"Mindset" is a recurring theme in my work these days. Whether I'm working with leaders, a team or individual coaching clients I've noticed so many of the questions and uncertainties stem from mindset; get that straight and good things can happen.
Coaching someone about career transition the other day, I asked them about what the point of a job interview is. "To trap me with hard questions," came their answer. I've had someone else describe job interviews as a necessary evil. "No one likes going to the dentist, but you have to do it."
These two responses say nothing about what happens at job interviews and everything about the mindset of the person I was coaching. Take the first response about using questions as traps. This response attributes motive to the interview panel (to trap me, to show me up, to make a fool of me etc). There's also a sense that the questions will be difficult or test knowledge that you don't have. Neither of these two things is necessarily true. Employers don't use the time of many people in the interview process just to torture outsiders! Employers with a vacancy to fill, have a problem to solve; they need someone to do the job. By inviting you for an interview, they're saying "we think you could be the very person who can solve our problem and fill the job".
But what about those hard questions you'll be asked? I've been a contestant on a few game shows and I love trivia quizzes. I'm often asked about how I came to know the answers to such hard questions. "No question is hard if you know the answer." Unlike most game shows, you know the main topic of the questions you'll be asked at an interview: YOU! The key to dealing with questions at an interview is to prepare. Think about the role and the organisation and think of relevant examples from your life (at work or other settings if relevant).
Imagine if my clients adjusted their mindset. Imagine what it would be like to go into an interview thinking: "I'm so pleased this company thinks I might be the person for this role. I think I am and it's great to have the opportunity to talk to them and show them I am exactly the person they're looking for. While I don't know exactly what they're going to ask me, I'm a subject matter expert about the main subject (me) and I've prepared by thinking of some examples. I'm confident that this will be a great conversation."
Suddenly, an interview is something to look forward to, rather than an ordeal.
So what? Whatever your mindset, it will show up. Whether you're in a job interview, talking to your teenager or negotiating an extension of time to pay your electricity bill, your mindset will be evident.
The other day I had to call a government department. I was on hold for 30 minutes before someone took my call. I really needed to talk to them, so was just eager that that happen while I was available to talk. I put my earpiece in and went about my business while I was on hold, so that was okay. When my call was answered I expressed relief and said I was really pleased my call had been answered. The response of the woman on the phone was to say, in a very clipped, harsh tone, "Yes, well it is a very busy time of year." I instantly felt put off. She didn't sound like she was having a very good day. I don't know what was in her mind, but she was displaying her mindset:"Oh great, another caller who has to talk about how long they've been on hold instead of just getting to the point. Doesn't she know we're busy!"
If her mindset had been about customer service and helping, she might have said something like, "Oh sorry you've had such a long wait, but I'm here now. How can I help you?" Right there, the mindset changes everything.
I won't go into all the details of the call here, but it was harder than it needed to be. My needs weren't being fulfilled and she told me that she could put me through the process but there was no point because she wouldn't be changing her mind. It's pretty clear what her mindset was likely to be.
I find that mindset is often closely aligned to purpose. Clarity about why you're doing something, or why someone is asking you something, helps resolve anxiety about motivation and just get on with it.
So, next time you're wondering how to approach something, especially if it's feeling difficult or scary, forget about the "thing" and get your mindset straight first.
What do you think? What's your mindset?
Showing posts with label mindset. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mindset. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Whose job are you doing?
One of the things I like about working as an actor is that everyone has a defined role - actors and crew. This is true of most creative ventures. Everyone has a defined role and generally the team allows everyone to perform their defined role without interference. The Director doesn't try to do the work of the actors, the actors don't interfere with the lighting rig, the stage manager doesn't take over from the producer.
It's a great example to consider for teams in other settings who may struggle with a leader who likes to "get their hands dirty" or the control freak who tells other people what to do. Working in these settings also provides a great lesson trust: trust that everyone else will do their job effectively.
This week I've been working on a project with a mix of actors and nurses. The nurses are "playing the role" of nurses. I've noticed that they are mistrustful that others are doing their jobs. I'm used to waiting where I'm told by whoever is in charge of the production and then moving when they tell me to. One of the nurses was consistently telling me where I was supposed to be. I later noticed that she was also perpetually worried about where people were and who was in charge of one of the sound effects. The sound effect had malfunctioned a couple of times during the day. My response is to make sure I know what my alternative queue is if the sound effect fails. This particular nurse's response was to round people up and question what was happening with the sound effect as we were walking out to start the scene. Upon suggestion that she just needed to focus on her job, she became very tense and responded that she just needed to be sure that there was someone doing it and that they would do their job properly.
I found this fascinating. While she was focusing on other roles, it meant that she wasn't paying attention to her own.
This kind of behaviour could be a cancer in a team and, as with many behaviours, it's often created by the leader. I've noticed that when a leader has been promoted from their area of technical expertise into their leadership role they often drift back to the comfort zone of their expertise. This is often described to me as a virtue - they're prepared to "muck in" with their team and work alongside them. There's nothing wrong with that if it's a conscious choice and the consequences of this choice are understood.
My next question is usually "When you're "mucking in" who's doing your job?"
Leadership is a role within a team or organisation. If the leader is busy on operational matters, then they aren't leading. This choice, like every choice a leader makes, creates behaviour within the team. Is it useful behaviour or is it unhelpful?
Back on set with the nurse I suggested that she relax and just focus on her assigned role and let everyone else do the same. She looked at me like I was crazy.
Do you trust others to do their job? Are you focused on your job or are you worried about everyone else?
It's a great example to consider for teams in other settings who may struggle with a leader who likes to "get their hands dirty" or the control freak who tells other people what to do. Working in these settings also provides a great lesson trust: trust that everyone else will do their job effectively.
This week I've been working on a project with a mix of actors and nurses. The nurses are "playing the role" of nurses. I've noticed that they are mistrustful that others are doing their jobs. I'm used to waiting where I'm told by whoever is in charge of the production and then moving when they tell me to. One of the nurses was consistently telling me where I was supposed to be. I later noticed that she was also perpetually worried about where people were and who was in charge of one of the sound effects. The sound effect had malfunctioned a couple of times during the day. My response is to make sure I know what my alternative queue is if the sound effect fails. This particular nurse's response was to round people up and question what was happening with the sound effect as we were walking out to start the scene. Upon suggestion that she just needed to focus on her job, she became very tense and responded that she just needed to be sure that there was someone doing it and that they would do their job properly.
I found this fascinating. While she was focusing on other roles, it meant that she wasn't paying attention to her own.
This kind of behaviour could be a cancer in a team and, as with many behaviours, it's often created by the leader. I've noticed that when a leader has been promoted from their area of technical expertise into their leadership role they often drift back to the comfort zone of their expertise. This is often described to me as a virtue - they're prepared to "muck in" with their team and work alongside them. There's nothing wrong with that if it's a conscious choice and the consequences of this choice are understood.
My next question is usually "When you're "mucking in" who's doing your job?"
Leadership is a role within a team or organisation. If the leader is busy on operational matters, then they aren't leading. This choice, like every choice a leader makes, creates behaviour within the team. Is it useful behaviour or is it unhelpful?
Back on set with the nurse I suggested that she relax and just focus on her assigned role and let everyone else do the same. She looked at me like I was crazy.
Do you trust others to do their job? Are you focused on your job or are you worried about everyone else?
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
What are you afraid of? - leadership action
Don't be afraid of what will happen if you act. Be afraid of what will happen if you don't act.
I've found myself having this conversation a lot lately. Leaders tell me that they haven't tackled something they know they should, because they're scared or worried about a reaction. I ask them about what that reaction is likely to be and they describe another person's bad or immature behaviour. They'd rather battle on - and force their team to battle on - than address a problem.
When I ask what will happen if they do nothing, eye contact is broken, they get a guilty look and then they tell me they know they should do something, but they are gripped by fear.
I ask again - what will happen if you don't act? - and keep asking until they face themselves. Eventually they realise that doing nothing about a problem is worse for everyone.
Sometimes they tell me stories about how they've inherited a problem and that a person has been allowed to get away with certain things for a long time. They tell me these stories, manifesting frustration and blaming the others who came before them and did nothing.
I then ask whether they are about to be the next person who does nothing or will they be the person to make the choice to act?
Some people make the decision to act at that point, others need another nudge, so I tap into their empathy.
"Imagine if you were that person, acting and believing you're doing okay, but actually there are major problems that everyone else knows about, but no one has ever respected you enough to talk to you about it."
It's easy to make excuses when the path of action is challenging. It's easier to do almost everything else when you've made an effort to address problems that need fixing.
I've realised this week while working with another group of leaders that I've brought my activist mindset with me. To me, the business of leading is about acting in a way that sets your people free to do their best work. The key is that leadership is an action, not a noun. It's not a title or a name on a business card. It's action framed by mindset. In any setting.
Are you taking action? What are you avoiding? What are you afraid of?
I've found myself having this conversation a lot lately. Leaders tell me that they haven't tackled something they know they should, because they're scared or worried about a reaction. I ask them about what that reaction is likely to be and they describe another person's bad or immature behaviour. They'd rather battle on - and force their team to battle on - than address a problem.
When I ask what will happen if they do nothing, eye contact is broken, they get a guilty look and then they tell me they know they should do something, but they are gripped by fear.
I ask again - what will happen if you don't act? - and keep asking until they face themselves. Eventually they realise that doing nothing about a problem is worse for everyone.
Sometimes they tell me stories about how they've inherited a problem and that a person has been allowed to get away with certain things for a long time. They tell me these stories, manifesting frustration and blaming the others who came before them and did nothing.
I then ask whether they are about to be the next person who does nothing or will they be the person to make the choice to act?
Some people make the decision to act at that point, others need another nudge, so I tap into their empathy.
"Imagine if you were that person, acting and believing you're doing okay, but actually there are major problems that everyone else knows about, but no one has ever respected you enough to talk to you about it."
It's easy to make excuses when the path of action is challenging. It's easier to do almost everything else when you've made an effort to address problems that need fixing.
I've realised this week while working with another group of leaders that I've brought my activist mindset with me. To me, the business of leading is about acting in a way that sets your people free to do their best work. The key is that leadership is an action, not a noun. It's not a title or a name on a business card. It's action framed by mindset. In any setting.
Are you taking action? What are you avoiding? What are you afraid of?
Monday, 15 July 2013
Oh that's right, I quit sugar.
It's been a while since I quit sugar. The days of withdrawal are long ago and now sugar laden substances don't even seem like food to me. This is the best place to be.
Last week I had a facial. I used to go once a month and then my financial circumstances changed and I couldn't afford them as often. Now I can, but I'm time poor. All of that means I hadn't seen my regular beautician since March.
She commented on how settled and clear my skin is looking. The usual problems I have with congestion (I've never recovered from living in northern humid lands) were much reduced. My skin wasn't as reactive and sensitive as it had been. She asked me what I had changed.
I couldn't think of anything. I shrugged. She continued to exclaim about how amazing it was. Then she asked me if I was still off sugar.
"Oh yes," I replied.
"Well that must be it," she replied.
"Oh yes, I suppose that's right. It's so long ago and so much part of my life now, that I forget that I've given up sugar."
She continued with the usual reactions about how hard it must be and it sounds like a good thing to do, but that she would never be able to do it.
I rested back on the pillow and relaxed.
This was a great moment of recognition and a reminder that the hard work and struggles of withdrawing from an addictive substance were worth the pain.
The other thing I've noticed is how much my palate has changed. I should disclose that I recently shared a macaroon with a friend. I didn't enjoy it and felt sick afterwards. Won't be going back any time soon. In the meantime, I now eat my porridge with milk and a sprinkle of chia seeds or a seed and nut mix. I make my porridge from a mixture of rolled oats and spelt and find they are naturally sweet. If you had told me this back in the days of brown sugar sprinkled on (or maple syrup on special occasions) I would have had you committed.
I told colleagues that porridge is naturally sweet and I had to run away.
This is a lifestyle change that was relatively straightforward to implement and is paying dividends in lots of ways. Now I'm off to feed my television and knitting addiction!
What choices have you made lately to improve your health? What's the hardest thing you've ever given up? How did you make it stick?
Last week I had a facial. I used to go once a month and then my financial circumstances changed and I couldn't afford them as often. Now I can, but I'm time poor. All of that means I hadn't seen my regular beautician since March.
She commented on how settled and clear my skin is looking. The usual problems I have with congestion (I've never recovered from living in northern humid lands) were much reduced. My skin wasn't as reactive and sensitive as it had been. She asked me what I had changed.
I couldn't think of anything. I shrugged. She continued to exclaim about how amazing it was. Then she asked me if I was still off sugar.
"Oh yes," I replied.
"Well that must be it," she replied.
"Oh yes, I suppose that's right. It's so long ago and so much part of my life now, that I forget that I've given up sugar."
She continued with the usual reactions about how hard it must be and it sounds like a good thing to do, but that she would never be able to do it.
I rested back on the pillow and relaxed.
This was a great moment of recognition and a reminder that the hard work and struggles of withdrawing from an addictive substance were worth the pain.
The other thing I've noticed is how much my palate has changed. I should disclose that I recently shared a macaroon with a friend. I didn't enjoy it and felt sick afterwards. Won't be going back any time soon. In the meantime, I now eat my porridge with milk and a sprinkle of chia seeds or a seed and nut mix. I make my porridge from a mixture of rolled oats and spelt and find they are naturally sweet. If you had told me this back in the days of brown sugar sprinkled on (or maple syrup on special occasions) I would have had you committed.
I told colleagues that porridge is naturally sweet and I had to run away.
This is a lifestyle change that was relatively straightforward to implement and is paying dividends in lots of ways. Now I'm off to feed my television and knitting addiction!
What choices have you made lately to improve your health? What's the hardest thing you've ever given up? How did you make it stick?
Monday, 8 July 2013
Spirit Award - it's pink!
Last week I won an award. It was the worst kept secret, but I was delighted every time someone let slip what was about to happen. I was awarded the Spirit of the Global Corporate Challenge Award and will be receiving a special, limited edition Pulse in recognition.
The award was based on the votes of my team mates and my general participation in the Challenge. I'm a sociable creature and I like to connect with the people with whom I'm sharing an experience. I don't mind letting them know that I've been known to march on the spot at the end of the day while I brush my teeth or do the washing up in order to meet my step target for the day. I've included suggestions for dancing in the loungeroom and shared that going to hear live music is a great way to beat your personal best (if it's the kind of music you can dance to).
I've mentioned before how clever the design of the GCC is. It really does create new habits and a mindset around daily activity. I've also found myself feeling accountable to my team. I spent one weekend in bed ill and as a result, not only did my personal daily step average plummet, but my inactivity had an enormous impact on the performance of the team. I felt bad, even though there was nothing I could do about it. My team understood and also noted that they were pretty sure that everyone would be sick at some point.
We southern hemisphere participants do have the added challenge that we're participating during winter!
We're in the middle of another mini-challenge. Whereas I blitzed the last one and set a new personal best for the number of steps I took in one day, I think I'm going to be hard pressed to succeed this time. Our challenge is to make 100,000 steps in 7 days. That's 14286 steps per day. While my personal best is higher than this - 15,505 steps - given what's happening over the next 7 days achieving this isn't possible. Rather than being defeated before I start, I've made a commitment to eat my daily target of 10,000 steps over the next 7 days. I might even surprise myself!
Once I have received my hot pink Pulse, I've decided to continue to share the spirit by gifting my standard issue Pulse to a friend of mine who is newly inspired. I'm so happy to know that I can give it to someone whom I know will use it - much better than sitting in a drawer gathering dust.
So in the spirit of the Spirit, what's your daily activity habit? What's your mindset like when it comes to being active? How do you keep yourself accountable?
The award was based on the votes of my team mates and my general participation in the Challenge. I'm a sociable creature and I like to connect with the people with whom I'm sharing an experience. I don't mind letting them know that I've been known to march on the spot at the end of the day while I brush my teeth or do the washing up in order to meet my step target for the day. I've included suggestions for dancing in the loungeroom and shared that going to hear live music is a great way to beat your personal best (if it's the kind of music you can dance to).
I've mentioned before how clever the design of the GCC is. It really does create new habits and a mindset around daily activity. I've also found myself feeling accountable to my team. I spent one weekend in bed ill and as a result, not only did my personal daily step average plummet, but my inactivity had an enormous impact on the performance of the team. I felt bad, even though there was nothing I could do about it. My team understood and also noted that they were pretty sure that everyone would be sick at some point.
We southern hemisphere participants do have the added challenge that we're participating during winter!
We're in the middle of another mini-challenge. Whereas I blitzed the last one and set a new personal best for the number of steps I took in one day, I think I'm going to be hard pressed to succeed this time. Our challenge is to make 100,000 steps in 7 days. That's 14286 steps per day. While my personal best is higher than this - 15,505 steps - given what's happening over the next 7 days achieving this isn't possible. Rather than being defeated before I start, I've made a commitment to eat my daily target of 10,000 steps over the next 7 days. I might even surprise myself!
Once I have received my hot pink Pulse, I've decided to continue to share the spirit by gifting my standard issue Pulse to a friend of mine who is newly inspired. I'm so happy to know that I can give it to someone whom I know will use it - much better than sitting in a drawer gathering dust.
So in the spirit of the Spirit, what's your daily activity habit? What's your mindset like when it comes to being active? How do you keep yourself accountable?
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