What is Confidence?
Rosebeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School Professor, tells us in her new cook, Confidence:
"Confidence isn't optimism or pessimism, and it's not a character attribute. It's the expectation of a positive outcome."
But, accordingly to Ms. Kanter in a September 19, 2004 New York Times article called, If at First You Don't Succeed, Believe Harder, the "most lasting form of confidence is often not self-generated, but nurtured by others. She posits that sports teams win because coaches instill a belief that they will, and that children succeed when parents and schools create an environment that encourages them to do their best."
Guess that's why we like those bosses who believe in us.
Posted by Nan Russell at 06:09 PM
September 24, 2004TIP #6: Stop Trying to Be Liked
Stop worrying if people like you or not at work. The truth is some people will never like you. In most work circles about a third of the people will like you and about a third of the people won't. The remaining third won't have an opinion one way or the other or will fluctuate situationally. That's human nature.
Being liked should never be the goal. If you're concerned about being liked you may make decisions on the basis of the impact on your likeability, i.e. whether it's the popular thing to do. If you focus instead on whether it's the right thing to do, operating with integrity, you'll come out ahead. The test that counts at work is whether or not you're respected.
Posted by Nan Russell at 04:46 PM
September 21, 2004Second Chances to Make First Impressions
Research on the power of second chances has implications for the workplace according to an August 2004 Stanford Report.
Social interactions that allow multiply sides of an individual to be demonstrated can change negative impressions, according to learning research conducted by Assistant Professor, Jerker Denrell, at Stanford's Graduate School of Business.
Posted by Nan Russell at 10:23 PM
Millionaires' Ranking of Success Factors
Recently I attended a Turning Point Retreat where success factors, garnered from Thomas Stanley's research in his books, The Millionaire Mind and The Millionaire Next Door were presented.
I thought the information was worth repeating. Interestingly, many of the factors that contribute to making millionaires are winning at working behaviors you get when offering the best of who you at work.
Millionaires' Top-Ten Ranking Success Factors
1. Being well-disciplined
2. Being honest with people
3. Getting along with people
4. Having a supportive spouse
5. Work harder than most people
6. Love their career/business
7. Having a very competitive spirit/personality
8. Being very well organized
9. Having an ability to sell their ideas/products
10. Making wise investments
Posted by Nan Russell at 10:26 AM
September 18, 2004Quote Lover
I admit it. I love quotes. Good ones, that is. I collect them, and if you've ever been to any of my websites: www.nanrussell.com; www.intheschemeofthings.com; or of course the one you're on, www.winningatworking.com, you'll find many of my favorites. In fact, hundreds of my favorites with a new quote at least everyday on every website.
For me, a good quote crystallizes thinking, offers nuggets of wisdom, or nudges me towards new areas of consideration. I know I've stumbled over a good quote when I feel truth within it touching me at a core level.
Here's one that touched me recently:
"Success is usually measured by comparing ourselves to other people. My true goal is significance, which is when we compare ourselves with the gifts that God has given us and our own potential."
Brian Buffini
Chairman & Founder
Providence Systems, Inc
Posted by Nan Russell at 11:39 AM
September 17, 2004TIP #5: Work should not be Work
You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing. Dale Carnegie
If your work is work, think again about what you should be or could be doing. We all have times when we've had a bad day (or week) or dislike something happening in the work environment. But those times should be temporary and occasional. Consider on average, how's it going?
I use a 51% rule. If on average, at least 51% of the time I enjoy going to work and the work I do, then I'm moving forward. When it's less than that, it's time to change course. Read more in A Job is Not a Job.
Posted by Nan Russell at 08:53 AM
September 10, 2004TIP #4 Ideas In - Ideas Out
I've been in Austin the past few days, attending a Turning Point Retreat. And while I'm not a candidate for their specific systems designed for establishing a 100% referral business in the real estate, mortgage lending, title, and home building businesses, I am always a candidate for learning. I decided to accompany my daughter-in-law, who is in the mortgage lending business, to see what ideas their ideas might generate. It was a productive experience.
You see, seeds of ideas are everywhere and as long as you're putting new thoughts, concepts, information and perspectives in, you keep getting them out. And I've found, some of the most powerful ideas come from the least expected places.
Posted by Nan Russell at 07:54 AM
September 01, 2004TIP #3: Don't even think about pushing SEND!
Angry after a meeting? Frustrated with that voice mail? Irritated with an email you just got? Tempted to write back your strong point of view to set the record straight?
OK. Go ahead. Write it. Get it out of your system - vent, rage, argue, or whatever you need to do. Then save it to read a few days later for laughs, or delete it. Don't even think about pushing that send button. The light blub in your head should be blinking red: Stop - potential career damage ahead. Stop. Stop.
Better yet - pick up the phone or walk down and see the person. Face to face or live over the phone is a better solution in these cases. Email is a permanent record and often escalates a situation.
I discussed an experience of mine with email in my monthly In the Scheme of Things column called, Making It Personal.
Posted by Nan Russell at 10:49 AM
