Five seconds at a time

Here is an interesting new book that caught my attention. I've just started it but already some points resonate with me. The opening is gripping and the author makes connections to his major theme.

One section was particularly poignant. It discusses the pursuit of excellence as opposed to perfection. To strive for excellence cultivates a culture of achievement and innovation. He goes on to espouse that excellence is not to be confusion for perfection. A culture that values perfection will also create a culture of fear. People do not strive if they will criticized for not being perfect. It makes me think of the mantra, "only Allah is perfect."

I'm looking forward to continuing my reading.

From the Publisher: When a tragic mountain-climbing accident left business professor Denis Shackel stranded on Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand, he turned to the leaderships principles that he'd been teaching for years to survive the longest night of his life.

Alone, with temperatures plunging to -30 degrees Celsius, Shackel first broke the night into five thousand five-second intervals. He decided to deal with only one interval at a time -- a strategy based on his knowledge that effective leaders break big challenges into smaller, more manageable ones. Then, stepping back to see the bigger picture, he relied on vision, intuition, and faith to keep him alive. Shackel emerged from this harrowing experience having cemented his belief that the principles fundamental to leadership are also key to tackling any challenge. Since his mountain-top experience, Shackel has been helping students, executives and corporations use the proven "five seconds at a time" approach for success in business and in life.

At a time when many leaders are feeling overwhelmed, Five Seconds at a Time provides effective tools and strategies to excel. With its compelling mix of survival, leadership principles and real-life stories, it will inspire readers to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Forget SMART goals; go for HARD ones

Check out today's Globe and Mail article, Forget SMART goals, go for the hard ones, by Harvey Schachter.

I have worked on so many strategic plans and project plans where we have preached the SMART goals – goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time. This article states that SMART do not correlate with success.

In fact, the article suggests that you forget SMART and try HARD:

Heartfelt: My goals will enrich the lives of somebody besides me.

Animated: I can vividly picture how great it will feel when I achieve my goals.

Required: My goals are absolutely necessary to help this company.

Difficult: I will have to learn new skills and leave my comfort zone to achieve my assigned goals for this year.

This is the stuff that I can embrace, promote and demonstrate because let's face it, I want to achieve great things and I want others to be able to do it, too.

Enough of me ranting about this. Read the article yourself: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/managing/morning-manager/forget-smart-goals-go-for-the-hard-ones/article1546926/

7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen R. Covey

I was so surprised when my husband recently bought this book. First published in 1989 it has supposedly sold over 15 million in 38 languages. And it is still relevant today. I bought a copy years ago and havent' reviewed it in years.

Here is a summary of the 7 habits
http://www.quickmba.com/mgmt/7hab/

Accepted into DPA @ UWO

I got the news on Monday. My application was accepted so I'll be studying public admin at UWO in May...
What have I gotten myself into!

Next book to discuss: Managing Transitions by Bridges.

Getting things done: the art of stress-free productivity

Here is another book often cited in Personal MBA reading lists, Getting things done by David Allen.

I own this book, and have renewed it a number of times, yet I haven't fully embraced it. I strive to have one file/ project open on my desk at any one time, but no one would believe it if they saw my desk right now...

Here is a summary of the book as posted on wikipedia:

But I have to reduce my stress. It is affecting me physically. So instead of focussing on the mechanics of project management, and time management, I'm going to work on my mind set for the next two weeks and reduce my stress. Here is one title that I'll be reviewing:

Power Over Stress, by Kenford Nedd, M.D.
Publisher's blurb: This is a clear description of what happens to the body and brain under stress. It shows you how to avoid becoming stressed in difficult situations and it offers practical, scientifically valid techniques for reducing the impact of negative impact of stress on the physiology. The book outlines in simple, easy-to-follow steps, the relationship between stress and disease and stress and performance and gives practical ideas and techniques to avoid the unhealthy consequences of stress.

I'll keep you posted on my thoughts as I review this work (I'm skipping Part One: So you think you know all about stress... since I have some side effects already. I'm going right to Part Two, From Stress REaction to Calm Response).

2010 Goals update

I'm achieving some goals, and some may have to be revisited, or given a higher commitment:

• Discuss Personal MBA in 2010 -- in progress
• Visit the AGO 6 times this year -- once, so far, but hopefully again in Feb.
• One date night per month, minimum! -- so far, two in 2010
• Review daily, weekly list to create more personal time -- hmmm, a bit more of a commitment is needed here
• Enroll in public admin course by Feb. deadline -- I sent things off on Friday. Now I have to wait and hope my transcripts get there without a problem
• Exercise 3 times per week through TP, Pilates, and 5 km runs under 25 minutes -- I'm only getting two work-outs a week and some low key activities such as walking and skating. I need to exercise first thing in the morning or as soon as I get home from work.
• Plan our summer vacation by Q1 '10 e.g. camping at Toronto Zoo, cottage in summer, Christmas escape again for the windows -- the cottage is booked, I have the sign-up date for the zoo in my calendar, but we still don't have E's summer camps committed or our wedding anniversary planned. Alas, if money wasn't an issue, I would it all completed by now.

Dealing with Difficult People

Today I attended a one day seminar, Dealing with Difficult People. Although having investigated "difficult" personalities in the past, especially "tanks," I thought it was time to have a refresher. I was expecting

• some strategies to help diffuse upset/irate library users
• remain calm: distance myself and keep my emotion in check
• return with a list of what to do and what not to do when dealing with a difficult patron

Instead, the seminar focused on the subtitle, How to communicate with tact and skill. The majority of the day was spent discussing the need to listen with your ears and eyes, and how to communicate to the different behavior styles.

The personality that can push my buttons: "get it right" behavior. These people seek perfection but nothing measures up. If they feel threatened, they will shut down. They are negative and complain using such statements as, "I have a bad feeling about this." They seem to forfeit any ability to think with agility and creativity and like rules. Very black and white thinkers.

I'm typically fine with the "get it done" people. Goodness knows, I like to achieve and get things done. Extreme get it done people can be problematic including the following:
Tanks -- one needs to stand your ground, and focus on the bottom line and look at the underlying problem
Snipers -- one needs to stop, look and rewind. How? Ask clarifying questions about their intent
Know-it-alls -- highly competent and knowledgeable people, but tend to be extremely controlling and have minimal tolerance for correction and differences in opinions. Their way is the right way -- the end. How to deal with them: know your stuff and be prepared.
Coping with excuse-makers and blamers: go over actions plans, document, document, document, and confront them when they don't do something.

We also discussed the people who need to get appreciation aka the entertainers. Typical behaviour with these people include the fact that they are focused on people, display creativity, warmth, charisma, and energy. They need to be recognized and applauded. They can communicate directly and elaborately. Their strengths include their fun loving attitude, caring about other people, persuasive, able to get their point across and are optimistic.

The fourth group, the Get Along People. They focus on people and want to get along. The need to be liked, get along, communicate indirectly and considerately. BUT they don't like making decisions, they tend to waste time, seem illogical and can be overly emotional.

Towards the end of the day, we discussed some conflict resolution using "I statements" instead of "You" e.g. don't say, "You made me feel..."

An excellent reminder: Know what you want when you deal with difficult people and to confront them (Stephen Covey)

This seminar also reminded me of other titles relating to today:
Now, find your strengths, by Buckingham
The instructor also suggested the author, Brian Tracy -- a guru for goal setting, personal success and he's Canadian!

In essence, the day stressed the need to know yourself, know your strengths, weaknesses, including your hot buttons, and modify your communication to meet the behaviour needs of others.