perform.
3.
Expectation of pay for what they "know" instead of what
they do with that which they know. The world does not pay men
for that which they "know." It pays them for what they
do, or induce others to do.
4.
Fear of competition from followers. The able leader trains understudies
to whom he may delegate, at will, any of the details of his position.
Only in this way may a leader multiply himself and prepare himself
to be at many places, and give attention to many things at one
time. It is an eternal truth that men receive more pay for their
ability to get others to perform, than they could possibly earn
by their own efforts.
5.
Lack of imagination. Without imagination, the leader is incapable
of meeting emergencies, and of creating plans by which to guide
his followers efficiently.
6.
Selfishness. The leader who claims all the honor for the work
of his followers is sure to be met by resentment. The really great
leader claims none of the honors.
7.
Intemperance. Followers do not respect an intemperate leader.
8.
Disloyalty. The leader who is not loyal to his trust, and to his
associates, those above him, and those below him, cannot long
maintain his leadership.
9.
Emphasis of the "authority" of leadership. The efficient
leader leads by encouraging, and not by trying to instill fear
in the hearts of his followers. If a leader is a real leader,
he will have no need to advertise that fact except by his conduct
- his sympathy, understanding, fairness, and a demonstration that
he knows his job.
10.
Emphasis of title. The competent leader requires no "title"
to give him the respect of his followers. The doors to the office
of the real leader are open to all who wish to enter, and his
working quarters are free from formality or ostentation.
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Selected
Major Causes of Failure, Napoleon Hill, 1960, Random House.
1.
Lack of a well-defined purpose in life. There is no hope of success
for the person who does not have a central purpose, or definite
goal at which to aim.
2.
Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity. We offer no hope for
the person who is so indifferent as not to want to get ahead in
life, and who is not willing to pay the price.
3.
Lack of self-discipline. Discipline comes through self-control.
This means that one must control all negative qualities. Before
you can control conditions, you must control yourself.
4.
Procrastination. This is one of the most common causes of failure.
Do not wait. The time will never be "just right." Start
where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at
your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.
5.
Lack of persistence. Most of us are good "starters"
but poor "finishers" of everything we begin. Moreover,
people are prone to give up at the first signs of defeat. There
is no substitute for persistence.
6.
Negative personality. There is no hope of success for the person
who repels people through a negative personality. Success comes
through application of power, and power is attained through the
cooperative efforts of other people. A negative personality will
not induce cooperation.
7.
Uncontrolled desire for "something for nothing."
8.
Lack of a well defined power of decision. Men who succeed reach
decisions promptly, and change them, if at all, very slowly. Men
who fail reach decisions, if at all, very slowly, and change them
frequently, and quickly.
9.
Over-caution. The person who takes no chances generally has to
take whatever is left when others are through choosing. Over-caution
is as bad as under-caution.
10.
Wrong selection of associates in business. We emulate those with
whom we associate most closely. Pick an employer who is worth
emulating.
11.
Superstition and prejudice. Superstition is a form of fear. It
is also a sign of ignorance. Men who succeed keep open minds and
are afraid of nothing.
12.
Wrong selection of a vocation. No man can succeed in a line of
endeavor which he does not like.
13.
Lack of concentration of effort. The jack-of-all-trades seldom
is good at any. Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite
chief aim.
14.
The habit of indiscriminate spending. The spendthrift cannot succeed,
mainly because he stands eternally in fear of poverty. Form the
habit of systematic saving by putting aside a definite percentage
of your income. Without money, one must take what one is offered,
and be glad to get it.
15.
Lack of enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm one cannot be convincing.
Moreover, enthusiasm is contagious, and the person who has it,
under control, is generally welcome in any group of people.
16.
Intolerance. The person with a closed mind on any subject seldom
gets ahead. Intolerance means that one has stopped acquiring knowledge.
17.
Intemperance.
18.
Inability to cooperate with others. It is a fault which no well-informed
businessman or leader will tolerate.
19.
Possession of power that was not acquired through self-effort.
Power in the hands of one who did not acquire it gradually is
often fatal to success. Quick riches are more dangerous than poverty.
20.
Intentional dishonesty. There is no hope for the person who is
dishonest by choice. Sooner or later, his deeds will catch up
with him, and he will pay by loss of reputation, and perhaps even
loss of liberty.
21.
Egotism and vanity. These qualities serve as red lights which
warn others to keep away. They are fatal to success.
22.
Guessing instead of thinking. Most people are too indifferent
or lazy to acquire facts with which to think accurately. They
prefer to act on "opinions" created by guesswork or
snap-judgments.
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Getting
A Grip on Work Overload, Tammy Robertson, Beyond Numbers,
May 2006 (also at www.tammyrobertson.com)
We
live in a pressure-packed world. Just take a look around and you'll
see frantic people trying to get somewhere sooner or do something
faster. Then there are those who have checked out completely,
who go through the motions only partially engaged in their daily
lives. Many who persist in the rat race are constantly organizing,
scheduling, planning, racing, rushing, worrying, fretting, huffing
and puffing, and trying to keep everything under control. We're
getting up earlier and staying up later in an effort to accomplish
more each day.
In
doing so, many of us are unconsciously trading off joy and satisfaction
for achievement. Does this sound like you? Are you exhausting
your potential, rather than fulfilling it? If the answer to either
question is “Yes,” then it's time to abandon the rat-race
mentality and get a grip on work overload.
What
follows is a four-point conditioning program to help you do just
that.
1.
Set boundaries to protect your time
Face
it: Work can take up all of your time if you let it. So don't
let it. And don't let productivity override purpose. Choose to
work an eight-hour day whenever possible, then focus your energy
on other areas of your life. (If you feel guilty leaving the office
before 6pm, know this: Plenty of research indicates that putting
in more hours does not equal greater output.)
Managing
work overload requires you to get organized, establish your priorities,
and practice a great deal of self-discipline. You'll need new
work habits to help you stay focused on one thing at a time, a
realistic To-Do list, a daily schedule to help you maximize your
productivity, and exit strategies to help you leave work at the
office so that you're not psychologically “on call”
all the time. Being disciplined about your time will go a long
way toward making you feel rested, peaceful, healthy, engaged,
and enthusiastic about life.
But
what if work overload isn't the real problem? Maybe you keep yourself
busy to feel valued and important. If that's the case, you should
decide whether you're willing to keep starving your soul to feed
your ego. Ask yourself if all this “doing” is really
healthy, and if the busy-ness of your daily ritual is yielding
the desired outcomes. If you find that the answer is “No,”
then choose the areas where you need to set some boundaries and
tell your family, friends, and co-workers you've instituted a
new personal policy. This policy might spell out conditions such
as the following: “I will work overtime only one night a
week”; “I will serve on only one committee at a time”;
“I will not answer the phone during dinner”; and “I
will spend the hour of 7 to 8pm getting my kids ready for bed,
giving them my full attention.
Other
action Items
- Put
some boundaries around your lunch break. Decide not to eat lunch
at your desk this week. Instead, get up and go for a walk, schedule
a workout, or meet up with a friend. Do something that gives
you a change of scenery. When you do eat at your desk, put work
on hold—shut the door or let anyone who stops by know
that you'll get back to them shortly.
- Take
short breaks during the day. Walk around the block, get yourself
a glass of juice, or browse through a travel magazine and visualize
your next trip.
- Don't
be a slave to technology. Make a point of not checking your
email after work hours. Turn your cell phone off. Feel the freedom
of not being continually “wired.”
- Begin
your day with an intention to complete or accomplish one high-priority
item and keep your focus there.
- Create
a “done” list. Note what you have achieved and celebrate
your accomplishments.
- At
the end of the day, experiment with a ritual that helps you
close out your workday and prepare mentally and emotionally
for the time you now get to spend with family and friends or
engaging in other interests and activities. Start to “decompress”
by clearing off your desk and putting together your To-Do list
for the next day. Listen to music. Notice the scenery on the
way home. Start looking forward to the evening. Allow yourself
to deal with tomorrow's business tomorrow.
- Make
your hellos and goodbyes genuine and sincere.
- Take
time to have meaningful conversations with your loved ones and
friends.
- Find
humour in every day.
2.
Limit “out-of-body” experiences by living in the moment
Many
of us go through life half asleep—both literally and figuratively.
It's so easy to spend virtually the whole day planning, organizing,
worrying about the future, or replaying the past and feeling guilty,
that we don't even realize we're on cruise control. We just keep
going and going... Chronic sleep deprivation only compounds the
problem.
How
do we remedy this situation? Getting enough sleep is one part
of the solution; stopping and smelling the proverbial flowers
is the other. Living each day with a conscious intention to “show
up” in ways that open our hearts to what is fulfilling and
deeply satisfying can help us achieve real balance and fulfillment.
So
today, take joy and pleasure off permanent layaway and decide
to live fully in the moment. Notice the scenery, look into people's
eyes, really listen to your colleagues and loved ones, and actually
taste your food.
Other
action items
- Don't
start the day off just planning to get it done. Create a morning
ritual that reconnects you with your deepest desires about how
you want to live and who you want to be. This might involve
walking around the block, sitting quietly in front of the fireplace,
listening to some favourite music, or meditating.
- Determine
what it is about your life and work that makes it meaningful
and rewarding.
- Resolve
to do something each day to act on one of your most important
values.
- Practice
being in the present. Whenever you catch yourself on autopilot,
stop and give yourself a chance to reconnect with your physical
self. Notice your surroundings. Breathe.
- Notice
the times during your day that are most enjoyable. Take the
time to savour them.
- Write
in a journal or notebook. Use it to record your thoughts and
observations throughout the day, keep inspirational quotes,
and/or jot down anything that interests you.
- Focus
on giving others your full attention. Be curious and interested.
- Enjoy
the silence. Be aware of it. Turn the TV or radio off. Listen
for the less intrusive sounds of nature. Invest in some quality
earplugs. (Wherever you are, this is an easy and direct way
of becoming present.)
3.
Decide when a molehill is just a molehill
Decide
that no matter what happens today you won't get all worked up
over nothing. After all, life is really too short to spend valuable
energy cursing other drivers or complaining about trivial annoyances.
If you catch yourself overreacting, make a conscious choice to
regain/maintain your composure. Be gracious. Stop policing the
universe—it's too big a job. Let another driver go ahead
of you; allow someone to move ahead of you in line; walk slowly,
breathe deeply, and smile. Pretend you're a Zen master.
Other
action items
- Ask
yourself: “Does this situation deserve the amount of energy
I'm expending? Will I even remember what all the fuss was about
next month, next week, or even tomorrow?”
- Surrender.
Accept that you have no control over the photocopier or someone
else's actions.
- Stop
the negative story you've been telling yourself about a situation
and identify the positive outcomes, opportunities, and lessons.
In short: Consciously choose the focus of your story—there's
power in knowing whether you're diffusing or amplifying the
drama.
- Slow
down and take a deep breath. Have a laugh—give your frustration
or anxiety a healthy outlet.
4.
Adopt a rejuvenating ritual
The one thing research makes clear is that peak performers and
resilient people take time each day to remove themselves from
the frenetic pace of life. They set aside time to get quiet, reflect
on their values, and take stock of who they are and how authentically
they're living their lives.
Action
items
- Decide
to carve out at least 15 minutes a day for introspection, whether
that involves reading something inspirational and thinking about
the message, taking a walk and appreciating the natural beauty
around you, sitting in solitude, or writing in a journal.
- Start
the day by inviting more of what you want into your life. Say
to yourself: “Today I invite more humour, fun, connection,
appreciation, creativity [and/or whatever else it is that you
want more of].”
- Finally,
make sure you cover the basics every day: eat a healthy diet,
get enough sleep, drink eight glasses of water, and breathe!!!
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You're
Paying Attention, But Do They Know It? Margaret Hope, Beyong Numbers,
May 2006 (selected excerpts)
Communication
is about more than just speaking; it's also about listening. As
trite as that may sound, it's still an area where many people
fall short, and no wonder: Even the best-intentioned individual
can get so distracted by the sundry interruptions of the average
workday that they fail to pay full attention when others try to
communicate.
Exhibiting
poor listening skills can lead to serious problems. As author
Margaret Hope points out: “When we don't fully listen to
each other, we miss key information and end up acting on partial
information. We're more apt to make mistakes, work inefficiently,
and irritate or offend others. We might also miss emotional information
that could help us determine whether another person is uncomfortable
with a decision, excited by a new direction, or disinterested.
Co-workers might describe us as ‘just not getting it.' Our
poor listening skills could exacerbate differences and lead to
a hostile or uncomfortable work environment.”
Clearly,
when it comes to communication, we need to be as mindful of our
listening skills as we are of our speaking skills. But what if
you are listening and the other person still doesn't feel heard?
What can you do to convince them that you're paying attention?
Conversely, how can you make sure they're hearing you?
Verbal
responses that say you're listening
1.
Verbal prompts – Without interrupting your partner you can
murmur simple words such as “Uh-huh,” “okay,”
“yup,” “sure,” and “right.”
While they don't indicate a dazzling use of the English language,
these expressions encourage completion. Just make sure you're
not using these prompts to hurry the speaker along.
2.
Longer verbal prompts – These are useful when your speaker
has paused and seems unsure about whether to continue or not.
“Tell me more” or “Can you give me an example?”
would certainly reassure the speaker of your interest in their
message.
3.
Encouraging or neutral tone – Whatever your verbal prompts
or responses, be aware of your tone. Just about anything can be
made to sound judgmental or sarcastic, thereby undermining a relationship.
Try to adopt an encouraging tone—or at least a neutral one—if
you want the other person to feel that you're listening, not judging.
4.
Ask clarifying and salient questions – Try to use open questions
such as “Why do you think that happened?” or “What
would you like to see happen next?” These are likely to
expand the conversation by prompting more than simply “Yes”
or “No” answers. And make sure these questions are
on target—asking a question that is a long way beyond the
scope of the conversation will tend to lessen the perception that
you've been listening; by contrast, a question that's too basic
could also suggest that you haven't been listening; and a question
that leaps to the fringes of the topic—perhaps esoteric
or technical—can feel more like an interrogation or waste
of time.
5.
Paraphrase or summarize the conversation – Doing so will
help you make sure you've understood the other person.
Non-verbal
responses that say you're listening
1.
Maintaining eye contact – Aside from creating a sense of
connection, eye contact can reveal clues about the way the listener
feels about your message, or the way the speaker feels about their
own.
Responding
non-verbally – Let your face and shoulders respond to the
information you're hearing. When you respond appropriately with
non-verbal language you are telling the other person: “I'm
getting it.” A poker face can easily be misinterpreted,
so try to be aware of your facial expressions.
3.
Remaining still – Keep your body facing the speaker and
stay fairly still. Constantly fidgeting—whether adjusting
your hair, examining your nails, rubbing your neck, or moving
around—makes you seem distracted. And since it won't seem
like you are listening patiently, the speaker will undoubtedly
question whether you're really hearing them.
4.
Leave your toys alone – This can't be emphasized enough!
Glancing at your PDA, text-messaging, checking your phone, and
doodling all indicate that your attention is divided.
5.
Lean forward slightly to close the gap between you – We
all have a comfort “zone” around us. For most business
relationships it's about a handshake apart. If you move slightly
inside of this zone, you send a non-verbal signal that you want
to close others out and really focus on what the speaker is saying.
Don't move your entire body into this space, just your upper body;
if you get too close, the message will be quite different and
could provoke anger, fear, or confusion (if the person backs away
from you, you're probably standing too close!).
Going
beyond the basics
What
happens when two people disagree about something and/or the topic
or tone of their communication turns emotional? Moreover, what
if a heated exchange takes place in front of others?
There
are several options for the group leader to response
1.
Reframing – Restate the content but avoid the emotional
aspect of the conversation if the situation is taking place in
public. You can always move the conversation to a private space
afterwards and give the individual(s) a chance to calm down.
2.
Reflecting – More appropriate for a private meeting, reflecting
allows you to ask about feelings and give the other person a chance
to vent and solve problems.
3.
Privacy – The more emotional the content, the more important
it is to eliminate distractions.
4.
Use time – When the communication gets heavy or emotional,
don't rush. Stop, breathe, consider your response, and give others
an unhurried opportunity to consider theirs. Other ideas to help
diffuse the tension and prevent knee-jerk reactions: Call a break,
pour a glass of water, ask someone else in the room to manage
a small task, or even standing up and moving to a new position
before starting to speak.
Finally,
help them listen to you. A few quick tips, in closing, to help
you get your message across:
1.
Look at the other person(s) as you speak.
2.
Personalize your remarks – Use their name(s) and pronouns
such as “you,” “your,” “we,”
“our,” and “us.”
3.
Use words that will resonate with the listener(s) – These
are words that belong to your shared frame of reference; for instance,
words that refer to your profession, business, geography, or sports.
4.
Speak in a positive manner – “You've made a good point,
and I think we might want to also consider...” sounds a
lot more encouraging than, “Well, that might be true, but
we tried that before and...”
5.
Limit what you say, and stay organized – A succinct, well-organized
message is much easier to absorb than one that meanders, doubles
back on itself, and takes forever to get to the point.
6.
Involve your listener(s) by seeking their responses. After all,
good communication only happens when both parties are involved.
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The
9 C's of leaders, Where Have All The Leaders Gone? Lee Iacocco,
2007, Scribner (selected excerpts)
1.
Curiosity.
2.
Creative. Think outside the box.
3.
Communicate.
4.
Character.
5.
Courage.
6.
Conviction.
7.
Charisma.
8.
Competent.
9.
Common Sense.
Back
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Speak
Easy by Prue Moodie, InTheBlack, May 2007, p.75-76
Public
Speaking Checklist.
Don't
1.
Read from a speech.
2.
Go against your personality style.
3.
Forget to explain why the subject is important.
4.
Use word-heavy slides.
5.
Tell the audience you're nervous.
6.
Thank the audience for their time.
7.
Tell jokes.
Do
1.
Memorise your speech.
2.
Check the technology is working.
3.
Have some introduce you.
4.
Allow your eyes to rest on individuals or group - for a few words
only.
5.
Pause for a couple of seconds occasionally.
6.
Move - a step or two - to illustrate a point.
7.
See the humour in yourself and the subject (but not in your qualifications!).
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Retaining
Talent, CGMA Magazine, January 2014
10
High-Performer Competencies
1.
Ability to prioritize.
2.
Working well in teams.
3.
Organizational awareness.
4.
Effective problem solving.
5.
Self-awareness.
6.
Proactivity.
7.
Ability to influence.
8.
Effective decision making.
9.
Learning agility.
10.
Technical savvy.
5
Tips to Manage Top Talent
1.
Simplify. As strategies change, so too should responsibilities,
focusing on the most urgent and important tasks.
2.
Unplug. Cut down on unnecessary email and cancel all buy the most
important meetings.
3.
Recognize. Praise.
4.
Compensate.
5.
Recharge. Reward top employees with extra time off.
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5
Bad Habits of Highly Counterproductive Managers by Lori Pizzani,
CFA Institute Magazine Nov/Dec 2013
Habits
to avoid.
1.
Micromanaging.
2.
Avoiding difficult conversations.
3.
Tyranny and intimidation.
4.
Not treating employees equally.
5.
Failing to communicate or listen.
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