Motivation | Energize Performance

Improvisational Organizations – fun and profitable

May 21, 2010 · by Bob Faw

Who's company is it anyway?

Create an improvisational culture in your company

— fast, flexible, empowered and positive.

Imagine your people guided more by principles and less by rules.

Picture them quickly adapting with resilience to customer needs, market changes and sales surprises.

Get everyone engaged in sustainable profitability with clear metrics, a motivating environment and room to experiment!

In an improvisational culture a leader’s primary focus is keeping up with the needs of the groups she supports (rather than manages). Useful information flows throughout the company to where it’s needed. People keep each other on track because they’re passionate about the goals and don’t want any slackers holding them back. Fun is as a staple of an energized environment.

What companies do you see as being improvisational? (no wrong answers here)

Knowing your purpose and principles protects against manipulation

May 19, 2010 · by Bob Faw

Be clear about your purpose.

in life.
in your job.
in your family.

Why do you do it? How do you know you’re successful? How do you feel when you’re successful?

What are your core principles?

What 3-5 qualities are so important to you that you will adhere to them even if it loses you money (in the short term)? E.g., integrity, achievement, caring, teamwork, protecting others (or the environment), seeking joy, etc.

When you are CLEAR about your purpose and your core principles you can stay on track when others try to manipulate you.

Seth Godin has a great blog posting “Who is easily manipulated?” that helps you know what not to do.

What is your purpose — in one word or one sentence? Share with us, or at least remind yourself regularly.

The power of culture to drive business success

May 18, 2010 · by Bob Faw

This article share’s DaVita’s very inspiring case study. It’s a great story of how focusing on culture makes everyone more successful. It’s also a great example of positive influence in action.

Influence your mood – enjoy life more

May 14, 2010 · by Bob Faw

Choose to feel more joy - influence it

Feel better more of the time. Influence yourself with imagery.

The images we have in our minds directly influence what neurochemicals (hormones) are released into our body. This is scientifically proven. When we have images of fearful things in our minds it triggers the release neurochemicals that literally make us feel bad. When we have images of good things it triggers the release of neurochemicals that make us feel good. If we’re in danger, the fear responses are helpful. If we’re not, they’re unnecessary stress and to be honest, a real downer.

I use images of past successes, of soothing nature, of great relationships to influence my mood. What do you use?

Improvisational Leadership – the “yes and” approach

May 8, 2010 · by Bob Faw

Yes and…

The art of accepting reality and building upon and adapting to it… rather than fighting, denying or complaining about it.

What changes are happening in your life that are out of your control? What would be better for you to accept and adapt to quickly? What areas would you be more successful in if you were even better at accepting and improvising a positive response.

When we disagree with someone’s idea, approach, beliefs we often respond negatively. Sometimes that’s helpful, usually it’s not. If we can affirm (yes) to what we DO like and then build (and) in a mutually beneficial direction we build motivation and openness.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of presenting “Improvisational Leadership” one of my favorite trainings. “yes and” is the capstone of the training. Every time I talk about it I feel my own skills improve as well. It’s one of the joys of teaching what you love.

Soon I plan to start posting video clips of these concepts in action or being taught. I hope that helps make much more sense of it all.

I’d be delighted to receive examples from readers about where you use “yes and” to influence your world more positively.

Best DNA: Be more of the best of who you are

May 6, 2010 · by Bob Faw

We can’t actually be anything we want. I’ll never be an astronaut because I get dizzy and claustrophobic. Instead I’ll put my energy into being the best of who I am. It feels completely natural and exciting for me to stand in front crowds of people helping them learn, making them laugh, helping them connecting to each other in positive ways. I love who I am in that moment — I love being me. So I “amp up” these qualities of mine and be the best of who I am whenever I can. It makes life so much richer.

Each of us have native strengths and passions that when we use them fully make us feel wonderfully alive. When we find the strengths and passions that also help us make a living we are on a path of fulfillment, achievement and increasing power.

1) What are your strengths and passions?

2) What do you do that makes you feel fully alive?

3) How can you “amp up” those strengths in your life to be even more fulfilled, successful and vibrant?

4) What are people willing to reward you for doing?

Find out what lies at the intersection of all three of these areas. That’s your Best DNA for work, or for volunteer work, or whatever area you want the rewards in.

How would you answer these questions for your employees … spouse … children?

If you want help answering the strengths questions, the book “Go Put Your Strengths to Work” and other works by Marcus Buckingham can be very helpful. (note: The author has absolutely no connection to Buckingham, only respect for his work.)

Later in 2012 Matchbox Group (matchboxgroup.com) will be putting out a self-assessment process for discovering your own Best DNA, along with tips on what to do to enhance that and make your life more successful and fulfilling.

Relax… Recharge… Refocus…

May 2, 2010 · by Bob Faw

photo by bob faw

What helps YOU create “R Responses” in yourself?

Our brains are highly influenced by what we see. The images effect what biochemicals are put into our system. Even our mental images have this effect.

When stressed out, distracted, confused, anxious or angry we can CHOOSE to focus on something that creates an “R Response”. An image like this sunset can induce dopamine and endorphins to flow in us. Equally important, it can soothe our brain so that the “stress hormone” cortisol is no longer produced.

Then we’re able to relax… our bodies can now recharge… and our minds are able to refocus…

Refocus on what we WANT, rather than what we fear. Refocus on influencing positive results, rather than reacting and worsening the situation.

What do you do to create R Responses in yourself? I’d love to hear from you!

(FYI: If you liked this photo click here to see my “Soothing Photos” album)

Daniel Pink asks, “Is purpose really an effective motivator?”

May 1, 2010 · by Bob Faw

This blog post of Dan’s shows great research to answer this question.

This is why we say, “Influence your world”.

Make your world better and it will also make you more productive.

Energize Performance

Browsing Category Motivation

Improvisational Organizations – fun and profitable

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Knowing your purpose and principles protects against manipulation

Like this:

The power of culture to drive business success

Like this:

Influence your mood – enjoy life more

Like this:

Improvisational Leadership – the “yes and” approach

Like this:

Best DNA: Be more of the best of who you are

Like this:

Relax… Recharge… Refocus…

Like this:

Daniel Pink asks, “Is purpose really an effective motivator?”

Like this: