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Day: July 13, 2020

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Entrepreneurship Leadership Marketing Personal Development

5 Habits of Interesting People

What makes someone interesting?

Or – as they say in marketing lingo – a person of interest to others?

It’s a combination of factors, really… and here are five of them for your consideration:

They are not vanilla

They’re quirky, pugnacious, determined, and they don’t give a rat’s ass what the rest of the world thinks. (They also don’t mind using terms like “rat’s ass” in a blog post.) Bottom line: wolves don’t lose sleep over what sheep think of them. Think Donald Trump or Bill Clinton. How vanilla are YOU?

 

They are articulate

Love ’em or hate ’em, these folks can articulate a point of view. Opinionated, loud, proud, and never dull. The sound bite “frequently wrong, never in doubt” was made for them. Think Dave Chapelle or Rachel Maddow. How quotable are YOU?

 

They stand FOR certain things

And they stand AGAINST other things. They energize their followers, antagonize their foes, and polarize the rest of us in the middle. Sound bite: If you don’t risk turning SOME people off, you’ll never turn anybody on. Think Howard Stern or Wanda Sykes. What stand are YOU taking?

 

They build movements larger than themselves

No matter how big, loud, rich, and famous they are – they’re building something bigger than themselves and strive to make an impact beyond themselves. Think Oprah or Bill Gates. What’s YOUR movement?

 

They don’t seek media – they ARE the media

They are tastemakers, movers, shakers, interviewers, and relationship-builders. They don’t wait for the media to come knocking – they are more likely to post videos, write articles, and interview others to feed their tribe a steady diet of top-notch content. What media did you create today?

I showed this list to my friend, Jeffrey Gitomer, the King of Sales, and he added a few more:

  • they are attractive – not necessarily pretty
  • their words make you think
  • their ideas inspire you to take new and better action
  • they make you want to connect with them so that you don’t “miss” anything
  • they make you happy to be in their presence (virtually or in person)
  • you will travel to see them
  • they inspire YOU to become more interesting
Categories
Best Practices Growth Leadership Personal Development

Performance Traits That Top Athletes, Musical Prodigies, & CEOs Have in Common

I’m always impressed by people who truly strive to make every one of their performances a spectacular one. I love watching people be REALLY good at their craft, whether it’s a physical feat or an artistic one. (Or both!!)  More importantly, I love hearing from those high-caliber pros in sports, the arts, and in business on HOW they created those impressive showings.

Last week the C-Suite Network Digital Discussion hosted by C-Suite Network Chairman Jeffrey Hayzlett was held. Jeffrey interviewed two first-class experts, Dr. Michael Gervais, High-Performance Psychologist, and Co-Founder of Compete to Create, and Dr. Noa Kageyama, 

Performance Psychologist, Bulletproof Musician, and Faculty at The Juilliard School, to discuss how the world’s top performers face and conquer fear and adversity. They also talked about how to distinguish between those with high potential and the high performers within your team and shared specific strategies and mindsets we all can use to persevere through adversity and achieve peak status.

Here are the top five takeaways I got from listening to these peak performance masters, every one of which I am focusing on in order to become a stronger leader:

Resides in the present

Michael Gervais described the traits that business leaders can look for in seeking out high performers. While there are certain aspects that are empirically beneficial to high performance — clarity of purpose, relentlessness, and authentic expression — the one characteristic that is what Gervais described as “the keyhole to high performance” is living in the present moment. Jeffrey Hayzlett reflected on the importance of presence, especially in this current business climate: “Leaders need to be centered. You need to stand in the middle of the chaos and do what you have to do as a leader.” And sometimes that just means doing Jeff’s favorite go-to mindfulness strategy (and mine!): to simply BREATHE.

 

Beware the FOPO

Gervais shared that FOPO, or Fear Of People’s Opinions, is one of the biggest challenges to high performance. When we stop attaching our outcomes to the opinions of others, we become free to experiment, grow, and evolve our thinking. Hayzlett further added later that night at the C-Suite Network Member Mixer that he addresses FOPO by offering this nugget of awesome: “‘Thank you for your assessment’ is a great way to respond. It’s just an assessment; it doesn’t mean that it’s right or wrong.”

 

Optimism is serious business

Mental toughness is required to fight off FOPO, and optimism is the center of mental toughness, Gervais said. “If the mind is left untrained, the brain will win.” Our brains are hard-wired for survival, and that program isn’t always the best one to execute for high performance. Rather, it’s far more beneficial to consciously choose the optimistic response. Train your brain to manage your mindset, and strive for the positive choice, every moment, every dang day. Because it matters.

 

Practice. Really. FOR REAL.

Dr. Kageyama stressed that practicing, recording, reviewing, and identifying improvements in our performances is the least favorite aspect of high performance but it’s also the most important. Great performers successfully separate who they are with what they do. “Being great at their craft is hugely satisfying and worth the pain of practicing”, Dr. Kageyama said. Hayzlett echoed the sentiment by reminding the audience that, “If you want to be a maestro, you have to be willing to play a lot of bad notes”.

 

Aim for Delicious

Sometimes we can get caught in the trap of chasing after perfection. Dr. Kageyama shared a story about a conversation he had with a premier chef. The maestro of the kitchen stated that “the aim of being a great chef is to be delicious, not exact.” That delicious expression of who we are as individuals is what truly resonates with our audiences, not just our polished, technical expertise. In all that we do, whether professional or personal, let’s all “aim for delicious.” (I’m half-thinking of getting it as a tattoo. #aimfordelicious)

 

Dr. Kageyama finished his interview by reiterating that high performers recognize that, “Being great at their craft is hugely satisfying and worth the pain of practicing.” Isn’t that the truth!

Whether it’s practicing mindfulness techniques to stay in the present moment and insulated from FOPO or practicing my craft of facilitation, keynote performance, or comedy by watching game footage, I am eagerly accepting the invitation to do what it takes to show up stronger, deliver better, and connect deeper. I want to practice taking more risks, taking more chances, and doing things differently. Because that’s what true leaders in the c-suite do to drive and thrive.

I love being surrounded by high performers, especially those in the C-Suite Network! Since bringing my awareness to the teachings I have learned in the Digital Discussions and Executive Leadership Forums, I have found myself far more focused. Clearer. More productive. And most importantly, more INSPIRED. As a thought leader in mindful performance and C-Suite Radio podcast host, I am always discovering how top leaders in business deliver their best performances so I can not only improve myself but also help others accelerate their businesses in the Thought Council! If you want to join me for the next digital discussion from the c-suite, become an Executive Leader. It’s a great way to stay abreast of up-to-the-minute relevant business insights that will not only inspire you but also make you one of the most strategic people in the room.

#ceo #peakperformance #csuite #csuitenetwork #thoughtleadership #leadership #coaching #bestpractices #engagement #music #sports #athlete #juilliard

Categories
Growth Human Resources Negotiations Skills Women In Business

“What Will You Do When The Leader Is Powerless” – Negotiation Insight

“A leader is as powerful as his followers allow him to be.” -Greg Williams, The Master Negotiator & Body Language Expert

 

“What Will You Do When The Leader Is Powerless”

 

People don’t realize; they’re always negotiating.

 

Leaders possess power because others give it to them. And the power of a leader is continuously shifting, which makes the dynamics of a leader’s power something to note. While the shifts may occur over an extended time, if you observe the flow of its direction, you can insulate yourself from being on the wrong side of a leader’s waning power.

No matter what your title or function is, you’re a leader in some capacity. And that’s why you should be concerned about the flow of power below and above you. Those shifts impact the impact you have. Question – why might you not want to be on the side of a leader that’s losing influence, which is what power is? Answer – your power can decline when you’re associated with someone that’s losing his control.

The ensuing are insights about the sources of power and influence. You’ll also discover how to protect yourself when it stems from a more significant source, along with what you might consider when power is shifting.

 

Leadership Style

It’s essential to observe the style of a leader. It lends credence to what he promotes, why he commits specific actions, and what activities and causes he may engage. For this purpose, I sort leaders into two categories.

  • Selfish

Self-interest is a perspective that all leaders share. The difference between some is good leaders balance self-interest against the needs of their followers. But exceptional leaders put the interest of their followers ahead of their own.

One way to assess a leader’s style is to note when he places the interest of others above his own. Conversely, if you observe an increasing trend towards his self-interest, that might be your sign to disassociate from him – his followers will eventually do so. At worse, you should become more alert to the length of time a leader’s downward trend continues. Your fortunes and future will depend on the time you’re connected to him.

 

  • Selfless

A genuine selfless leader tends to be more appreciated by his followers. And, when given the choice of whom to follow, all things equal, this style is what most people will embrace. Accordingly, if you attach yourself to this leadership style, you’re more likely to attract a more profound following. Then, when the leader becomes powerless, depending on the situation, you’ll be more likely to step up, or into the leadership void.

 

Power Sources

It’s good to know the origins of a leader’s power. Once you’ve identified it, you can observe when that leader’s influence may expire.

  • Temporary Power

With temporary power, a leader can be in an ‘acting’ or trial bases position. No matter how long his supremacy lasts, in the overall scheme of time, all power sources are temporary. Therefore, when calculating the probability of a leader losing power, consider what he’s currently doing with it, and how people are responding. While addressing a leader that possesses temporary power can be beneficial to your cause, staying connected too long can become detrimental to your longterm goals.

  • Positional Power

A leader’s positional power stems from current circumstances and environments. Thus, his influence can constantly shift, based on changing conditions. And that may expose him to becoming powerless sooner than later. Consequently, some people may forego extending their loyalty to him.

While you can lend support to a leader that has positional power, you should consider how long he’ll have his status, what he’ll do when his power is gone, and who’ll assume the leadership mantle when it occurs. While connected to one leader, always keep an eye out for the one rising on the horizon. The latter will be the future, and since the future will become the present, you can gain more power by helping a future leader amass more authority today.

 

Protecting Power

  • Manage Expectations

Regardless of a leader’s power, he should always manage the expectations of how he’ll use it. If he doesn’t, others will set the expectations for him. If their expectations are overblown, the leader has a problem. The question then becomes, when will it occur, and how will he deal with it? That could create an opportunity for you if you’re savvy enough to warn him and then protect him from potential blowback. That should ingratiate him to you, which can serve as your top power source for the time being.

 

  • Observe Sources Of Power

You can gain insight when it’s time to untie bonds with a specific leader, based on how he conducts himself, and with whom he’s attracting as his followers. Since the dynamics of a leader’s power is dependent on his followers, when that base begins to decline due to his ill deeds, that might be your signal to unaffiliate with him. Otherwise, you may fall as he descends.

 

Leader’s Associates

  • Associate’s Goals

Understanding the goals of the leader’s associates’ will inform you of what they seek from him. That will allow you to gauge how long associates might follow that leader before disassociating. And that’ll be your tripwire as to when you might take action.

  • Controlling Your Power

Your power lies within the sources of a leader’s associates. Therefore, if you can impact a leader’s followers, you can have a degree of influence upon the leader. To maximize your efforts, stay close to the leader’s associates, but distant enough to avoid negativity once the leader’s power begins to wane. To do that, keep your ears and eyes open for a changing tide to ensure you’re not swept away by it.

 

Reflection

Everyone should be concerned about the leader with whom they give power. Even when it’s a close friend or associate, when you give someone power, you provide them with dominion over you. That impacts your life. Because that person will influence the way you think and your opportunities.

Thus, to the question of what will you do when the leader’s powerless, observe when the leader is losing power and break when appropriate. That’s not to say, desert a leader because he no longer has influence. It’s to state when a leader engages in dastardly deeds, and he’s a negative weight on your success, consider lifting your anchor. That will allow you to find a better leader. And everything will be right with the world.

 

Remember, you’re always negotiating!

 

Listen to Greg’s podcast at https://anchor.fm/themasternegotiator

 

After reading this article, what are you thinking? I’d like to know. Reach me at Greg@TheMasterNegotiator.com

 

To receive Greg’s free “Negotiation Tip of the Week” and the “Negotiation Insight” click here https://www.themasternegotiator.com/greg-williams/

 

 

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