Forward Steps Blog

This is a guest post…

Productivity is definitely one of a leader’s primary issues.  Leaders are almost always continuously seeking at how they could be more efficient in getting things accomplished.  That is why leaders want to get hold of leadership development training so they can become an expert in such competencies as delegation, problem solving and decision making.   Another skill that leaders generally struggle with is time management.  As a consequence, leaders take the traditional routine of: if I seek to get better in time management, I will enroll in a time management course.   

Most often than not, time management problems are generally not even time management problems, but goal clarification challenges.  Goal clarification challenges center around precisely what has got to get accomplished, what is the priority of things to get done, and exactly what it requires to get it accomplished.

Let’s consider an example pertaining to goals and priorities.  Why don’t we say you are so full you can’t take on something else on your plate.  Just about every waking minute you are greatly involved in some undertaking of making the effort to get everything done.  Now let’s say you go to a doctor and the physician says in order for you to sustain your well being you have to undertake some medical treatments every single day for the next 20 days and each treatment takes about 5 hours.  

Before the physician’s visit you could not undertake something else on your plate.  All of a sudden your priorities modify.  You now can make available time to do the treatments.  So what on earth happens to the other things that you “had” to accomplish before?  That stuff either is not going to get done or someone else does it which probably will mean that what they were initially executing is not going to get accomplished.

The first rule connected with time management is that there will invariably be things to carry out and everything will certainly not get accomplished.  Time management is about doing the most crucial stuff first.  If you actually are doing the most essential items first you understand precisely how to manage your time.  You’re probably wondering what if I don’t understand the best way to go about doing the most important thing in the most effective manner?  Well, this is a training situation on the matter not time management.  
 
Thus the very first thing you really want to do to manage your time is to decide exactly what has to get performed.  Generate a comprehensive list of each thing that has to get completed.  After that you have to determine what is the priority of items that have got to get accomplished.   This can be a collective choice of the group or you as the leader could make the decision.  Once you have established exactly what has to get completed and the order by which it is to get done, now you have to figure out precisely what it takes to get items completed.

This piece might be challenging because there might be a number of action steps that you have absolutely no concept how long it will require to complete. Furthermore, you really want to balance establishing a time frame which forces you to expand yourself and also at the very same time is attainable.  Perfecting this area happens through practice.   Set your targets and when you need to adjust, you change.

The very next time: “I really need to take a time management course”, remember the problem is most likely not a time management issue, but a goals clarification dilemma.  When you actually have your targets clear and know the top priority of those targets, time management will become simpler.  

This is a guest post…

I realize it, gloomy title for an article. However, it’s true. We are all on the proverbial sinking ship. We may not know when it’s going to sink into the depths, but sink it will. Our time is limited and when our number gets called, and we find ourselves headed to that smashing all-you-can-eat-chicken-wing-buffet in the sky.

So maybe that’s not the way you picture it, but you have to concede that we are living on borrowed time. I understand that’s a somewhat depressing statement coming from a motivational speaker. Someone ought to have me put together a children’s book and the last page would read, “And they all lived happily ever after – except for Mrs. Watson who ate a bad burrito and died after 18 hours of horrible gastric distress.”

There are three scenes that I remember with clarity from that movie”Titanic” – the part where the musician plays his violin as they go down- the scene where the captain opt s to die with his ship – and the earlier scene where they show the fancy uptight people on the upper deck swiling fine wine and listening to classical music while they strain under the effort of attempting to impress each other- in parallel with the dirt poor ordinary people in the bowels of the ship who are dancing arm in arm to the rich flourishing beat of the fiddle’s music – their fingers sticky, their hair in strings, their arms flung out in utter abandonment as their wide toothless grins express the hope that carries them through despair.

I was struck by the polarity of those two pictures of humanity and how they symbolize two very opposite ways to live your life. You can live your life starchy and proper, taken up with appearances, discerning the value in others by the degree of silverware or thread count in a sheet, measuring every step as if all the world were watching and you so desperately don’t wish to let them see you slip. Or you can live your life desperately gleeful despite your circumstances – looking for every chance to fling out your arms and dance. I will admit that there are numerous instances in my existence where I find myself upstairs- lured into that world that whispers to you it’s all about making it to the top of the heap. But it’s not too long before I find myself running back down to the belly of the ship to find the ordinary people- to link arms with the toothless guy with the huge grin – and just dance.

We don’t know when our ship will sink, only that one day it will go under. Will you breathe your last struggling to grab all your fine things? Will you be playing your violin until the very last instant? Will you opt to go down with your ship? Or will you spend your time dancing, arm in arm with the simple folk? The choice is up to you. The days are counted. See you in the belly of the ship.

This is a guest post…

Do you ever get caught up in the habit of predicting things? If you do, you have surrendered to a basic human need to want to know and explain things so that they fit with your own personal view of the world.

What makes us uncomfortable and anxious is this feeling of not knowing something. We rather make up assumptions based on what we believe or think is true.

When we make assumptions based on we belief or think is true, we often predict things and question others. The opinions we thus create are no more than disguised first impressions and biased opinions. You bias your opinions based on what you believe is true. And then you go on to make the fatal mistake of thinking that other people share the same opinion as you do.

Mis-perceptions are what causes false expectations. And (erronuous~false~flawed~incorrect) expectations lead to conflict and disappointment. Expectations that are based on mind-reading, are often at the core of the conflicts and drama you experience at work and in your personal relationships.

When you attach yourself so strongly to how things are ‘supposed to be,’ then it is very difficult to separate your perceived reality from what is really happening.  

If for some reason you believe you are going to get a promotion and you don’t, your expectation of the promotion and subsequent let down, causes conflict between you and your supervisor. That conflict has the potential to spill over into all aspects of your life. If you assume a team mate knows his responsibilities for a given task and he fails to deliver, again, your expectations for completing the project properly, or on time, are dashed. Dashed expectations are what lead to unabashed conflict.  

Wouldn’t it be much easier if you stopped making assumptions all together?

This would mean you’d have to communicate a heck of a lot more. You’d have to put more energy into your relationships. You’d have to try to be attuned to the perceptions and beliefs of others. The payoff for this extra effort though, would be a much smoother and less stressful existence. Image living in a world where you could be fairly certain your perceptions and reality were well aligned.

You can accomplish this type of existence by making a commitment to stop making assumptions. Consider the following life coaching tips to avoid making assumptions:

Prior to making decisions, ask yourself, “Do I know with a good amount of certainty what others are thinking, feeling, or doing?” If you can’t answer “yes,” then you need to go direct to the source and get the answers you need. Tell yourself that you do not need to control everything. The only thing you have control over is you. Exercise that control by gathering as much real information as you can and understand that not everything in the world will fit into your neat idea of how the world should work. 

When you find yourself mind-reading, take a moment and ask yourself what you are trying to make sense of. Then go and gather the facts and/or information that will help you do that

Mind-reading does make an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” Luckily you have the power to stop making assumptions that can cause hurt feelings and damage relationships.

When you take into consideration the uniqueness of different perceptions, you will come to understand that other people’s sense of the world can be surprising and enlightening. Instead of trying to fit everyone into your own box, break out of your box and live free of the habit to control and assume.

This is a guest post…

Many people have lives that are focused on everything BUT creativity. Many people have got neccessary obligations, meetings, work on the house or apartment, commitments and ongoing demands that come from every direction.  With all this, who has time to be creative,and then who has the energy for it, even when we have the space?

Fortunately, even occasional amounts of time enjoyed in a creative mind-set can expand our creative vision, and as well give a greater sense of fulfillment to every aspect of your lives.  If you feel that you’ve lost touch with your creative side and are wanting to recapture it again, there are very simple techniques you can employ to do so– even if time and motivation are in short supply.

Look at doing something new as often as possible. It’s so simple to let ourselves fall into a boring rut in our lives. We travel the same route to the same job and spend the day doing the same activities each day. Your mind goes in to a daze because of this repetition because you can accomplish most everything without conscious thought.  Live your life long enough like this, it’s easy to forget that your life could be any different.  Make a commitment to add at the minimum, a new activity to your routine each week. It could be as simple as attempting a new recipe, shopping at a different shop, or experimenting with an alternate vehicle journey. Challenge your routine and you awaken  your mind– and your creativity.

Look at your world from a different viewpoint.

When did you last really LOOK at the people and objects surrounding you?  Are you really seeing them, or do they blend away because you’re so concentrated on other things?  For a few minutes each day, take the effort to really SEE everything around you.  Notice your friend’s dazzling smile, the way the rays of the sun dances on the clouds and landscape and the scents carried by the breeze. Lie down in your garden and gaze up at the clouds, or turn round and examine the life in the grass beneath you. Examine all around you more closely and you’ll suddenly realize you’re “seeing” so much more than ever before.

Seek creative outlets more often.  A reason many people shun creative pursuits is because we believe we don’t have time to do them.  You don’t need loads of minutes in a day to benefit from a lot of enjoyment from engaging your creativity. 

You might not be able to escape from all your “necessaries of the day” but you can absolutely fit in 10 or 15 minutes to write, paint, dance, sing, or stitch each day.  You may believe that such a small period of time would not make any change, but those minutes can seem like hours when you’re doing something you genuinely love.  You might even get the inspiration to reserve more time to be creative by reducing your TV time, stopping something you no longer enjoy, or even changing employment to get more free time.

Discover the streak of creative inspiration in all things. Have you ever thought how ideas for common items and inventions were made?  Look around in your house, from artwork to the things in your kitchen drawer, and consider the ways that the inventors used to bring these things into your life.  Who first thought of that nifty little gizmo that lets you open bottles and jars more safely?  Who got the idea to put paper towels on a roll for easier storage and use?  Can you think of any great inventions that would make people’s lives easier?  Can you think of ways to improve on the products you see around you?  Whether you take action on any of these ideas isn’t important; just by thinking more creatively, you will be tapping into your own creative inspiration.

Open your mind and let good stuff seep in.  One of the reasons we feel shut off from our creative vision is because we don’t spend enough time feeding it with positive ideas.  Take time to open and expand your mind.  Read more, learn more, and open to the possibilities in your life. 

Focus more of your attention on positive, uplifting material.  Read books that inspire you, visit an art gallery and look closely at the beautiful creations on display, or listen to music that stimulates your senses.  Before long, you’ll be itching to express your creativity.

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to tap into your creativity; go with whatever works best for you.  Use these ideas as they are, adjust them to better suit your circumstances, or use them as jumping off points for your own creative ideas.  Simply focusing more on creativity alone will help you to tap into your natural creative flow.

Boost your creativity while working on your PC or laptop: Subliminal Software

Yes, there is a formula to success that if followed will help guide you towards the achievement of your objectives. And No, the formula is flawed because it cannot take into account every single step you are going to personally take along the journey towards your goals. As we have matured over the course of our lives, we have been conditioned somewhat differently by our peers and environment. This process of maturity, which has been discussed within the MasterMind Matrix, is built upon a unique individual journey that must be corrected and adjusted at each stage or segment that may be leading to a breakdown of the end goal or result you would like to achieve in your life. Make the necessary adjustments, correct these limiting habits, and you will progressively clear a path towards the outcomes you desire to experience in the physical world. On the other hand, neglect these breakdowns and you will consequently push yourself down the Path of Self-Destruction and unfulfilled dreams and desires. Please have a read of The Psychology of Personal Success & Achievement for further information about this topic.

The Blueprint to Success IQ Matrix is designed to guide you along the right path, and will help you to develop empowering daily habits that will instill the necessary patterns of behavior to assist you along your journey towards your goals and objectives. The discussion that follows is presented as a short list of simple steps and guidelines that we must all instill into our psyche if we seek to experience the sensations of “success” within our lives. Follow these steps to the letter, incorporate them into your daily habitual ritualistic patterns of behavior, and you will progressively develop the mental strength that is required to achieve your life’s ambitions.

Source: Blueprint To Success Mind-Map

Everyone wants something that is new, better and different. I am often asked this question – Where do I start to bring the positive change in my life ?

Usually my answer is that Success is a system… it is a process. And I explain this with the help of 5 pillars that I created to bring the personal and professional transformation in the lives of people.

The Five Pillars Are -

1. INSPIRATION 2. ACTION 3. PURPOSE 4. VISION 5. EXECUTION

Nothing in this world happens without INSPIRATION, it is a fuel for the action in our lives.

ACTION is the natural byproduct of Inspiration. Get clear on what are your goals and take “ACTIONS” accordingly. So what is ONE opportunity on which you must take ACTION right now?

When you are coming form a place of inspired action…Your PURPOSE shows up. What is that you are passionate doing? Ask yourself – Why do I do what I do. THAT IS YOUR PURPOSE.

Once you know what is ‘the contribution’ you want to make to the world your VISION becomes Clear and Big. If you knew you could not fail…. What would you like to do?

When your Vision becomes clear you need to EXECUTE. Get off one task that is draining the energy out of you. Outsource the task that you dislike doing most and this way your productivity will increase.

Incorporate these 5 pillars in your life to bring personal and professional transformation.

Source: Five pillars to personal and professional transformation by Ted McGrath
Watch Ted’s video at the original blog.

Open the following PDF if you are interested in knowing more about the Leadership And Business Coaching 31 July course details.

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Almost everyone would love to take advantage of ways to boost their brain power and become smarter, no matter how smart they already are.

Below are 25 scientifically proven ways you can do just this. From surprising activities such as watching TV or riding a motorcycle to brain-healthy nutrition choices, try a few of these ideas and see if you notice any improvement in your intelligence.

These activities all offer ways to improve your cognitive abilities, so pick up a crossword puzzle, drink some water, and listen to some music to make yourself smarter.

Including – Watch specific types of TV shows. Play video games. Social networking. Ride a motorcycle. Age. Drink water throughout the day. Get enough sleep. Listen to music. Practice dual n-back exercises. Learn a foreign language. Practice Transcendental Meditation. Stretch your memory. Work crossword puzzles. Play chess.

Read More >>

Good nutrition is tied to both a healthy body and a healthy brain, but some aspects of nutrition have been shown to improve intelligence and protect brain function.

Find out what you can eat (and drink) to make yourself smarter. E.g. Vitamin B. Fish oil. Avoid artificial colors and flavorings. Matcha. Antioxidants. Breakfast. Ginkgo Biloba. Avocado. Meat and fish. Ginseng. Vitamin E. Get More Detail >>

I really love the section about ageing. Researchers have discovered that as the human brain ages, several processes begin to occur to improve the way the brain functions. Older brains have learned more, use more complex modes of processing, and the two hemispheres of these brains begin to work together more efficiently. The result is that when people reach their 40s and well beyond that, their brains are just beginning to work at peak efficiency, resulting in more wisdom and intelligence.

Source: www.psychologydegree.net