Leadership Flagship

Get gritty to boost your career success

May 24, 2018

By Jeanne Reynolds | May 9, 2018

What makes people successful — Talent? High IQ? Money? Luck? Genes?

All those things help, but the true driver of success is grit.

At least, that’s the opinion of Angela Duckworth, a psychology professor who’s been studying it for years. She defines grit as a combination of unshakeable motivation, persistence and determination. Simply put, it’s sticking with it. Never giving up, even when it gets hard.

Duckworth has done tons of testing with students and teachers, adults and kids. She’s even written a book about it. Unfailingly, whether in school, work or life, it turns out high performance is most closely tied to high levels of grit.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a one of her many believers. For most of its existence, it failed miserably at determining which cadets would endure their first 7 weeks — the infamous “Beast Barracks” — and which would pack it in. SAT scores, high school rank, physical fitness, leadership potential — nothing predicted success. That is, until Duckworth first administered her Grit Scale Test. The cadets who dropped out that year scored as well as their peers on everything but the Grit Scale.

This is great news for those of us who may not feel we’re the genius at the conference table or who don’t have an advanced degree from a top university hanging on the office wall. Talent and smarts matter, but so do believing strongly in what you’re doing and keeping at it despite setbacks.

Can you get grittier if you’re not hard-wired that way? Probably. Here are some ways to try:

• Develop a growth mindset. It’s a concept developed by Carol Dweck that says our ability to learn isn’t fixed. In fact, our brain grows in response to challenge. The key is believing failure isn’t a permanent condition.

• Be willing to fail. Take time to evaluate why, then start over with the lessons learned. (Note to helicopter parents: All of us, including our kids, need to be allowed to fail rather than protected from it. You might need to back off so your child can develop grit.)

• Try some online exercises like this one.

• Be patient. There’s not much grit involved in something that’s easy. Sticking with something by its very nature means there are stops and starts. It’ll take time. As Duckworth says, “Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Cozy up to hygge – at work

May 24, 2018
By Jeanne Reynolds | May 2, 2018
If you use social media or occasionally glance through glossy lifestyle magazines, you’ve probably heard of hygge. It’s a Danish term — pronounced hue-guh or hoo-ga, depending on the source —meaning a feeling of comfort and coziness. Think fuzzy slippers and hot cocoa by the fire. Reading a great book on a rainy day. Sharing home-baked goodies with family and friends.

It was big over the winter — big as in one of the hottest home decor trends of 2017 on Pinterest and more than 1.5 million posts tagged with #hygge on Instagram.

But just because spring has sprung, you don’t need to pack away the hygge lifestyle with the scarves and mittens. Not only that, you can bring it to the office, too. Here are a few ideas on how to hygge-up your workspace:
- Go green. As in bring a small plant or vase of flowers for your desk. Plants in the office reduce stress, improve productivity and may even help you avoid the bug travelling around the building. They look nice and make you feel good — very hygge.
- Share the love. And by love, I mean food. Bring in a batch of cookies or muffins to share with co-workers once in a while. Homemade is great but not required (no one is judging — that’s so un-hygge). It’s all about enjoying simple treats with those around you.
- Fluff your space. Maybe your fave photos of the kids and dog could be freshened up with new frames. If there’s room — and it’s not a tripping hazard — add a mini rug to mark the entrance to your kingdom. Hint: Oriental carpets never go out of style.
- Ditch the clutter. While you’re at it, maybe your office digs could use a serious cleaning and decluttering. Too much stuff around you can make you less productive and stressed rather than cozy. No wonder minimalism is another hot trend.
- Go low tech. As in put down that phone, especially in meetings. Neuroscience research proves there’s no such thing as multitasking. You’re not getting much out of that conference call anyway if you’re checking texts and emails (and admit it, Facebook posts) instead of actively participating. It’s not only unproductive, it’s rude. Instead, up your hygge quotient by connecting with colleagues in person when possible.
- Read for fun. If your break and a book go hand in hand, once in a while put down that dry business tome the other over-achievers are trying to wade through and read something you’d normally take to the beach this summer.
Many of us spend a third of every day at work. A few simple changes can help you create a space where you feel comfortable and productive … and pretty hygge.
5 activities successful people include in their morning routine

May 24, 2018

By Sharlyn Lauby | May 15, 2018

Behavior modeling is the idea we can imitate or copy someone else’s behavior to learn something. For example, if a sales manager sees another sales manager do something that helps them get the client, he or she could try to duplicate the behavior in the hopes of getting a client of his or her own.

That’s one reason we tend to pay attention to the behaviors and habits of successful people. Those individuals have reached a measure of success and, if we want to achieve some level of accomplishment, we might want to incorporate some of their strategies.

Stories about the qualities of successful people often mention having passion for their work, being adaptable, becoming more self-aware, etc. All of those things are important, but to do them, you need to spend your time wisely. That means having some sort of morning routine that allows you to start your day by being as productive as possible.

A word of warning first: Successful people start their day early! But don’t let that deter you. If you don’t want to duplicate the behavior, think about how you can modify it and still reap the benefit. Here are five things that successful people include in their morning routine:

1. Time: Successful people set aside time for a “morning routine.” The first step is carving out the time to make it happen. Entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk allocates 3 hours for his morning routine. While you might not want or need something that lengthy, give your morning routine importance in your schedule. The value comes in doing your morning routine regularly.

2. Nutrition: We’re not going to tell people what to eat, but some form of nourishment is important to maintain your energy. Billionaire Warren Buffet has eaten the same thing for the past 54 years. Depending on his mood, he orders one of three items at McDonald’s and never spends more than $3.17. Successful people stay focused and get stuff done.

3. Activity: Successful people find time to walk, work out or get some kind of activity. Including activity in your morning routine can help increase productivity. It’s also convenient. Last-minute demands can often derail afternoon and evening workouts. Anna Wintour, artistic director of Conde Nast, likes to play tennis first thing in the morning.

4. Reflection:Author and co-founder of The Huffington Post Arianna Huffington says she starts the day with deep breathing and practicing gratitude. If that’s not your thing, consider meditation, mindfulness or simply a quiet drive on the way into work. Successful leaders carve out time for thinking and reflection. It’s not only relaxing, but a method for dealing with stress.

5. Fun: Morning routines aren’t all about work. Sir Richard Branson likes to wake up early so he can spend time with family before heading off to work. You can also dedicate time for listening to music or a podcast, watching an episode of your favorite TV show, or playing a game. We spend a lot of time focused on work, so it’s important to find a few moments for fun.

Find your own morning routine
You don’t have to duplicate the morning routines of these individuals to become successful. But do take a moment to think about why they’re doing them. It’s to take care of themselves and start their day productively. And that what fuels their productivity, decision making and, ultimately, their success.
Get a good night’s sleep — you need it

May 24, 2018
By Mitra Malek | May 31, 2016

Slogging through the workday is the mildest consequence of not sleeping enough. Sure, your creativity goes down, you tend to make mistakes, and it takes twice as long to get things done.

But not getting enough sleep is also bad for your health, especially over time.
First off, you’re more likely to get hurt. People trip more. They fall. They don’t pay attention to their hands in machinery.

And your immunity goes down, so that means you’re more likely to get sick. Your blood pressure also rises, which makes you vulnerable to cardiac diseases. Plus, you might pack on extra pounds.

Sounds scary, so let’s take a moment to focus on the good stuff shut-eye does for your bod.

While you’re asleep, your brain rids itself of waste, cells regenerate, muscle tears repair, and inflammation goes down.

Sleep also reduces stress. It makes our thyroid and our hormones and all of those things work better.

If you’re not sleeping enough, it’s likely for one of two reasons: You’re not carving out the time you need for it, or it’s tough to fall or stay asleep.

There are all kinds of reasons not to commit to sleeping enough. Unless you’re the parent of a newborn or dealing with some other demanding circumstance – as in, someone’s life depends on you being awake – you probably can find enough time to sleep. Seven to eight hours of continuous zzz’s should do it, though duration varies among people, according to the Mayo Clinic and health experts.

A great way to set yourself up for a good night’s sleep is to unplug, literally and figuratively. That means not being in front of a screen at least an hour before bed.

Instead do something introspective and quieting:
- Light a candle
- Read
- Pet your cat or dog
And right before bed:
- Breathe slowly and deeply
- Listen to Marconi Union’s Weightless, soothing music to help you relax
Make sure your room is dark and neither too hot nor too cold (cooler temps tend to be better).

Physical activity earlier in the day will do you good, as will being outside, in part because natural light helps regulate your body clock. You’re looking for quality sleep, and both nudge you toward smooth snoozing.

If you still have trouble sleeping, melatonin can help, but you can’t take it forever. Long-term use has been linked to depression.

Finally, your bedroom should be all about … your bed. That means your taxes aren’t piled on your sheets.

It should be a sacred space that’s reserved for sleep time.
18 Small Ways to Improve Your Life

May 24, 2018

Candace N. Bisram May 24, 2018 No Comments

Making small changes in my life amounted to a huge improvement over time. Below is a list of small things I do every day which overtime, improved my life. You can do it too! A few of the tips may seem too simple to make any difference at all, but I guarantee that over time, it will create a compounded effect that will transform not only your life but also the way you feel. The list might seem a bit long and too much to do all at once, so simply start with just one until you form the habit of doing it daily, then gradually add on another then another. Here is 18 Small Ways to Improve Your Life.

1. Make your bed to immediately make your room look more put together.

2. Drink water first, then coffee or tea.

3. Pray or meditate, even just for 10 minutes, to set the tone for your day

4. Read a few pages of a book or browse an article for a few minutes.

5. Wear something you feel great in.

6. Listen to music or something uplifting while doing your daily activities like commuting, cleaning, cooking or exercising.

7. Smile at at least two people.

8. Smile at yourself.

9. Call or message someone you love.

10. Eat food that makes you feel radiant.

11. Make lists of things you need to accomplish for the day.

12. Stretch for 10 minutes.

13. Carry water with you (always always always).

14. Shut off your phone for an hour and have some ME time.

15. Take a hot shower or bath at the end of a stressful day.

16. Try to make plans to spend time with someone at least once a week.

17. Think about 3 things you are grateful for at the end of each day.

18. Do something calming, relaxing, and non-electronic 30 minutes before you sleep (I recommend reading from a book).

What are your thoughts on these? If you already do some, how has it changed your life?