Wednesday, May 25, 2011

3 Lessons from a Three-Year-Old Armed with Scissors

As I lay in bed, sun barely making it’s way through the windows, I heard a peculiar noise.

Snip!

Thinking I was possibly in a half-asleep-half-awake state where dreams meld with consciousness, I didn’t give it much thought until...Snip!

What was that? Then a third...Snip!

As I hopped out of bed and then could hear the chatter of a young voice, and as I walked into the lounge room, I was greeted by a site you don't see everyday (thankfully)!

There stood my little boy Patty, standing in a pile of his own hair, with the

scissors armed and ready for another blow. After disarming him from (a) an incredibly dangerous situation. and (b) a future career in hairdressing; I stood back to assess the damage.

Now they say it is only 2 weeks between a good haircut and a bad one, well I think this one might take closer to a month!

So why had Patrick awoken and decided today was a good day to take the shears to his little blonde locks? Only 12-15 hours previously Alison had discussed with Pat the need to cut his hair. So being a bit like his Dad, the little fellow decided to take matter into his own hands (or fingers)!

This got me to thinking. Kids are so literal in their thinking aren’t they? When you say something, it means just that. But as we get older, we start to use more interpretation, context and hidden assumptions; the thing is, I am not sure we are much better off for this aspect of our maturity.

We could take some lessons of kids in the workplace I think; in particular the following three things:

Be more literal.

Tell it as it is, and don't try and dress something up to be something it isn’t. One of the truly wonderful things about young kids is their absolute honesty. Too often as adults we bend the truth and reality to manipulate or influence a decision. Sure, our world cannot be viewed as black and white all the time, but our workplaces can often be filled with grey. The biggest problem with a grey environment? Storms usually accompany grey skies.

Don’t hint

If you want something, here’s something novel; ask for it! So if you need someone to get off their backside and help you on that report, ask them, don’t beat around the bush or make subtle suggestions. Probably one bit of advice though; if you don’t get what you want, don’t throw yourself down on the ground and have a massive tantrum.

Ask for clarification

One thing kids do really well is ask questions. Lots of questions! I remember once wondering how many times Patty would ask the same question, so I decided to be quiet, not respond and see just how many times he would ask. Unfortunately I couldn't complete the experiment; after TWENTY SEVEN times of asking his persistence wore me down. Whilst I don't prescribe you stand outside of the CEO’s office and badger them mercilessly, I think we all could be a little more persistent about getting clear on direction.

Postscript: Patrick is recovering well, and has been bribed with a new Thomas the Tank engine game to cut the remainder of his hair to a similar level. Dad has recovered well, but Mum is still grieving and will do so ‘for as long as she wants’.

Warm wishes,

Darren and Alison

Friday, May 20, 2011

Mixed Messages: Are your messages congruent or confusing?

With all the cooking shows on television at the moment, mixing different ingredients together sounds like a recipe for success, but in some cases, mixing things can go horribly wrong.

Mixed messages at work don’t tend to leave a nice taste in the mouth.

Perhaps it is saying one thing, and doing another:

In the weekly team meeting the boss demands other people be more accountable and responsible for their actions, yet they are consistently ten minutes late for the meeting...

Or maybe it is someone doing something, then saying something that flies in the face of their actions:

A staff member chooses to stay at their desk working rather than going to the social lunch function arranged by coworkers, but then a week later bemoans their workplace is boring and there is no team spirit...

Mixed messages breed distrust. And lack of trust has a devastating effect on so many areas including productivity, morale and creativity. The concept of trust rests on a foundation of consistency; we don’t tend to trust what we cannot predict.

So examine any areas where you might be sending mixed messages, then try and remove the confusion.

The judges will give it high scores (and don’t think people aren’t judging you!)

Warm wishes,

Darren and Alison

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Thursday 16 June 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Robina, venue TBA.

Having trouble delivering results from critical conversations?

'Dealing with the Tough Stuff' gives you, your management or organisation practical tools to deal with the really tough conversations within your workplace.

Many managers struggle with the process of dealing with tough conversations and in many cases actually avoid them completely. This strategy of avoidance reinforces undesired behaviours and may precipitate further problems.

One of the biggest responsibilities with a leadership position is the importance of addressing and dealing with staff issues. At times this requires you to 'step up to the plate' and ultimately deal with the tough stuff.

Visit www.toughstuffprogram.com for more information on Dealing with the Tough Stuff.

To register your interest for a Dealing with the Tough Stuff program either on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane on please contact Matt on 0418 577 277 or matt@pragmaticthinking.com.

THE GIFT: Book review on 'The Thank you Economy' by Gary Vaynerchuk

This weeks gift is a book review from Darren on 'The Thank you Economy' by Gary Vaynerchuk.

Gary's book talks about how the business world needs to get connected with is customers again by engaging with and treating people exceptionally well in an online setting as well as offline. This book is essentially a customer service book that looks at strategies to drive a 'pull' into your business rather than a constant 'push' of your products and services. If you are in business put this book on your 'must read' list.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Unlimited Choice

3 Simple Strategies for Navigating Unlimited Choice

Barry Schwartz in his seminal work “The Paradox of Choice” questioned the world where unlimited choice is seen as nirvana. For an age we have seen the power of choice as being an indicator of a life worth living, yet a number of other factors tend to lead to other conclusions.

Ever sat in a restaurant and felt completely baffled by an extensive restaurant menu with 60 items on it? Have you stood in the aisle of a supermarket confronted by a seemingly never-ending acreage of toothpaste varieties, all of which proclaim to do pretty much the same stuff?

Whilst there is little argument exercising the human right to choice is a healthy, and desirable point to find ourselves at, we also realise that at some point the desire for choice meets it’s match when our senses are overwhelmed. Schwartz says “the fact that some choice is good doesn’t necessarily mean that more choice is better.” The French even have a saying to express the same intent trop de choix tue le choix (too much choice kills the choice).

Some organisations are now recognising the need to simplify the purchasing environment for the consumer. Hospitality simplifying menus, paint brands moving from 1000’s of choices to a few dozen, haircare brands halving their range have all seen substantial upswings in sales. In fact some forward thinking organisations are now employing choice architects to help craft strategies to help consumers make simpler choices in a complex landscape.

Within your organisation, consider these three suggestions across the organisational, team and individual levels;

Organisational level - Find your niche

At an organisational level it is critical to identify the point of difference that

you offer from all the other services, products and businesses like yours on the market. Finding your niche is more important now than ever before. Think about it. 100 years ago an accountant was simply an accountant. 50 years ago, we saw some differentiation in the industry, but now the type and specialisation of accountants is mind-blowing. Forensic accountants, trust accountants (they would love us to trust them wouldn’t they?!), even ecological accountants. In a marketplace filled with many choices, finding your niche is not only smart, it is meeting the need of the counter trend of our world of unlimited choice.

If every telephone company says that they offer exceptional customer service, then this isn’t a quality that the customer can base their decision on. If every builder states that they get the work done on time, again how can we differentiate which builder to go with. We need simplicity in our decision making.

Team level - Spring clean

In order to liberate behaviour within your team it is critical to simplify the systems and processes that your team operates within. Some rules are

meant to be broken, particularly if they are not serving a purpose other than to make your day and team activities more complex. Be ruthless when you ask the questions, what does this process or system serve? Be creative when you consider, how might we do this another way, a simpler and less complex way?

One of the choices you always have is to not do what everyone else is doing, but come up with your own approach. Choose the simple approach.

Individual level - Give fewer options

Rather than being all things to all people, offer fewer, clearer and succinct options. Ever noticed the difference between a struggling restaurant and a top class one? Besides better food, the correlation is clear. Good restaurants offer less on their menu, restaurants who struggle offer more. Choosing between five mains versus twenty-five mains...it just makes sense doesn’t it? Offer the best stuff you can deliver, don't fall into the trap

of trying to serve up everything.

There is something that happens with you employ the number THREE, offering three options on a proposal, identifying three possible solutions to a problem, even helping a customer to whittle their choice down to three clothes outfits for that wedding they are going to!

Whilst we crave choice because of an insatiable drive to acquire, in the end, sometimes we get what we wish for...then wish we didn't have it.

Warm wishes,

Darren and Alison

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Thursday 16 June 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Robina, venue TBA.

Having trouble delivering results from critical conversations?

'Dealing with the Tough Stuff' gives you, your management or organisation practical tools to deal with the really tough conversations within your workplace.

Many managers struggle with the process of dealing with tough conversations and in many cases actually avoid them completely. This strategy of avoidance reinforces undesired behaviours and may precipitate further problems.

One of the biggest responsibilities with a leadership position is the importance of addressing and dealing with staff issues. At times this requires you to 'step up to the plate' and ultimately deal with the tough stuff.

Visit www.toughstuffprogram.com for more information on Dealing with the Tough Stuff.

To register your interest for a Dealing with the Tough Stuff program either on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane on please contact Matt on 0418 577 277 or matt@pragmaticthinking.com.

THE GIFT: Sheena Lyenger on the Art of Choosing

This weeks gift is a talk from TED.com by Sheena Lyengar.
Sheena studies how people choose (and what makes us think we're good at it) -- and how we feel about the choices we make. At TEDGlobal, she talks about both trivial choices (Coke v. Pepsi) and profound ones, and shares her groundbreaking research that has uncovered some surprising attitudes about our decisions.
How do you choose?

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Who Are You Being?

All last week I avoided watching television just to dodge watching the hype about the royal wedding. But then on Friday night I decided to take a peek and got totally drawn in. I was glued to the TV for whole the night and discovered two things; 1) that I was a closet fashion expert, and 2) it doesn’t matter who’s getting married, weddings make me cry.

I’ve also discovered something else. On the night and in the days since I’ve noticed that one of the most consistent things that has been talked about in relation to the royal wedding (aside from what Kate was wearing and Princess Beatrice’s hat!) was how, even amist the pomp and ceremony, Kate and Will found ways to be themselves, and inject this into the events of the day.

Each of us are drawn to authenticity. We want to be around people who are comfortable in their own skin, and each of us has an innate ability to detect falsehood in a heartbeat. The ability to bare who you are to others is a courageous one.

At work this insight is critical to achieving lasting success. The reality is whatever industry you work in, people buy people. Your customers, your clients, your colleagues and co-workers want to be around you not only because of what you do, but mostly because of who YOU are. And often they want more of it.

Whatever goals you are currently chasing consider these three steps to stepping into authenticity:

Embrace your uniqueness - It is no mistake that there is no-one like you on the planet. Embrace what makes you unique, what makes your product or service unique and promote this .
Communicate with others what is important to you - Being clear about your values, those things that are important to you, will provide you with the language to share with others, and in turn invites them to do the same.
Be creative about injecting you into your work - Find a way to bring more of you into what you do. What are the signs, the symbols, the actions that have meaning for you? Have fun, get creative.

In the words of Oscar Wilde, ‘Be yourself, everyone else is taken’.

Warm wishes,

Darren and Alison

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The PLUG: Dealing with the Tough Stuff Program General Sessions
After the amazing success of our Dealing With the Tough Stuff Exclusive Showcase, three general sessions will be presented between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Want to know why you don't want to miss them? Check out our Rave Reviews!

Thursday 12 May 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Robina, venue TBA.

Thursday 26 May 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Brisbane, venue TBA.

Thursday 16 June 2011
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Location: Robina, venue TBA.

Having trouble delivering results from critical conversations?

'Dealing with the Tough Stuff' gives you, your management or organisation practical tools to deal with the really tough conversations within your workplace.

Many managers struggle with the process of dealing with tough conversations and in many cases actually avoid them completely. This strategy of avoidance reinforces undesired behaviours and may precipitate further problems.

One of the biggest responsibilities with a leadership position is the importance of addressing and dealing with staff issues. At times this requires you to 'step up to the plate' and ultimately deal with the tough stuff.

Visit www.toughstuffprogram.com for more information on Dealing with the Tough Stuff.

To register your interest for a Dealing with the Tough Stuff program either on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane on please contact Matt on 0418 577 277 or matt@pragmaticthinking.com.

THE GIFT: The Top Ten Reasons to Identify Your Values
We often talk about our values in vague categories (eg. family, health, work etc) but do not always have the language to clearly articulate what specific things are really important to us. This week's gift explores 10 reasons why looking at and identifying your values is important for both work and home.
Darren and Alison both have extensive experience supporting others to get clear on their values and live their life aligned to these values. If you would like to explore how you can live your life more aligned to your values contact Pragmatic Thinking on (07) 5536 5375.