What You Expect

Do you get what you expect? Sometimes we get exactly what we expect.

Consider the outcomes for persons who may make one of the following statements:

• I just want to pass the test.
• I don’t care what I do as long as I have a job.
• I can’t lose any weight.

Certainly not everyone wants to, or will be, the top performer in any particular situation, but those who strive for more often get more. Their expectations are supported by their efforts, they achieve more or reach a higher standard because they expect more. It is easy to say we want more, or wish we had done better, but often our own expectations guide the level of result that we achieve.

Another look:

• If I complete all the assigned work and study hard I will get an “A” on the test.
• If I learn more, work hard, and gain additional experience I will advance to a higher position at work.
• If I exercise more and avoid my cravings for apple pie I will lose at least 3 pounds this month.

Our expectations condition the outcomes. Positive and results driven thoughts are what make the difference between those who dream of more, and those who achieve more.

Are you getting what you expect?

 

- DEG

Finger Licking Good? No BAD!

On a recent visit to the grocery store I noticed something terrible. It made me think about big mistakes we may be making that we don’t even realize we are doing.

While shopping I noticed a lady selecting raw packaged meat from the refrigerated section and placing the packaged meat into the sanitary bags that are provided in that section. My understanding is that those additional bags are to help prevent the spread of nasty germs (bacteria, virus) from raw meat. What’s the problem here?  She was touching the packages, grabbing the sanitary bags and separating them by first licking her fingers. Nice.

Rolling this into our lives or careers, we should ask for feedback on performance. Recognize that you may not always like what you hear but take a risk and get some feedback. Even hard working, good upstanding employees are sometimes oblivious to critical errors.

Don’t give a lick discover how to do the trick! 

- DEG

Pleasing Everyone

Have you ever tried to please “everyone?” Trying to please everyone can be amazingly frustrating.

Have you ever felt like there are too many choices? Have you felt confused, not knowing which option to pick? Do you worry that the outcomes of a decision or choice you make will cause anger or hurt to another person?

At times, by our own desire, we may seek a wide variety of options. However, limiting our choices and narrowing options will be less confusing and make us more confident in our selection. In order to make a good choice there is always a balance between having the widest array of opinions and options and choosing a responsible path.

The good news is, recognition of too many opinions and not enough commitment to a choice or a path can be avoided. Don’t try to please everyone, don’t pursue every recommended option. Select your path, make your choice. Be committed to your choice. Start by thinking – “Yes, I can do this. I’ve got this one!”

Confusion is frustrating. Pick your own path!

Beyond My Control

“It was beyond my control!”

Circumstances may sometimes be beyond our control but our lives should not be driven by circumstances. We should be driving the outcomes and accepting the responsibility for the choices that we make. Blaming others, or blaming “circumstances” for unfavorable outcomes in your life may help ease the sense of discipline, responsibility, and accountability but it will not change future outcomes.

Not every decision or choice may be the best but we have the opportunity to continuously seek new paths or directions as we analyze the outcomes of our choices. Even the smartest and most visionary minds of today sometimes make bad choices. The difference between those who are successful and those who are not is that successful people accept responsibility and make changes. 

Acceptance of responsibility gives us the opportunity for personal growth. It gives us the opportunity to learn from mistakes, and most importantly it gives us the opportunity for another choice, the choice to get it right. 

It’s not beyond your control – it’s waiting for you. Are you going to take this opportunity or leave it “on the table?”

 

- DEG

Destiny – You’re in Charge

“It’s just the way my life turned out, not everyone can…”

You are in control of your own destiny. If you are not satisfied with your current situation either personally or professionally (or both) the good news is that you have some control over your fate. The easy road is to blame others, you justify your lack of success or your current position in life as the fault of someone else. A belief that others control your fate is the wrong approach to creating your destiny.

Acceptance of the idea that you are in control of our own destiny should be the first step you take towards making a difference for your life. You have the ability to make it happen, the ability to make good choices, and the power to celebrate small wins while on your road to success. Many people believe that luck and timing are the key factors, and they play a role, but persistence is most likely the difference between those who achieve success and those who merely dream of it.

Take charge of your destiny – start today!

- DEG

Decisions, Decisions

How are high impact decisions made in within your team or workplace? Decision making often seems like a straight forward activity and one that leaders typically manage with authority. Does this result in the best decisions? Going one step further team or organization leadership will often express that it was a “team” decision, or sell the outcomes by suggesting that “everyone” agrees. Is this how it really works?

 

While every decision and every workplace will have its own unique circumstances here are a few things to observe the next time you see decision making in action:

• Does the behavior align with the words
• Is feedback utilized, or is it only presented
• Is input truly considered, or is it only propaganda

Many workplace leaders feel that they include and utilize others when making high impact decisions, however in many cases their ideas and conclusions are predetermined and the process of including others may just be an exercise to create buy-in. It often appears that many well meaning leaders do not realize the impact of their behaviors and words on the process.

Have you considered how you manage high impact decisions? How are high impact decisions made in your workplace?

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Decision Making and Problem Solving

Economic woes have organizations scrambling to find ways to improve employee performance. Some employees are claiming burn-out after having to pick up work loads of other employees who have been laid off or otherwise have left the organization and their position has not been replaced. In other workplace struggles harmful conflict situations are building, in some cases they are being recognized by organization leaders and some are going seemingly unnoticed. Regardless, workplace teams often express a desire to work better together but simply cannot close the gap on conflict or negative feelings.

If the success of your organization depends on the effectiveness of your employees how are you encouraging good communication and perhaps more importantly how are the employees solving workplace problems? Are they solving them in a vacuum? Are they making group decisions?

How people work together to solve problems can make the difference between a good decision, and a harmful one. Are workplace teams responsible to make decisions and solve problems in your organization? How effective are the teams at making good choices?