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February 7, 2023 by Klassen Performance Group

Leaders Cultivate Accountability For Team Success

accountability 7 steps for leaders

In order for a leader and his or her team to succeed, accountability must be woven into the very fabric of a team and its workflow. This cultivated environment of accountability is a foundational tenet built and fostered by the leader, filtering down to each member of the team.

“[Accountability is] a personal choice to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results – to see it, own it, solve it, and do it.”
-Roger Conners-

Too often there is a negative view of accountability in organizations. People associate it with consequences for negative behavior or poor performance. When that mindset is left unchecked, it can result in focusing on problems rather than solutions. Often, this leads to frustration and finger pointing among team members, and diverts valuable time and energy away from achieving goals.

How many times have you heard, “It’s not my fault”, or “It’s not my job” or “It’s not my problem”?

Far too many people who don’t get results immediately begin to make excuses, rationalize, or blame others for their performance. A team member lacking accountability is like a car driving with the emergency brake on; it slows the whole team down.

As a leader, it is your job to create the environment that fosters high accountability. Your ability to model high accountability is crucial to building and strengthening a workplace culture & mindset that enables a team to thrive and goals to be met. Creating a set of core beliefs and expectations for accountability doesn’t happen overnight, however, leaders who consistently focus on the seven steps below will get there.

7 Essential Steps In Building Workplace And Team Accountability

1. Begin with clear expectations

Accountability begins, without exception, with clearly defining the results you want and need others to achieve. When your team members know exactly what is expected of them, you have the foundation in place for holding them accountable. Good leaders will make sure that all expectations are clear up front, and understand that when deliverables are not met or uncertainty is suspected, have steps in place to correct the path. Good leaders will make sure that all expectations are clear up front, and understand that when deliverables are not met or uncertainty is suspected, steps must be taken to correct the path.

2. Persist in keeping the solution as the focus

Accountability fosters a mindset of ‘working to become so good that we’ll succeed no matter what is thrown at us’. A leader sets the tone and models this mindset by demonstrating commitment to results, keeping clear expectations front of mind, and steadfastly persisting despite obstacles that will inevitably arise.

As Einstein said, “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

Instead of focusing energy on the obstacles that come up, a leader should look toward the goal, and continue encouraging the team to find a way to achieve it. Challenge yourself and your team to ask themselves questions like:

  • “What can I do to improve the situation?”
  • “What is the first step toward finding the solution?”
  • “Who needs to be involved in the solution?”
  • “What can we do to get around this obstacle and achieve results?”

3. Make being proactive a habit

Accountable teams, and team members, recognize that they have the ability to influence outcomes, and can anticipate steps to be proactive rather than reactive. It is asking at every turn, as Peter Drucker wrote in ‘The Effective Executive’ 40 years ago, “What can I contribute that will significantly affect the performance and results of the company (project/campaign/etc)”.

By fostering values and expectations where accountability is modeled, visible, and not feared, you create an atmosphere where energy, creativity and productivity will thrive. A culture where each member knows they have contributed toward the whole. Encourage your team to proactively anticipate obstacles and to solve the potential solutions around them.

4. Have the courage to face the unpleasant

An organization will be no bolder than it’s leader. Have the courage to look directly at the unfiltered situation to identify areas of low accountability and then act upon them.

Do any of these situations sound familiar?

  • Sales managers who turn a blind eye to top sales people doing questionable things to get the numbers.
  • A tough or sensitive conversation with a team member is needed, but it is avoided because it is unpleasant; a ‘maybe it’ll work itself out’ mentality.
  • Rather than dealing with the unpleasantness of firing an ineffective team member, that person is transferred to another department.

As an effective leader, keeping your focus on results means that at times there will be situations that require tough actions. Sometimes those actions will require your involvement. Other times it will be holding another accountable by expecting, and then allowing them to face the unpleasant and solve their own problems. A leader can find it difficult to not solve someone else’s problem, especially when they are struggling, but doing so will teach them to be accountable and effective as a team member.

5. Overcome the victim mindset

We all fall victim to circumstances sometimes. It is a feeling of not having any control over your present situation. The problem comes when we don’t pull ourselves out of that helpless feeling that there is nothing we can do.

As a leader, it is your role to watch for and recognize when this victim mindset is settling in. Listen for questions such as “Who dropped the ball?”, or “Why don’t others work harder?”, or “Why do they make it so difficult for me to do my job?”

Recognizing this mindset trap and taking steps to steer the team back to one of expected accountability is important. A leader can help the team remember that while there are circumstances beyond their control, they still have choices. Help them see what their choices are and take steps toward getting back on track.

6. Find answers, not excuses

Accountable leaders don’t tolerate excuses from anyone, even themselves. Sometimes things come up that prohibit you from getting done what you need to do. If that happens, the expectation, both from yourself and from your team, is that each will have in mind or be formulating a solution rather than an excuse. For example:

  • Rather than accepting the excuse for poor sales figures for a given time period, expect a plan to avoid that same performance again.
  • Rather than accepting the reason why a project was not completed on time, expect the conversation will also include new time frames and any other anticipated concerns.

As a leader, accepting an excuse fosters low accountability from your team members. Expecting that an excuse will be presented as a reason, accompanied by a plan, fosters high accountability.

7. Never waste energy blaming others

There is an old saying: “A poor sailor blames the wind”. Blame is a tool that can be used to explain away poor performance and allow yourself and others to become content with it.

A leader must strive to keep the focus of any problem or issue on the solution and forward movement rather than focusing on blame.

One company President said:
“Accountability is everyone working together so that we don’t drop the ball; but when it does get dropped, everyone dives for the ball to pick it up.”
He went on to say, “Unfortunately, too many of our people see the ball land on the ground between players, but react by saying, “That was your ball.”

Strong accountability is something that an effective leader is responsible for inspiring in his team with clear and tangible demonstrations of their own accountability. Doing so will go far in creating an environment of accountability where expectations are clear, the focus is on results, and each team member is energized to be productive. It is a lot easier to preach accountability than it is to practice it. To practice it effectively, you need to just take it one step at a time.

To find out more about how your team can build and cultivate high accountability for success, contact Dr. Heather Johnson today.


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Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

Filed Under: Leadership

January 18, 2023 by Klassen Performance Group

When Confidence isn’t Enough

It’s essential to focus on credibility when working with leaders to help them increase their ability to influence others, both formally and informally. It isn’t a surprise to anyone that credibility is necessary for influence, but it isn’t until we dig a little deeper that people realize just how important it is. It is often the case that they find their own credibility could use a little improvement.

The part of credibility that leaders most frequently focus on is confidence. The confidence a speaker conveys directly impacts the listener’s tendency to buy into the message. A nervous speaker will cause uncertainty in listeners. That means a leader must look and sound confident through posture, pitch, gestures, facial expressions, cadence, etc. While a critical component of credibility, confidence is only part of the equation.

When isn’t confidence enough?

  • When you are selling a product, service, or idea
  • When you want to encourage questions
  • When you want to encourage open discussion
  • When you want to keep listeners engaged

An equally important part of the credibility equation is genuineness.

When a leader doesn’t come across as genuine, people are less likely to buy into an idea or get on board with an initiative, as the leader’s confidence may come across as arrogance.

I once worked with a very confident leader who didn’t come across as genuine or connect with others on an emotional level. He was smart, experienced, and confidently spoke to people individually and in groups. Despite this, the team talked about him negatively, mocked him, complained about him, and waited for the day when he would be replaced.

The point is that a leader who focuses on just half of the equation falls short because it isn’t enough. The best leaders have a good balance between confidence and genuineness.

So what can you do to genuinely connect with people? First, you have to care about your team. Most of the leaders I work with do genuinely care about their teams; it just doesn’t always come across that way if they are moving fast and are very direct in their communications. Leaders who care and want to build up the other half of the equation can focus on 3 things:

1. Smile and eye contact

The combination of a genuine smile and real eye contact go a long way toward increasing credibility. People report feeling important and valued when leaders make eye contact with them instead of looking around the room or multi-tasking. A genuine smile that reaches the eyes often elicits a smile in return, leading to a positive connection. A few of the times leaders have the opportunity to use this powerful nonverbal combination are when they great their team, recognize accomplishments, and talk about the opportunity in challenges ahead. Give it a try and you’ll see both your credibility and your influence increase.

2. Share personal stories

Leaders, especially confident and accomplished leaders, can come across as cold and unapproachable. That makes people hesitant to ask questions or bring problems to them. Sharing short, relevant personal stories helps the team see another side of you and relate to you better. A story about a challenge you overcame can help inspire them to find a way to overcome their current challenge. A story about a failure you learned from can help them see that you make mistakes too and that it can be a positive if there is a lesson learned.

Leaders who attend Maximum Influence learn how to incorporate stories when they influence. They are consistently surprised by the significant impact they have in terms of engagement, genuine connection, and impact. Find an opportunity to share a little of yourself through story and you’ll see both your credibility and influence increase.

3. Humor

Humor is another great way to make a genuine connection with people to balance confidence and increase credibility. A very confident leader can come across as intimidating and shut people down. If you want to soften your presence so you don’t come across as intimidating, humor is a great tool to lighten the mood. Self-deprecating humor works well when appropriate. It cuts through tension, relaxes people, and opens them up to listening. While it isn’t appropriate to use humor in every situation in which you influence, finding the opportunities where you can will help you balance the credibility equation and increase your ability to influence.

I work with a lot of leaders who are out of balance when it comes to credibility. The key to improving credibility is knowing how to be both genuine and confident. Genuineness opens people’s minds and hearts to your message, and confidence moves them to take action. Skillfully striking that balance takes practice, and is one of the most valuable skills we teach in Maximum Influence. Each of the three strategies above will help you connect with people on an emotional level and increase your ability to influence.

Are you looking to maximize your influence and become the most effective leader you can be? We’d love to work with you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Heather Johnson to discuss the results you need to get and how we can help you get them.

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Explore our selection of Online Courses and Webinars

Learn More

—————

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

Filed Under: Influence, Leadership

January 10, 2023 by Klassen Performance Group

What Makes a Habit? Three Essential Components

4 strategies for developing successful habits illustration

Our first article in this 2-part series on habits focused on leveraging the power of habits to achieve New Year’s resolutions. In this article, we break down the components of a habit and give four strategies to help you overcome possible challenges.

Components of a Habit

A habit is an automatic behavior that initially requires conscious effort. It consists of 3 components: a cue, a routine, and a reward, which together form a habit loop.

The Cue:

The cue is whatever triggers the behavior. It could be a place, time, something you see or hear, or even an emotional state. A ringing cell phone is an obvious cue, while feelings of stress or anger may trigger behaviors of which you’re less aware. Because cues initiate the habit loop, it’s critical to become aware of the cues that drive your behavior.

The Routine:

The routine is the behavior that has become second-nature. Because roughly 40% of daily activity is routine (Duke University), it’s important to make sure routines are effective and goal-oriented to the degree possible. If you’re mindful and purposeful in creating routines, habits become powerful tools to help us achieve goals. Because it is much easier to change routines than cues and rewards, changing routines provides the greatest opportunity to change habits.

The Reward:

The third component is the reward. The reward satisfies a craving or need, so your brain quickly learns to repeat routines that generate rewards. Your brain links the cue to the reward so closely that you’ll begin to anticipate the reward as soon as the cue occurs. The routine then becomes a habit. Some rewards are easier to identify than others. Does walking to the vending machine midafternoon satisfy a craving for the energy the walk provides, the socializing you get chatting with others doing the same thing, a mental break, or something else? It is difficult to change a habit when you haven’t identified the reward.

Example
Imagine your resolution is to read career-building material for 30 minutes every morning before work. Interference from old habits can be one of the biggest hurdles to developing a new habit. For example, you may need to replace an existing routine (watching TV or browsing the internet) to make time for the new habit. Next, create a cue that indicates it’s time to read, such as leaving a book on the table where you enjoy your first cup of coffee. Seeing the book triggers the routine of reading for 30 minutes. You will then enjoy the reward. In this case, it could be desire for growth.

Diagram of a habit loop

Four Strategies For Developing Successful Habits

As anyone who has ever set a New Year’s resolution knows, forming new habits can be challenging. Here are 4 tips that will help you develop new habits and increase the likelihood of success.

  1. Change an old habit

    It is far easier to change an old habit than to create a new one because you keep the same cue and get the same reward. The only change you need to make is to create a more productive routine. A simple example would be switching coffee for tea. You still get a hot drink at the same time, place and way as before. You can also still fulfill a craving for an energy boost. It’s just one small change. Contrast that with the effort adding a new habit of exercising every morning would take. Both are possible, but the small change is more likely to turn into a habit.

  2. Identify your kryptonite

    Most new habits meet resistance or roadblocks. For example, you may want to develop a habit of informally connecting with team members each day at lunch. If you find yourself unable to tear yourself away from your computer, it may help to put your lunch in the break room instead of at your desk to give yourself the extra push. To identify your kryptonite, reflect and write down your successes and struggles during your first few days of your new habit.

  3. Make initial rewards enticing

    Researchers in Germany found that when people were forming the habit of running, they were more successful when they rewarded themselves with a piece of chocolate after each run for the first 2 weeks. After that time, most stopped eating chocolate because they experienced stronger rewards from the endorphins released from running. Making a clear, positive association is the key. To kick start your habit, find a reward that will entice you to take action.

  4. Repeat the routine

    Many resolutions involve goals of personal improvement. Getting up 30 minutes earlier to exercise may seem excruciating initially, but every time you repeat the routine it becomes easier. The more frequently and consistently you do it, the faster it will become a habit.

Understanding the 3 components of habits and how habit loops drive behavior is a powerful first step to making habits work for you. By this time of year, roughly 80% of resolutions have already failed. Our challenge to you is to recommit to your resolutions and to develop habits that drive results.

Filed Under: Emotional Intelligence, Leadership

October 30, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

Strategically Building Relationships

Strategically Build Relationships for More Successful Transitions

Transitioning With Purpose Series
Introduction
Part 1 – Clearly Define Purpose
Part 2 – Cultivate Optimism
Part 3: Strategically Build Relationships

Nobody Does It Alone

Success in anything requires the help and support of others, and too often we take these relationships for granted. Personal and professional relationships change during transitions. A new role at work may require leaving well-established working and mentoring relationships. A personal transition may mean leaving close friends behind and starting over in a new community. Whether personal or professional, the challenge during a transition is to proactively build the relationships you will need to thrive in your new situation. A network of strong personal and professional relationships will make a significant difference in whether you achieve your goals and how fulfilled you are along the way.

People get so focused on what they want to accomplish during transitions that building the relationships needed for success in the next chapter often takes a back seat. There are four different kinds of relationships that are beneficial during transitions, and it is critical to invest time in building all four of them.

1. Social
Being around people you like not only makes whatever you’re doing more enjoyable, it also makes you more productive. For introverts, a warm greeting coming into work may be all it takes. Extroverts will benefit more from working with team members. Whether you are working, volunteering, or making the most of retirement, high-quality social relationships reduce stress, increase engagement and increase satisfaction.

Social relationships don’t just impact your emotions and productivity, they impact your health and longevity. Researchers from Concordia University in Canada studied a group of international students who moved to Montreal. They found that students who were socially isolated during their transition were at greater risk of poor health while those with strong social networks were healthier overall.

Are there people in your life who encourage you, listen to you, challenge you, and celebrate with you? This is important at all stages of life, but particularly for people transitioning into retirement. Retirement for many brings a sharp decline in the amount of contact with other people. Previous work relationships are gone, and it is important to prepare for the vacuum created and fill it with meaningful relationships in retirement.

2. Go-to people
Go-to people are those people you turn to when you have an urgent need or problem. A list of go-to people is a life-saver during any transition and will save time and minimize stress. Go-to people provide fast answers and expedite resolution for all kinds of issues. They have the know-how, resources, and connections to solve problems quickly, which helps you focus on your highest priorities.

Imagine that your transition includes moving to a new city. A month after you move a pipe bursts and your basement begins to flood. The difference between knowing who to call immediately and beginning the search for someone as the water rises can mean a difference of thousands of dollars and a good night’s sleep.

You likely had a list of go-to people prior to your transition. While some of them will still work well in your new world, there will likely be gaps to fill. Determine the go-to people you need and begin making a list. The broader your social network, the more access to go-to people you’ll have.

Don’t wait until you have a crisis to begin building your list of go-to people. Start making the list as soon as you transition and nurture it so it’s ready when you need it.

3. Personal Board of Directors
Just like a company needs a Board of Directors for high-level guidance, you will benefit from a group of people who will serve as mentors and advisors. These are people you can turn to when you need a sounding board, have a complex situation to navigate, or when you have an important decision to make. These are people with the experience and knowledge to help you navigate challenges.

This is especially helpful during transition because you’ll encounter new and unexpected challenges. Having a group of people whose knowledge and experience you can tap into increases your effectiveness exponentially. Your personal board consists of people you trust and respect whose successes and failures will help you through your transition and beyond. They aren’t there to tell you what you want to hear, they are they to tell you what you need to hear.

Earl is an attorney who has been a trusted advisor for our family for most of my life. I learned the importance of having a trusted advisor by watching my dad turn to him over the years for personal and professional advice. As an adult, Earl became a vital part of my personal board. I rely on his expertise for a variety of complex issues and use him as a sounding board when a particularly difficult decision needs to be made. People like Earl are invaluable during a transition and beyond. Do you have an Earl?

4. Strategic partners

Strategic partners are influential people that others respect and listen to. There are influencers all around us. While they may not always have an impressive title, they are vital to helping us accomplish our goals and key initiatives.

These are the people in meetings others turn to when making a decision to gauge their level of buy in to a new idea. These are the people who upon hearing an idea they believe in will gather the support and resources to make it happen.

For example, a person who has decided to write a book or start a foundation in retirement will be more successful if there is a key influencer involved who can provide ideas and make introductions to get it done. Strategic partners are invaluable during transitions. Do you have relationships with any?

“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” Charles Jones

Given the importance of all four types of relationships during transition, it is important to choose them deliberately.
Who is going to support you after a setback? Who will you turn to when you need to have some fun and recharge? Who will help you solve an immediate personal or professional problem? Who will partner with you to make the difference you want to make? Your time is limited, so choose wisely.

How do you find time to build relationships when transitions are so busy?

The first step is understanding how important these relationships are to successfully navigating your transition. We tend to prioritize things that are important to us. While you might begin by putting a few extra coffee, lunch, and happy hour meetings in your calendar, smaller efforts during daily interactions can also go far toward building and nurturing relationships. The following list is just a few ideas to get you started:

  • Use the time waiting for a meeting to begin talking to other members of your team instead of being on your device.
  • Take the time to introduce yourself to your new neighbors when you get the mail.
  • Take advantage of the social opportunities offered at work or in your neighborhood.
  • Join a gym or a company team to meet people while your exercise.
  • Find opportunities to volunteer and you’ll meet people with similar values.
  • Take a class in something you’ve never done before and you’ll meet people with different experiences and perspectives.
  • Start with people you already know, even if you only know one person. Ask that person for introductions to others and begin fleshing out your new network.

Remember, nobody does it alone. A successful transition requires the help and support of others. As you transition, you will likely leave some or all of your network behind. Prioritize developing relationships and building a new network for a more efficient and effective transition.

Filed Under: Leadership

October 20, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

Am I Optimistic? Start With These Questions

How Optimistic are You?

Transitioning With Purpose Series
Introduction
Part 1 – Clearly Define Purpose
Part 2 – Cultivate Optimism
How Optimistic Are You: Questions to Provide Insight
Part 3 – Strategically Build Relationships

How optimistic are you?

As valuable as optimism is during transitions and beyond, it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. People often think they are more optimistic than they actually are. Consider the comments below. How many of them sound like something you’d say? If optimism doesn’t come naturally to you, it is worth cultivating to prevent feelings of helplessness, provide a buffer against illness, and to improve problem solving.

  1. Schools are closed due to a snowstorm. It’s a great chance to catch up on some chores at home.
  2. When the phone rings, I expect good news.
  3. That presentation didn’t go well, but I learned a critical lesson that will help me nail the next one.
  4. A reorganization means I’ll be out of a job in three months. That gives me an opportunity to regroup and decide what I want to do next.
  5. I didn’t get the job I wanted, but I know I’ll find one if I keep looking.
  6. I get asked to lead projects because I’m a good leader.
  7. There’s always another way.
  8. I’m having a bad day, but tomorrow will be better.
  9. There is a way out of this; we just have to find it.
  10. There is a lesson in every failure if you look for it.
  11. I got the promotion because I’m good at my job.
  12. When I smile and wave at someone and they don’t respond in kind, I assume they are having a bad day not that they are upset with me.
  13. When I receive constructive criticism, I try to find a way to apply it.
  14. Traffic is particularly bad today. That gives me the opportunity to mentally prepare for my day (or to listen to my favorite podcast).
  15. I’m going to make this next chapter of my life the best one yet.

The more comments that resonated with you, the more likely you are to have an optimistic response to situations. It’s not the situation, but the response to the situation that indicates optimism or pessimism. Optimistic people view situations through the following four filters:

Permanence:

Optimists view negative events as temporary while pessimists believe, often in spite of evidence to the contrary, that they are permanent. For example, an optimistic response to an angry boss would be “My boss is disappointed in my performance on this project.” Rather than a pessimistic response of, “My boss hates me”. Optimists expect that with training, practice, etc. skills will develop while pessimists are more likely to say, “I’ll never be good at this.”

Pervasiveness:

Optimists generalize positive experiences and isolate the impact of negative ones. For example, an optimistic response to a missed sale would be to isolate the negative event by thinking “This one didn’t go well.” while a pessimistic response would be to generalize the negative by thinking, “These big opportunities never work out for me.” The opposite is true for positive events. An optimist could take a positive interaction in the morning and generalize it to, “This is a great day” while the pessimist would have a tendency to isolate the positive event and consider it temporary.

Personalization:

Optimists have a pattern of attributing positive events in their lives to an internal source and negative events to an external source. For example, an optimist who failed to meet a deadline for a project might say, “Things were unusually busy, and I misjudged how much I could do in this short period of time.” On the other hand, an optimistic response to meeting a deadline would be, “I have great time management skills.”

Hopefulness:

Optimists have a general belief that good things will happen and that their actions will lead to positive outcomes even when they are in the middle of a bad situation or period of time. They always have hope.

Optimism can be cultivated. If you’d like to begin to learn how to respond to events in your life, review our post on cultivating optimism.

Filed Under: Leadership

October 11, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

Transitioning With Purpose – Cultivate Optimism

cultivating optimism

Transitioning With Purpose Series
Introduction
Part 1 – Clearly Define Purpose
Part 2: Cultivate Optimism
Part 3 – Strategically Build Relationships

Cultivate Optimism

Optimism is the tendency to focus on the positive aspects of situations and people, identify opportunity others may not see, and generally expect positive outcomes. Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring the negative; it means accepting setbacks when they happen, believing that there is a path to something better, and looking for ways to move forward.

People who believe that setbacks are temporary, limited to a specific situation, and manageable tend to be optimists. They believe there are ways to overcome obstacles even when they haven’t yet found the way. It is the expectation that they can find a way that drives them to keep trying. Their belief that their failures are temporary and situation specific allows them to bounce back from setbacks quickly.

Optimism is a valuable asset during any transition. At the outset, it will help you look for the best opportunities and aim high. When you encounter difficulties, optimism helps reframe situations, so you stay motivated and continue moving forward. Fortunately, optimism isn’t an immutable character trait, but something you can develop.

When you cultivate optimism, you will…

  1. Exert more effort during transitions
    Transitions are full of obstacles. Optimists believe that their efforts will lead to favorable outcomes, so they persist when faced with obstacles. Pessimists have a greater tendency to disengage because they don’t believe their efforts will pay off, which can result in feelings of helplessness. Because they are willing to try and try again, optimists tend to experience more efficient and effective transitions.
  2. Enjoy better health and energy
    The uncertainty and volume of work during transitions are common sources of stress that over time can weaken the immune system, leaving you more susceptible to illness and burnout. Optimism shields people from stress because optimists tend to interpret situations in a way that doesn’t elicit a stress response.

    For example, an optimist who hears “no” when presenting an idea will respond with an “I’ll get the next one” or “I’ll try another approach” attitude. Optimists focus on their next move, not on the loss. By focusing on what they can do about a situation, the optimist maintains a sense of control that reduces stress.

    Optimists also tend to let go of setbacks before they take a physical or mental toll. Pessimists have a greater tendency to ruminate about setbacks and get stuck in the negative emotions associated with them, which exacerbates stress. Optimists tend to reframe setbacks and move on before stress intensifies to unhealthy levels.

  3. Improve Problem Solving
    Excessive negative thinking tends to exacerbate and prolong problems. People stuck in negative thinking patterns have less mental energy to find effective or creative solutions when problems arise. Because optimists spend less time focusing on the negative, they have more cognitive resources available to find a solution. They don’t pretend everything is fine. They believe it will be in spite of the problem and search for a way to make it happen.

How optimistic are you?

As valuable as optimism is during transitions and beyond, it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. People often think they are more optimistic than they actually are. We have put together some questions to help you identify your level of optimism.

If optimism doesn’t come naturally to you, it is worth cultivating to prevent feelings of helplessness, provide a buffer against illness, and to improve problem-solving.
Click to Learn More

Three ways to cultivate optimism:

  1. Find the positive
    Even people who have a natural tendency toward seeing the negative in a situation can deliberately search for the positive.

    “Two men looked out from behind prison bars. One saw mud and the other saw stars.” Dale Carnegie

    Both the mud and the stars are real. Even if you tend to notice the mud first, you can intentionally look up and find the stars.

    A gratitude journal is a great way to deliberately focus on the positive. Taking the time to journal helps you process events and release negativity associated with them. When you include what you’re grateful for, your focus and emotions shift in a positive way. Even during times when everything seems to be going wrong, there are things to be grateful for if you simply look for them. Search for them, and you will find them.

  2. Find what you can control
    Don’t waste energy focusing on things that you can’t control. There are elements of every situation that you can control. If nothing else, you can manage your response. Choosing a response in line with your purpose will give you a greater sense of control over a situation and mitigate the stress associated with it.

    Sharon began her retirement in 2008. Although she didn’t know it at the time, it was the beginning of the great recession. After working diligently her whole life to prepare for retirement, everything suddenly changed for her. Sharon allowed herself very little time to dwell on her loss before reminding herself that she can’t control what the market does. Her financial situation changed and became a setback during her transition into retirement. Focusing on the problem or unfairness of the situation wasn’t going to help her; Sharon needed to move forward to fix it. She instead focused on the things she could control and began taking action toward achieving the financial goals that would enable her to have the retirement she wanted. Focusing on what she could control helped Sharon change her focus from the negativity of the situation to moving toward a solution.

  3. Hang out with optimists
    The people with whom you associate influence your perception of yourself and the world around you. If you surround yourself with people who focus on the positive, expect the best, and encourage you to keep moving forward, you are more likely to do just that. You will have people around you, some of whom you love, who are pessimists. They are not bad people you need to banish from your life, and their pessimism also has value. Just be aware of how those around you impact your world view and response to challenges. During transitions, it is especially helpful to prioritize time with people who will reinforce an optimistic outlook.

Transitions can be both exciting and challenging. You will likely face unexpected obstacles and setbacks. Cultivating optimism will help you overcome obstacles and bounce back from setbacks so you can keep moving forward through the transition to the new chapter and beyond.

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Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

Filed Under: Leadership

October 3, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

Transitioning With Purpose – 10 Questions to Help Uncover Your Purpose

10 questions to help uncover your purpose during transitions

Transitioning With Purpose Series
Introduction
Part 1 – Clearly Define Purpose
Questions to Help You Clearly Define Your Purpose
Part 2 – Cultivate Optimism
Part 3 – Strategically Build Relationships

If you’d like to uncover and clearly define your purpose but don’t know how to get started, you can begin by reflecting on the ten thought-provoking questions that follow. Don’t rush through them. Give yourself time to think about them. Writing your answers down in a journal will help you process them, and your purpose will begin to emerge.

Examples of purposes:

  • Maya Angelou “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
  • To be a coach known as a catalyst for helping people make meaningful change in their lives.
  • To find a way to make a positive impact on someone every day.

Whether you need to define your purpose or simply refocus on a purpose that already guides you, a clear purpose is an essential piece of a successful transition.

Questions to define your purpose

  1. What did I love to do as a child?
    Our passions are often rooted in childhood. They can be forgotten as we move through life conforming to others’ expectations and focusing on what we “should” do rather than what we want to do. Think of the things you did as a child that brought you the most joy. How did you spend your free time?
  2. What activities make you lose track of time?
    Flow is what psychologists call the high-energy, highly productive state when people are so immersed in a task or activity that they lose track of time. When activities put you in the state of flow?
  3. If I could wave a magic wand, what growth/change would I want to see in myself, my community, or the world?
    A magic wand allows yourself to think without restrictions. Don’t let perceived limits or the fear of failure get in the way of defining your purpose.
  4. What causes you to bubble with energy and excitement?
    A true purpose energizes you because it taps into your true passion. It is the emotion that ultimately drives action. Don’t think about what you should do, focus on what excites you.
  5. What would I do with my time if there were no limits?
    Don’t focus on an ideal job, focus on how you would choose to spend your time if there was nothing holding you back.
  6. If you knew you were going to die one year from today, how would you spend that year?
    There is nothing like a sense of urgency to help prioritize what is truly important.
  7. What are the greatest challenges you’ve overcome in life that you are most proud of?
    It may be that your purpose is connected to helping others overcome similar challenges.
  8. What do you want your legacy to be?
    Considering how you’d like others to remember you can uncover what is most important to you.
  9. If you had unlimited resources (time, money, people to help) how would you use them?
    Remove all barriers and focus on what you really want.
  10. What goals are you most determined to achieve?
    We become tenacious when focusing on a meaningful purpose.

Giving yourself time to think about answers to these questions and reading over your answers will help you begin to see your authentic self and clear purpose. Read through the rest of the posts in our series on Transitioning with Purpose for additional insight on how you can successfully navigate the transitions in your personal and professional life.

————–

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—————

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

Filed Under: Leadership

October 1, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

Transitioning With Purpose Series – Defining Your Purpose

Part 2 in Transitioning with Purpose Series from Klassen Performance Group

Transitioning With Purpose Series
Introduction
Part 1: Clearly Define Your Purpose
Part 2 – Cultivate Optimism
Part 3 – Strategically Build Relationships

Clearly Define Your Purpose

A purpose provides a sense of value and meaning that guides us through different chapters of life. A clear purpose reflects your reason for being and thus generates motivation and energy. Clarity of purpose is critical during transitions because your purpose is the lens through which you’ll interpret all events, evaluate options, and make all decisions. During your transition, a purpose helps you focus on what is important to you and accomplish what you want to achieve.

Those who lack a clear purpose are like a rudderless boat drifting in the ocean going wherever the wind takes them and reacting the best they can when the waves get choppy. Without a purpose, you’ll become reactive rather than intentionally charting your course. You’ll find that your stress increases as perceived control decreases, which can lead to a variety of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms that can slow progress or stop it altogether.

“There’s no greater gift than to honor your life’s calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.”
– Oprah Winfrey

As you transition to your next chapter, a clear purpose will…

1. Drive action
Transitions are typically chaotic with a great deal of time wasted trying to figure out what to do. Defining your purpose sets your direction and puts you in control of the next chapter of your life. During transition, a purpose will help you see through the chaos and find the clarity you need to move forward. Like GPS, it will keep you on track and help you correct course when needed. A clearly articulated, meaningful purpose will focus and energize you to take action to achieve that purpose.

2. Build resilience
Transitions are full of challenges and potential setbacks that have the potential to derail us temporarily or even permanently. People who keep their purpose front of mind are more likely to find meaning in things that happen to them, allowing them to change course and bounce back from setbacks more quickly.

Consider Lisa, who was recruited as the HR Director from a rapidly changing company to one with a slowly changing culture. A core part of Lisa’s purpose is “always striving for improvement”. She quickly identified an opportunity to improve the company’s hiring process and made a significant change to the process during her second month. The change was vigorously resisted. Lisa had moved too fast for a culture she didn’t yet fully understand. Lisa identified her mistake and realized that she needed to take the time to understand the culture better before making a change of this magnitude. She bounced back from a significant setback by finding the lesson in her mistake that she could apply going forward as she continued to pursue her purpose of continuous improvement. Finding the lesson made the experience meaningful and kept Lisa from wallowing in the negative emotions that could otherwise be associated with the failure. Instead, the lesson energized her keep moving forward with a more informed approach.

3. Lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction
There is a strong correlation between finding meaning in life and happiness. People who find meaning through their connection to a strong sense of purpose also tend to be happier. Those who lack a clear purpose are more likely to feel stuck and report feelings of sadness or apathy. Knowing you are making a meaningful contribution will flood you with a variety of positive, energizing emotions. The happier people feel, the more determined they are to live a life consistent with their purpose.

Have you ever wondered if your purpose is clear enough, complete enough, or even the right purpose for you? Your purpose isn’t something that you create, it is something that you uncover. You find it through self-reflection and increasing your understanding of who you are and what is important to you. You’ll know when you’ve identified and defined a meaningful purpose because it will spark a passion for action. You’ll wake up energized and ready to make a difference.

If you’d like to uncover and clearly define your purpose but don’t know how to get started, begin by reflecting on ten thought provoking questions to help define your purpose.

————–

Explore our selection of Online Courses and Webinars

Learn More

—————

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

Filed Under: Leadership

September 1, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

Transitioning with Purpose –
3 Steps To Help You Succeed

Transitioning with Purpose

Transitioning With Purpose Series
Introduction to Transitioning With Purpose
Part 1 – Clearly Define Your Purpose
Part 2 – Cultivate Optimism
Part 3 – Strategically Build Relationships

Transitioning With Purpose

Personal and professional transitions often fail because people haven’t, or don’t take time to, prepare for success. There are many reasons for this, including:

  • They may have a general idea of what they want to transition into, but not a specific plan for it.
  • They may lack awareness of how certain personality characteristics impact how they navigate transitions.
  • They overlook the importance of building a network and it becomes and afterthought; they don’t understand it’s value until they need something and realize that their “go-to person” is part of the old world, not the new world.

Professional transitions are critical times when small differences in your actions will have disproportionate impacts on results. It is a time when people are most vulnerable because they don’t completely understand the challenges they face, and haven’t developed the relationships they will need to succeed. All too often the first weeks are unstructured, as opposed to days with specific outcomes in mind. Good people can fail before they get started because of critical errors made due to a lack of planning.

We face similar challenges during personal transitions whether we’re transitioning into retirement, expanding our family, adjusting to an unexpected event, or perhaps moving across the state or even country. People waste a lot of time and experience a lot more stress when they fail to plan adequately for transitions.

Whether it’s a personal or professional transition, three things you can do to help ensure success are: Clearly define your purpose, cultivate optimism, and strategically build relationships.

Clearly Define Your Purpose

A clearly defined purpose is critical during transitions because the purpose is the lens through which you’ll interpret all events and make decisions. A clear purpose reflects your reason for being. Some people have an overall life purpose, but you can also define a purpose specific to the new chapter you’re beginning that will help ensure that you focus on what is important to you and accomplish what you want to achieve.
Learn More

Cultivate Optimism

Optimism is the tendency to focus on the positive aspects of situations and people, see opportunity where others may not, and generally expect positive outcomes. Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring the negative; it means accepting bad things when they happen and finding ways to move forward. During transitions, optimism helps to protect against stress and the illness that can accompany it. It also facilitates problem-solving and serves as a catalyst for taking action and moving more quickly through transitions to establishing a rewarding new chapter.
Learn More

Strategically Build Relationships

Nobody does it alone. To succeed in anything, we need the help and support of others. A new role at work may mean leaving well-established working and mentoring relationships and finding you now have neither. A personal transition may mean leaving close friends behind and moving somewhere where you don’t know anyone. Whether personal or professional, the challenge during a transition is to proactively build the relationships you will need to succeed by asking yourself, “Who do I need to know to achieve my purpose?”
Learn More

Are you in the midst of, or about to begin a transition in your personal or professional life? Read through the posts in this series for insight on things you can do you can successfully navigate transitions.

Filed Under: Leadership

August 14, 2022 by Klassen Performance Group

The steep cost of “It’s not a good time”

“It’s not a good time.” This is a common response when it comes to personal & professional development. It’s easy to put it off in favor of urgent tasks. The thing is, there will never be a good time.

Is it the right time to continue your professional development?

Consider this scenario:

You know one of the keys to becoming more effective in your role is developing your ability to influence others. Your peers have recommended a powerful course that helped them organize their thoughts, confidently get their ideas heard, and stand out from the pack, becoming the one others turn to for input. It sounds fantastic and just what you need! You’d love to attend the course, but it’s “not a good time”.

That statement could be very costly. Here are two examples illustrating how.

Example #1

Michael, a Distributor Specialist, is glad he didn’t continue putting off investing in his development. A couple of weeks after he attended our course on Influence, Michael had a meeting with a customer who placed monthly orders with him. This time, he used the tools he learned to adapt his message more specifically to this customer and to ask questions that got her thinking differently. Michael’s ability to influence more effectively led to an order that was $45,648 more than the standard monthly order for this customer! That would have been a big miss if Michael had decided it wasn’t a good time to develop his influence. Putting attending off just three more months would have cost him $136,944.

Example #2

Brian was a high potential individual contributor when he attended our course. His goal was to develop the communication skills he needed to get him noticed, promoted, and ultimately lead a team. A month later, Brian had an opportunity for a promotion. He used the preparation methodology he learned in our course to prepare for the interview and organize his thoughts. He used the stress management and delivery skills taught to express himself confidently and clearly during the interview. Brian said he wouldn’t have gotten the promotion had he not attended our Influence development program. Again, it shows that it pays to take the time to invest in yourself.

What opportunities will you miss in the next few months if you decide that this “isn’t a good time” for training?

  • Will your team continue to resist change?
  • Will you lose out on a promotion?
  • Will your request for funding be denied?

Now is the perfect time to prioritize your influence development.
You influence all day in personal and professional interactions. The question is: are you effective? We have several opportunities to help make sure that you are.

  1. Master the Fundamentals of Influence – This self-paced online course is the perfect starting point for the highly motivated learner who wants to learn & practice the fundamentals of influence on their own. The professional videos, robust workbook, and exercises will make you a master of influence in no time.
  2. Unleash Your Influence – The Master Class – This comprehensive master class is for those whose success depends on their ability to influence. The videos, webinars, and personal coaching allow you to develop one core influence skill at a time with a small group. By the end, you’ll be able to apply countless effective tools to any situation in which you need to influence.
  3. Are you looking for a customized solution to help your entire team improve their influence or other leadership skills? – We will come to you (virtually or in-person) and deliver a customized experience where everyone on your team will develop the ability to influence and drive results.

If you’re unsure that which of these courses would be better for your specific needs, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Heather Johnson to discuss the results you need to get and how Influence development can help you get them.

————–

Explore our selection of Online Courses and Webinars

Learn More

—————

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

Filed Under: Influence, Leadership

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